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Colonization, 1562-1753
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General SummaryNew England in its early days was governed by a theocracy; that is to say, by its clergymen. Even the magistrates were virtually appointed by the stern and godly pastors who, having won freedom of worship for themselves, were determined that no one else should have any other sort of freedom than they prescribed. When any persons had the temerity to stay away from the Puritan services they were likely to be haled before the magistrates and punished both for non-attendance and for "schismatical" tendencies. \n This account gives the proceedings against three who stayed away from the Puritan church and were tried by the county court sitting at Cambridge on April 17, 1666. In 1691, William III reorganized the country, abolished the religious qualification for voting, and established toleration (except with regard to Papists), thus overthrowing the temporal power of the clergy.
The Penalty for Not Going to Church
THOMAS GOOLD, Thomas Osburne and John George being presented by the grand jury of this county for absenting themselves from the public worship of God on the Lord’s day for one whole year now past, alleged respectively as followeth, viz.:
Thomas Osburne answered, that the reason of his non-attendance was, that the Lord hath discovered unto him from his word and spirit of truth that the society, wherewith he is now in communion, is more agreeable to the will of God, asserted that they were a church and attended the worship of God together, and do judge themselves bound so to do, the ground whereof he said he gave in the general court.
Thomas Goold answered, that as for coming to public worship they did meet in public worship according to the rule of Christ, the grounds whereof they had given to the court of assistants, asserted that they were a public meeting, according to the order of Christ Jesus gathered together.
John George answered, that he did attend the public meetings on the Lord’s day where he was a member; asserted that they were a church according to the order of Christ in the gospel, and with them he walked and held communion in the public worship of God on the Lord’s day.
Whereas at the general court in October last, and at the court of assistants in September last endeavors were used for their conviction. The order of the general court declaring the said Goold and company to be no orderly church assembly and that they stand convicted of high presumption against the Lord and his holy appointments was openly read to them and is on file with the records of this court.
The court sentenced the said Thomas Goold, Thomas Osburne and John George, for their absenting themselves from the public worship of God on the Lord’s days, to pay four pounds fine, each of them, to the county order. And whereas by their own confessions they stand convicted of persisting in their schismatical assembling themselves together, to the great dishonor of God and our profession of his holy name, contrary to the act of the general court of October last prohibiting them therein on penalty of imprisonment, this court doth order their giving bond respectively in 20 pounds each of them, for their appearance to answer their contempt at the next court of assistants.
The above named Thomas Goold, John George, and Thomas Osburne made their appeal to the next court of assistants, and refusing to put in security according to law were committed to prison.
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Chicago: The County Court of Middlesex, "The Penalty for Not Going to Church," Colonization, 1562-1753 in America, Vol.2, Pp.195-197 Original Sources, accessed December 3, 2024, http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=83TJTY97C5RUYIT.
MLA: The County Court of Middlesex. "The Penalty for Not Going to Church." Colonization, 1562-1753, in America, Vol.2, Pp.195-197, Original Sources. 3 Dec. 2024. http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=83TJTY97C5RUYIT.
Harvard: The County Court of Middlesex, 'The Penalty for Not Going to Church' in Colonization, 1562-1753. cited in , America, Vol.2, Pp.195-197. Original Sources, retrieved 3 December 2024, from http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=83TJTY97C5RUYIT.
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