Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1872-07-12
How Old-Timed Virginians Punished
Snn1ds.

AUW O1u-41lUGu SAS lu1ctuS U1ASACU
Scolds.
A Mr.. Thomas Hartley, a connection
of Governor Endieott, of Massachusetts,
made a visit to Virginia in 1884 In
writing to the Governor, on June 6. of
that year, he felicitates himself on the
fact that he has been greatly blessed by
Providence since he has been allowed to
see how the people in Virginia deport
themselves ''in their families, their
churches and their courts" He was par
ticularly impressed by that popular insti-
tuition, a ducking stool-a device which
the Virginian colonists. it seems, learned
in England. to keep women from fully and
freely expressing their opinions of each
other and of the male sex. Mr. Hartley
was evidently gentleman who desired to
keep woman lin her proper sphere" and
gravely says Of the male Virginians:
"They have law which reades some
what in this wise: Whereas it be sim
and shame for scolding and lying Ton
CUES to be left to run loose as it is often the
way amongst women, be it therefore en-
acted vt any woman who shall. after be-
ing warned three several times by ye
Church, persist in excessive scolding or
in backbiting her neighbors, shall be
brought before ye Magistrate for exami-
nation. and if ye offence be fairly proved
Upon her, she shall be taken by an Off
Ger appointed for ye purpose, to ye near
est pond or deep streame of water, and
there, in the presence of said Magistrate
and of her accusors, be publicly ducked
by said officer in ye waters of sd pond or
streame until shee shall make solemn
promise vt shee'l never sin in like manner
again"
Mr.. Hartley was immensely edited by
witnessing shining example Of the ben
efcial operation of the law; and we quote
the remainder of his letter in full:
1.-THE day before yesterday. at 2 of ye
clock in ye afternoon. ! saw this punish
mcnt given to one Betsey, wife of John
Tucker, who, by ye violence of her tongue,
has made his house and ye neighbor-
hood uncomfortable. She was taken to
ye pond near where / am sojourning by
ye officer, who was joyned by ye magis-
trate and ye minister. Mr.. Cotton, (who
had frequently admo2;>hed her,) and a
large number of peos< They had ma
chine for ye purpose; vt beionged>to ye
parish, and which I was told, had been
so used three times this summer. 1t is a
platform with four small rollers and DO
upright posts between which works lever
by rope fastened to its shorter or heavier
end. At ye end of ye longer arm is
! fixed stool upon which sd Betsy was fast
ened by cords, her gown tied and fastened
around her. The machine was then moved
up to ye edge of ye pond, ye rope was
slackened by ye officer, and ye woman was
allowed to 60 down under ye water for ye
space of half a minute . Betsey had a
stout stomach and would not yield until
she had allowed herself to be so ducked
five several times. At length she cried
piteously, Let me 60! let me go? by Gods
help I'll sin so no more. Then they drew
back ye machine, united ye ropes and lei
her walk home in her wetted clothes, a
hopefully penitent woman.
"Methought such reformer of great
scolds might be of use in some parts Of
Massachusetts, Bay, for have been trou.
bled many time by the clatter of yc
scolding tongues of women vt like ye clack
of ye mill, seldom cease from morning till
night.
Il expect to stay here about the space
of moon yet, when shall goe in ves-
sci from jamestown to Salem, where |
shall have ye honor of saluting you and
Mr.. Williams as yr humble and most ob't
servant, THOMAS HARTLEY.
"Governor Endicott"
It seems that Mr.. Thomas Hartley
pious wish that the ducking-stool should
be imported into. Massachusetts was graft
fed and the writer of the article in the
Record gives wood-cut representing the
Massachusetts variety of this ingenious
contrivance for promoting the peace Of
families 1t must be confessed that Mas,
sachusetts was, as usual, little ahead ol
Virginia in civilization. An arm chair
was here substituted for the stool, and our
vixens had thus slight advantage over
their erring sisters of Virginia. Boston
Globe.