tithingman1
(ˈtaɪðɪŋmæn)
[f. tithing n. 3 + man n.1]
a. Anciently, The chief man of a tithing (n. 3), a headborough; in later use, a parish peace-officer, or petty constable (constable 5 c). Now Hist.
| 946–c 961 Laws of Edgar c. 2 Cyðe hit man ðam hundredesmen, & he syððan ðam teoðingmannum. 1432 Rolls of Parlt. IV. 403/1 The Decennare and Decennes, oder wyse called Thethyngman and Thethyngs. 1441–2 Act 20 Hen. VI, c. 8 Chescun Conestable, Tythingman, ou chief plegge, de chescun ville ou hamell. 1581 Lambarde Eiren. i. iii. (1588) 15 For Borowhead, Borsholder, and Tithingman, be three seueral names of one self same thing, and doe signifie, The chiefe man of the free pledges within that Borow, or Tithing. 1626 Bernard Isle of Man (1627) 34 There be foure sorts of Officers which may attach Felons by warrant, The Deputy-constable, the Tything-man, the Petty Constable, and the Head Constable. c 1640 J. Smyth Lives Berkeleys (1883) II. 345 The Thirdburrow or Tithingman ought to come to Portbury Leete. 1724 Lond. Gaz. No. 6232/2 [They] were by his Mittimus put into the Custody of a Tithingman with a strong Guard. 1857 Toulmin Smith Parish 15. 1874 Stubbs Const. Hist. I. v. 90 note, The tithingman is of course an elective officer. |
† b. A chief or ruler of ten: rendering L. decānus, decurio. Obs.
| c 1000 ælfric Exod. xviii. 21 ᵹesete of him þusendmen and hundrydmen and fifties men and teoðingmen. ― Deut. i. 15 And ic nam wise menn and sette hiᵹ to..teoðingmannum. 1608 Willet Hexapla Exod. 275 A ruler of ten, or tithing man. |
c. Also tidingman. In Maryland and New England: A former elective officer of a township, whose functions were derived from those of the English tithingman (sense a) in the 17th c.; in particular he was charged with the prevention of disorderly conduct; in New Eng., in later times, chiefly with enforcing the observance of the Sabbath and of order during divine service. Now Hist. See Johns Hopkins Hist. Studies, No. 1.
| 1638 Laws of Maryland, A Tything-man in each Manor, a Constable in each Hundred. 1677 Laws of Massachusetts 23 May, To prevent..Prophanation of the Sabbath..Tithing man or men shall..have power in the absence of the Constable to apprehend all Sabbath-breakers. 1703 Early Rec. Groton, Mass. (1880) 123 For tiding men [for the year 1703] Joseph gilson Benjmen farnworth. [1727–8 Last tithing-men chosen in Boston.] 1836 Rev. Stat. Mass. 180 At the annual meeting, every town shall choose..Tything⁓men, unless the towns shall vote that it is not expedient to choose the same. [Repealed in 1860.] 1895 A. B. Hart in Forum (N.Y.) May 377 The interference with Sunday travel by the tithingmen of the Puritan Connecticut towns. 1878 Mrs. Stowe Poganuc People vi. 63 They're goin' clean agin everything—Sunday laws and tiding man and all. |