The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-01-04
Puritan Blue Laws

The laws and prosecutions may, for con.
yenience sake, be divided into those which
oppressed the Puritans themselves; those
against other denominations; against Il c
Indians, and in regard to slaves. Besides
those already given We may notice many
others i'll detail remembering that they
were passed by those who favored liberty
and had iled from persecution.
by law, until l7G9, the dead could not be
buried in Massachusetts on Sunday, except
by special order of the magistrate. Meat
could not be dressed on Sunday. Sunday
was extended over Saturday night, and
that was ordered to be kept equally
sacred, Clement Walker gives as one
OF the Puritan's principles; THAT
if man be questioned for any crime,
though his judges have neither competent
witnesses, proofs nor evidence of his guilt
ness, yet if they think in their conscience
he IS guilty, they may condemn him out
Of the testimony of their own conscience"
In 1852 it was ordered by the Colony of
New Plymouth that those who decliNed
office be Gncd. In 1886 none were to DO
allowed to become housekeepers or build
cottages except by government order.
In 1910 any person who takes tobacco
while upon jury was fined live shillings.
IN iOl6, III any person or persons shall be
iounde or scene hereafter taking tobacco
publicly in the open streets OF any towne,'
they were to he fined.
:, In 1863 no single person was allowed to
live by himself, or III any family except
such US the selectmen approve, Any per-
son smoking on Sunday within two miles
OIL q church was fined. Constablcs were
empowered to break open houses and arrest
ioiks who remained away from church. In
i0.S none were allowed to come into the
colony but by order of the council. In 1911
any person who worshiped any god but the
true god land which that was the court
Was to judgcl, should be put to death,
Blassphemy, with the same proyiso, was
similarity punished. IF any Christian $50
called be q witch, he or they shall be put
70 death" Persons working, playing or
travelling on Sunday shall be fined, and il
presumptuouslyn committed, shall be put
TO death,
From the Massachusetts, Records, 1914 ;
Richard Waterman, being found erronc-
Gus, hcretical and obstinate, IL was ordered
that he Should be detained prisoner till the
quarter court In the seventh month, unless
I'VE OF the magistrates find cause to send
MIN away, which If they do, II is ordered
mat he shall not return within this juris-
diction upon pain Of death" The compiler
adds that such cases were frequent. Con-
necticut enacted laws of a similar character.
In 1855 1T is ordered that nee young
man that Is not married nor hath any ser.
,ant and be noe public officer shall keep
house by himself without the consent
Of the towne," under penalty Of a
line, nor shall any housekseper take u
young man to board without similar mis-
sion.
1887 people are forbid buying corn of the
Indians, lest that market be advanced TO
The prejudice Of the plantation markets.
IN 16tD no man or woman, with q wife or
husband in foreign parts, Is allowed to re-
side in Connecticut over two years. In
l0is people IRE forbidden to join In or look
at Indian dances and games, as II encour-
ages "their fooleres and devil worship"
In 1916 daily family worship Is advised