The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1920-11-19
THE BLUE LAWS OF
NEW ENGLAND

NEW E1NuLh4ND
The following excerpts, taken from
the blue laws of the Plymouth Col
ony. Mass, and from the Connecticut
statutes beginning 1886, enforced by
to the liberty loving American OF the
the civil magistrate, will be of interest
twentieth century,. ;,
"Whosoever shall profane the Lords
day by doing unnecessary servlle
work, by unnecessary travelling, or by
sports and recreations, he or they that
SO transgress shall forfeit for every
such default 40 shillings or be pub
licly whipped; but if it clearly appear
that sin be proudly. presumptuously,
and with high hand committed
against the known command and au-
thority of the Blessed God, such a
person therein despising and reproach-
| ing the Lord, shall be put to death
or grievously punished at the Judg-
| ment of the court"
"If any man or woman be witch,
or consulteth with familiar spirit
they shall be put to death"
"May II, 1876: II any person
henceforth either on Saturday night
or on the Lords day night, though it
be after the sun is set, shall be found
sporting in the streets or fields of any
town in this jurisdiction, or be drink
ing in houses of public entertainment
or elsewhere, unless for necessity; eV-
cry such person so found. shall pay
10 shillings for every such transac-
ton or suffer corporal punishment for
default of due payment.
"And it is further ordered that no
seryile work shall be done on the
Sabbath; vix. such as are not works OF
piety or necessity; and no protane
discourse or talk. rude or unrevereno
behavior, shall be used on the holy
day." - o, +,
shall be banished and not suffered tc
return, upon pain of DEATH"
"No priest shall abide in this domln
ion: he shall be banished and suffer
death on his return. Priests may D.
seized by any one, without warrant
I'm force before 1861 -,
"Adultery shall be punished witt
DEATH" (Reenacted in 1861
| luQR1 SIiull utlSl NNiA'A
versies without jury"
"No man shall hold any office wh'
is not sound in the faith and faithful
to his dominion; and whosoever give
! vote to such person shall pay fin'
of one pound; for second offense n
shall be disfranchised.'
: each freeman shall swear by tn
| Rlessea God to bear true allegiance t
this dominion, and that Jesus Chris
is the only King" -,
= "No Quaker or dissenter from tn
r established worship of this domino
shall be allowed to give a vote for tn
$ election of magistrates or any officer.
i mo food or lodging shall be afford
e ed to a Quaker, Adamite, or othe
S hereto" =.
e mo one shall run on the Sabbat
4 day, or walk in his garden. or else
= where, except reverently to and fror
+ meeting" :,
: mo one shall travel, cook victual
make beds, sweep the house, cut hal
q or shave on the Sabbath day"
a tsNo woman shall kiss her child o
o the Sabbath day."
: "The Sabbath shall begin at sunse
s on Saturday"
Il "No one shall read any prayer, kee
Christmas or saints days, make mine
:. pie, dance. play cards. or play or an
a instrument of music except drum
trumpet, and jew's-harp:"
mo gospel minister shall JOIN pee
; pie in marriage. The magistrates OF
l. ~ shall join in marriage, as they ma
u do it with less scandal to Christ
~ church" =,
o "Tf any man shall kiss his wife
= wife kiss her husband on the Lord
, II day. the party in fault shall be puI
l. ished at the discretion of the cou
c or magistrate"
S gathering sticks on Sabbath lSu
day. when unnecessary, is puln1ishab
h by death, but if gathered privily or
e. need, lesser punishment may be
a. ministered by whipping the offender