USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Salem > The history of Salem, Massachusetts, vol 1, 1924 > Part 40
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3,56
HISTORY OF SALEM
The first grand jury in the Massachusetts Bay Colony was provided for by the general court March 4, 1634-5. One such jury reported to the court in March and the other in September of each year. They were not only to report misdemeanors, but to "doe any other service of the commonwealth that they shalbe enioyned." The first grand jury met Sept. 1, 1635, and presented about one hundred offences ; among the offenders were some of the magistrates.1 John Holgrave, Daniel Ray and Richard Adams were on this jury in 1637. The first grand jury appearing in the county court at Salem was at the session of the court held Jan. 25, 1641-2. Until that time, apparently, they had reported to the general court.
Thomas Goldthwaite," who was then about twenty-six years Thomas Golfwest of age, from Roxbury, ap- peared as an inhabitant of Salem July 4, 1636, when he was granted ten acres of land, which was subsequently assigned to him in the North field.
1Winthrop's Journal, Boston, 1825, volume I, page 166.
"THOMAS GOLDTHWAITE,1 born in England about 1610, probably came to New England in 1030, living at first in Roxbury ; married, first, Elizabeth -; second, Rachel (Leach), widow of John Sibley; died March -, 1683 ; his wife Rachel survived him; children: 1. Samuel,2 baptized Aug. 20, 1637 ; 2. Mehitable,“ baptized Aug. 27, 1640; died, unmarried, May 3, 1668; 3. Eliz- abeth,2 baptized Nov. 20, 1642; married John King.
SAMUEL GOLDTHWAITE;2 cooper ; married Elizabeth Cheever of Charles- town Sept. 6, 1666; died in 1718; she was living in 1722; children: I. Eliz- abeth,3 born Oct. 7, 1667; died Nov. - , 1667; 2. Samuel,3 born March 5, 1668-9; 3. Thomas,3 born Dec. 14, 1670; died young; 4. Esekiel,3 born Aug. 3, 1674; 5. John,3 born in 1677 ; lived in Boston ; mason; member of Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company ; married, first, Sarah Hopkins of Boston March 13, 1701; she died Oct. 31, 1715; married, second, Jane (Tawley), widow of John Halsey of Boston (published March 21, 1715-6) ; she died June 25, 1766; 6. Nathaniel;3 7. Mary ;3 married John Nichols Dec. 20, 1710; 8. Elizabeth ;3 married Thomas Price of Boston Aug. 3, 1713; 9. Hannah," born April 9, 1686-7; married Edward Nichols of Topsfield; 10. Thomas," born March 1, 1688-9; probably died young.
SAMUEL GOLDTHWAITE;3 lived in that part of Salem which is now Pea- body ; husbandman and innkeeper; married Mary Thomas Dec. 2, 1697; she died about 1736; he died about 1748; children: 1. Mary,4 baptized May 21, 1699; married Evan Evans; 2. Ruth,4 baptized April 13, 1701; married Henry Newman of Lynn Jan. 6, 1726; 3. Samuel,4 baptized May 30, 1702; 4. Mehitable,4 baptized Aug. 4, 1706; married Thomas Needham; 5. Thomas,4 baptized Aug. - , 1708; 6. Lydia,4 baptized May 14, 1710; married Gideon Foster ; 7. Rebecca,4 baptized July 31, 1715; married Nathaniel Goldthwaite. EZEKIEL GOLDTHWAITE;3 lived in that part of Salem which is now Peabody ; mason; married Esther Boyce March 20, 1695-6; died in 1761 ; children : I. Esther,4 born about 1697; married John Case; 2. Hannah, born about 1700; died, unmarried, in 1778; 3. Samuel,4 born about 1703; 4. Ezekiel,4 born about 1706; lived in Sutton ; mariner ; married Eunice Cutler of Salem (published Jan. 23, 1730-1) ; 5. Joseph,4 born in 1709; 6. David,4 born in 1712. NATHANIEL GOLDTHWAITE;3 lived in that part of Salem which is now
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Henry Vane was elected governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony May 25, 1636. He was about twenty-four years of age,
Peabody ; husbandman; married Elizabeth Burt Aug. 21, 1705; died about 1732; she was living in 1742; children: I. Elizabeth,* born Feb. I, 1705-6; probably died unmarried; 2. Nathaniel,4 born in 1707; 3. Abigail,4 baptized Feb. 23, 1734-5; 4. Mary;4 married John Proctor; she probably married, second, Daniel Marble; 5. Sarah;+ married John Langford April 27, 1740; 6. Ebenezer,4 born about 1717; lived in Danvers; married Sarah Newman of Lynn Jan. 16, 1751; died in 1753.
