Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-05-26
THE BLUE LAWS"

separate Colony, presents some curious facts
me volume has been in the possession of Mr.
Hoadiy the State Librarian, who borrowed it
ct the Antiquarian Society, Worcester Mass
Tor the purpose of copying il into the appendix
10 MS forthcoming work containing the Records
OF the Colony Of New Haven 1t is a small
quarto, Of eO.Pages, printed in small plea, and
bearing an imprint of London. in the year 1856
IL must have belonged to John Davenport. for
~ bears his name, In his own handwriting over
The title page The antique appearance Of the
book Is compfctc-its rude Typography and
rudsr photography, being similar to the speci-
mems or books Of that time which have been
preserved. The code was ordered to he printed
by the General Court OF New HaveH Colony, in
October, 1865, and 800 copies arrived in June
of the following year, which wore distributed to
tho several towns. " 1t was drawn up" says
MT Hoadly, "by Gov. Eaton, with the assist
anee OF the Elders of tho Jurisdiction and him
therein; tho Governor was requested to send for
one of the Massachusetts, law bosks, and to view
Mr.. COttOns Abstract Of Laws and tIoyern-
mont, then newly come from Europe"
This " Abstract of Laws and Government u
by " that ODDLY, Grave and Judicious Divine
Mr.. John Cotton, of Boston, in Now England ,;
IL itself almost as great n curiosity as the
Blue Lava lt wSs printed in London the
preceding year, 1665, and contains a sort Of di-
gsst OF the laws and principles enforced in Holy
Writ, with notes and comments by the com
piler. . -
The nickname Of the I. blue laws was piyep
10 the code, 1T Is said in consequence of an edi-
tion OF these laws having once been published
In blue covers. Given in derision, the term
became in time to be regarded almost as a syno
hym Tor Connecticut, 80 intimately WAS the
name of tho State associated in many Quarters
with the land of the blue laws -
The code thus unfavorRbly distinguished il
entitled . New Haven, settling in New Eng
land, and somo Lawes for Government - pub-
-hAN a.. . L.. q Al a.
the Articles of Confederation betwiyt the Plan
tations under the government of Massachu-
setts, the Plantations under the government of
plymouth, the Plantations under the govern
Inent Of Connecticut, and the government of
New Haven, With the Plantations in combina-
tiOn Herewith.
New Haven Colony WAS first erected in I6l3.
and existed till 1868, when it was joined to Con-
necticut, under King Charles's Charter The
towns composing the Colony were New Haven.
Milford, GuilfOrd. Stamford Branford and
SOuthold on Long Island.
Having lately had occasion to consult the old
Blue Law code, we noted few points.
1t provided that " none shall be admitted
Freemen OF tree Burgesses within this Juris
dlcfiOn, or any part of it, but such Planters ss
are members of some or other of the sp-
proved Churches OF New England None but
'hurch members were allowed to hold office. or
vote.
election day, which was a the last fourth dsy
IN tho week. commonly called Wednesday. in
May, either IN person, or by proxy II the
voter was otherwise pressingly engaged or re-
sided at an incOnvenient distance from the yot-
ing place II was permitted, = for the case of
the said Freeman that he might seUA his
vote, " either written. or in some other way
sealed up in the presence of the rest Of the
Freemen in the plantation where he dwelt.
hen men were named for Magistrates no
tice was required 10 be given TO all the Planta-
tions, and voters were requested in such cases
to send their votes, if in the afi irmative. by
putting in an Indian Corne" or if in the neG-
ative, putting in n Beane, or in such other
manner "a the General Court sha Judge more
convenient
The - General Court" wac made to consist of
Governor, deputy Governor, all the Magis-
trates, and of two deputies for each plantation
IN the jurisdiction, where there waz an othodox
church. This body was invested with fuIl
power - to consult of, and determine all such
matters as concern the pubIick welfare Of the
colony Ii was especially charged TO pro-
vide with all caro- md diligence for tho main
tsOsnce OF the purity Of Religion, and sup
presse the contrary according to their best
light, and directions from the word Of God -
UHences which are Low either suffered to 90
wholly unpuniShed, at most treated to a
light fine, were then often punished with
death Tho General Court, clothed with full
and arbitrary power. was accustomed 10 SEN
tence offenders In many cases to the severest
forms Of punishmont, the death penalty being
ahXed TO variety of lesser crimes which are
not now punished very severely. Public whip
ping at the cart; fastening in the pillOry and
IN the stocks, wearing halter about the neck
in public, fines, which wore for those times
very heavy, and a number of other penalties
were laid down large clas, Of offences
Kissing a man's wife ON sunday has gen
hos od to h,, s
which penalty was affixed in this old code ;
but there Is nothing Of the kind in it, The
assertion originated with tho Rev. Samuel
Peters Of Hebron; but u il an error, entirely
That offence" is not mentioned in the Blue
Laws.
Sabbath breaking punished with dca,h,
III ths "Hence was presumptuOusiy, and with
high hand committed against the command
Of God >
Profane swearing was punished by a heavy
hoe, 20 or more,) whipping, and putting tho
offender in the stocks
Ii any person be Witch, he or she shall
be put to doath.' Two executions of women
charged with being witches occurred about that
ume-One in Fairfield, and one in Stratfurd
Hereso' was punished severely The code
hfii rmed that although no Creature be Lord,
Or have power over the faith or conscences of
men, nor may constreyn them TO believe, or
prVlesse, against their consciences vet TO re-
IN dangerous Errours or Heresies, tending to
destroy the soules of men, it il ordered that if
any Christian within this Jurisdiction shall
zoe about to subyert or destroy the Christian
faith, or Religion, by broaching, publishing, or
maintaining any dangerous errours. or Hare
sic, or shall endeayOr to draw or seduce others
fhereunto, every such person 50 offending and
continuing obstinate therein, after due means
OF conyiciioa, shall be fined, BaHished, or
otherwise severely punished the Court of
Magistrates shall judge meet
Punishment in the pilory was awarded to
those who were guilty Of forgery
For behaving ''contemptuOusly towards the
Word preached, y such punishment vas awarded
as the Court of Magistrates saw fit TO inflict {;
and any man who absen ted himself from church
on Sundays or Fast days, was fined js If a
man refused to pay taxes for the benefit of the
church, or offered an ''unmeet proportion Of
the tribute he was expected to pay, the Court,
the Deputies, or the Constables might asSess
~ hat Nk,,v h.I.a a,-aIt teh Ill - 4