Family-histories and genealogies : containing a series of ...

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Judge John. As the eldest surviving son of his father, he had, by the law
as it then stood, a double portion of the paternal estate ; to which he added
by repeated purchases. A few illustrations of the state of New England
society in his time, taken from family-papers, may be instructive.
Two deeds of negro men, "sold and delivered" to him during his
life, have been preserved ; and his Inventory includes a negro girl PhilHs.
In all probability these are only a representation of his household-slaves.
As Justice of the Peace, presentments were made to him, at different
times, for profanation of the Sabbath,
" in y*^ Time of Divine Worship .
. . in y'^ meeting-House .
. . by
unbe-
coming Carriage (viz.), by continuing to Laugti and provolce others y' sat with him
to do so also, by whispering, and by speaking out so Loud as to be heard by several
persons, and by pricking y" boys with pins y' sat with him in y'^ seat;" by "going,
near
Did
between meetings, into y' orchard . . .
Down y^ apples off y** Trees ;" and that ". . .
y'' Meeting-House and beating
unnecessarily on Said Day
Travil from Said house to one Sertain Called Mason's Pond in Colchester . . .
and then and there unnecessarily, In a Canoe, proceed upon said pond, and did and
exercised Labour by fishing in said Pond ;" that ". .
. Did
play Cards in a pri-
vate house. Contrary to y** Laws of this Government ;" and " a couple of young
fellows" were accused before him "with Lying."
What singular manifestations are these, in a land of dearly bought
freedom, of an over-weening zeal to enforce religious formalities, to
restrain personal liberty arbitrarily, and to treat immoralities themselves,
irrespective of the injuries to society which they occasion, as punishable by
human law !
We find, also, among the family-papers, a memorandum, dated August
12, 1746, of payment being due from the Colony of Connecticut to John
Griswold "for boarding four souldiers that were Inlisted in y" Expedition
to Canada"—a memorial of the Cape Breton Expedition in the Old
French War ; in which his brother-in-law Denison was an officer of dis-
tinction, as we have seen, and Roger Wolcott held an important command,
whose daughter had been for nearly three years the wife of his son Matthew.
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