Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-04-17
A CRUEL CODE
THE FAMOUS BLUE LAWS" OF CON-
NEcTicUT.

NEcTlcUT.
The territory now comprised in the
State OF Connecticut was formerly two
colonies, Connecticut and New Haven.
The colony of Connecticut was planted
at Windsor, in 1858, and at Wethers-
field in 1856. The other colony was
settled by emigrants from England in
1923, and was called the dominion OF
New Haven. The two colonies we're
united in 1865.
The statutes below are from an OLD
volume relating TO the history Of Amer
ican colonies. They were enacted by
the people o. the dominion of New
Haven, and we're rigidly inforced
The governor and magistrates con-
vened in general assembly are the SUI
preme power under God OF this inde-
pendent dominion.
From this determination OF the as
sembly no appeal shall be made.
Conspiracy against the dominion shall
be punished with death.
Whoever says there is power and
jurisdiction above and over this do
ninion shall suffer death.
| Whoever attempts to change or over
turn this dominion shall suffer death.
No one shall be freeman or give a
vote unless he be converted and mem-
ber in full communion of one OF the
churches allowed i'll this dominion.
Each freeman shall swear by the
blessings OF 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 the dominion
shall be allowed to give a vote for the
election OF a magistrate or any other
officer.
No food or lodging shall be offered to
a Quaker, Adamlte or other hereto.
Ii any person turn Quaker he shall be
banished, and not suffered 10 return,
not on pain OF death.
NoQuaker priest shall abide in the
dominion; he shall be banished and
suffer death on his return.
Priests may be seized by any one
without warrant.
No one shall run on the sabbath day,
or walk in his garden or elsewhere, ex-
cept reyerently to and from meeting.
No one shall travel, cook yictuals,
make beds, sweep the house, cut hair or
shave on the sabbath day.
No woman shall kiss her child on the
sabbath or fasting day.
The sabbath day shall begin at sunset
on Saturday.
TO pick an ear of corn growing in
neighbor's garden shall be deemed
theft.
IA person accused OF tresspass in the
nights hall be deemed guilty unless he
clears himself by his oath.
4 When it appears that an accused has
confederates and he refuses to discover
them, he may be racked.
il None shall buy or sell land without
permission OF the selectmen.
A drunkard shall have q master APP
pointed by the selectmen, who are TO
debar HIM from liberty oil buying and
selling.
Whoever publishes lie to the preju-
dice of his neighbor shall be set i'll the
stock to receive ten stripes.
No minister shall keep school.
Men stealers shall suffer death.
Whoever wears clothes trimmed With
gold, silver or bone lace above two
shillings per yard shall be presented by
the grand jurors, and the selectmen
J slall tax the offender e300 Of his 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 a house, shall suffer death, and
persons suspected of this crime shall be
I i'm drisoned without the benefit OF bail
Whosoever brings cards or dice into
, the dominion shall be fined f5.
No one shall read common prayer
} books, keep Christmas or set days, eat
mince pies, dance, play cards or play
: any instrument OF music except the
trumpet, drum and Jews harp.
No gospel minister shall join people
I in marriage. The magistrates shall
r join them in marriage, as they may do
1t with less scandel To Christ : church
; When parents refuse their children
convenient marriages, the magistrate
. shall determine the point.
The selectmen, ON finding the chill
dren ignorant, may take them away
5 from their parents and put them in bet
ter hands at the expense OF their par
| ents.
+ A man that strikes his wife shall pay
fine OF el0.
A woman that strikes her husband
i shall be punished as the court directs.
A vile shall be deemed good evidence
. against her husband.
No man shall court n maid, in person
+ or by letter, without first obtaining con-
Z sent Of her parents; e5 penalty for the
I first offence, el0 pounds for the second,
: and the third imprisonment during the
pleasure OF the court.
!, Married people must live together OF
II be imprisoned.
Every maa shall have his hair Gu
+ round according to cap.