Scope and Content: The state secretary (since 1961 through a unit currently called the Commissions Section)  attests to all commissions of office signed by the governor, administering the oath of office to and/or recording the name of these and other public appointees. Resolves 1780, Oct Sess, c 58 authorized the governor and council to appoint persons empowered to administer oaths of office to public officials receiving commissions, called commissioners to qualify civil officers, dedimus justices, or, more recently, commissioners to qualify public officers. St 1829, c 125 authorized the governor to appoint commissioners residing in other states or U.S. territories to administer oaths and take depositions on behalf of the Commonwealth, and to take acknowledgment of deeds or contracts to be recorded in the Commonwealth. Such commissioners were to take oath of office before a justice of the peace, to be filed with the state secretary. St 1856, c 253 provided for appointment of such commissioners in other countries. Register was created to provide a chronological listing of these commissioners by state or country. Information in entries includes date of appointment, name, residence, date qualified, and date of expiration of appointment. –For earlier holdings and a list of related series see: Massachusetts. Office of the Secretary of State. Records of commissions, proclamations, pardons, and other official documents, 1713-1945 (bulk 1747-1936) ((M-Ar)161X)
Arrangement: In two subseries: Subseries (1) Commissioners in other states, 1857-1959; Subseries (2) Commissioners in other countries, 1856-1956; arranged by state, thereunder chronologically
Related Catalog Records:

Archivegrid
OCLC