Order of the Mayor and Aldermen Concerning the Constabulary and
    Watch
  
  
    ds: American Philosophical Society
  
  
    [July 7, 1752]
  
  
    The following Orders directing and regulating the Conduct and
    Duty of the several Constables and Watchmen of the said City now or
    hereafter to be appointed, in their keeping Watch and Ward within
    the same City, were made.
    Ordered that the
    Constables of this City, or so many of them as shall from time to
    time be agreed upon by the Magistrates and Wardens shall keep Watch
    and Ward alternately, in such order, as the Magistrates and Wardens
    shall hereafter direct, from the time of their appointment, during
    their Continuance in their several offices.
    That in case of the absence, indisposition,
    death or Removal of any such Constables his next immediate
    Successor shall perform his duty for the night, and each of the
    others in succession following, shall perform their several Duties,
    as if such Constable had not been named, until he shall return,
    recover, or a new Constable be appointed in his place.
    That each Constable shall, on his night of
    duty, constantly be and attend at the Court House of the said City,
    from the tenth day of the month called March, to the tenth day of
    September, from ten a Clock in the Night, until four in the
    Morning; and from the tenth day of September, to the tenth day of
    March, from nine a Clock in the night, until six in the Morning,
    except when he shall be walking his Rounds hereafter mentioned, or
    be called from thence on some other necessary part of his Duty.
    That the Constable of the Night shall within
    half an hour after the time appointed for his Attendance, Call over
    the Names of the several Watchmen, upon their appearance, deliver
    each of them his proper staff, kept in the Court House, for that
    purpose; Send Twelve of them to their appointed Stations hereafter
    mentioned, and shall retain two for the Service hereafter injoyned;
    but in Case any one of the said twelve Watchmen be absent when he
    should repair to his Station, the Constable shall order one of the
    said two Watchmen to Supply and execute his place and Duty for that
    night.
    That such Constable, before one of the Clock
    shall send the Watchmen hereby ordered to remain with him,
    alternately, or one of them, in Case the other shall not attend, to
    all parts of the City, to observe whether the several Watchmen
    perform their Duties, and shall also afterwards personally go round
    the several Stations of the Watchmen once a Night, and observe the
    same; and if any Watchman neglect to meet at the Times appointed as
    aforesaid, or be found otherwise negligent in his Duty, the
    Constable shall give Notice thereof on the day following, to at
    least two of the Wardens.
    That such Constable shall immediately before
    the time of Breaking up the Watch, receive at the Court-House from
    every Watchman on duty that Night, his staff, and Carefully dispose
    of the same in some Convenient place there, so that it may be ready
    to be delivered out the Night following, by his Successor, in
    Manner above prescribed.
    That such Constable shall on the day next after
    his night of duty, before the Hour of one, in the afternoon,
    Deliver to his Successor, the Watch Staff, provided for that
    purpose, and also the Keys of the cages &c.
    That the said Constables, in their Several
    turns and Courses of Watching, shall use their best endeavours to
    prevent Fires, Murders, Burglaries, Robberies and other outrages
    and disorders within the said City; and shall arrest and apprehend
    all night Walkers, Malefactors and Suspected persons who shall be
    found wandering and Misbehaving themselves, and shall Carry the
    Person or Persons, who shall be so apprehended, as soon as
    conveniently they may, before one or more of the Justices of the
    Peace, of and for the said City, to be examined and dealth with
    according to Law.
    Ordered also,
    That the several Watchmen shall repair to and
    be at the Court House aforesaid, each Night, from the tenth day of
    March, to the tenth day of September, at ten a Clock, and from the
    tenth day of September to the tenth day of March, at nine a Clock,
    there to receive their staves, and shall afterwards perform the
    respective duties hereby further enjoined.
   
  
    1
  
  
    That one Watchman shall stand at the North-West
    Corner of Front and Union street, for the first station, who shall
    from thence go the following rounds, to Wit; Up Front-street, on
    the East Side, to the first Corner, thence down Water-street, up
    Pine-street, down second, down Lombard, up front, up Pine, up
    second, down Spruce, down front-street, to his station.
   
  
    2
  
  
    That one Watchman shall stand at the North-West
    Corner of front and Walnut-street, who shall from thence go the
    following rounds, to Wit; Up Walnut-street, down second, up Spruce
    Half way to Third street, thence down Spruce, up front-street to
    his station.
   
  
    3
  
  
    That one Watchman shall stand at the North-West
    Corner, of Chesnut and Water-street, who shall from thence go the
    following rounds, to Wit; Down Water Street, as Low as Hamilton’s
    stores, thence up front-street to Market-street, thence down
    Water-street to his station.
   
  
    4
  
  
    That one Watchman shall stand at the North-West
    Corner of Market and front-street, who shall from thence go the
    following Rounds, to wit, down front-street, up Chesnut Street, up
    Second Street, down Market, up front, up Mulberry, down second,
    down Market Street, to his station.
   
