Crime in Early Massachusetts
Crime and Punishment in Colonial MassachusettsThroughout Massachusetts's colonial history the interest and confusion can be targeted to the punishments done, for the crimes committed. Presentism is a major idea to remember when reflecting on the actions taken during colonial times. The below excerpt is taken from The Body of Liberties of 1641 and can add to the understanding of why and how such punishments discussed were carried out. Perhaps the magistrates in power took things too far; Possibly the law enforcers took the word of God too literally. Nevertheless Colonial Massachusetts proves to have been a place for persecution, guilty or not, and a place to affirm power and the interpretation of God's law.The free fruition of such liberties Immunities and priveledges as humanitie, civilitie, and christianitie call for as due to every man in his place and proportion with out impeachment and Infringement hath ever bene and ever will be the tranquillitie and Stabilitie of Churches and Commonwealths. And the deniall or deprival thereof, the disturbance if not the ruin of both.We hold it therefore our dutie and safetie whilst we are about the further establishing of this government to collect and expresse all such freedomes as fo
Prostitution made some advances into the Bay colony as well as the surrounding colonies. If any Quakers were found, they were in for severe consequences. Several other accusations were made and several other people were hanged or pressed to death for rumored devil acts (Powers 492-494). They were instantly arrested by the magistrates, and diligently examined for what were considered bodily marks of witchcraft. Either way in colonial Massachusetts's laws were made and enforced. At the courts discretion blasphemers could be whipped, put in the pillory, have his tongue bored out with a hot iron or be forced to stand in the gallows with a rope tied around his neck. In most of the colonies it was against the law to swear, be caught in a state of public drunkenness, not attend church services, inappropriate behavior on the Sabbath, and unacceptable conduct between members of the opposite sex. Charges against her were primarily for the playing of "shuffle board" in her tavern, such a game was forbidden. " As the previous quote says, Adultery was punishable by death in the Massachusetts Bay colony, rarely was the sentence carried out prior to 1641. In the colonies particularly these punishments were terrible because colonies were families and close friends. James Britton and Mary Latham were convicted of adultery in 1644. On their first appearance in Massachusetts (July, 1656), where two male and six female Quakers arrived from Rhode Island and Barbados, they found that the reproach entailed on their sect by the insane extravagance of some of its members in England had preceded their arrival, and that they were regarded with the utmost terror and dislike by the great bulk of the people. Throughout The Scarlet Letter Hawthorne covers the issue of adultery during the colonial period. Latham was also seen making threats to her husband and abusing him. r present we foresee may concerne us, and our posteritie after us, And to ratify them with our sollmne consent.
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