Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-01-15
THE RLUE LAWS.

what were the blne laws of New Eng
land. In Kiudall's 'rrssels, in Ameri.
ca in 1907, they are given snhstantisl-
ly as we publish them. These strange
prohibitions have long since become
obsolete, but as curious specimens of
Legislation in the early days al New
England we reproduce them for the
amusement OF our readers We are
prepared TO say that Grant endorscs
them in detail. but il is apparent he. un-
der the lead OF Bishop uaven, approves
the spirit of som= of Them: 49,. ....I..
No quaker or disseater from the es-
tabli.hed worship of bis dominion, shall
be allowed 10 give vote for the selec-
ton of magistrates. Or any officer -,
No food or lodging shall be afforded
to a quaker, adamite, or other hereto.
III any person tans quaker, he shall
be banished, and not suffered 10
return, but upon pain of,dca,h
No priest shall hide in the dominion;
he shall be- banish,d, and suffer death
on hi> return. Priests may be seized
by any one without warrant.
No one 30 cross river but with an
authorized frrryman
No one shall run on the Sabbath dav
or w=lk in his garden or elsewhere, eN-
cept revcrenty 10 and from meeting.
No one shall travel, cook v;tus's,
make beds, sweep house, cut hsir. or
shave on the Sabbath day.
~ Ill a
the Sabbath day.
The Sabbath shall begin a, sunset on
Saturday
TO pick an ear Of corn growing In
ncighbor $ garden, shall b. deemed THEFT.
y person accused of trespass in tho
night shall be judged gnllty, unless ID
clrar himself by his oath.
wv When II appears that an accused has
coni'derates. and he refuses 10 discover
them, he may be- racked.
No one shall buy or sell lands with.
out permission of the srlrctmcn.
"A irunkArd shall have master np-
pointed by the sce, 'men, who are 10
debar him from the liberty OF buying
aud selling.
'Whosoever publishes a lie TO the
prrjndice OF his ncighbor, shall sit in
the stocks, orbe whipped iittecn stripes.
No minister shall keep a school
Every ratable persvI. who refuses TO
pay his proportion 10 the support of the
munster of the town or parish, shall bo
fired by the cour, %, aid "a every
quarter, until he or she shall pay tho
rate TO the minister.
Men stenlers shall suffer death.
'Whosuever wear clothes trimmed
with gold, silver or bone lace, above
two shIIlings by The yard, shall be plo.
scntsd by III, grand jurors, aud the se.
lectmcn stall tax the vie6der 1t $500
estate. II fr Fl. tt.i a,r.
~ debtor ir prison, swearing he has
no estate, shall be lel out and sold TO
make satisfaction,
whoever sets a ire in the woods,
and it buns u hotrc, -halr suffer drnt1,,
aud persUrS Suspected oi thus crime shall
be imprisoned without benefit of bail.
Whoever brings caIds OF dice ipto
this dominion shall pay q fac OF f5.
mo one shall read common prayer,
keep Christmas or saint-days, or play
Oh any instrument OF music, except the
drum, trumpet and jews harp
No gospel minister shall join people
in marriage AS they may 10 II with
less scandal to Chrisi's church.
when parents refuse their children
convenient marriages, the magistrates
shall determine the poiui. .......
The selectlnen on finding children
ignorant, may take thee, away from
their parents and put them into better
hspds, at the expense OF their parentss
"A man that strikes bis wife shall paw
4 fine of fI0; a woman that strikes h"r
husband shall be pcDlsbej as Tho court
directs ......,.. ...., .......
"A wife shall DO deemed good
evidence against her husband
NO nrau shall court = maid 10 person,
or by letter, without first obtaining con
sent Of her parents; G5 tor the first Of.
fence; fl0 Tor the second; aud for tho
third, imprisonment during the pleasure
Of the court.
Every male shall have bis hair cot
round according 10 cap. ,a vt .
Ii is proper 10 say, however, ihst the
New England historians deny that theirs
were ever any such laws in existence
and deuonnce the sbovs quoted ss a for.
gerry and fahric',ion u a.ot e7'
I