Footnotes to Long Island History
Old Town Laws Strict
by
Thomas R. Bayles
Things
were a lot tougher in the old days.
A girl
or boy couldn't be on the streets after 9p.m. on Sunday without having to pay a
fine to the local court, and man couldn't even run his own horse in town. Take a
look at the following Brookhaven town ordinances passed on July 8,1674 and then
see if you think present laws are too stringent.
"Whereas
they
have been much abuse and prophenaing of the lord's day by the younger
sort
of people in discoursing of vaine things and running of races. Therefore
we
make an order whereas it have been to coman in this towne for young men
and maieds to be out of their father's and mother's house unsesonable
tiems of
niete. It is therefore ordered that whosever of the younger sort shall
be out
there fathers of mothers house past nien of the clock at niet, shall be
summoned
in to the next cort, and ther to pay cort charges, with what punishment
the
court shall se cause to lay upon the except they can give suffisient
reson of
there being out late.
"Whereas
God have been much dishonored much pressious tyme misspent and men impoverished
by drinking and tippling, either in ordnery or other private houses therefore
we macke this order that whosever shall thus transgress or sett drinking above
two hours, shall pay 5s and the man of the house for letting of them have it
after the time perfixed, shall pay 10s, exsept strangers only.
Rases or run otherwise a horsback in the streets or
within the towne platt, shall forfeit 10s. to the use of the towne."
The
early settlers exercised vigilance in guarding against the admission of
undesirable persons to the rights of citizenship and property owners. In 1662 a
man by the name of Richard Bulleck came into the town and bought some timber of
John Ketcham for building a boat. The townsmen learning of this agreed to give
four months time to complete his boat and leave the town and instructed him not
make any disturbances or buy any land in the town.
Again
in April 1672 the records show that a Mr. Alcock was accepted as a townsmen
upon condition he brought a letter of recommendation of his good behavior. It
was also voted and agreed at that meeting that "there shall be no more land
given out to strangers."