SAMUEL GOLDTHWAITE;# lived in that part of Salem which is now Pea- body ; married, first, Mary Pulsifer of Gloucester (published Oct. 24, 1730) ; and, second, Abigail Proctor of Salem Aug. 22, 1738; his wife Abigail was living in 1762; he probably died in 1772; children: I. Samuel;5 probably died at the capitulation of Fort William Henry in 1757; 2. Jonathan, born in 1738; lived in Danvers; served in the wars of 1756 and 1759 and in the Revolution; married Rebecca Trask July 2, 1770; died in 1778. THOMAS GOLDTHWAITE;+ lived in that part of Salem which is now Peabody; sadler ; married, first, Eunice Flint (published July 4, 1730) ; and, second, Mary before 1746; died in 1756; children: I. Thomas, born in 1738, in Voluntown (now Petersham, Mass.) ; lived in Danvers and Springfield, Mass .; potter; soldier in the war of 1755 and 1756 and in the Revolution; married, first, Lucy Flint of Danvers July 15, 1759; and, second, Lois Stebbins of Springfield Sept. 5, 1765; 2. Eunice;5 married Isaac Buffum; 3. William, born about 1743; lived in Danvers; potter; served in the Revolution ; married Abigail King of Danvers Feb. 28, 1765; he died in 1808; she died about 1820; had children : 4. James, born in 1746; 5. Elijah," born about 1749; impressed into the British navy from his home, probably under- age, and was never heard from; 6. Benjamin," born in 1752; lived in Beverly ; master-mariner ; married Sarah Gowing of Lynn Oct. 22, 1772; he died July 21, 1807 ; 7. Aaron, born in 1755; died at sea. SAMUEL GOLD- THWAITE ;* lived in Salem, in that part now Peabody until 1735, when he removed to Smithfield, R. I .; later lived in Northbridge, Mass .; farmer; married Sarah Reed Jan. 18, 1726; she died May 9, 1787; he died May 8, 1789; children : I. Sarah, baptized Nov. 26, 1727; married Joseph Buxton of Smithfield Feb. 10, 1752; 2. Lois," baptized in 1729; 3. John," baptized May -, 1731; lived in Smithfield; married Hannah -; died about 1800; 4. Stephen," baptized April 7, 1734; lived in Northbridge; married Patience Very ; died June 19, 1812; she died Feb. 9, 1826; 5. Joseph, born in 1735; lived in Northbridge; soldier of the Revolution; married Mary Goldthwaite of Danvers Jan. 7, 1759; died Dec. 29, 1812; 6. Hannah;5 married Japhet Taft of Mendon; 7. Jonathan," born Jan. 14, 1742, in Smithfield; 8. Jacob,5 born in 1744, in Smithfield; 9. Ezekiel, born Oct. 18, 1848, in Smithfield. JOSEPH GOLDTHWAITE;4 married Mary Batter Oct. 30, 1741; died in 1759; children : I. Esther, born about 1742; married Abraham Shaw of Danvers Dec. 9, 1759; 2. Hannah, born about 1744; married Amos Trask. DAVID GOLDTHWAITE ;* lived at Salem, Point Shirley and Danvers; married Sarah Batter Jan. 15, 1736; died in 1778; children : I. Daniel,5 born about 1737; died in his teens, when about to enter college; 2. John, born in 1739; lived in Danvers; married Anna Girdler Nov. - , 1768; died Jan. 6, 1772; 3. Ezekiel," baptized Dec. 18, 1743; died young. NATHANIEL GOLDTHWAITE; lived in Danvers; married, first, Rebecca Goldthwaite Feb. 18, 1736; and, second, Sarah (Cavendish), widow of Richard Girdler of Marblehead (pub- lished May 27, 1749) ; died in Danvers Dec. - , 1794; children: I. Mary,5 born in 1738; married Joseph Goldthwaite; 2. Elizabeth," born April 19, 1743; married Nathan Upton; 3. Nathaniel," born July 9, 1752; soldier of the Revolution ; lived in Danvers; 4. Ebenezer," born in 1754; killed in the
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and had come to Boston the preceding year. He was son of Sir Henry Vane of Hadlow, in Kentshire, England, where he was
battle of Lexington April 19, 1775; 5. George," baptized Sept. 12, 1762; 6. Rebecca," baptized April 24, 1763.
