Crime and Punishment in Simsbury
Excerpted from
The Phelps Family of America and
Their English Ancestors, (Save
$201 by ordering through us.) Two volumes.
By Judge Oliver Seymour Phelps and Andrew T. Servin. (Eagle Publishing Company
of Pittsfield, Mass., 1899). Original spelling and punctuation
preserved.) pp 77-89.
In the code of 1650 all persons above the age of 14 years found
guilty of lying, are made punishable by fines, stocks or stripes-and
punished by parents in presence of officers.
Open contempt for God's holy word or ministers was rigorously
dealt with. The 1st. offence with reproof, and bonds for good
behavior; The 2nd. 5£, fine, and standing in the pillory
on a lecture day, bearing on the breast a paper duly labelled
in capital letters, "An open and obstinate contemner of
God's Holy Word."
Absence from church was visited by a fine of five shillings.
Forgery was punished by three days in the pillory--payment of
double damage to the injured party, and disqualification as a
witness or juryman.
Fornication by fine, whipping or prohibition to marry. For censure
of the General Court the stocks, and the whipping post, which
were peculiar institutions of the older times.
In a case of bastardy tried in the colony in 1639, the Court
ordered as follows: "John Edwards, Aaron Stark, and John
Williams were censured for unclean practices as follows:
John Edwards and John Williams to stand upon the pillory from
the ringing of the first bell to the end of the lecture--then
to be whipped at the cart's tail, and to be whipped in a like
manner in Windsor in eight days following.
Aaron Starks, to stand upon the pillory and be whipped as
Williams, and to have the letter R burnt upon his cheek, and
in regard to the wrong done to Mary Holt, to pay her parents £10
and in defect of such to the commonwealth; and it is the will
of the Court that Mr. Ludlow, and Mr. Phelps see some punishment
inflicted upon the girl for concealing it so long.
Branding was a form of punishment not uncommon -- burglarly
and highway robbery was blazoned with the letter B-A. 2nd. offence
by second branding, and a severe whipping.
Sept., 1644, James Hallett for his theft, is adjudged to restore
four fold for what shall be proved before Captain Mason, and
Mr. Wolcott, and to be branded in the hand the next training
day at Windsor.
These New England magistrates after the weeks courting and Ordering,
entered the meeting house on the Lord's day, and seated themselves
in the magistrates pew, and then sang
"O God our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our Eternal home"--etc.
What changes in laws and costumes, characters and worship
since that time! Now evil speaking, and evildoing and saying
are rampant, and infidelity boldly presents itself all over the
land.
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