Springfield 1636-1886, History of Town and City, by Mason A. Green ...

SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886. 141
:'ouble over another child. His daughter Lydia worked in the family
f Samuel Gaines, of Hartford, who became the father of her illegit-
nate child. The suit of Mr. Morgan against Gaines resulted in a
ecree of maintenance of the child against the latter.
In passing a sentence of '• ten stripes " upon a man for immoral
onduct and living "apart from his wife," the judges declared theii
greate Cause to Lament and bewaile y'' sore hand of God agst us
1 suffering such vile inormityes to Breake out amongst us w*^'' as a
lood doe threaten to overwhelme us."
Grifiith Jones, who figured in the witchcraft case, was given fifteen
ishes on the bare back for low conversation among young people ;
nd there is reported a case before Mr. Pynchon, where it was decreed,
1 reference to the disposal of the illegitimate child of two negro
laves, that " the masters of s"^ negroes be joynt & equall in the
Iharge of s** child either in paymts or otherwise till s*^ child attaine
!^ age of nine years & then to have a joynt & equall propertie in s**
hild of value thereof to be divided between }''", or one of them
aking the child the other to have paymt of full one half of y^ valine
f s'^ child from him who hath y*^ child." Both negroes were flogged,
tie woman receiving fifteen lashes before, and fifteen lashes after her
ickness.
Francis Hacklinton, of Northampton, while furnishing brick for
'yuchon's new house, found time to act scandalously toward Pyn-
hon's domestic. Hector Bliss, and Mrs. Samuel Ely circulated evil
eports about them. Hacklinton sued Mrs. Ely f(n- slander, but lost
is case.
It goes without saying that these sad exhibitions were the result of
he lack in the Puritan polity of proper provision for innocent
musement, sports, or pastime. To remark that Springfield life was
n unrelieved struggle with Satan and the wilderness is only admit-
ing that it was a worthy member of the Massachusetts familj^ of
owns. There was a despotism of theoiy and practice that regulated
lie movement of everybody, from the magistrate and minister to the