Puritan New England
"The God that holds you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider or some loathsome insect over the fire, abhors you and is dreadfully provoked. His wrath toward you burns like fire; he looks upon you as worthy of nothing else but to be cast into the fire."
Jonathan Edwards, 1734
Question: What conclusions can you draw about Puritan beliefs and the society they created in New England based on the documents below?
The following documents provide a window into the Puritans who settled New England. Your job is to use these documents to draw whatever conclusions you can about the Puritan's worldview and about the nature of the society they created. Your answer should NOT just be a recap of what each document says. Instead, you should use your posting to make an ARGUMENT about Puritan beliefs and society. Be sure to use evidence from ALL the different documents to PROVE your case. (I have included brief introductions for a few of the documents to help you understand their significance).
DOCUMENT 1
Reasons for the Plantation
in New England
ca. 1628
(From the Winthrop Society:
http://www.winthropsociety.org/doc_reasons.php)
Reasons to be considered for justifying the undertakers of the intended Plantation in New England, and for encouraging such whose hearts God shall move to join with them in it.
Diverse objections which have been made against this Plantation, with their answers and resolutions:
Objection I — We have no warrant to enter upon that land, which has been so long possessed by others.
Answer 1:
That which lies common, and has never been replenished or subdued, is free to any that possess and improve it; for God hath given to the sons of men a double right to the earth — there is a natural right and a civil right. The first right was natural when men held the earth in common, every man sowing and feeding where he pleased. Then as men and their cattle increased, they appropriated certain parcels of ground by enclosing and peculiar cultivation, and this in time got them a civil right — such is the right which Ephron the Hittite had in the field of Mackpelah, wherein Abraham could not bury a dead corpse without leave, though for the out parts of the country he dwelt upon them and took the fruit of them at his pleasure. The like did Jacob, who fed his cattle as boldly in Hamor's land (for he is said to be Lord of the country) and in other places where he came, as the native inhabitants themselves. And in those times and places, that men accounted nothing their own but that which they had appropriated by their own industry, appears plainly by this — that Abimileck's servants in their own country, when they oft contended with Isaac's servants about wells which they had dug, yet never strove for the land wherein they were. So like between Jacob and Laban, he would not take a goat of Laban's without special contract, but he makes no bargain with them for the land where they fed, and it is very probable that, had the land not been as free for Jacob as for Laban, that covetous wretch would have made his advantage of it, and would have upbraided Jacob with it as he did with his cattle. As for the natives in New England, they enclose no land, neither have they any settled habitation, nor any tame cattle to improve the land by, and so have no other but a natural right to those countries. So if we leave them sufficient for their own use, we may lawfully take the rest, there being more than enough for them and for us.Answer 2:
We shall come in with the good leave of the natives, who find benefit already of our neighborhood and learn from us to improve a part to more use than before they could do the whole. And by this means we come in by valuable purchase, for they have of us that which will yield them more benefit than all that land which we have from them.Answer 3:
God hath consumed the natives with a great plague in those parts, so as there be few inhabitants left.
Objection II — It will be a great wrong to our Church and Country to take away the good people, and we shall lay it the more open to the judgment feared.
Answer 1:
The departing of good people from a country does not cause a judgment, but warns of it, which may occasion such as remain to turn from their evil ways, that they may prevent it, or take some other course that they may escape it.Answer 2:
Such as go away are of no observation in respect of those who remain, and are likely to do more good there than here. And since Christ's time, the Church is to be considered universal and without distinction of countries, so that he that does good in one place serves the Church in all places in regard of the unity.Answer 3:
It is the revealed will of God that the Gospel shall be preached in all nations, and though we know not whether those barbarians will receive it at first or not, yet it is a good work to serve God's providence in offering it to them (and this is the fittest to be done by God's own servants) for God shall have glory of it though they refuse it, and there is good hope that the posterity shall by this means be gathered into Christ's sheepfold.
Objection III — We have feared a judgment a great while, but yet we are safe. It were better therefore to stay till it comes, and either we may flee then, or if we be overtaken in it we may well content ourselves to suffer with such a Church as ours is.
