Thomas Tupper of Sandwich, Plymouth Colony was chosen a "rater" on several occasions (along with others):
http://www.treetreetree.org.uk/Tupper.htm (with ref).
What was that?
Was a "rater" charged with getting rid of rats in the area of dwellings?
Or was that someone charged with setting rates (or prices) of things?
Ah, makes much more sense now
Thank you!