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

142 SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.
slave, and family government was a part of the grand scheme whic
began in town-meeting and ended in paradise or the bottomless pit
Fancy the spirit of the age which made it possible for a court t(
order a man to flog his son upon the bare back in the presence of thi
town officers lind possibly a gaping crowd !
The County Court kept a sharp eye upon the home, and was quid
to enforce the parental authority. Samuel Ball was ordered to b<
flogged because he used abusive language to his father-in-law, Ben
jamin Munn, saying that he respected him " no more than an olc
Indian," and exclaiming, "A father! There's a father indeed!';
Here is a specimen vote of this period touching the management o]|
children: "This Courte doth ord"' Capt. Pynchon w"" y*" Seled
men of Springfield to dispose of James Osborne's eldest son, thert
being complaynt made to this court y* the said Lads tyme is speni
very unprofitably."
Whenever a town showed any signs of relaxation in family govern-
ment the court would sharply reprimand the selectmen, who were ir
general ordered to " regulate & settle young p''sons under Govern-
ment according to law." This meant family government, of course.
In March, 1675, the County Court lamented "much idle expensed
Precious time," and prohibited tavern-keepers from selling liquoi
to any but " Governers of families of Sober Carriage, y*" intent oi
this order being y' such Persons y' have y*" liberty should use y'^'' bu<
to prevent a trade of Drinking & Drunkenes amongst us."
The children of the town were brought into very close relations tc
the tything-man, and at all times were made conscious that the eye oi
authorit}' was upon them. The tything-men for Springfield, appointed
at the March term for 1678, were as follows :
(To Inspect y« upper pt of y' Town all Families from y"^ uppermosi
—
I House to M'' Glover's House inclusivelie.
I
,, „ ,, To Inspect all y*^
^ Famielies from M' Glovers to .Tno Clarks House
Sam" Ball \
I inclusivelie.
I