Answer:
It is likely that such a consideration made the Churches beyond the seas as the Palatinate, Rochelle, etc. to sit still at home and not look out for the shelter while they might have found it. But the woeful spectacle of their ruin may teach us more wisdom to avoid the plague when it is foreseen, and not to tarry as they did till it overtake us. If they were now at their former liberty we may be surer they would take other courses for their safety. And though half of them had miscarried their escape, yet had it not been so miserable to themselves and to religion as this desperate backsliding and abjuring the truth, which many of the ancient professors among them, and the whole posterity which remain are now plunged into.
Objection IV — The ill success of the other Plantations may tell us what will become of this.
Answer 1:
None of the former sustained any great damage but Virginia, which happened there through their own sloth and poor security.Answer 2:
The argument is not good, for thus it stands: Some Plantations have miscarried, therefore we should not make any. It consists of particulars, and so concludes nothing. We might as well reason thus: many houses have been burnt by kilns, therefore we should use none; many ships have been castaway, therefore we should content ourselves with our home commodities, and not adventure mens lives at sea for those things which we might live without; some men have been undone by being advanced to high places, therefore we should refuse all preferment, etc.Answer 3:
The fruit of any public design is not to be discerned by the immediate success. It may appear in time that the former Plantations were all to good use.Answer 4:
There are great and fundamental errors in the former which are likely to be avoided in this, for:
- their main end was carnal and not religious;
- they used unfit instruments — a multitude of rude and misgoverned persons, the very scum of the land;
- they did not establish a right form of government.
Objection V — It is attended with many and great difficulties.
Answer:
So is every good action. The heathen could say Ardua virtutis via, and the way of God's kingdom, which is the best way in the world, is accompanied with most difficulties. Straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, that leadeth to life. Again, the difficulties are no other than such as many daily meet with, and such as God hath brought others well through them.
Objection VI - It is a work above the power of the undertakers.
Answer 1:
The welfare of any body consists not so much in quantity as in a due proportion and disposition of parts. And we see other Plantations have subsisted diverse years and prospered from weaker means.Answer 2:
It is no wonder for great things to arise from small and contemptible beginnings — it hath often been seen in kingdoms and states, and may as well hold in towns and plantations. The Waldenses were scattered into the Alps and mountains of Piedmont by small companies, but they became famous Churches whereof some remain to this day, and it is certain that the Turks and Venetians and other states were weak in their beginnings.
Objection VII — The country affords no natural fortifications.
Answer:
No more did Holland and many other places which had greater enemies and nearer at hand, and God doth use to place His people within the midst of perils, that they may trust in Him, and not the outward means of safety. So when He would choose a place to plant His only beloved people in, He seated them not in an island or another place fortified by nature, but in a plain country, beset with potent and bitter enemies round about, yet so long as they served Him and trusted in His help they were safe. So the Apostle Paul said of himself and his fellow laborers, that they were compassed with dangers on every side, and were daily under the sentence of death, that they might learn to trust in the living God.
Objection VIII — The place affords no comfortable means to the first inhabitants, and our breeding here at home has made us unfit for the hardship we are likely to endure there.
Answer 1:
No place of itself has afforded sufficient to the first inhabitants. Such things as we stand in need of are usually supplied by God's blessing upon the wisdom and industry of Man, and whatsoever we stand in need of is treasured up in the earth by the Creator to be fetched thence by the sweat of our brows.Answer 2:
We must learn with Paul to want as well as to abound. If we have food and raiment (which are there to be had) we ought to be contented. The difference in the quality may a little displease us, but it cannot hurt us.Answer 3:
It may be that God will bring us by this means to repent of our former intemperance, and so cure us of that disease which sends many amongst us untimely to our graves and others to hell. So He carried the Isrealites into the wilderness and made them forget the fleshpots of Egypt, which was some pinch to them at first, but He disposed it to their good in the end (Deu. 8: 3: 16).
Objection IX — We must look to be preserved by miracle if we subsist, and so we shall tempt God.
