The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-10-09
The Old Blue Law.

The territory now comprised in tn
state of Connecticut was formerly two
colonies-Connecticut and New Haven.
The colony of Connecticut was planted
at Windsor, in 1888, by emigrants from
Massachusetts, at Hartford in 1885 and
Wethersfield in 1886. The other colony
was settled by emigrants from England
in 1888, and was called the dominion
Of New Haven. The two colonies were
united in 1865. The statutes below
copied are from an old volume relating
to the history of the American colonies.
They were enacted by the people of the
Dominion of New Haven.
The governor and magistrates, con-
vened in general assembly, are the SUI
preme power, under God, of this indie
pendent dominion.
| From the determination of the Assem-
bly, no appeal shall be made
Conspiracy against this dominion
shall be punished with death.
Whosoever says there is a power and
jurisdiction above and over this domin-
ioh shall suffer death and loss of his
property.
Whoever attempts to change or over
turn this dominion shall suffer death.
No one shall be freeman or give
a vote unless he is converted and a
member in full communion of one
of the churches allowed in this domin-
| ion
Each freeman shall swear bv the
blessed God to bear true allegiance to
this dominion, and that Jesus is the
only king.
No Quaker or dissenter from the es-
tablished worship of this dominion
shall be allowed to give vote for
the election of magistrate or any off,
Ger.
No food or lod ging shall be offered
to Quaker. Atlantic. or other hereto
If any person turn Quaker he shall be
banished, and not suffered to return but
on pain of death.
No Quaker priest shall abide in the
dominion; he shall be banished and suf-
fer death on his return.
Priests may be seized by any one
without warrant
No one shall run on the Sabbath dav,
OF walk in his garden, or elsewhere,
except reverently to and from meeting.
No one shall travel, cook victuals,
make beds, sweep house. cut hair, or
shave on the Sabbath day.
No woman shall kiss her children on
the Sabbath or fasting day.
The Sabbath shall begin at sunset on
Saturday.
To pick an ear of corn growing in a
neighbours garden shall be deemed
theft.
A person accused of trespass in the
night shall be Judged guilty, unless he
clears himself by his oath.
When it appears that an accused has
confederates, and he refuses to discover
them, he may be racked.
None shall buy land or sell without
permission of the selectmen.
A drunkard shall have master. ap-
pointed by the selectmen, who are to
debar him from the liberty of buying
and selling.
Whoever publishes lie to the preju-
dice of his neighbor shall be set in the
stock or receive ten stripes.
No minister shall keep a school.
NaH-StcileTS Shall SuucT uedLn.
Whoever wears clothes trimmed
with gold, silver or bone lace above Is.
per yard shall be presented by the grand
jurors, and the sclectmen shall tax the
offender $500 estate.
A debtor in prison, swearing he has
no estate, shall be let out and sold to
make satisfaction.
Whoever sets fire in the woods
and it burns house shall suffer death;
and persons suspected of this crime
shall be imprisoned without benefit of
bail.
Whosoever brings cards or dice into
this dominion shall be fined f5
No one shall read common prayer
books, keep Christmas or set days, eat
minced pies, dance, play cards. or
| play on any instrument of music,
except the drum, trumpet and jews
hare.
No gospel minister shall join people
in marriage. The magistrates only
| shall join them in marriage, as they
may do it with less scandal to Christ's
c; urch.
| When parents refuse their children
convenient marriage. the magistrate
shall determine the point.
A man. thst strikes his wife shall pay
fine of 9lO.
Awoman that strikes her husband
shall be punished as the court shall di-
rect.
A wife shall be deemed good evidence
against her husband.
No man shall court maid in person
or by letter without first obtaining con-
sent of her parents; Is penalty for the
first offense. f1O for the second and for
the third imprisonment during the
pleasure of the court.
Married people must live together or
be imprisoned.
Every male shall have his hair cut
round according to a cap.
Even bald-headed man is justified
in complaining when he finds hair in the