The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-01-30
EARLY COLONIAL LIFE.
Tho Political and Economic Condition OF
tho Now England Colonies


Tho Political and Economic Condition OF
tho Now England Colonies.
In u review of Mr.. d. Weeden's "Econ.
omio and Social History of Now Eng
land" q writer for the New York Tri.
bune says:
They took life very seriously, beyond
question Tho town meeting fined peo-
Pic tor attendance. Duties to church
and State were compulsory. Nobody was
allowed liberty Of conscience. or course,
much OF the assumed unity of belief
implied in these rigid regulations was,
In manner, based upon tho initial
agreement among the propriotors Of a
new plantation. They would not have
como together had they not been OF ono
mind; and. being CT ono mind, tho rulos
which Kept them up to tho ma, civical-
~ and enthusiastically were merely in
the line OF wise and necessary disci-
pline. No man is compelled to enlist
at least, In time OF peace-but having
enlisted, he must submit to be governed
by tho articles Of war. But in truth, tho
lnvasions OF individual freedom wero
carried very Tar in tho seventeenth CEN
fury. Among other customs, Mr.. Weo-
don tells us: Tho impression OF labor
for particular service was common.
Either tho public need or the demands
OF private business could enforce it. In
the harvest-time artificers and mechan-
les, compelled by tho constable, must
leavo their crafts, unless they had har-
vosting OF their own, and betake them
selves to the folds OF their neighbors.
They worked for others at regular
wages, fixed by statute" Another cur
1ous custom was that (this was in Dor
chester, 1887 ANY member or house.
holder" OF that community chosen to
goo for soulder" might leavo tho caro-
OF any business at homo to a friend,
who should DO paid at soldiers rates. If
tho conscript was unable to obtain this
home-workor then ono of four citizens
named might ''enjoyno who thoy shall
think lit to worlc in this kind for tho
helpe of neod;" this substitute must
work or pay n fine.
Efforts to regulate wages by statute
wero constantly being made, but Of
course invariably failed. In 1868 tho
General court made a law that master
carpenters, sawyors, masons, 'clapboard
dryvors,' briclIlaycrs, tilors joiners,
wheelwrights, mowers, otc., were to ro-
ceive not moro than 3 shillings day
whom boarding themselves or ii pence
day with dyott' Inferior workmen
In the same occupations were to be rated
by constable and two others.n Re-
sides this, penalties wero prescribed
against both giver and receiver OF extra
wages" Thoro must be no idlonoss,
under ponalty, and special caro- was de-
voted to "comon COASTERS, Improbable
fowlers and tobacco-takors. knights
OF Labor and walking delegates would
have had an unhappy timo in those days,
beyond question. Tho laborer was
sometimes fined for taking extra pay,
though the employer was not punished
for giving it. Mr.. Weldon remarks on
this: The contrast in treatment of ON
ployor and employed, in tho attempt to
limo one and not the other for the same
oitense, reflects tho notion of tho timo
regarding labor. They firmly believed
that tho laborer owed moro to society
than 1T owed to him." Tho rewards of
apprent iceship showed this worry clearly.
A boy might BIO bound from his seventh
to his twentyflrst year, during tho
whole Of which time he received no
'--1 W itSShihS bub DObTQ AllQ ClOLn-
ing-nnd at tho end Of his torn his mas
ter was under obligation to bestow upon
him some such munificent provision ms
double apparel (that is. two suits of
clothos), musket sword and bandoliers,
and 20 shillings." A girl, aftor five
years service, was to receive q she-
goat to help her starting in life" The
conditions OF service were rigorous,
moreover. The courts whipped, i'm
prisoned and fined erring servants.
Ono Maxwell, in York. in 1851, is thus
condemned for ''exorbitant and abusive
carriages toward his master and mis-
tress." The charges amount to pounds
10 shillings, and II he can not pny this
sum to his master then no may be sold
to Virginia, Barbadocs or any English
plantation"