Porter
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia · John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia
The name of an ancient English officer who bore or carried a rod before the justices. The door-keeper of the English parliament also bears this name. One who is employed as a common carrier to carry goods from one place to another in the same town is also called a porter. Such person is, in general, answerable as a common carrier.
Story, Bailm. § 496.
PORTGREVE (from Sax. gcrefa, reeve or bailiff, and port). A chief magistrate in certain maritime towns. /The chief magistrate of London was anciently so called, as appears from a charter of king William I. Instead of this portgreve of London, the succeeding king appointed two bailiffs, and afterwards a mayor.
Camden, Hist. 325.