  
    5
  
  
    That one Watchman shall stand at the North West
    Corner of Mulberry and Water street, who shall from thence go the
    following rounds, to Wit; Up Water Street to Vine Street, thence
    down front Street to Market-Street, thence Up Water Street, to his
    Station.
   
  
    6
  
  
    That one Watchman shall stand at the North West
    Corner of Front Street, and Sassafras Street, who shall from thence
    go the following rounds, to Wit, down front street, up Mulberry, up
    Second, down Sassafras, up front, up Vine, down Second, down
    Sassafras Street, to his Station.
   
  
    7
  
  
    That one Watchman shall stand at the North West
    Corner of Mulberry and Second Street, who shall from thence go the
    following Rounds, to wit; Up Mulberry-Street, up Third Street, up
    Sassafras, down fourth, down Mulberry, up Third, down Sassafras,
    down Second-Street, to his Station.
   
  
    8
  
  
    That one Watchman shall stand at the North East
    Corner of Market and Second Street, who shall from thence go the
    following rounds, to Wit, down Second-Street, up Chesnut-street, up
    Third, down Market, up Second, up Mulberry, down third, down
    Market, to his Station.
   
  
    9
  
  
    That one Watchman shall stand at the south West
    Corner of Chesnut and Second Streets, who shall from thence go the
    following rounds, to Wit; down Chesnut Street, down front Street,
    up Walnut, up Second, up Chesnut, down Third, down Walnut, up
    Second Street, to his Station.
   
  
    10
  
  
    That one Watchman shall stand at the North West
    Corner of Chesnut and Third Street, who shall from thence go the
    following rounds, to Wit; up Third Street, up Market, down fourth,
    up Chesnut to the State House, thence up Fifth Street, down Market,
    down fourth, down Chesnut Street, to his Station.
   
  
    11
  
  
    That one Watchman shall stand at the North West
    Corner of Market and Third Streets, who shall from thence go the
    following rounds, to Wit; up Third Street, up Mulberry as high as
    Christopher Thompson’s Row, thence return down fourth Street, up
    Market Street, as high as Fifth Street, thence down Market Street,
    to his Station.
   
  
    12
  
  
    That one Watchman shall stand at the North West
    Corner of Chesnut and Fourth Streets, who shall from thence go the
    following rounds, to wit; down Chesnut street on the South Side,
    then down Third Street, to Charles Willings thence up Walnut, up
    fourth, up Chesnut, down Fifth, down Walnut, up Fourth Street, to
    his Station.
    That each Watchman in his first and Second
    Rounds, shall examine the Doors of all Dwelling-Houses, Shops, Ware
    Houses and other Buildings, by gently pushing against them with his
    Staff, and if they be open, shall acquaint the Owner’s thereof.
    That each Watchman shall go into all open
    alleys and Lanes, within the Limits of his rounds.
    That every Watchman in the Course of each
    round, shall frequently call the Hour of the Night and Weather,
    with a Loud and Distinct Voice.
    That each Watchman after his Several Returns to
    his Station, shall frequently walk over the two Cross Streets near
    his Stand, and View them up and down.
    That every Watchman shall, in the absence of
    the Constable for the night apprehend all Night Walkers,
    Malefactors, Rogues, Vagabonds, and disorderly Persons, who they
    shall find disturbing the publick peace, or shall have just Cause
    to Suspect of any evil Design and Carry the person or persons so
    apprehended immediately to the said Constable, to be by him as soon
    as Conveniently may be taken before one or more Justice or Justices
    of the Peace for the said City, to be examined and dealt with
    according to Law, and that the said Watchmen, in case of any fire
    breaking out, or other great Necessity, shall immediately alarm
    each other, and the inhabitants in their respective rounds; which
    when done, they shall repair to their respective stands, the better
    to discover any other fire that may happen, as well as to prevent
    any Burglaries, Robberies, Outrages and disorders and to apprehend
    any Suspected persons who, in such times of Confusion, may be
    feloniously Carrying off the goods and Effects of others.
    That the said Watchmen shall continue in the
    exercise of their duties aforesaid, from the hours of their Meeting
    at the Court House, between the tenth day of March and the tenth
    day of September, until four a Clock; and Between the tenth day of
    September and the tenth day of March, until Six a Clock in the
    Morning; at which respective Hours, they shall repair to the
    Constable of the Night at his station; deliver to him their Staves,
    and be Discharged.
   
  
    
      
         | 
        Phil: Syng | 
        Robt: Strettell Mayr. | 
      
    
    
      
         | 
        Hugh Roberts | 
        Tench Francis Recr. | 
      
    
    
    
      
         | 
        Joseph Stretch | 
        John Mifflin | 
      
    
    
      
         | 
        Jacob Cooper | 
        Tho Lawrence |