. . "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. Register of civil commissions was created by the secretary to provide a chronological listing of nominations by county for civil officers including notaries public, justices of the peace, commissioners to qualify civil officers (from 1788-1824; for later see (M-Ar)183X), and clerks of court, with separate sections of justices and judges for the whole state." . . . . . . . . . . "State government records" . "Record of civil commissions" . . . . "Registers (Lists)" . . "Register of civil commissions" . . "Since 1775" . . . . "Massachusetts" . . "Massachusetts. Commissions Section." . .