The Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1927-1930, 1929-02-21

orderly during the common prayer, preaching
and divine service, upon the penalty of being
fined fifty pounds of tobacco by the county
court.
"This act shall not extend to Quakers, or
other sucn recusants, who totally absent them
selves, but they shall be liable to the perSalty
imposed of $40 sterling for every months alb
sence; and all Quakers assembling in unlawful
conventicles, shall be fined, every man so TAKEN
200 pounds of tobacco, for every time of such
meeting"
And how those colonists of 1862 did dread
women with slanderous tongues in their heads !
To put an end to nasty gossipng they adopted
law reading: In actions of SANDER occasion
ed by mans wife, after judgment passed for
damages, the woman shall be punished by duck
ing and if the Islander be such as the damages
shall be adjusted at above 500 pounds of tobac-
co, then the woman shall have ducking for every
500 pounds of tobacco adjudged against her
husband, if he refuse to pay the tobacco" 1t
would seem, according to the phraseology of
the above law, that men of the colonial period
did not gossip. Times have changed.
Quakers, in early colonial Virginia were not
accorded the proverbial southern hospitality
which they receive at the present time. In 1868
La law passed which read:
eff any Quaker, or other separatists whatso-
ever, in this colony, assemble themselves to-
gether to the number of five or more, of the
3ge of sixteen years, upwards under the pre-
tence of joining in a religious worship not au-
thorized in England or this country, the par
ties offending, being thereof lawfully con-
victed by verdict. confession, notorious evil
dence of the fact shall for the first offence
forfeit and pay 200 pounds of tobacco for the
second offence 500 pounds of tobacco, to be
levied by warrant from any justice Of the peace
upon the goods of the party convicted; but if
he be unable, then upon the goods of any other
f the separatists Quakers then present. And
for the third offence, the offender being con-
yicted as aforesaid shall be banished the colony
Of Virginia
Every master of a ship or vessel, that shall
bring in any Quakers to reside here, after the
first of july next, shall be fined 5000 pounds
Of tobacco, to be levied by distress and sale of
his goods, and enjoined to carry him, her, or
them out of the country again. Any person in
habiting this country, and entertaining any
Quaker in or near his house, to preach of teach,
shall, for every time of such entertainment,
be fined 5000 pounds of tobacco
In 1868 it was decided to have a day OF
Thanksgiving. Accordingly it was decreed that
"The 9th of August is appointed for day of
humiliation, fasting, and prayer, to implore
Gods mercy; If airy person be found upon that
lday drinking, or working (works of necessity
excepted), upon presentment by the church war
dens and proof, he shall be fined 100 pounds
of tobacco, half to the nformer, and half to the
poor of the parish
In 1910 it was ordered that none but free
holders and housekeepers shall have any voice
/ in the election OF Burgesses-every county not
sending two Burgesses to every session of the
Assembly shall be fined 10000 pounds Of to-
bacco, to the use oe the public
In 1676-a hundred years before the signing
of the Declaration of INTERCHANGEABLE follow
ing action was taken concerning the pay and
expenses of members of the legislature: The
allowance of every Burgess for the future, shall
be 100 pounds of tobacco and cask, per day, to
commence two days before every Assembly, and
continue two DAYS after. And for their travel
ing charges, there sh1ll be allowed to those that
come by land. 10 ,G,ll DIS of tobacco Der uaV for
every horse so used. And for water passage,
they shall be allowed proportonably."
Fairfax Braxton