Town Clerk’s Office

The office of the municipal clerk is one of the oldest public servants. Over the years, clerks have become the hub of government, the direct link between the town inhabitants and their government.  The clerk is the historian of the community, for the entire recorded history of the town and its people is in the clerk’s care. The eminent political scientist, Professor William Bennett Munro stated: “No other office in municipal service has so many contacts.  It serves the Select Board, the Town Manager and all Administrative Departments without exception.  Its work demands versatility, alertness, accuracy and no end of patience.  The public does not realize how many loose ends this office pulls together.”

Since 1772, Manchester has had 25 Town Clerks: Jeremiah French, 1772; Martin Powel, 1773-1796; Joseph Burr, 1796-1798; Joshua French, 1798-1800; Joel Pratt, 1800-1825; Chester Clark, 1825-1828; M. S. Shepherd, 1828-1832; Lyman Harrington, 1832-1835; R.H. Blackmer, 1835-1836; William Black, 1836-1842; William Sperry, 1842-1845; Samuel Millet, 1845-1846; John Cooke, 1846-1850; Charles Harris, 1850-1853; John Roberts, 1853-1866; Loveland Munson, 1866-1873; D.K. Simonds, 1873-1908; C.A. Shattuck, 1908-1918; Hiram Eggleston, 1918; Alice E. Bennett, 1919-1952; Helen B. Bigelow, 1952-1960; Clara M. Hemenway, 1960-1979; Barbara B. Cross, 1979-1997; Linda L. Spence, 1997-2014; and Anita L. Sheldon, 2014 to present. For more information about the role of the Town Clerk, visit the International Institute of Municipal Clerks website.