Early Colonial Laws

In the first years of settlement in America, some of the harshest laws ever written were passed to keep the colonists in line. For the most part, these laws were written to enforce religious devotion, a dominant factor in their lives. Here are some examples (misspellings below are true to the way the laws were written):

In 1618, it was decreed in Virginia that all who failed to attend church service would be imprisoned in the guardhouse, "lying ye night following and be a slave ye week following." Furthermore, Sunday dancing, fiddling, card playing, hunting, and fishing were forbidden.

In 1619, blue laws in Virginia were enacted that required men to dress according to their rank. Excess in dress was also discouraged by taxing one's wardrobe.

In 1634, Massachusetts passed a sumptuary law that prohibited the purchase of clothes that were woolen, linen, or sile with silver, gold, sile or thread lace on them. Slashed clothing was limited to a slash in each sleeve and in back.

In 1639, New Englandlaw censured men for wearing "immoderate great breeches," broad shoulder-bands, capes, and double ruffles.

In 1639, shopkeepers in New England who took more than a six-pence in shilling profit were accused of unfair trade and could be excommunicated.

In 1639, a woman of Plymouth convicted of adultery was sentenced to "be whipt at a cart tyle" and to "wear a badge upon her sleeve upon leaving her aboad." If found in public without the badge, she was to be "burned in the face with a hott iron." An adulteress's badge had the letters AD on it.

In 1639, a law in Massachusetts was passed against making a drinking toast. "The common custom of drinking to one another is a mere useless ceremony, and draweth on the abominable practice of drinking healths."

In 1646, a law in Massachusetts made it lawfult o smoke tobacco only when on a journey five miles away from any town.

In 1647, in Connecticut, a blue law probhibited "social" smoking. It was permissible to use tobacco once a day, at meals or elsewhere "and then not in the company of any other." Tobacco could, however, be used in the confines of one's home.

In 1647, a Massachusetts law prohibited any Jesuit Roman Catholic priest from entering territory under Puritan jurisdiction. Any suspected person who could not clear himself was to be banished; a second offense carried a death penalty.