At Castletown and Peel, the Captains of the Towns were also Assistant Constables of the castles, while at Douglas and Ramsey, they were in charge of the smaller forts. Unlike their parochial counterparts, the Town Captains received payment for their military duties, but their other tasks were also demanding, for they were responsible for maintaining order, supervising Customs regulations and markets, and reporting on public health. From 1777 onwards, these civil duties were performed by High Bailiffs, one in each of the four towns, until they in turn were left with legal duties only, as the towns came under the control of Town Commissioners in the second half of the nineteenth century, and, eventually, in the case of Douglas, of Borough Councillors.
