repairing churches.  In 1681 their portfolio was extended by the Highway Act  which gave them the responsibility of maintaining the roads and bridges in the parish. 

Municipal Boards
In 1866 with the implementation of Crown Colony Government a law was passed to abolish the Vestries and the Kingston Common Council.  They  were replaced by Municipal Boards, the members of which were elected by the Governor.  Their primary function was to care for the roads and bridges within each parish and in 1867 they became responsible for public health, markets, and fire brigades.

Reduction of Parishes
With the installation of Municipal Boards came a reduction in the number of parishes in the island.  Law 20 of 1867 reduced the number of parishes from twenty-two (22) to fourteen (14) to facilitate “…economical administration in the Departments of Justice, Police and Revenue...”  Port Royal was absorbed by Kingston, and St. John, St. Thomas-ye-Vale and St. Dorothy were absorbed into St. Catherine.  St. David, St. George, Metcalfe and Vere became parts of St. Thomas-in-the-East, Portland, St. Mary and Clarendon respectively.  Although the parishes were reduced to fourteen (14), by 1875 the powers of the Municipal Boards were extended to include the provision of water supply. 

Parochial Boards To Parish Councils
By 1886 the Municipal Boards were abolished by Law 16 of 1885 implementing the Parochial Boards with the exception of Kingston, which had a Corporation.  The Board consisted of persons in the Electoral district in the Legislative