>From Marilyn Labbe, posted to MAWORCES. Justice Joseph DWIGHT was probably the son of Henry/3 DWIGHT (John/1, Capt. Timothy/2). Henry was a prominent merchant in the CRV -- the "rich" DWIGHT from whom descended (I believe) the co-founder of Church & Dwight, which brought us Arm & Hammer baking powder. Names of defendants, chrono order. HAZELTINE JORDAN CRATTEN WHITNEY READ GIBS MOORE NEWTON LEIGHTLE WARDEN SIBLY STEBINGS NEWTON (a different one) HILL ELLIS McMICHELL TURNER JENINGS KELLOG ADDLETON AINSWORTH WALDO FAYERWEATHER and a bunch of others. Sorry, it's late and I'm going to bed. Read on. Yrs aye, Warren Wetmore. ======================================= Hello, A friend of mine copied out of the above books the fornication suits and a couple of other things relative to Worcester County. Collections of the Worcester Society of Antiquity Vol. 5 Published by the Society, 1883 1731 - John Hazeltine of Sutton in the County of Worcester Husbandman upon ye complaint of Christian Indian Woman Widdow of George Misco late of Hassanamisco, for his Said Hazeltines selling strong drink to ye Indians contrary to law was bound over to this Court by Mr. Justice Jenison to answer said complaint.. case continued to the next Court of General Sessions first Tuesday in November next. 1731, Nov. term - John Hazeltines Recognizance being continued to this Court by which he was bound to answer to the Complaint of Christian Indian Widdow of George Misco for his said Hazeltines selling strong drink to ye Indians contrary to law.. he was tried by jury who found the Defendant guilty of giving order for one Jill of Rum to be delivered to an Indian. He paid a fine of Ten shillings - one half to his majesty the other half to the Informer and pay Costs Taxed at Seven pound nine shillings & Two pence. The Jury consisted of: Capt. Jonas Rice, Capt. Richard Moore, Mr. Epm Child, Mr. Bezaleel Sawyer, Mr. Richard Ward, Mr. Comfort Barnes, Mr. Perez Rice, Mr. Peter Smith, Mr. Wm Brown, Mr. Isaac Amsden, Mr. Eli Ball & Mr. Nathan Dyke. 1731-2 - February term - John Jordan of Brookfield, husbandman and Submitt Jordan of Brookfield ye wife of the said John Jordan Housewife and William Cratten of Uxbridge Husbandman and Easter Cratten of Uxbridge aforesaid wife of ye said William Cratten Housewife Each and every of them for the Sin of Fornication. Benjamin Whitney of Lancaster, Husbandman being bound over by way of Recognizance to this Court by Mr. Justice Wilder to answer for his being Guilty of the Sin of Fornication, appeared in Court & Pleaded Guilty whereupon the Court ordered that he pay as a fine the Sum of Twenty Shillings & Cost 2/6 which he paid Down in Court and his Recognizance was Cancelled. Sarah Read of Rutland, Housewife & wife of Thomas Read of said Rutland being bound over by way of Recognizance to the Court of Generall Sessions of the peace In February last past by Mr. Justice Wright to answer for the Sin of fornication and being not able to Travell to said Court her bonds were continued to this time. She now appeared in Court and Pleaded Guilty where upon the Court order that for her Crime she pay a fine of three pounds or be whiped on the Naked back five Stripes & pay the Cost of her prosecution and stand Committed till Sentence be Performed, Cost Taxed at one pound six shillings & six pence. She paid the fine & Cost in Court which was Divid to the Justices present in part of what is due to them being 8/7 apiece. 1732 August Term - Samuel Gibs and Lydiah his wife and Hezekiah Moore were bound over by way of Recognizance by Joseph Wilder Esq. To appear at the Court of Generall Sessions of ye peace held in May last, to answer Severally for the Sin of fornication their Recognizances were Continued to this Court, and the persons now all appeared & Pleaded Guilty. The Court thereupon order that they pay each a find of thirty shillings & Cost of Suit, or be whiped on the naked body five Stripes Each which was done in Court & they were discharged. Jonathan Newton & Tabitha his wife were bound over by way of Recognizance by Wm Ward Esq to appear at this Court to answer for the Sin of fornication Committed by them before marriage the partys appeared & pleaded Guilty. The Court thereupon order that they each pay a fine of thirty shillings & Cost of Court or be whipt on ye naked body five Stripes each & stand Committed till Sentence be performed. Judgment Satisfied in Court. Samuel Leightle & Mary Warden being Bound over to the Court by way of Recognizance by Joseph Dwight Esq to appear at this Court To answer for their presuming to Lye together in one and the same bed beifng both undress'd appeared in Court & pleaded Guilty The Court thereupon order that they pay as a fine for their offence Twenty shillings each & Costs which was done in Court. 