The Olden Time Series, Vol. 5: Some Strange and Curious Punishments | Page 9

appearance at Court._" In September,
1827, some sailors struck in Boston for higher wages, formed a
procession, and marched through the city, making considerable noise
with their cheers, etc. They issued the following proclamation, which
was read by the leader now and then, and responded to with loud cheers:
"Attention! We, the blue Jackets now in the city of Boston, agree that

we will not ship for less than $15 a month, and that we will punish any
one who shall ship for less in such way as we think proper, and strip the
vessel [which he ships in]. What say you?" At the Common they were
met by a militia company, who charged upon them; some men of both
sides were knocked down, but no lives were lost or blood shed. In the
afternoon the sailors were out again with drum and fife. The paper from
which we obtain this information says that they probably would not get
any advance, as it is assured by a shipper that he found no difficulty in
procuring crews at the customary wages. Probably it was not intended
that the military should do more than endeavor to keep order.
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It is rather surprising that there should have been no conviction for
felony in the County of Essex from 1692, when the witches were tried,
until 1771,--a period of seventy-nine years. It would so appear,
however, from the following extract from the "Essex Gazette," Nov. 12,
1771:--
Last Wednesday Morning the Trial of Bryan Sheehen for committing a
Rape on the Body of Mrs. Abial Hollowell, Wife of Mr. Benjamin
Hollowell, of Marblehead, in September last, came on before the
Superior Court of Judicature, at the Court-House in this Town. The
Trial lasted from between nine and ten o'Clock A.M. till three in the
Afternoon, when the Jury withdrew, and in about one Hour brought in
their Verdict, GUILTY. Mrs. Hollowell's Testimony against the
Prisoner was fully corroborated by the Physician who attended her, and
by the People who were in the House, at and after the Perpetration of
the Crime; by which the Guilt and Barbarity of the Prisoner was so
fully demonstrated, that the Verdict of the Jury has given universal
Satisfaction.
This Bryan Sheehen (who has not yet received his Sentence) is the first
Person, as far as we can learn, that has been convicted of Felony, in this
large County, since the memorable Year 1692, commonly called
_Witch-Time_.
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From the "Boston Post-Boy," February, 1763.
BOSTON, JANUARY 31.
At the Superiour Court held at Charlestown last Week, Samuel Bacon
of Bedford, and Meriam Fitch, Wife of Benjamin Fitch of said Bedford,
were convicted of being notorious Cheats, and of having by Fraud,
Craft and Deceit, possess'd themselves of Fifteen Hundred Johannes,
the property of a third Person; were Sentenced to be each of them set in
the Pillory one Hour, with a Paper on each of their Breasts with the
Words a CHEAT wrote in Capitals thereon, to suffer three Months
Imprisonment, and to be bound to their good Behaviour for one Year,
and to pay Costs.
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From the "Massachusetts Gazette," May 1, 1786.
On Saturday evening the 22d ult. eight of the prisoners, confined at the
Castle, broke from their confinement, and made their escape to the
main. The day following five of them were taken in a barn at
Dorchester, and immediately re-conducted to the Castle. The ensuing
night the three others were apprehended at Sharon, near Stoughton, and
were also sent back to their place of confinement.
Richard Squire and John Matthews, the pirates, and Stephen Burroughs,
a noted clerical character, were among the prisoners who made their
escape from the Castle, as mentioned above. And on Saturday last, we
are informed, the eight culprits shared among them the benefit of a
distribution of 700 lashes.
On Monday evening last, a person, in passing from the Long-Wharf to
Dock-Square, was assaulted and knocked down, by a single villain,
who robbed him of a box, containing a coat, two waistcoats, a pair of
corduroy breeches, a piece of calico, in which was wrapped up three
watches, and a letter containing money.
On Thursday last, at noon, seven fellows received the discipline of the

post, in this town.
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Curious list of punishments in the early days of New England. From
"Salem Gazette," May 4, 1784.
_The following (taken from a Boston paper of last week) is a collection
of a few of the many curious punishments, inflicted for a variety of
offences, among the old records of this Commonwealth._
Between 1630 and 1650.
Sir Richard Saltonstale fined four bushels of malt for his absence from
court.
William Almy fined for taking away Mr. Glover's canoe without leave.
Josias Plastoree shall (for stealing four baskets of corn from the
Indians)