The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-12-31

The records of many convictions under
these laws are still preserved in Connecti-
cut; and in Massachusetts,, where very
similar, ifnot in all respects identical, code
was adopted The worthy Justice Ludlow,
to whom was intrusted the task of codifica-
ton, was shortly after its completion pub.
licly called "Justass Ludlow" by one
Captain Stone, to whose taste the laws
were too 'blue" to be agreeable For this
offence the Captain was fined e1O0, banished
from the colony, and prohibited to return
without the Governors permission, under
pain Of de1th.
Among other convictions, the following
that took place before the arrival of Sir
/ Edward Andres and the establishment of a
mIider code of government, may serve as
specimens Of Blue Justice
Nicholas Taner, servant to Mr.. Perry, was
publicly whipped for being drunk and abus-
ing his master.
Isaiah, Captain Turner'S son, was fined 60
for being drunk on the Lords Day.
William Bromfield was set in the stocks
for prolaning the Lords Day, and stealing
the wine of Mr.. Malborn, his master.
David Anderson was publicly whipped for
being drunk; and Goodman Leone was
whipped and sent out of the plantation,
being not only a disorderly person himself,
but an encourager of Others to be drunk.
George Spenser, being profane and disor-
derby in his whole conversation, and an
abettor of others to sin, was whipped and
sent out of the plantation; and ohm Proute,
Henry Brazier and William Bromfeld, for
joining in a conspiracy with the said
Spenser 'to carry away the Cock to Vir-
ginia," were also sentenced to be whipped,
/ but not balished. Bromfield, being an old
/ offender, was sentenced to "wear irons
during the magistrates pleasure"
/ Thomas Parsons, servant to Elias Park
more, was whipped for mis- sinful dalliance
and folly with Lydia Browne
| John Lobell, the miller, for sinful DALI
ance with little wench of Goodman Halls
was whipped.
! Ruth Acie, covenant servant to Mr..
Malborn, was whipped for stubbornness,
/ lying stealing from her mistress, and yield
| ing to dalliance with William Harding.
/ Martha Malbon daughter of Mr. Malbon)
| for consenting to go in the night to venison
feast with William Harding, and yielding
| to dalliance witch the said Harding, was
whipped.
/ Goodman Hunt and his wife, for keeping
the counsels of the said William Harding,
/. baking him a pasty and a plum cake, and
4 keeping company with him on the Lords
Day, and she suffering Harding to Kiss her,
were ordered to be sent out of the town
within one month-'yea, in shorter time,
! if any miscarriage (misbehaviour) be found
what was the ultimate fate of this Don
Giovanni Harding, but the records of the
, colony are silent on the subject.
1 Josias Plaistowe, for stealing four baskets
+! of corn from the Indians, was ordered to
t return them eight baskets, to be fined g,
and hereafter to be called Josas Plaistowe,
and not Mr. Josias Plaistowe, heretofore.
Phillip Radcliffe, a servant to Mr.. Craddock
/ being convicted of most foul and scandalous
tenets against the Church and the Govern
ment, was sentenced to be whipped, to
have both his ears cut Oft, to be fined $40,
| and to be banished the plantation" All of
which were forthwith executed.
/ Thomas Petit, for suspicion of Islander,
/ idleness, and stubbornness, was ordered to
be severely whipped, and to be kept in
hold.
John Wedgewood, for being IN the compa-
ny Of drunkarIs (sic.) }, was ordered to be set
in the stocks.
/ John Kitchen, for showing books which
he was commanded to bring to the Governor,
and forbidden to show to any other, was
fined ten shillings
In the matter of dress-although in this
+ respect the Puritans were by no means
peculiar. and might have found abundant
precedents in the practice of the English
sovereigns up to and during the reign Of
Elizabeth--they objected to the extravaganza
of servants, and forbade them to attire
themselves like their masters and their
mistresses. A New England ordinance
/ declared
Chat intoieEabie excesse and bravery
hath crept in upon us, and that it was a
matter of detestatiOn and dislike that men
of mean conditions and callings should take
upon them the garb of gentlemen by
/ wearing gold or silver lace, or buttons, or
points at their knees, to walk in great
boots; or women of the same ranke to
wear silk or tiffany hoods or scarfs rchich,
though allowable to pers0ns of greater ESTATES
or more liberal education, lcdS tHtOLeFdbte in
persons Of such l0tc condition
In the Blue Laws of New Haven, which
were not. however, drawn up or codiied by
the State of Connecticut, it was ordered
that no one should ''travei. cook victualsi
make beds, sweep house, cut hair, or shave
on the Sabbath day; that no woman should
kiss her child on the Sabbath or Fasting
day; that no one should keep Christmas oil
Saint days; and that evesy male should
have his hair cut round according to cap.
! To "make any motion of marriage to any
mans daughter or maid-servant not having
first obtained leave aud consent of the
parents and masters SO to do, was made
punishable ''either by fine or whipping, oil
both. at the discretion of the bench" and
according TO the gravity or aggravation OF
the offence.
Such were the laws of the New Eng.
land communities in former times. The
laws have become obsolete; but, as
before remarked, the intermeddling and
intolerant spirit which produced them
still lives, and develops itself malig:
nantly in the agitations that have con
vuIsed the country from time to time.
He Yves Growing Uneasy.
"NNhat Is the matter, Alfred? What
do YOU find so interesting in the river