Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-08-18
curious OId.TIme Laws and customs.

On the way from Boston stopped over
night at Haverhill, Mass-a tiourishing
town of ~, 900 0inhabitants-to verify some
traditions.
Many Of the traditions of that old town
give curious accounts of the customs as
well as the sutierings of olden time. The
Sunday-always called the Sabbath-be-
gan ut sunset on Saturday. No labor was
performed ON that evening. Sundays
church services were announced by the
blowing of horn, or the hanging out of
flag. They began at nine a. m. and
lasted until twelve. There was then an
lntermission OF an hour. At one o'clock
in the afternoon services were resumed,
and continued until four. The people
were compelled by law to attend one ser
vice at least, and n fine was imposed on
all who rode rapidly either 10 or from
meeting. The sexton called upon the
minister and escorted him to the meeting
house.
There were few pews, and those for
'the quality" only, occupying the two
IireIIgrp,f fro rreacons7 lu "a boxshefore
the "elders' seat The people ut large
sat on benches arranged in the center of
the house, places on which were assigned
at annual town meeting according to So
Clui Hlduulu2. HIS OCGdSlOutu RISdl
iealousies "To seat the meeting house."
as it was called, was the most difficult
duty of the year. No person might take
offense and stay away. and no person
might occupy anotber's seat. A fine was
imposed in both cases.
The services began by prayer, which
was followed by singing psalm in
meter, dictated by a deacon line by line
to the congregation. Then followed the
" long prayer" occupying from sixty to
ninety minutes, during which time the
people stood. Neither kneeling nor read
ing of the Scriptures was adopted for
more than 100 years after Plymouth set
tlemcnt, both being regarded as initiative
of the Church of England A second
hymn followed the long prayer, and then
came the sermon, invariably written, and
occupying from one and a half to two
hours in delivery Baptisms, cases of
church discipline and collections were at
tended 10 in the afternoon. There was a
contribution every Sunday, preceded by
an appeal from one Of the deacons. The
boxes were not carried around, but the
congregation arose and proceeded to the
deacOns seat to deposit their offerings.
Magistrates and the quality" walked up
first, elders next, and then the common
people. -1a
The trials of ecclesiastical offenders at
the close of the afternoon services often
afforded amusement. For various Of
fenses there were various punishments,
When il was expected that confession
was TO be made the house was thronged.
After the bencdiction was pronounced the
minister passed out of the church bowling
to the people on. both sides, and followed
by his family, then by the persons who
occupied the pews, and finally by the
multitude.
When pews were Introduced over the
whole house their seats were hung on
hinges, 80 as to be turned up for the con
venience of ISLANDERS during prayers.
When the amen" was pronounced these
seats were again turned down. II pro
duced q loud noise, especially as the boys
found in the slam relief from tedi.
ousness, and change, therefore, 10 the
| present fixed seats was at length intro.
/ duCed
The settlement of Concord was nearly
| one hundred years later than that of Do
| yer, Portsmouth, Hampton and other sea
coast towns, dating, in fact, as late as
! l727, and yet old Puritan customs wer'
! brought hither from Massachusetts and
! long held sway over the people. Every
| thing which had the appearance of levity
| even in the beginning of the eighteenth
century, was discarded by the Pilgrims
| The drinking of healths and the use of to
bacco were forbidden, the former being
considered a heathenish and idolatrou'
practice, grounded on ancient libations
! the other as a species OF intoXication
! Laws were instituted to regulate socla
intercourse between the sexes and th'
advances toward matrimony. Pride
and ostentation came under thI
cognizance of the magistrate. Modes
of dress, cut of hair, manner OF speech
style of carriage and bearing, hours OF ris
ing in the morning and retiring at night
too rapid driving on the roads, too loud
prolonged or frequent laughter, bad con
duct ON the Lords Day, and Thousand
other things not regarded now as coming
under the Jurisdiction of the civil magls
trate, were made subjects OF municipa
regulations. Women were forbidden U
expose their arms or shoulders To view
Sleeves Of gowns were TO reach 10 III
wrist, and the neck was to be close
Men were required TO cut their hair short
so as not to resemble the other sex. M
person not worth two hundred pounds wa
allowed to wear gold or silver lace, Sill
hoods or embroidered scarfs.
Concord was too late OF settlement Z
partake in the persecution OF the Snakers
but tradition says that her garments AT
not as clean in reference TO witchcrafl
IL was here that an action at law wa
brought by Mary Thompson against hol
ert Green, charging him with. slande
for saving that - she was a witch and h
. | oo,,ld ,,roya her ona She Gained yel