Evening star., 1895-05-28
VIRGINIA BLUE LAWS.
Quaint Ways of Regulating Society
in Olden Times.


Fredericksburg Letter in Cincinnati Enquirer.
The so-called Northern Neck" of Vir-
ginia is a veritable reliquary of antiqui-
ties relating to early American history.
Here are concentrated countless memories
of the past, when this modern world of
ours was young, and the dream of a young
yet giant-like republic had not come into
the night hours of our forefathers. Every
step upon the soil, reverently called sa-
cred, revves these memories, and calls in
to being again scenes of the past that are
now glorious. Importation has not de-
stroyed the old colonial spirit of these
people. Virginia of these parts Is the same
commonwealth that it was in the days
when Washington was boy. The same old
customs obtain, the same old forms are
observed, and the same old existence pur-
sued.
1t is in the old court house that the an
tiquarian can reap the fullest benefit of
researches into the laws of colonial days.
Reading from the docket of one of his
majestys justices Of the peace, William
John, gent, who presided with others at
the courts held for Richmond county dur
ing the year 1717. it can be learned that
moral waves were wont to rise and beat
against the embattled shores of sin for
brief season and then recede. to leave the
sea of public sentiment calm and undis-
turbed.
mond county. which, it may be stated, were
begun in 1852. In these gaps, so called,
there appear no presentments from the
grand jury against persons for delinquency
in the payment of tithes, absenteeism from
church, drunkenness and ''prophane" swear
ing. Then, again, the scrivener was kept
busy jotting down in the queer engrossing
script of those days the findings of the
justices against victims of a Parkhurstia tan
wave, and the humble answers of these
victims to the findings in question.
For "PrOphane" Swearing.
Whereas, George Alsup of Hanover pish
parish) was summoned to answer the pre-
sentiment of the Grand Jury against him
for being Common Swearer, and for Pro-
phane swearing one oath, and for being a
common drunkard, ,and for being drunk and
for absenting himself from Church for two
months, the said George Alsup this day ap-
pearing and offering nothing material to
Excuse himself. 1t is Ordered that he be
fined as followeth, viz: For being a COM
mon swearer and prophanely swearing one
oath, i've shillings or 80 pounds of Tobacco
for being q common drunkard and for be-
ing drunk, five shillings or 80 pounds of
tobacco, for absenting himself from church
for two months tenn shillings or 100 pounds
of tobacco and that he pay the several
and respective fines unto the church war
dens of the said pish Of Hanover, with
costs ats ex."
It. D,
with his sureties, appeared and bound him
self in the sum of Tenn Poundes," to be
levyed upon his and their property to con-
duct himself in good behavior toward his
Sd. Majesties as well as all Liege people"
Another page recites the doom of 10 evil
doers who failed to respond Amen from
the church in Farnham parish in the same
county. 1t says:
Whereas. Luke Hanks John Hanks.
Thomas Spurlcch, Richard Ellet, John Mil
Ter, John Key, VIM. Sanford, Richard Mil
ton, John Taylor and John Jacobus Ballet,
all of Farnham pish, was summoned to
answer the presentment of the grand Jury
against them for not going to church for
one month and being now called and not
appearing. it is ordered that the sheriff
take them into custody and them safely
keep till they enter into bond with good
and sufficient security for their appearance
at the next Court to answer to the said
preSentment."
One of the earliest records of Stafford
county goes back to the year 1853, and re-
calls the fact that suffering and sorrow
are as old as the world. This extract tells
its own pathetic story:
Know al! Men by these presents that I,
Anne Carmalt, late of Maryland, but now
of Stafford county. in Virginia, Widow do,
for divers good causes, put and bind as
servant to my loving friend Edward Bar
ton. of Stafford County, one of my children
now with me in this my great want &
Necessity, as now being a poor widow,
therefore for the more and better Christian