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Story
October 5, 1884
The Daily Morning Astorian
Astoria, Clatsop County, Oregon
What is this article about?
Compendium of strict Puritan blue laws in early 18th-century Connecticut, covering governance, religious conformity, Sabbath observance, social conduct, marriage, and punishments for various offenses.
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OCR Quality
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Full Text
The good people of Connecticut must have had lively times in the old days, when the famous blue laws were in force. Here is a compendium of the Puritan regulations which were in force in the early part of the last century.
The governor and magistrates convened in general assembly and full power under God of the independent dominion. From the determination of the assembly no appeal shall be made.
Whosoever says there is a power and jurisdiction above and over this dominion shall suffer death and loss of property.
Conspirators attempting to change or overturn this dominion, shall suffer death.
The judges shall determine controversy without a jury.
No one shall be a freeman and give a vote unless he be converted and a member in full communion with one of the churches allowed in this community.
No man shall hold any office who is not sound in the faith and faithful to this dominion, and whoever takes a vote to such a person shall pay a fine of twenty shillings for the first offense, and for the second he shall be disfranchised.
Each freeman shall swear by the blessing of God to bear the true allegiance to this dominion, and that Jesus is the only king.
No Quaker or dissenter from the worship of the established dominion shall be allowed to give a vote for the election of magistrates or any officer.
No food or lodgings shall be afforded a Quaker, Adamite, or heretic.
If any person turns Quaker he shall be banished and not suffered to return but upon pain of death.
No priest shall abide in this dominion; he shall be banished, and suffer death on his return. Priests may be seized by any one without a warrant.
No one is to cross a ferry but with an authorized ferry-man.
No one shall run on the Sabbath day, or walk in his garden or elsewhere, except reverently to and from meeting.
No one shall travel, cook victuals, make beds, sweep house, cut hair or shave on the Sabbath day.
No woman shall kiss her child on the Sabbath or fasting day.
The Sabbath shall begin at sunset on Saturday.
To pick an ear of corn growing in a neighbor's garden shall be deemed theft.
A person accused of trespass in the night shall be judged guilty, unless he clear himself by his oath.
When it appears that an accused has confederates, and he refuses to discover them, he may be racked.
No one shall buy or sell land without permission of the selectmen.
Whoever publishes a lye to the prejudice of his neighbor shall sit in stocks or be whipped fifteen stripes.
No minister shall keep a school. Whoever brings cards or dice into this dominion shall pay a fine of £5.
Whoever wears clothes trimmed with gold, silver or bone lace above two shillings by the yard shall be presented to the grand jurors, and the selectmen shall tax the offender at £300 estate.
A debtor in prison swearing he has no estate shall be let out and sold to make satisfaction.
Whoever sets fire in the woods and it burns a house shall suffer death; and the persons suspected of this crime shall be imprisoned without benefit of bail.
No one shall read common prayer, keep Christmas or saints' days, make minced pies, play cards, or play on any instrument of music, except the drum, trumpet and Jews' harp.
No gospel minister shall join people in marriage, the magistrates only shall join in marriage, as they may do it with less scandal to Christ's church.
When parents refuse their children convenient marriages the magistrates shall determine the point.
Fornication shall be punished by compelling marriage, as the court may direct.
Adultery shall be punished with death.
A man that strikes his wife shall pay a fine of £10; a woman that strikes her husband shall be punished at the discretion of the court.
A wife shall be deemed good evidence against her husband.
No man shall court a maid in person or by letter without first obtaining the consent of her parents. Five pounds penalty for the first offense; £10 for the second, and for the third imprisonment during pleasure.
Married persons must live together or be imprisoned.
Every male shall have his hair cut round, according to a cap.
The governor and magistrates convened in general assembly and full power under God of the independent dominion. From the determination of the assembly no appeal shall be made.
Whosoever says there is a power and jurisdiction above and over this dominion shall suffer death and loss of property.
Conspirators attempting to change or overturn this dominion, shall suffer death.
The judges shall determine controversy without a jury.
No one shall be a freeman and give a vote unless he be converted and a member in full communion with one of the churches allowed in this community.
No man shall hold any office who is not sound in the faith and faithful to this dominion, and whoever takes a vote to such a person shall pay a fine of twenty shillings for the first offense, and for the second he shall be disfranchised.
Each freeman shall swear by the blessing of God to bear the true allegiance to this dominion, and that Jesus is the only king.
No Quaker or dissenter from the worship of the established dominion shall be allowed to give a vote for the election of magistrates or any officer.
No food or lodgings shall be afforded a Quaker, Adamite, or heretic.
If any person turns Quaker he shall be banished and not suffered to return but upon pain of death.
No priest shall abide in this dominion; he shall be banished, and suffer death on his return. Priests may be seized by any one without a warrant.
No one is to cross a ferry but with an authorized ferry-man.
No one shall run on the Sabbath day, or walk in his garden or elsewhere, except reverently to and from meeting.
No one shall travel, cook victuals, make beds, sweep house, cut hair or shave on the Sabbath day.
No woman shall kiss her child on the Sabbath or fasting day.
The Sabbath shall begin at sunset on Saturday.
To pick an ear of corn growing in a neighbor's garden shall be deemed theft.
A person accused of trespass in the night shall be judged guilty, unless he clear himself by his oath.
When it appears that an accused has confederates, and he refuses to discover them, he may be racked.
No one shall buy or sell land without permission of the selectmen.
Whoever publishes a lye to the prejudice of his neighbor shall sit in stocks or be whipped fifteen stripes.
No minister shall keep a school. Whoever brings cards or dice into this dominion shall pay a fine of £5.
Whoever wears clothes trimmed with gold, silver or bone lace above two shillings by the yard shall be presented to the grand jurors, and the selectmen shall tax the offender at £300 estate.
A debtor in prison swearing he has no estate shall be let out and sold to make satisfaction.
Whoever sets fire in the woods and it burns a house shall suffer death; and the persons suspected of this crime shall be imprisoned without benefit of bail.
No one shall read common prayer, keep Christmas or saints' days, make minced pies, play cards, or play on any instrument of music, except the drum, trumpet and Jews' harp.
No gospel minister shall join people in marriage, the magistrates only shall join in marriage, as they may do it with less scandal to Christ's church.
When parents refuse their children convenient marriages the magistrates shall determine the point.
Fornication shall be punished by compelling marriage, as the court may direct.
Adultery shall be punished with death.
A man that strikes his wife shall pay a fine of £10; a woman that strikes her husband shall be punished at the discretion of the court.
A wife shall be deemed good evidence against her husband.
No man shall court a maid in person or by letter without first obtaining the consent of her parents. Five pounds penalty for the first offense; £10 for the second, and for the third imprisonment during pleasure.
Married persons must live together or be imprisoned.
Every male shall have his hair cut round, according to a cap.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Social Manners
Moral Virtue
Justice
What keywords are associated?
Puritan Laws
Blue Laws
Connecticut Regulations
Sabbath Rules
Religious Conformity
Social Punishments
Historical Ordinances
Where did it happen?
Connecticut
Story Details
Location
Connecticut
Event Date
Early Part Of The Last Century
Story Details
List of Puritan blue laws regulating governance, religious conformity, voting, Sabbath observance, social behavior, marriage, and punishments including death, banishment, fines, and imprisonment.