Answer 1:
Those who walk under ordinary means of safety and supply do not tempt God, and such will our condition be in this Plantation, that the proposition cannot be denied. The assumption we prove thus: that place is as much secured from ordinary dangers as many in the civilized parts of the world, and we shall have as much provision beforehand as towns use to provide against siege or dearth, and sufficient means for raising a sufficient store to succeed that which is spent. If it be denied that we shall be as secure as other places, we answer that many of our sea towns and such as are upon the confines of enemies' countries in the continent, lie more open and nearer to danger than we shall. Though such towns have sometimes been burnt or despoiled, yet men tempt not God to dwell still in them; and though many houses in the country lie open to robbers and thieves (as many have found by sad experience), yet no man will say that those that dwell in those places must be preserved by miracle.Answer 2:
Though miracles be now ceased, yet men more expect a more than ordinary blessing from God upon all lawful means where the work is the Lord's, and He is sought in it according to His will. For it is usually with Him to increase or weaken the strength of the means as He is pleased or displeased with the instruments and the actions; else we must conclude that God hath left the government of the world and committed all power to His Creatures, and that the success of all things should wholly depend upon second causes.Answer 3:
We appeal to the judgment of soldiers if 500 men may not within one month raise a fortification which, with sufficient munition and victuals, may not make good against 3000 for many months, and yet without miracle.Answer 4:
We demand an instance of any Prince or state that has raised 3000 soldiers, and has victualed them for 6 or 8 months with shipping and munition answerable to invade a place so far distant as this is from any foreign enemy, and where they must run on hazard of repulse, and no booty or just title of sovereignty to allure them.
Objection X — If it succeed ill, it will raise a scandal upon our profession (of our religion).
Answer:
It is no rule in philosophy, but much less in divinity, to judge the action by the success. The enterprise of the Israelites against Benjamin succeeded ill twice, yet the action was good and prospered in the end. The Counts of Beziers and Toulouse in France miscarried in the defense of a just cause of religion and hereditary right against the unjust violence of the Count of Montfort and the Pope's Legate; the Duke of Saxony and the Landgrave had ill success in their defense of the Gospel against Charles the Vth, wherein the Duke and his children lost their whole inheritance to this day; the King of Denmark and other princes of this union had ill success in the defense of the Palatinate and the liberty of Germany, yet their profession suffered not with their persons, except it were with the adversaries of religion, and so it was no scandal.
DOCUMENT 2:
Connecticut Code of Laws 1650
(Excerpts)
http://www.connhistory.org/col_reading.htm#laws
Capital Laws
1. If any man after legal conviction shall have or worship any other God but the Lord God, he shall be put to death. Deut. 13: 6, 17: 2, Ex. 22: 20.
2. If any man or woman be a witch, that is, has or consults with a familiar spirit, they shall be put to death. Ex. 22: 18; Lev. 20: 27; Deut. 18: 10,11.
3. If any person shall blasphemy the name of God the Father, Son or Holy Ghost with direct, express, presumptuous, or high-handed blasphemy, or shall curse in the like manner, he shall be put to death.
4. If any person shall commit any willful murder, which is manslaughter, committed upon malice, hatred, or cruelty, not in a man's necessary and just defense, nor by mere casualty against his will, he shall be put to death. Ex. 21: 12-14; Num. 35: 30,31.
5. If any person shall slay another through guile, either by poisoning or other such devilish practice, he shall be put to death. Ex. 21: 14.
6. If any man or woman shall lie with any beast or brute creature, by carnal copulation, they shall surely be put to death, and the beast shall be slain and buried. Lev. 20: 15, 16.
7. If any man lies with mankind as he lies with woman, both of them have committed abomination, they both shall surely be put to death. Lev. 20: 10, 18: 20; Deut. 22: 23,24.
8. If any person commits adultery with a married or espoused wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. Lev. 20: 10, 18: 20; Deut. 22: 23, 24.
9. If any man shall forcibly, and without consent, ravish any maid or woman that is lawfully married or contracted, he shall be put to death. Deut. 22: 25.
10. If any man steals a man or mankind, he shall be put to death. Ex. 21: 16.
11. If any man rise up by false witness, wittingly and of purpose to take away any man's life, he shall be put to death. Deut. 19: 16, 18, 19.
12. If any man shall conspire or attempt any invasion, insurrection, or rebellion against the Commonwealth, he shall be put to death.
