The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-04-29
PROVISIONS OF OLD BLUE LAWS
Failure to Attend Church Cost Ten
Shillings-Other Fines.


| Thomas G. Hewlings, Of Chaplin, this
state and quartermaster Of Thomas G..
Prown Post, c. A. r., Of that place, is
the possessor of valuable book that
contains the acts and laws enacted
away back in 1850, which is being ex-
hibited among the members of the leg
stature. The first page of the laws
bears the coat of arms with &c. 2, r., =
meaning George Second King. The I'll
| tie Is, Acts and Laws passed by the
general court or assembly of His Ma
jasty's English Colony of Connecticut
| in New England in America. The
| book was printed at New London and
"Sold by Timothy Green, printer to the
Governor and Company of the Colony
aforesaid, 1850"
| The book is not as uncommon as some
| of the old documents, but 1t is by no
means a common book and possesses
considerable value and glance through
its contents brings to light some inter-
csting points, several pages being de-
voted to the Observance Of the Lords
day. In this connection the act Is en-
titled, IAN act for the due observance
and keeping the Sabbath, the Lords
day. and for preventing and Furnishing
disorders and prophaneness on the
same"
The act provides that all persons on
the Lords day must apply themselves
to the duties of religion, both in public
and in private, imposing fine of three
shillings on any one who neglects to at
tend public worship Any one who as
sembles in a meeting house and has
meeting without first getting leave from
the minister, is subject to fine OF ten
shillings. No person shall neglect the
pubis worship Of God In some lawful
congregation, and assemble in separate
companies in private houses under a
penalty of a fine Of ten eshillngs Any
one who worked or played on the Sab
batf, was subject to fine of ten shil-
lings. and the penalty for rude or pro-
fame conduct was forty shillings, and
1t cost twenty shillings to travel on
Sunday. Drinking was not allowed on
Sunday, and a ship could not sail out
of the harbor, fines being the penalty
for violations. In the event that the
person fined refused to pay he was to
be quickly whipt," and no appeal was
allowed.
Concerning swearing, which was pro-
hibited every day in the week, the law
reads
"Be it enacted by the governor coun-
Gil and representatives in general court
assembled, and by the authority of the
same, that If any person within this
colony shall swear rashly, vainly or
profanely, either by the Holy Name or
God. or any other oath, or shall sinfully
or wickedly curse any person or per-
sons such persons so offending, shall
upon conviction thereof, before any one,
assistant or justice of the peace, forfeit
and pay for every such offense, the sum
of six shillings.
"And If such person or persons so con-
yicted. shall not be able or shall refuse
to pay the aforesaid fine, he, or they,
shall be set in the stocks not exceeding
three hours, and not less than one hour
for one offense and pay cost of prosecu-
ton"
Rambling or gaming" as 1t was
known then was prohibited, the act say
ing that no tavern keeper, ale house
keeper or victualler, shall have or Keep
In. or about their houses, outhouses, |
wards gardens or other places to them |
belonging any dice, cards, tables, bowls, |
shuttle board, billiards, coytes, keils, To- |
pets or any other implements used In |
gaming. nor suffer any person to exer-
Use any Of the said games within their
said houses, on pain of forfeiting the
sum of forty shillings." People convict
ID of playing any Of the games were to
10 fined ten shillings. The head OF
anily who permitted gaming in his
,ouse was subject to fine OF twenty
Concerning the goals" they We're 10
70 kept in good repair, the prisoners
we're to bear their own charges and al
owed to use their own bedding ana
end for their own food, The Keepers
Who injured their prisoners were to be
med, poor prisoners were to be allowed
n take the oath and the creditor nou-
led and required to pay for his weekly |
oa,ntenance if he insisted on keeping |
he prisoner in goal"
The offenses against society were ND
rally provided for, the punishments be-
,e fines and imprisonments ana there
,ere all sorts Of laws the same as now
ome being more stringent and some"
that peculiar, viewed from the stand
o;n+ of the present century.