JAMES GOLDTHWAITE;5 cordwainer; soldier of the Revolution; married Hannah Whittemore of Danvers Jan. 19, 1769; died Jan. 31, 1824; she sur- vived him; children: I. Mehitable;6 died, unmarried; 2. Mary,6 born in 1779; died Sept. -- , 1827. EZEKIEL GOLDTHWAITE;5 lived in Northbridge and Danvers; married Anna Adams of Sutton Dec. 3, 1772; died June 18, 1800; she married, secondly, Capt. Caleb Moulton of Sudbury; children : I. Ezekiel,6 born Jan. I, 1774; 2. Joel,6 born Jan. 9, 1776; lived in Salem; baker; died, unmarried, Jan. 1, 1853; 3. Elijah,6 born Oct. 12, 1777; lived in Salem; mariner; died at sea May 3, 1800; 4. Prudence,6 born Aug. 14, 1779; married Jonathan Wilson; 5. Beulah,6 born Oct. 31, 1781; married Stephen B. Dockham; 6. Lucinda,6 born Sept. 16, 1783; married, first, Ezra Dodge; and, second, Stephen Fogg; 7. Luther,6 born Jan. 12, 1786, in Northbridge; 8. Moses,6 born Sept. 29, 1787, in Danvers; 9. Willard, born July 6, 1790, in Northbridge; 10, Aaron, born Nov. 6, 1793, in Northbridge ; II. Anna,6 born March 8, 1797; married William Johnson.
LUTHER GOLDTHWAITE;6 married Hannah Meader Lawrence of Marble- head April 30, 1813; died Oct. II, 1857; she died March 11, 1865; children : I. Luther M., born Feb. 5, 1814; 2. Abigail," born April 22, 1817; married George Baldwin July 7, 1839; died in Malden May 15, 1842; 3. Elizabeth Adams,' born Jan. 23, 1822; married John W. Rhoades; 4. Lucinda Dodge,7 born July 16, 1824; married Solomon Varney; 5. Susan Ellen,7 born May 9, 1826; married John Stewart Oct. 14, 1855; died Oct. - , 1886; 6. Hannah Augusta," born April 2, 1831; married William H. Thomas; 7. William Johnson, born Feb. 12, 1833. MOSES GOLDTHWAITE;6 married Margaret D. Garney of Marblehead May 31, 1812; died July 13, 1864; she died Nov. 17, 1875; children : I. Moses, born Aug. 18, 1812; lived in Springfield; dry goods merchant; married Elizabeth Barker Wormstead of Marblehead; died July 22, 1877; 2. Margaret," born Feb. 7, 1815; married John Stevens of Marblehead; 3. Susan L.," born Jan. 1, 1817; married John Gardner ; 4. Ann A.," born Oct. 8, 1819; married William Lamprell; 5. John,7 born July 2, 1823; lived in Boston; merchant; married Helen Brown of Boston July 16, 1851; died Jan. 16, 1899; 6. Benjamin F.,7 born July 1, 1825; lived in Marblehead; married; 7. Joel,7 born April 4, 1831; lived in Boston ; carpet dealer ; married Ellen A. Rand March 5, 1857; 8. William Johnson,' born May 7, 1834; lived in Marblehead; married Mary A. Pitman of Marblehead May 1, 1862. WILLARD GOLDTHWAITE;6 lived in Wayland; married Dolly Johnson April 19, 1819; died Feb. 5, 1835; she died Sept. I, 1852; children, born in Weston: 1. Willard," born Feb. 27, 1820; 2. George Edward," born Jan. 28, 1822; 3. Dolly Maria," born Oct. 10, 1824; married Merritt Cook. AARON GOLDTHWAITE;6 married Christiana Rose Peabody Nov. 23, 1817; died Jan. 22, 1870; children : I. Christiana Rose,7 born Oct. 25, 1818; married John Russell Feb. 9, 1842; 2. Amelia P., born July 26, 1820 ; married Francis Babbidge; 3. Aaron,7 born March 9, 1822; 4. Edward A.," born April 26, 1824; married Martha Newhall; died Sept. 9, 1875; 5. Ezra,7 born April 13, 1828; died, unmarried, in Japan Jan. 24, 1848, from the hardships of his imprisonment, being one of the crew of the American ship Ladoga; 6. Francis,7 born Oct. 10, 1830; lived in Cambridge; married Amelia R. Allen; 7. Charles, born Oct. 13, 1832; 8. George, born Sept. 4, 1838; died in infancy.