13. If any child or children above sixteen years old and of sufficient understanding shall curse or smite their natural father or mother, he or they shall be put to death; unless it can be sufficiently testified that the parents have been very unchristianly negligent in the education of such children, or so provoke them by extreme and cruel correction that they have been forced thereunto to preserve themselves from death, maiming. Ex. 21: 15, 17; Lev. 20.
14. If any man have a stubborn and rebellious son of sufficient years and understanding, viz., sixteen years of age, which will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and that when they have chastened him will not hearken unto them, then may his father and mother, being his natural parents, lay hold on him and bring him to the magistrates assembled in Court, and testify unto them that their son is stubborn and rebellious and will not obey their voice, and chastisement, but lives in sundry notorious crimes, such a son shall be put to death. Deut. 21: 20, 21....
Children
Forasmuch as the good education of children is of singular behoof and benefit to any commonwealth; and whereas many parents and masters are too indulgent and negligent of their duty in that kind: It is therefore ordered by this Court and authorized hereof that the selectmen of every town in the several precincts and quarters where they dwell shall have a vigilant eye over their bretheren and neighbors, to see, first, that none of them shall suffer so much barbarism in any of their families, as not to endeavor to teach by themselves or others their children and apprentices so much learning as may enable them perfectly to read the English tongue, and knowledge of the capital laws, upon penalty of 20s. for such neglect therein. Also, that all masters of families do, once a week, at least, catecize their children and servants in the grounds and principles of religion, and if any be unable to do so much, that then, at the least, they procure such children or apprentices to learn some short orthodox catechism, without book, that they may be able to answer to the questions that shall be propounded to them out of such catechisms by their parents or masters, or any of the selectmen where they shall call them to a trial of what they have learned in this kind. And further, that all parents and masters do breed and bring up their children and apprentices in some honest, lawful calling, labor, or employment, either in husbandry or some other trade profitable for themselves and Commonwealth, if they will not nor cannot train them up in learning, to fit them for higher employments. And if any of the selectmen, after admonition by them given to such masters of families, shall find them still negligent of their duty in the particulars aforementioned, whereby children and servants become rude, stubborn, and unruly, the said selectmen, with the help of two magistrates, shall take such children or apprentices from them and place them with such masters for years, boys till they come to twenty-one, and girls, eighteen years of age complete, which will more strictly look unto and force them to submit unto government, according to the rules of this order, if by fair means and former instructions they will not be drawn unto it....
Cruelty
It is ordered by this Court, and authority thereof, that no man shall exercise any tyranny or cruelty toward any brute creatures, which are usually kept for the use of man.
Gaming
Upon complaint of great disorder, by the use of the game called shuffleboard, in houses of common entertainment, whereby much precious time is spent unfruitfully, and much waste of wine and beer occasioned; It is therefore ordered and enacted by the authority of this Court, that no person shall henceforth use the said game of shuffleboard in any such house, nor in any other house used as common for such purpose, upon pain for every keeper of such house to forfeit for every such offence 20s.; and for every person playing at the said game in any such house, to forfeit for every such offense 5s.; the like penalty shall be for playing in any place at any unlawful game....
