Editing Acadia (section)

===Governance under the British after 1710===
{{Main|Deputy (Acadian)}}
After 1710, the British military administration continued to utilize the deputy system the Acadians had developed under French colonial rule. Prior to 1732 the deputies were appointed by the governor from men in the districts of Acadian families "as ancientest and most considerable in Lands & possessions,".{{sfn|MacMechan|1900|page=59|loc=<ref>{{Cite web |year = 1900| url=https://archive.org/stream/acalendartwolet01macmgoog#page/n72/mode/2up| title = A calendar of two letter-books and one commission-book in the possession of the government of Nova Scotia, 1713-1741 }}</ref>}} 
This appears to be in contravention of various [[British penal law]]s which made it nearly impossible for Roman Catholics and Protestant recusants to hold military and government positions. The need for effective administration and communication in many of the British colonies trumped the laws.

In 1732, the governance institution was formalized. Under the formalized system the colony was divided into eight districts. Annually on October 11 free elections were to take place where each district, depending on its size, was to elect two, three, or four deputies. In observance of the Lord's Day, if October 11 fell on a Sunday the elections were to take place on the immediately following Monday. Notice of the annual election was to be given in all districts thirty days before the election date. Immediately following election, deputies, both outgoing and incoming, were to report to Annapolis Royal to receive the governor's approval and instructions. Prior to 1732 deputies had complained about the time and expense of holding office and carrying out their duties. Under the new elected deputy system each district was to provide for the expenses of their elected deputies.

The duties of the deputies were broad and included reporting to the government in council the affairs of the districts, distribution of government proclamations, assistance in the settlement of various local disputes (primarily related to land), and ensuring that various weights and measures used in trade were "Conformable to the Standard".{{sfn|MacMechan|1900|p=190|loc=<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/acalendartwolet01macmgoog#page/n204/mode/2up/|title=A calendar of two letter-books and one commission-book in the possession of the government of Nova Scotia, 1713-1741|year=1900}}</ref>}}

In addition to deputies, several other public positions existed. Each district had a clerk who worked closely with the deputies and under his duties recorded the records and orders of government, deeds and conveyances, and kept other public records. With the rapid expansion of the Acadian populace, there was also a growing number of cattle and sheep. The burgeoning herds and flocks, often free-ranging, necessitated the creation of the position of Overseer of Flocks. These individuals controlled where the flocks grazed, settled disputes and recorded the names of individuals slaughtering animals to ensure proper ownership. Skins and hides were inspected for brands.

After the purchase by the British Crown of the seigniorial rights in Acadia, various rents and fees were due to the Crown. In the Minas, Piziquid and Cobequid Districts the seigniorial fees were collected by the "Collector & Receiver of All His Majesty's Quit Rents, Dues, or Revenues". The Collector was to keep a record of all rents and other fees collected, submit the rents to Annapolis Royal, and retain fifteen percent to cover his expenses.{{sfn|MacMechan|1900|p=248|loc=<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/acalendartwolet01macmgoog#page/n262/mode/2up|title = A calendar of two letter-books and one commission-book in the possession of the government of Nova Scotia, 1713-1741|year = 1900}}</ref>}}<ref name=Morris>{{cite book |last=Morris |first=Charles |title=A Brief Survey of Nova Scotia |via=The National Archives of Canada |publisher=The Royal Artillery Regimental Library, Woolwich, UK}}</ref>