LUTHER M. GOLDTHWAITE;7 married Eliza Ann Todd Dec. 25, 1836; children . I. - 8 (son) ; 2. Lizzie.8 WILLIAM JOHNSON GOLDTHWAITE;
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born in 1612. The father was knighted by King James I, at the age of seventeen, and represented Carlisle in parliament. His abilities attracted the notice of the court, and he became cofferor in the household of Prince Charles, whose favor he subsequently gained by advocacy of the King's extravagant demands for money. In 1630, he was a privy councilor and comptroller of the house- hold, and an ambassador to the kings of Denmark, Sweden and the German prices in alliance with them. He was so much in the favor of the king, that, in 1633, he attended the latter to Scotland, and entertained him and his suite at magnificent Raby Castle, which he then owned, being in the possession of a large fortune.1
Henry Vane, the son, was educated at Westminster school, living at Charing Cross, and, about 1628, entered Magdalen Col- lege, Oxford. He did not graduate, as he was appointed to a position in the service of the English ambassador to Vienna. He also resided for some time in Geneva and in France. While he was abroad, he became interested in Calvinism, and brought back to England strong sentiments which were adverse to the religion and government of his native land. His father was greatly dis- pleased, and the king, hearing of young Henry's deflection, ap- pointed Bishop Laud to controvert his Puritanic ideas. This was tried, but without favorable results.
The court of Charles I had no attraction for him, and he had tired of the continent. His friend, Roger Williams, had gone to
married Sarah Holt Nourse June 20, 1858; was killed by a fall from a build- ing Dec. 9, 1875; children: I. Georgianna Bagley,8 born Feb. 26, 1860; died April 17, 1864; 2. Lawrence Winslow,8 born Nov. 27, 1861; married Rosa Foster Gray; 3. Elizabeth Holt,8 born Aug. 18, 1866; pastor of the Uni- versalist Church in East Calais, Vt .; 4. Mabel Johnson,8 born April 13, 1875; married Horace O. Southwick of Peabody in 1898. WILLARD GOLD- THWAITE;" carpet dealer; married Martha Brown Oct. 19, 1848; she died Dec. 29, 1889; he died Sept. 1, 1893; child : I. Willie,8 born Dec. 14, 1851; died Dec. 14, 1851. GEORGE EDWARD GOLDTHWAITE;" married Sophronia E. Smith Jan. 27, 1853; died Nov. 12, 1913; children : I. Mariella,8 born April 23, 1854; 2. Wilbur,8 born May 8, 1855; died June 19, 1882. AARON GOLD- THWAITE;" married Mary Upton; he died Feb. II, 1885; she died Jan. 4, 1892; children : I. Edward Augustus, born June 1, 1847; 2. William Sum- mers, born Aug. - , 1851 ; lived in Boston; married Annie Dalton of Salem Sept. 27. 1879; 3. Mary Abby.8 CHARLES GOLDTHWAITE;" married Mary E. Claridge; died April 27, 1885; child: I. Charles Summer, born in 1857; lives in Peabody ; married Ida May Berry Dec. 1, 1880.
EDWARD AUGUSTUS GOLDTHWAITTE;& married Isa M. Paine Nov. 12, 1873; children : I. Bessie Florence,9 born April 21, 1874; 2. Jennie Leslie,9 born Aug. 3, 1877.
1In 1639, Sir Henry Vane was appointed treasurer of the king's house- hold and afterward principal secretary of state for life. These positions he ' lost, a few years later, because he was opposed to the Earl of Strafford, the tool of the king. Parliament, by express declaration, disapproved of the king's conduct toward the knight, and, in 1645, recommended him to a baronetcy.
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SIR HENRY VANE.
America ; and another, Hugh Peter, was preparing to go. He concluded to go to New England, also; and sailed from London about Aug. 10, 1635, arriving at Boston Oct. 3, 1635. His man- ners were of the cavalier type and winsome, and his deep-brown flowing locks of hair added to his other attractions.
He had gained wide knowledge of and had great interest in the colonization of New England. Although he possessed deep thoughtfulness, strong imagination, bravery and good judgment, many thought that he was visionary, because his ideas were so far in advance of their time. He believed strongly in what was long afterwards termed government of, by and for the people.