DOCUMENT 3:
New Essays;
or,
Observations Divine and Moral
By John Robinson
1628
http://www.pilgrimhall.org/robinson.htm
CHAPTER LX
OF CHILDREN AND THEIR EDUCATION
(Excerpts)
It is much controverted, whether it be better, in the general, to bring up children under the severity of discipline, and the rod, or no. And the wisdom of the flesh out of love to its own, alleges many reasons to the contrary. But say men what they will, or can, the wisdom of God is best; and that saith, that "foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, which the rod of correction must drive out;" and that "he, who spares his rod, hurts his son," Prov. xxii.15; xiii.24; not in the affection of person, but effect of thing. And surely there is in all children, though not alike, a stubbornness, and stoutness of mind arising from natural pride, which must, in the first place, be broken and beaten down; that so the foundation of their education being laid in humility and tractableness, other virtues may, in their time, be built thereon. This fruit of natural corruption and root of actual rebellion both against God and man must be destroyed, and no manner of way nourished, except we will plant a nursery of contempt of all good persons and things, and of obstinacy therein. It is commendable in a horse, that he be stout and stomachful, being never to be left to his own government, but always to have his rider on his back, and the bit in his mouth. But who would have his child like his horse in his brutishness? Indeed such as are of great stomach, being thoroughly broken, and informed, become very serviceable [Erasmus], for great designs : else, of horses they become asses, or worse : as Themistocles’ master told him, when he was a child, that either he would bring some great good, or some great hurt to the commonwealth [Plutarch]. Neither is there need to fear, lest by this breaking, the children of great men should prove base-spirited and abject, and so unapt to great employments: for being Adam’s sons, whose desire was to have been like unto God, and having those advantages for masterfulness and high thoughts, which great men’s children want not, unto whom great affairs are appropriated usually, they will not easily be found unfurnished of stomach and stoutness of mind more than enough; wherein a little is dangerous, specially for making them unmeet for Christ’s yoke, and to learn of him, who was lowly, and meek. Matt. xi.29. For the beating, and keeping down of this stubbornness parents must provide carefully for two things: first that children’s wills and willfulness be restrained and repressed, and that, in time; lest sooner than they imagine, the tender sprigs grow to that stiffness, that they will rather break than bow. Children should not know, if it could be kept from them, that they have a will in their own, but in their parents’ keeping: neither should these words be heard from them, save by way of consent, "I will" or "I will not." And, if will be suffered at first to sway in them in small and lawful things, they will hardly after be restrained in great and ill matters, which their partial conceit, and inexperienced youth, with the lusts thereof and desire of liberty, shall deem small and lawful, as the former. And though good education, specially the grace of God, may afterwards purge out much other evil and weaken this also; yet will such unbroken youth most commonly draw after it great disquietness in crosses, when they fall; and in the whole course of life, a kind of unwieldiness, inflexibility and obstinacy, prejudicial to the parties themselves and uncomfortable, at least, to such as converse with them.
DOCUMENT 4:
Introduction: Capitalism Off the Boat in Plymouth? Puritans on Moral/Immoral Business
Practices:
In political commentary, American politicians and TV and newspaper pundits
often credit Puritans as the creators of American capitalism. Citing the
Puritan's "Protestant Work Ethic," these folks often imply that capitalism, the
drive for profits, and individual materialism got off the boat in Plymouth fully
formed. This document, a 1639 entry from John Winthrop's Journal, can help
dispel this popular mythology. Winthrop details the court prosecution of a
merchant named Robert Keayne for immoral business practices. Winthrop's
remarks are an example of the uneasy relationship Puritans had with for-profit
businesses and how Puritans condemned business practices we accept as both
"normal" and, in many cases, "good" ways of going about business.
(Excerpts)
John Winthrop, The History of New England from 1630 to 1649,
2 vols. (Boston, 1853), 1:377-82
http://personal.pitnet.net/primarysources/keayne.html
At a general court holden at Boston, great complaint was made of the oppression used in the country in sale of foreign commodities; and Mr. Robert Keaine, who kept a shop in Boston, was notoriously above others observed and complained of, and, being convented, he was charged with many particulars; in some, for taking above six-pence in the shilling profit; in some above eight-pence; and, in some small things, above two for one; and being hereof convict, (as appears by the records,) he was fined £200, which came thus to pass: The deputies considered, apart, of his fine, and set it at £200; the magistrates agreed but to £100. So, the court being divided, at length it was agreed, that his fine should be £200, but he should pay but £100, and the other should be respited to the further consideration of the next general court. By this means the magistrates and deputies were, brought to an accord, which otherwise had not been likely, and