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

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) return them eight baskets again, be fined 5l. and hereafter to be called by the name of Josias, and not _Mr._ as formerly he used to be.
Joyce Bradwick shall give unto Alexander Beeks, 20s. for promising him marriage without her friends' consent, and now refusing to perform the same.
William James, for incontinency, was sentenced to be set in the bilboes at Boston and Salem, and bound in 20l.
_Thomas Petet, for suspicion_ of slander, idleness and stubbornness, is to be severely whipt and kept in hold.
John Smith, of Medford, for swearing, being penitent, was set in bilboes.
Richard Turner, for being notoriously drunk, was fined 2l.
John Hoggs, for swearing _God's foot_, cursing his servant, wishing "a pox of God take you," was fined 5l.
Richard Ibrook, for tempting two or more maids to uncleanness, was fined 5l. to the country, and 20s. a piece to the two maids.
Thomas Makepeace, because of his novel disposition, was informed we were weary of him, unless he reformed.
Edward Palmer, for his extortion, taking 33s. 7d. for the plank and woodwork of Boston stocks, is fined 5l. and censured to