His ideas of government and religion, his grace of manner and speech, his family and means, and more than all his en- thusiasm, charmed the people in the colony, who, in spite of his lack of years, elected him governor the following May.
About seven weeks later, July 9th, the young governor visited Salem.1 It was a great day for the town. This young, unmarried courtly gentleman made a deep impression wherever he went.
1Under this date, in his Journal, John Winthrop wrote: "The governour, &c. went to Salem."
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Unrestrained in his manner and in full sympathy with his con- stituents he must have appealed to all classes of Puritans.
He probably came to Salem at other times, and made many friends. His stay in New England was brief, however. Disputes in religion became frequent, and he grew weary of his office towards the end of the year. In December, he had occasion to visit England on business, and requested the court to permit him to resign his office. They opposed it so pathetically that he burst into tears and declared that he would stay in Massachusetts though his estate was ruined. He finally told them that he thought that he himself, as he tolerated the views of Ann Hutchinson, was the cause of much of the religious dissension among the people, and that he ought to go on that account. The churches, however, would not agree to his resignation ; and he consented to complete his term.
After his term of office expired, Aug. 3, 1637, he sailed for England. He left behind pleasant memories and deep regrets for his departure. Roger Williams called him "truly noble." John Milton, the great poet of liberty, was contemporary with Governor Vane, to whom he inscribed the following sonnet :-
To Sir HENRY VANE, the younger.
VANE, young in years, but in fage council old,
Than whom, a better fenator ne'er held
The helm of Rome, when gowns not arms repell'd
The fierce Epirot and the African bold; Whether to fettle peace, or to unfold The drift of hollow-ftates, hard to be fpell'd;
Then to advife how war may, beft upheld,
More by her two main nerves, iron and gold, In all her equipage: befides to know Both fpiritual pow'r and civil, what each means,
What fevers each, thou haft learn'd, which few have done : The bounds of either fword to thee we owe:
Therefore on thy firm hand religion leans In peace and reckons thee her eldeft fon.
In 1640, Henry Vane became associated with Sir William Russell in the office of treasurer of the navy, and, with the ap- probation of Cromwell, succeeded him upon his death, in 1643. His salary was thirty thousand pounds a year, but he refused to receive more than two thousand pounds. He was elected a member of parliament in June, 1640, and was knighted the same year by Charles I. He became conspicuous during the stormy period of the Civil War between the Commonwealth and the Protectorate, as a consistent champion of pure parliamentary
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HISTORY OF SALEM
government. Next to Cromwell, he is said to have been the fore- most personage in England.1
In 1641, he carried to the House of Lords the articles of impeachment against Archbishop Laud, and a few months later made a masterly speech upon Episcopacy. In 1643, he was nominated one of the Assembly of Divines. In September of that year, he was sent by parliament on a commission into Scotland, and to him was given the chief credit of producing the famous articles of covenant, which he signed next to Cromwell. Early in 1645, he was a commissioner from parliament at the treaty of Uxbridge, and also at the Isle of Wight.
He fell out with Oliver Cromwell, and subsequently organized a party against Richard Cromwell. In 1659, the long-parliament constituted him one of the council of state, and the first of seven commissioners of the admiralty. In October of that year, he was one of a sub-committee of six, appointed to consider a form of government for the three countries as a commonwealth.
Charles II came to the throne in 1662, and Sir Henry Vane was arrested as one of those that caused the death of Charles I. The charge was based upon his acts in parliament in 1640, as burger for the town of Kingston-upon-Hull. His trial was a farce, his conviction was upon the weakest of charges and evidence, and he was beheaded on Tower Hill, London, June 14, 1662. Richard Baxter was preaching in London at the time of the execution, and probably spoke from personal knowledge when he said, "No man could die with greater appearance of a gallant resolution and fearlessness than he did, insomuch that the manner of his death procured him more applause than all the actions of his life."2
John Talby lived in Salem in 1636. His wife was named Dorothy ; and for frequently laying hands on her husband, to the danger of his life, and contemning the authority of the court, she was sentenced by the Salem court June 27, 1637, to be chained to a post ; being allowed to "come to the place of god's worship," until she repented. They had a daughter Difficulty baptized here Dec. 25, 1636. The mother was convicted of the murder of the child, and hanged Dec. 6, 1638. Mr. Talby was living in Salem in 1654.
At a town meeting, July 11, 1636, John Talby was granted an acre house lot "next to the Marshalls," and Benjamin Felton
1Massachusetts Historical Society's Collections, series I, volume 5, page I7I.