so much trouble might have grown, and the offender escaped censure. For the cry of the country was so great against oppression, and some of the elders and magistrates had declared such detestation of the corrupt practice of this man (which was the more observable, because he was wealthy and sold dearer than most other tradesmen, and for that he was of ill report for the like covetous practice in England, that incensed the deputies very much against him). And sure the course was very evil, especial circumstances considered: 1. He being an ancient professor of the gospel: 2. A man of eminent parts: 3. Wealthy, and having but one child: 4. Having come over for conscience' sake, and for the advancement of the gospel here: 5. Having been formerly dealt with and admonished, both by private friends and also by some of the magistrates and elders, and having promised reformation; being a member of a church and commonwealth now in their infancy, and under the curious observation of all churches and civil states in the world. These added much aggravation to his sin in the judgment of all men of understanding. Yet most of the magistrates (though they discerned of the offence clothed with all these circumstances) would have been more moderate in their censure: 1. Because there was no law in force to limit or direct men in point of profit in their trade. 2. Because it is the common practice, in all countries, for men to make use of advantages for raising the prices of their commodities. 3. Because (though he were chiefly aimed at, yet) he was not alone in this fault. 4. Because all men through the country, in sale of cattle, corn, labor, etc., were guilty of the like excess in prices. 5. Because a certain rule could not be found out for an equal rate between buyer and seller, though much labor had been bestowed in it, and divers laws had been made, which, upon experience, were repealed, as being neither safe nor equal. Lastly, and especially, because the law of God appoints no other punishment but double restitution; and, in some cases, as where the offender freely confesseth, and brings his offering, only half added to the principal. After the court had censured him, the church of Boston called him also in question, where (as before he had done in the court) he did, with tears, acknowledge and bewail his covetous and corrupt heart, yet making some excuse for many of the particulars, which were charged upon him, as partly by pretence of ignorance of the true price of some wares, and chiefly by being misled by some false principles, as 1. That, if a man lost in one commodity, he might help himself in the price of another. 2. That if, through want of skill or other occasion, his commodity cost him more than the price of the market in England, he might then sell it for more than the price of the market in New England, etc. These things gave occasion to Mr. Cotton, in his public exercise the next lecture day, to lay open the error of such false principles, and to give some rules of direction in the case."
Some false principles were these: --
1. That a man might sell as dear as he can, and buy as cheap as he can.
2. If a man lose by casualty of sea, etc., in some of his commodities, he may raise the price of the rest.
3. That he may sell as he bought, though he paid too dear, etc., and though the commodity be fallen, etc.
4. That, as a man may take the advantage of his own skill or ability, so he may of another's ignorance or necessity.
5. Where one gives time for payment, he is to take like recompense of one as of another.
The rules for trading, were these:
1. A man may not sell above the current price, i.e., such a price as is usual in the time and place, and as another (who knows the worth of the commodity) would give for it, if he had occasion to use it: as that is called current money, which every man will take, etc.
2. When a man loseth in his commodity for want of skill, etc., he must look at it as his own fault or cross, and therefore must not lay it upon another.
3. Where a man loseth by casualty of sea, or, etc., it is a loss cast upon himself by providence, and he may not ease himself of it by casting it upon another; for so a man should seem to provide against all providences, etc., that he should never lose; but where there is a scarcity of the commodity, there men may raise their price; for now it is a hand of God upon the commodity, and not the person.
4. A man may not ask any more for his commodity than his selling price, as Ephron to Abraham, the land is worth thus much. 14
DOCUMENT 5:
Introduction: The following excerpts from court records demonstrate both the beliefs and social rules Puritan leaders tried to impose as well as the ways in which many of the Puritan faithful seemed to be straying from the path of purity.
Suffolk County Court: Records, 1671-1673
(Excerpts)
“Records of the Suffolk County Court, 1671-80,” Publications of the
Colonial Society of Massachusetts vol. 29 (Boston, 1933), 22-235.
Peter Egerton & Clemence his wife presented for comitting Fornication Marriage they appeared & acknowledged their Evill in a humble peticion. The Court Sentencd them to pay five pounds in Money fine to the County & fees of Courts standing comitted till the Sentence be performd.
Upon complaint made against John Tuder of severall incoradgeing speeches he gave to ye persons in Charlestowne Ferry boat by wch he indeavored to forward ye Escape of one Wheeler who violently (with sword Drawne & pistoll-cockt) ran from ye Constable the Court sentancd him ye sd Tuder to be comitted to prizon till he finde bonds for his good behavior.
