IT WAS THE LAW
1650 – Thomas Scott fined unless he learne the Norton’s Catechism by next Court.
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March 4, 1634 – It is ordered that Robert Cole for drunkenness shall be disfranchised, wear aboute his necke and soe to hang about his outward garments a red D upon white to contynue this for a year anytime he comes amongst company and not to leave off under a penalty, And to appear at the next General Court and stay until the Court is ended.
May 4, 1635 – It is ordered that the sentence of the Court on Robert Cole for drunkenness be reversed upon his submission and testimony being given of his good behavior.
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A Wicked Tongued Woman
March 1681. Elizabeth, wife of Luke Perkins, presented for many years many, many opprobrious & scandalous words of a high nature against Mr. Cobbett and her husband’s relations. That due testimony may be bourne against such a violent, reproachful and wicked tongued woman the Court doth sentence her to be severely whipped on her naked body and to stand or sit in some open space in the public meeting house with a paper pinned on her head with capital letters.
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Lydia Wardwell, Quakeress
May 5, 1663. Lydia Wardwell, of Hampton, wife of Eliakim Wardwell, went naked into the Newbury Meeting House "In consideration of their mizerable condition who were blinded by ignorance and superstition, tho it was exceedingly hard to her modes and shamefaced disposition."
She was had to Ipswich for trial and condemned to be "tyed to the fence post of the Ipswich tavern and lashed with 20 or 30 stripes.
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1655. It is ordered that all dogs for three weeks shall have one leg tied up, if one dog break loose and do any damage the owner shall pay and if owner refuse to tie up his dog’s leg and the dog scratches up fish in the corn field he shall be fined 12d and damages.