1732 - November Term - John Sibly of Sutton & his wife; John Stebings of Leicester & his wife; Abner Newton of Southboro & his wife being Severally bound over to this Court to answer for ye Sin of fornication Severally pleaded Guilty & were fined thirty shillings each and payd Costs & were dismist. Court held the first Tuesday of February being the Sixth day of Said month 1732-3 Ralph Hill of Mendon & Hannah his wife being heretofore presented by the Grandjurors for being Guilty of ye Crime of fornication before marriage & being Recognized To appear at this Court now appeared & pleaded Guilty, were find Each fifty shillings to our Sovereign Lord the King & Cost which they paid & were dismiss'd. Margarett Newton of Southboro appeared before ye Court & pleaded Guilty to her presentment for the Crime of Fornication, was fin'd to our Lord ye King in ye Sum of thirty shillings & Cost. She paid ye fine and was Dismiss'd, ye Cost given to her. John Ellis of Uxbridge appeared before ye Court and Complained of himself for being Guilty of ye Crime of fornication with Hannah his wife before marriage, was find to our Lord ye King ye Sum of thirty shillings & to pay Costs which he paid and was Dismiss'd. Personally appeared before ye Court John Ellis of Uxbridge in Sd County Husbandman and John Harwood of Said Uxbridge Retailer & acknowledged themselves bound to our Sovereign Lord the King, viz: The Said John Ellis as Principall In the Sum of Ten pounds & ye said John Harwood as Surety in ye Sum of Ten pounds, Conditioned that if Hannah Ellis wife of the said John Ellis shall appear before the next Court of General Sessions of ye peace to be held here on the Second Tuesday of May next to answer to her being Guilty of the Crime of fornication, then ye Recog. to be void, Else to Remain in full force & virtue. 1733 - William McMichell & Margarett his wife of Woodstock in ye County of Worcester came into Court and Complained of themselves for being Guilty of ye Crime of fornication before marriage, were find each Thirty shillings To our Lord ye King & Costs which they paid & were Dismissed. Alexander Turner of Worcester & Mary his wife came into Court and complained of themselves for being Guilty of ye Crime of fornication before marriage, were fined to our Lord ye King the Sum of Thirty shillings, Each & Cost, which they paid & were dismissed. At the General Sessions of the peace holden at Worcester within and for the County of Worcester on the Second Tuesday of May 1733 The Grandjury for the body of the said County Upon Their oaths do present John Jenings Husbandman and Elisabeth Jening Housewife wife of the said John Jennings and Eliner Kellog Spinster all of Brookfield in ye County aforesaid Each and all of them for the Crime of fornication and Matthew Addleton Cooper and Thomas Ainsworth Husbandman both of Brookfield for Unnecessarily absenting themselves from ye publick worship of God on the Lords days for more than Two months last past and also Jonathan Waldo & Thomas Fayerweather Gent for Travelling Unnecessaryly on the last lords day from Oxford to Worcester and also the Town of Leicester for their not being provided with a writing & Reading School master all which things are against the peace of our Sovereign Lord the King his Crown & Dignity... 1733 August Term - James Nuting and Josiah Nuting both of Hassanamisco in ye County of Worcester husbandmen appeared in Court and to their presentment by ye Grandjurors for ye body of ye County of Worcester In Febry last past for Traveling Unecessarily on ye Saturday evening after Sun Sett before the Lords day from Lancaster to Groton pleaded not Guilty & putt his Self on Tryall by the bench and after a full hearing The Court ordered they Should be discharged paying Cost which they paid. Eleaner Kellog being bound over by way of Recognizance by Mr. Justice Dwight To answer To her presentment by the Grandjurors for her being Guilty of ye Crime of fornication appeared in Court and pleaded Guilty of having a bastard Child born of her body The Court Thereupon ordered that she pay as a fine to our Sovereign Lord ye King the Sum of five pounds or be whipt on the naked body Ten stripes & pay Cost of prosecution, ye find & Cost were paid and her Recognizance Discharged. Martha McKintree of Dudley Spinster being bound by way of Recognizance to appear at ye Court of General Sessions of ye peace held here in May last to answer for being Guilty of Fornication and not being able to Travell then her bonds were Continued To this Court She now appeared in Court pleaded Guilty whereupon the Court Order That for her Crime She pay a find of four pounds to our Sovereign Lord the King pay Costs of Prosecution and Stand Comitted till Sentance be performed. The find & Costs were paid. John Jennings of Brookfield in ye County of Worcester Husbandman and Elizabeth Jenings his wife being presented by the Grandjurors for ye Crime of fornication appeared & Confessed themselves Guilty were find each Fourty Shillings To ye King which they pay'd & also Cost and were Dismissed. 1734 - Thomas Adams of Worcester Husbandman and his wife Ruth; Jessoniah Rice of Worcester Husbandman and Lydia his wife all came into Court & Severally acknowledged themselves Guilty of the Crime of fornication were fined to ye King Each Thirty Shillings which they paid with Cost & were dismissed. 