The city charter of 1853 provided one justice of the peace for each ward, although jurisdiction was city wide. Each justice was to be elected each year for a two-year term; so that their terms ended at various times. Sub-series 1 generally represents the records of justices elected in wards, 1, 2, and 7; and sub-series 2 generally represents the records of those elected in wards 3 and 4 until 1876. From 1876 until 1911, annual elections were required in each ward. After 1910 there were only two justices for the entire city of 14 wards, and they were elected in alternate years. The law required that each justice hand over to his successor the records of his term in office which is the reason for the several sub-series.