Christopher Webb beeing convicted that he hath beene a disturber of the peace of the Church Of Brantry severall years Last past & by his acting an abettor of the Inhabitants in Invading the rights & priviledges of the Church contrary to Law the Court sentences him to pay five pounds fine to the County & to stand henceforward disfranchised during the pleasure of this Court & to be bound to his good behavior...
The Court haveing taken into consideracion the many means yt have beene used with the Church of Brantry & hitherto nothing done to efect as to the obtayning the Ordinances of Christ amongst them, The Court Orders & desiries Mr Moses Fiske to improve his Labours in preaching the word at Brantry untill the Church there agree & obtayne suply for the worke of the Ministry or this Court take further Order.
Alice Thomas being accused of severall shamefull notorious crimes & high misdemeanors, she put herelfe upon Tryall of a jury who brought in theire verdict,
1. That if breaking open warehouses & Vessells in the night & stealing goods thence bee by Law Burglary then ye sd Alice Thomas is guilty of abetting accessary in Burglary. however that she is guilty of a betting & accessary in Fellonious Theft in receaving buying & concealing severall goods stol’n out of Thomas Beards barque & Mr Hulls.& Mr Pincheons warehouses.
2. That she is guilty of giving frequent secret and unseasonable Entertainmt in her house to Lewd Lascivious & notorious persons of both sexes, giving them oppertunity to commit carnal wickedness, & that by common fame she is a common Baud.
3. That She is guilty of Selling Wine & Strong Waters Wthout Licence.
4. That She is guilty of Entertaining Servants and Children from theire Master's and Parent's Families.
5. That She is guilty of the profanation of ye Lord's day, by Selling drinke & entertaining Idle persons & paiing money in a way of Trade upon that day.
TheCourt upon due consideration of this Verdict Sentenced her to restore to Jon Pinchon Junr forty one pounds fifteen shillings and three pence to Thomas Beard thirteene pounds seaven shillings and eight pence to Capt Jon Hull twelve pounds, all in money being ye proportion of that 3.fld restitution ye Law requireth also to pay fivety pounds fine in money to ye County and fees of Court and prison. Alsoe to bee carried from the prison to ye Gallows, and there stand one hour wth a rope about her necke, one end fastened to ye sd Gallowes, and thence to bee returned to prison. & alsoe to be carried from the prison to her one house and bought out of the gate or fore-doore strip't to the waste, & there tyed to a Cart's Taile, and soe to be whip't through ye Streete to the prison wth not undr thirty nine Stripes, & there in prison to remaine during the pleasure of this Court.
Robert Marshall being accused by Walter Barefoote for being an Atheist ye Court ordered him ye sd Marshall to bee committed to prison except hee put in bond of two hundred pounds to Appeare at the next Court of Assistance to bee holden at Boston. Accordingly ye sd Robert Marshall in one hundred pounds as principle…to ye Treasuror of ye County Of Suffolk on condicion that ye sd Marshall shall appear at ye next Court of Assistants, to answer what shall bee alledged against him as to his being an Atheist & that ... in ye meane time bee of good Behavior.
William Carpenter, bound over to this Court to answere for beating his wife, ye Court Sentences him to bee whipt wth fifteen Stripes, & to give in bond for his good behavior paying fees of Court & prison Standing committed till ye Sentence bee performed… Carpenter acknowledged himselfe bound to the Treasuror of ye County of Suffolke in ye Summe of ten pounds upon condicion that he shall bee of good behavior unto all men espetially towards his wife
Brian Murphey, presented for being a common drunckard, wch hee owned in Court, & also for striking Elinor Shearne that was wth Childe, & other misdemeanors. The Court Sentences him to be whipt wth fifteen Stripes paying fees of Court & prison, Standing committed till the Sentence be performed.
Margarett, the wife of Brian Murphey, presented for common railing & cursing & other misdemeanors, the Court Sentances her to be whipt wth ten Stripes paying fees of Court and prison. Standing committed till the sentence be performed.
William Pollard, presented for taking Eighteen pence for keeping a Horse twenty four hours wth Sal Hey onley, the sd Pollard appeared & alledged hee had take much pains wth the Horse in rubbing hum being hot & alsoe that he ahd other provender, the Court warned hum not to exceede in that kinde, & pay fees of Court.
