Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1855-11-01
Puritan Manners and Customs.

The law maxim, 'Consuleludo pro lege ser.
Y atur, expresses what we all feel-that custom
Is law; AMI is it not stronger than any sta tutei
free people project themselves into their GUS
toms and manners as part Of their freedom.
So it was with our MedGord ancestors. The
children Of our 6rst settlers, removed from
the sight and dread Of European ariStocracy
and social oppression, grew up as the iron cir
cumstances of spioneer life moulded them
Individuasm seemed forced upon them: and,
if State organization existed, they felt that it
existed by them, and not they by it. An intel
ectual and moral manliness grew out of this
fact.
Some of -the customs OF our ancestors we're
inconceivably puerile, some were needlessly Sc
we're, and some gloriously noble. The Pur :
tan idea Of religion was woven. like a golden
thread, through the entire web of human life t;
and nothing but their religion would have en-
abled them to accomplish what they did.
1t was the custom in Medford for the select
men to appoint thank sgiving day on hearing
of any victory gained by British arms in any
quarter of the world. They ordered town
fast il a case Of small pox was reported among
them, or if the weather was uEfavorable, or If
sickness prevailed. or if Quakers threatened to
their plantation But they were some physi,
cal and social evils which they did not go to
God either to prevent or remedy; they took
the administration into their own hands. 4
Commissioners Court, composed in part Of the
Select men of Medford, had jurisdiction within
the town, and could issue warrants and enforce
Judgments. This easy terror proved effective
in restraining lawless conduct. The agency Of
this judicial and executive power may be seen
in an account of crime and punishments. We
t1rn to more agreeable customs.
Marriages. Whether it was from Jealousy of
ministerial rights, or hatred Of Episcopal forms
or from considering the nupital tie as a mere
civil bond, or from any other cause but the
General Court early deprived clergymen of the
power solemnizing marriages, and bestowed
it on magistrates. The Legislation was in di.
rect hostility to English usage. May 20, 1886.
the General Court make proclamation author
izng clergymen to solemnize marriages: but it
was a long time before it became common to
apply to them.
Ifa man made "a motion Of marriage to bis
chosen one, without first gaining permission Of
her parents, be was fined severely. Before
they could be legally married, they must be
'sried' three times in some public place, each
announcement being seven days apar:.
Weddings were occasions Of exuberant jolity.
Pent-up nature leaped forth an hilarious spring
proportioned to the social duress in which it had
been held. To show how much was thought
of these red.letter days in Medford, there were
instances where provisions for them were
made in wills. The entire day was devoted to
one: and everyform of youthful frolic and ma.
ture joy came in turn. The house of the
bride was open for all the invited guests Of
both parties, and rural games were ali the
fashion. The cake and wine, though abun-.
dant, did not prevent the offer Of more sub,
stantial viands. A custom like this would be
apt to run into extremes. and this became SC
apparent as to call forth from the ministers o.
Boston a testimony against evil customs il