Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1871-05-04
Mtsffliauenas.
The Blue Laws.
From the Boston Courier /

heard of the Connecticut "Blue Laws"
have probably never had an opportuni-
ty of perusing that famous code. The
territory now comprised in the State of
Connecticut was formerly two colonies
-Connecticut and New Haven. The
colony OF Connecticut was planted by
enigrants from Massachusetts at Wind
sor, in 1888, and at Hartford and Weth-
erstield in 1885 and 1886. The other
colony, styled by its founders the Do
! miniOn of New Haven, was settled by
emigrants from England in 1898. The
two colonies were united in 1865.
The statutes copied below, from an
ancient volume relating to the history
OF the American colonies were enacted
by the people of the Dominion of New
Haven :"
"The Governor and Magistrates, con-
vened in General Assembly, are the su-
prene power, under God, of this indie
pendent dominion.
I ''FrOln the determination of the as
sembly no appeal shall be made.
| The Governor is amenable to the
voice of the people. j. i-aI ,s l#
The Governor shall have no vote in
determining any question, except q
casting vote, when the assembly Shall
be equally divided. - -a'.aH5
The assembly of the people shall not
be dismissed by the Governor but shall
dismiss itself. r.' ..f'.I
Conspiracy against this dominion
shall be punished with death.
| Whosoever says there is p ,wer and
| jurisdiction above and over this domin-
, ion shall suffer death and loss of prop
erty. eW la'.f.i,- a-,f7 on
| Whosoever shall attempt to change
| or overturn this dominion shall suffer
death. ra t,-t
The judges shall determine contro-
vcrsies without jury.
No one shall be a freeman, or give a
| vote unless he be converted, and q
member in full communion of one of
the churches that are allowed in this
dominion. f.98i H.'I a-.R go
Each freeman shall swear by the
blessed God to bear true allegiance to
this dominion and that Jesus is the on
ly king. atrv
No Quaker or dissenter from the
established worship of this dominion,
shall be allowed to give a; vote for the
election of magistrate or any other Off
| Ger. ltr ag s.s.-L g.eI.
No food or lodging shall be offered to
a quaker, adaInite or other hereto.
If a person turns quaker he shall be
banished and not suffered to return but
| on pain of death. .a
No priest shall abide in this dOmin-
ion; he shall be banished; and suffer
death if he return.
Priests may be seizei by any one
| without a warrant.
No one can cross a river but with an
authorized ferryman. 8
No one shall run on the Sabbath day,
or walk in his garden, or elsewhere, eX-
cept reverently to and from meeting.
No one shall travel, cook victuals,
make beds, sweep house, cut hair, or
shave on Sabbath day. s,--.-.,.srs r.
No woman shall kiss her children on
the Sabbath or fasting day.
The Sabbath shall begin at sunset on
Saturday. -
To pick an ear of corn growing in a
neighbor's garden shall be esteemed
theft. ' ..- ~ F.
A person accused of trespass in the
night, shall be judged guilty unless he
clear himself by his oath.
When it appears that an ccused has
confederates, and he refuses to discover
them he may be racked.
None shall buy or sell lands without
permission Of the selectmen.
A drunkard shall have a master ap
pointed by the selectmen, who is to de-
bar him from the liberty of buying and
selling.
Whoever publishes a lie to the preju-
dice of his neighbOr, shall be set in the
stocks or whipped ten stripes.
No minister shall keep a school.
Every rateable person who refuses to
pay his proportion to support the min
ister of the town or parish, shall be fin
ed by the court s2; and "a every quar-
ter until ne or she pay the rate to the
minister.
Men-stealers shall suffer death.
Whoever wears clothes trimmed with
gold, silver, or bone-lace, above Is. per
| yard, shall be presented by the grand
urors, and the selectmen shall tax the
offender 9300 estate.
A debtor in prison, swearing he has
no estate, shall be let out and sold to
make satisfaction. .... sI
WhOsOever sets fire in the woods,
and it burns house, shall suffer death;
and persons suspected of this crime,
shall be imprisoned without benefit of
bail. ::
Whosoever brings cards or dice into
this dominion shall pay fine of five
pounds. i -' ". e.
No one shall read common prayer
books; keep Christmas or set days; eat
minced pies, dance, play cards, or play
on any musical instrument, except the
drum, trumpet, and jews harp. - o.
No gospel minister shall join people
in marriage. The magistrates only
shall Join them in marriage, as they
may do 1t with less scandal to Christ's
church, s 'r '.ye. .
When parents refuse their children
convenient marriages, the magistrates
shall determine the point. 81
The selectlnen, on finding children
ignorant, may take them away from
their parents, and put them in better
hands, at the expense of their parents.
FornicatiOn shall bepunished by COM
pelling marriage, or as the court shall
think proper. -
Adultery shall be punished with
death,
A man that strikes his wife shall pay
fine of ten pounds.
I A woman that strikes her husband
shall be punished as the court directs.
A wife shall be de med good evil
dence against her husband.
No person shall court maid in per-
son, or by letter without first obtaining