Sarah Carpenter, presented upon strong suspicion of being wth Childe, the Court ordered she should see Searched by mrs Parker, mrs Williams, & mrs Sands who made return wth Goodwife Tailor a midwife, that she was not with Childe.
Elizabeth Arnold, convicted of Cursing & Lewd profane Speeches, & other misdemeanors, the Court Sentanced her to pay ten Shillings fine in mony the County & fees of Court & to bee bound to the good behavior.
Ursula the wife of Henry Edwards presented for striking her husband & abusive Carriage & Language the presentment was Owned & she was Sentances to be whipt wth ten Stripes or pay twenty Shillings fine in money to the County & fees of Court Standing committed till the Sentence bee performed.
Conwesett Indian, convict for his abusive carriage to John Bennett, in coming into his house contrary to his minde & demanding drincke there, throwing Severall Stones at the said John Bennett & pulling him by the haire. The Court Sentanceth him to have his haire cut round close of from his head & to bee whip’t with thirth Stripes, paying fees of Court & prison is discharged, & if hee bee founde in Boston after his discharge hee is to bee taken by the Constable & to bee whipt with twenty Stripes.
Jonathan Atherton, bound over to this Court for his wounding of an Indian with his Sword; wch hee owned hee did upon provocacion given him by the Indian. The Court Sentanceth him to defray all the charges about the cure of saide Indian if it bee not already done & disinable him for wearing a Sword during his continuance on the Colony, or till this Court take farther order, & to pay fees of Court.
Jonathan Adams & his wife of Medfielde, presented for absenting themselves from publique worship of god on the Sabbath dayes, the persons being Summoned & making default in appearance. The Court orders an Attachmt to bee issued forth for them against the next Court.
The Towne of Brantery presented for defect of a Schoolemaster answer was made they were Supplied.
Christopher Mason, convict of getting Mr Rock’s Negroe maide Bess with Childe, which hee owned in Court. The Court Sentanceth him to bee whipt with twenty Stripes & to pay fees of Court & prison & to give in bond twenty pounds for the good behaviour till the next Court of this County…
James Robinson presented for rayling in the Streets using the name of God vainely & a which hee owned in Court. The Court Sentanceth the saide Robinson to bee admonished & to pay fees of Court & to give his owne bond of ten pounds for his good behaviour; according the saide Robinson acknowledged himselfe bound in the Summe of ten pounds to the Treasurer of the County of Suffolke on condicion that hee shall bee of good behaviour especially that hee will not rayle or use the name of god vainly, untill the next Court of this County & that then hee shall appear.
John Veering presented for beeing drunck & abuseing his wife in bad language calling her whore & a reproaching mr Allen & Church members in saying mr Allen was a black hypocriticall Rogue, of all which hee was convict in Court. The Court Sentanceth him to bee whip’t with thirty Stripes severely laide on & to stand in the open market place in Boston, exalted upon a Stoole for an houres time on a Thursday after Lecture; with a paper fastned to his breast, with this inscription in a lardge characted A Prophane & Wicked Slanderd & Impious Reviler of a minister of the Gosple & Church-members; & to pay charges of witnesses & Fees of Court standing committed & Upon the peticion of the saide Veering & humble acknowledgement made in open Court. The Court reverseth the Sentence & Sentence the saide Veering to pay ten pounds mony fine to the County & to give in bond for the good behaviour of twenty pounds himselfe & ten pounds apiece two Sureties & to pay the Charge of Witnesses & Fees of Court standing committed.
John Chandler presented for disorder in his house at unseasonable times of night & suffering people to bee singing & fiddling at midnight of which hee was convict in Court. The Court Sentanceth him to pay Forth shillings in Mony fine to the County & to pay Charges of Witnesses & Fees of Court & to give bond for his good behaviour of five pounds & fifty shillings apiece two Sureties.
Dr Robert Couch bound over to this Court for making Verses tending to the reproach of the late Govr Richard Bellingham Esqr & of the Ministers: The Court Sentanceth hum to give in bond for the good behavior ten pounds himselfe & five pounds apiece two Sureties.