2The American Pilgrim's Way in England, London, 1907, contains an interesting article on Sir Henry Vane, and his portrait, and an engraving of Raby Castle, in Durham, Vane's house at Hampstead, his coffin in Shipbourne Church and a colored view of the shaded walk, where, it is said, his headless ghost still walks on the night of each anniversary of his death.
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was granted a similar lot next to Mr. Talby's. At the same time Thomas Moore, son of widow Moore, and his wife were received as inhabitants. She1 was widow of Thomas Moore, and pursued the vocation of a midwife.
In the summer of 1636, a ship of one hundred and twenty tons burden was built at Marblehead. It was named Desire. Among the articles of its outfit were the following, donated from the bark Warwick or its owners: three falcons and one falconet, weighing thirty-eight and three-quarters hundred weight, with the old carriages, valued at twenty-one pounds, five shillings and ten pence ; an old poop lanthorn and a small crow of iron, valued at seven shillings and six pence ; two spindles for vanes, a pump bolt and a wooden brake, valued at two shillings and two pence ; a small anchor stock, a pistol barrel and three small tackle hooks, valued at five shillings and six pence ; a copper funnel, two sponge staves, a rammer and ladle, valued at eleven shillings; eleven falcon shot and a small bell, valued at seven shillings ; and a small anchor, valued at two pounds.2 The falcon was a kind of cannon, which threw a projectile of one pound in weight, and the falconet, less than half a pound. Capt. William Peirse was appointed com- mander of the vessel. He was no stranger to this region.
In the summer of 1637, Captain Peirse went on a cruise to the West Indies, taking a cargo of dry fish and strong liquors, and fifteen boys and two women, who had been taken captive in the Pequot war. These captives were to be carried to Bermuda and probably sold as slaves, but he passed that island, and made Providence Isle in the West Indies.3 The return cargo consisted of cotton, tobacco, negroes, etc., from Providence Isle and salt from Tortuga. Captain Peirse "met there," says Winthrop, two men-of-war, set forth by the lords, etc., of Providence with letters of mart, who had taken divers prizes from the Spaniard, and many negroes .* It was a number of these negroes, probably, that Cap- tain Peirse secured to transport to New England, as a part of his cargo. Although there is no express statement that the Indians were carried to the West Indies and sold as slaves, and the
1Mrs. Moore lived here as late as 1668. Thomas Moore, the son, mar- ried Martha - -, who was called "sister" by Christopher Youngs of Wenham; and removed to Southold, L. I., about 1653. Their children were baptized in Salem, as follows: I. Martha, Oct. 21, 1639; 2. Thomas, Oct. 21, 1639; 3. Benjamin, Aug. 2, 1640; 4. Nathaniel, July 3, 1642; 5. Hannah, Dec. 29, 1644; 6. Elizabeth, Jan. 31, 1646-7; 7. Jonathan, June 3, 1649; 8. Mary, Dec. 15, 1650.
2Journal of John Winthrop, volume I, page 193.
3Journal of John Winthrop, volume I, page 234. See letter from John Winthrop to Governor Bradford, dated July 28, 1637, in History of Ply- mouth Colony by William Bradford, page 429.
*Journal of John Winthrop, volume I, page 254.
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negroes were brought here for the same end, it is generally so understood. If it is so, then it was the beginning of the slavery system in New England. This cargo arrived here Feb. 26, 1638.
The attitude of the government here relative to slavery was expressed in the Body of Liberties, prepared by Nathaniel Ward, and adopted by the general court in 1641, as the code of laws for the colony, as follows :-
There shall never be any bond slaverie, villinage or Captivitie amongst us unles it be lawfull Captives taken in just warres, and such strangers as willingly selle themselves or are sold to us. And these shall haue all the liberties and Christian usages which the law of god established in Israell concerning such persons doeth morally require. This exempts none from servitude who shall be Judged thereto by Authoritie.1
Dec. 13, 1636, the general court ordered that no ballast should be taken from the shore in each town without leave from the townsmen.
At the same session of the court the first tariff law was passed. It applied to purchasers from vessels of fruit, spices, sugar, wine, strong water and tobacco, brought from "beyond the seas." If the goods were purchased for consumption the tariff was one-sixth of the cost or value, and if for retailing it was one-third. The reason given for the law was the prevention of immoderate ex- pense of provisions brought from abroad. Wine for public use of the church was excepted.
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