Election of City Government ~ Night Watchmen

At the Annual Election, for the State of Pennsylvania which takes place (according to the Constitution of the State) on the second Tuesday of October. The citizens of the respective Wards, elect Inspectors, and Judges of Elections, County and State Officers, Members of the Common Council, and a portion of the Select Council; and on the Tuesday, following the said election, the Councils (jointly) elect a Mayor. Formerly the Office of Mayor, was restricted to the Aldermen; but about 10 years since, the right to extend the selection to the whole body of Citizens, was established by law; and it is expected, that the right of electing the Mayor, immediately by ther citizens, will be granted by the Legislature, at the present session.

Officers of the Corporation and County.

Isaac Roach, Mayor.
Samuel Rush, Recorder.
Cornelius Stevenson, Treasurer.
Robert H. Smith, City Clerk.
Edward Olmstead, Solicitor
John B. Kenney, Mayor's Clerk.
Benjamin Jones, Jur. Treasurer of Ike Girard Trust.
John S. Warner, Agent for the Girard Estates.
Adam Traquair, City Commissioners
William Faries, City Commissioners
Thomas K. Wallace, City Commissioners
Lane Schofield, City Commissioners.
John Diehl, Commissioner of City Property.
Samuel Hains, Regulator and Surveyor
Edward N. Gill, Regulator and Surveyor
William Milnor, Aldermen
Peter Hay, Aldermen
Samuel Badger, Aldermen
Peter Christian, Aldermen
George Bartram, Aldermen
John Binns, Aldermen
Samuel Heintzleman, Aldermen
John Thompson, Aldermen
Jacob Snyder, Aldermen
Joseph Watson, Aldermen
Jonathan K. Hassinger, Aldermen
Thomas M'Kean, Aldermen
John R. Vogdes, Aldermen
David S. Hassinger, Aldermen.
John M'Lean, High Constables
Willis H. Blayney, High Constables
John Duncan, High Constables
Charles Stuart, High Constables
Armon Davis, Collector of Water Rents
James Hickey, Collectors of Water Rents
Robert Patten, Superintendent for Cleansing the City
James M'Intire, Superintendent for Cleansing the City,
Peter Conrad, Clerk of High Street Markets
Levin B. Godwin, Clerk of High Street Markets
Joshua Mitchell, Clerk of High Street Markets
Henry B. Gillingham, Clerk of Second Street Market.
Daniel Filler, High Sheriff, of the County of Philadelphia.
George Norton, Deputy Sheriff.
James Gregory, Coroner.
C. F. Hoeckley, County Commissioner
Jonathan Johnson, County Commissioner,
Joseph Plankinton, Clerk.
Samuel J. Robbins, Assistant Clerk.
C. W. South, County Treasurer.
William J. Bedlock, Auditor
Joseph Plankinton, Auditor
William McFarran, Auditors.
Thomas Dunlap, Controller of the Public Schools
George W. Wharton, Controller of the Public Schools
Thomas G Hollingsworth, Controller of the Public Schools
Samuel English, Controller of the Public Schools
George Justice, Controller of the Public Schools
William G. Flanagan, Controller of the Public Schools
Alexander Wentz, Controller of the Public Schools
John Foulkrod, Controller of the Public Schools
Charles V. Hagner, Controller of the Public Schools
Henry Leech, Controller of the Public Schools
Andrew Hooton, Controller of the Public Schools
Richard R. Spain, Controller of the Public Schools.

The Night Watchmen

Besides, the Mayor, High Constables, and Ward Officers, which constitutes the Day Police, the City is well guarded at Night, by able bodied men of good character. The Watch is divided into Four Distinct Sections, each under the command of a Captain, one of which, for the southeastern Division, if located in Comptroller Street, another for the northeastern, in Cherry Street, the southwest and northwest Divisions having stations west of, or near Broad Street. Each of the Four Divisions, has about 35 Watchmen, whose duty it is, to trim, light, and extinguish, the public lamps, and gaslights, to walk their rounds, and cry the hours, while on duty, and to secure the peace and quiet of the city.

In addition to the Watchmen attached to particular stations, each division has allotted to it, 8 silent Watchmen, whose duly it is to see that the stationed Watchmen attend to their prescribed duties, and maintain watchfulness during the hours allotted them, and to walk quietly through the Division and to see that thieves, &c. are not making inroads, between the regular Watchmens' rounds: they usually pursue their rounds, two in company.

History of Philadelphia