[Footnote 456: EARLE, _Customs and Fashions_, 36.]
[Footnote 457: WEEDEN, _Ecc. and Soc. Hist. of N. E._, I, 230; _Conn. Col. Rec._, I, 8.]
[Footnote 458: WEEDEN, _loc. cit._; STILES, _Windsor_, 54.]
[Footnote 459: EARLE, _Customs and Fashions_, 37.]
[Footnote 460: _Acts and Laws_ (1715), 60; see also _Conn. Col. Rec._, I, 538; TRUMBULL, _Blue Laws_, 104.]
[Footnote 461: In 1682: WEEDEN, _op. cit._, I, 272; MUNRO, _Bristol, R. I._, 115.]
[Footnote 462: _New Haven Col. Rec._, II, 608; TRUMBULL, _op. cit._, 258.]
Similar measures were adopted by the other colonies. The law of Plymouth provides that "wheras great Inconvenience hath arisen by single persons in this Collonie being for themselues and not betakeing themselues to live in well Gou^rned famillies. It is enacted by the Court that henceforth noe single person be suffered to liue by himselfe or in any family but such as the Celectmen of the Towne shall approue of; and if any person or persons shall refuse or neglect to attend such order as shalbe giuen them by the Celectmen; that such person or persons shalbe sumoned to the Court to be proceeded with as the matter shall require."[463] "Whereas," runs a statute of Massachusetts, "there is a loose and sinful custom of going or riding from town to town, ... oftimes men and women together, upon pretence of going to lectures, but it appears ... merely to drink and revel in ordinaries and taverns, which is in itself scandalous, and it is to be feared a notable means to debauch our youth and hazard the chastity of those that are drawn fourth thereunto: for prevention whereof," it is ordered "that all single persons who merely for their pleasure take such journeys ... shall be reputed and accounted riotous and unsober persons, and of ill behavior ... and shall be committed to prison for ten days, or pay a fine of forty shillings for each offence," unless they can "give bonds and sufficient sureties for good behavior in twenty pounds."[464] Earlier it was decreed that the "Select men of every Town, in the several precincts, and quarters where they dwel, shal have a vigilant eye over their brethren and neighbours, to see, first that none of them shall suffer so much barbarism in any of their families, as not to endeavour to teach, by themselves or others, their children & apprentices, so much learning, as may enable them perfectly to read the english tongue & knowledg of the Capital laws." Once a week children and apprentices are to be catechised "in the grounds and principles of Religion," or at least taught "some short orthodox catachism without book;" and they are to be bred and brought up "in some honest Lawfull calling ... profitable for themselves and the Common-wealth," if their parents or masters "will not, or cannot train them up in learning to fitt them for higher imployments." If parents and masters neglect their duty, "whereby children & servants become rude, stubborn & unruly, the sayd Select men with the help of two Magistrates or the next County Court for that Shire, shall take such children or apprentices from them," and until they come of age place them with persons who will more strictly look after their government as the law directs.[465] It was further enacted that every town shall order and dispose to service or otherwise all "single persons and inmates" within its borders, anyone feeling aggrieved thereby "to have Liberty to appeale to the next County Court."[466]