AL D ERMAN. Equivalent to senator or senior. Cowell.
In English Law. An associate to the chief civil magistrate of a corporate town or city.
The word was formerly of very extended significa tion. Spelman enumerates eleven classes of alder men. Their duties among the Saxons embraced both magisterial and executive power, but would seem to have been rather an appellation of honor, originally, than a distinguishing mark of office. Spelman, Gloss.
Aldermannus civitatus burgi seu castellm (alder man of a city, borough, or castle). 1 Bla. Com. 475, n.
Aldermannus comitatus (alderman of the coun ty), who is thought by Spelman to have held an in termediate place between an earl and a sheriff; by others, held the same as the earl. 1 Bla. Com. U6.
Aldermannus hundredi seu wapentachii (alder man of a hundred or wapentake). Spelman. Aldermannus regis (alderman of the king) was so called, either because he was appointed by the king, or because he gave the judgment of the king in the premises allotted to him.
Aldermannus totius Angliw (alderman of all Eng land). An officer of high rank whose duties Cannot be precisely determined. See Spelman, Gloss.
The aldermen of the city of London were prob ably originally the chiefs of guilds. See 1 Spence, Eq. Jur. 54, 56. For an account of the selection and installation of aldermen of the guild merchant of a borough, see 1 Poll. & Maitl. 648.
In American Cities. The aldermen are gen erally a municipal legislative body ; though in many cities they hold separate courts, and have magisterial powers to a considera ble extent.
Consult 1 Sharsw. Bla. Com. 116; Reeve, Hist. Eng. Law ; Spence, Eq. Jur.