1734, August term - Peter Kendall of Lancaster in ye County of Worcester Labourer being presented by the Grandjurors for ye body of Said County for ye he Said Peter Kendall at Lancaster aforesaid on or about the midle of July 1733 did Comitt the Crime of Fornication on ye body of Beriah Knight of Lancaster aforesaid Spinster which is contrary to ye peace of our Lord ye King his Crown and dignity, to which ye said Peter Kendall pleaded not Guilty and put him Self on Tryall, the Jury found him Guilty and he to pay a find therefor to our Sovereign Lord ye King the Sum of fifty shillings & pay Costs & Fees Taxed at nine pound seventeen shillings & stand Comitted Till his Sentence be performed, at which time the said Peter Kendall appealed to Ye next Court of Assize and Generall Goal Delivery to be holden at Worcester on ye Wednesday Imediately preceding the time by law in September next... Peter Kendall of Lancaster in Ye County of Worcester Labourer as principall In ye Sum of fourty pounds & Ralph Kendall Taylor and Oliver Wilder Gent both of Lancaster In Said County as Suretys in Twenty pounds. Beriah Knight of Lancaster Single Woman being presented by the Grandjurors for her being Guilty of ye Crime of Fornication came into Court Confessed herself Guilty was find thirty shillings which she paid & was dismissed. Megee Dupee of Lancaster being presented by the Grandjurors for being Guilty of the Crime of Fornication & bound over To answer for ye Same by Mr. Justice Wilder appeared and pleaded She was not bound to answer ye same She not having her right name The Court Considered ye Same & She was Dismissed paying Cost which she paid. Ephraim Smith of Shrewsbury & Hariett his wife both being presented by ye Grandjurors for being Guilty of ye Crime of Fornication came into Court and Confessed them Selves Severally Guilty were find Each to ye King thirty shillings & to pay Cost, which they paid & were dismissed. Meriam Jones wife of Daniel Jones of Brookfield came into Court & Confessed that She was Guilty of ye Crime of Fornication was fin'd thirty shillings & Dismissed paying Cost. Nathaniel Bartlett of Brookfield Confest himself Guilty of ye Crime of Fornication was Sentenced to pay a fine of thirty shillings & Cost which he paid & was Dismissed. Peter Kendall & Hepzibah his wife of Lancaster appeared in Court and Confessed themselves Guilty of fornication were find Each thirty shillings & dismissed paying Cost. The Selectmen of ye Town of Woodstock presented a warrant with their Constables Return for warning on Wm. Russell & his wife to leave their town which was approved by ye Court. 1734 November Term - Hannah Dankin being bound over to this Court by Mr. Justice Jenison To answer to her Crime of fornication appeared in Court & Confessed she was Guilty, She was Sentenced to pay a fine of thirty shillings & Cost which She did & was dismissed. The wife of Nathaniell Bartlett of Brookfield in ye County of Worcester appeared in Court & confessed She was Guilty of the Crime of Fornication was find thirty shillings & paid Costs & was dismissed. 1734/5 February Term - Tabitha Bellows of Southborough appeared in Court and Confessed She was Guilty of the Crime of Fornication by one Benony Salter, for which she paid a fine of thirty shillings & was Dismissed paying Cost. Also Mary Latiney of Westborough Single Woman came into Court & Confessed She was Guilty of the Crime of Fornication with one Thomas Dooley find Thirty Shillings & dismissed without Costs. Nathaniel Davenport of Woodstock & Elizabeth his wife being presented by the Grandjurors for the Crime of Fornication The Said Nathaniel appeared and Confess'd the Same & paid a fine of fifty shillings & Cost & was dismissed his wife not being able to attend her Recognizance was continued to May. John Dunsmore of Lancaster & Unice his wife being presented by the Grandjury for ye Crime of Fornication came into Court & plead To ye Insufficiency of the presentment which was by the Court adjudged Insufficient & they were Dismest paying Costs. 1735 - Bemsley Peters of Woodstock in ye County of Worcester Feltmaker appeared in Court & also Hannah his wife & Confessed they were Guilty of the Crime of Fornication before marriage were fin'd 30/ Each & ordered to pay Cost which was done & they were Dismissed. Elizabeth Davenport wife of Nathaniel Davenport of Woodstock In the County of Worcester husbandman being bound over by John Chandler Esq to answer for the Crime of Fornication appeared in Court & Confessed She was Guilty, was find fifty shillings & to pay Costs which She did & was Dismissed. Joseph Baxter of Uxbridge In the County of Worcester Cordwainer being bound over by way of Recognizance To answer for the Crime of Fornication appeared in Court and Confessed him Self guilty was find thirty shillings which he paid with the Costs & was Dismissed. Benjamin Bullard of Lancaster being bound to appear at this Court To answer for the Crime of Fornication with Ruth his wife before marriage Came into Court & Confes'd ye Same was fined thirty shillings & dismissed paying Cost: his wife bond continued. The Selectmen of Mendon presented to ye Court a warrant for warning Jane Pollen To depart their Town with ye Constables Return thereon; accepted by ye Court. To be continued... Marilyn Labbe