The corporation was to consist of a mayor, eight aldermen and twelve capital burgesses. The designated borough included a bailiff, twelve principal burgesses and a steward. As burghs developed there were more sophisticated houses for the nobles, burgesses and other inhabitants. It had a mayor, six aldermen and 26 burgesses. The resulting parliament included barons, clergy, knights, and burgesses for the first time. In 1639, Abergavenny received a charter of incorporation under the title of bailiff and burgesses. The charter also established a formal local council with an elected sovereign and 12 burgesses. Only the burgesses were elected by a vote of the people. The idea of electing burgesses was important and new. It had the right to elect 12 burgesses to the corporation. Both Inquests record 29 burgesses at Penzance and 40 at Mousehole. In 1289 a survey indicates there were 180 burgesses in the town. Mary was the granddaughter of Christopher Branch, a member of the House of Burgesses. In 1776 the House of Burgesses ended. He represented Henrico County in the House of Burgesses.