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Archiver > MAESSEX > 2007-07 > 1184688639


From: "John Slaughter" <>
Subject: Re: [MAESSEX] Pictures of Bradford, MA buial ground in ruin
Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2007 09:10:39 -0700
In-Reply-To: <C265DAC5-A341-431F-84A9-6361D2B2705A@charter.net>


Mary,
Very simply, fornication was sex out of wedlock. Another term was
uncleanness.
This was a crime that brought punishments of fines and or whippings for
both parties. Punishment could be meted out even if the couple was married
at the time of childbirth if the child was born at something less than about
7 months after marriage. A mid-wife's testimony was required.
Also, a single woman having a child would be pressed by the mid-wife to
identify the father. It was somewhat akin to a "death bed confession." If
the woman identified the father during labor, that was sufficient to bring
him to court and order him to pay support.
There is a book that has been recently published where the author did a
study on punishments given out. It was found that the higher a person's
status, the less severe the punishment. Also, as might be thought, the women
tended to be punished more severly. In Puritan times, a woman was thought to
be the devil's instrument. What a crock. :(
I found this book, and forgot to note the title or author, on Google Book
Search while looking for something else. It only has extracts as it is under
copyright. The author granted permission for some to be put online. It is
really interesting and gives a wonderful insight into another aspect of our
ancestor's lives and views.
Another place you can read about some of this is in the Essex County
Quarterly Court Records. The nine volumes covering 1636-1686 are online at
http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/salem/witchcraft/Essex/.


John Slaughter
In loving memory of our son, Brennan. 11/10/88-5/31/01.
http://john-slaughter.rootsweb.com/Brennan.html

MA-Bay-Colony & MAMiddle list moderator
USGenWeb County Coordinator
Essex County, MA - http://www.rootsweb.com/~maessex
Middlesex County, MA - http://www.rootsweb.com/~mamiddle
USGenWeb Town Coordinator Ipswich, Essex, MA -
http://www.rootsweb.com/~macipswi





>From: mary norton <>
>Reply-To:
>To:
>Subject: Re: [MAESSEX] Pictures of Bradford, MA buial ground in ruin
>Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2007 08:43:35 -0500
>
>Hello, This is a bit off the subject except that it was mentioned in
>Jeff Hall's message. I also have an ancestor couple who were accused
>of "fornication". In the context of the 1600s in Mass. what did this
>mean? Mary Norton
>On Jul 17, 2007, at 7:03 AM, Jeff Hall wrote:
>
> > John-
> >
> > I will get in touch with Tom Spitalere as soon as I get home
> > tonight and
> > will volunteer my time. Good timing, as the bushes growing there
> > now are of
> > a size that could easily push a stone over or cause damage when
> > it's roots
> > are pulled up.
> >
> > I am aware of the early 1900's survey of the graveyard, but was
> > unaware of a
> > map. I'd be happy to post your map on the picture website if you'd
> > like?
> >
> > Also, while my ancestor was one of the first deacons of Bradford,
> > and as
> > such eligible for free burial in the Bradford cemetery, there is no
> > note of
> > his or his wife's graves even in the 1904? Survey. Perhaps their
> > markers had
> > already decayed, or perhaps they were buried elsewhere (on their
> > own land?).
> >
> > He and his wife first appeared in Haverhill after escaping
> > judgement in
> > Hull, MA for "fornication". Richard later became a freeman (1676),
> > and one
> > of the first deacons, but even so, perhaps he was not allowed to be
> > buried
> > there?
> >
> > My hope is that someday someone will be able to survey the ground
> > itself to
> > find markers that have fallen over, or find signs of graves where
> > there is
> > no marker...
> >
> > Thanks to all for the encouragement!
> >
> > Jeff
> >
> > Jeff Hall
> >
> > Amherst, New Hampshire, New England, USA
> >
> > HALL DNA project Family 2 - Kit Number 33260:
> > http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~nhatcher/hall/HDNAtest.htm
> >
> > Deacon RICHARD HALL of Hull(-1670), Haverhill(1670-1673), and
> > Bradford(1673-1730), Massachusetts project:
> > http://www.designscience.com/Genealogy/richardhall/
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > -------------------------------
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>
>
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