Ron Ludington Some interesting info on our  Wm Luddington and a court case he was involved in way back in the 1600.   From the book , History of Malden, Massachusetts, 1633-1785 by Deloraine Pendre Corey, published 1899, Pages 120 to 122 we find the following : Henry Swillaway was the unfortunate servant of Peter Tufts who beate his man with the greate end of A goade sticke, and said he would tie him to a tre and beat him for he was his moneie. Under such provications it is not strange that the servant began to retaliate and abused his master and his dame in blose and words. Thomas Mudge saw him strike his master upon the brest with his hand; and Mary Mudge testified: that she being at Goodman Torfs of an arrand: Gudie Torfe and she hereing the Dine in the yard, went out of the dore, and his man got up a great stone and held it up to throat his master, as I conseved, but when he se me he threwe it doune; I further testifie I herd him cal his master base rouge. It may be supposed that neither Goodman Tufts nor the rebellious Swillaway could desire to keep close company for a long time, and accordingly the latter became servant to John Bunker. He was soon after brought before the court by his late master for his miscarriages; but in the end the master got more justice than he liked. James Barrett, his neighbour, said: -I James Barot aged about 40 yeres or ther aboutes I doth heare testifie the I herd goodman tufes sai that he had not had Justis before the Debeti Gov; in this cas between him and his man and for his man was wrong out of his hand Therefore he wod make it apear at this corte; Thus was the government, in the person of Richard Bellngham, again defamed as it had been aforetime with Thomas Squire. (this was the court case just before this one). Peter Tufts was speedily convicted and humbly acknowledged his sin, with the wish that he might not only be a warneing to myselfe for the future, unto a greater watchfulnese over all my words and wayes, but also a meanes to detere all others that either have or may heare here of, from all offenses of this or a like nature.Well it would have been for the goodman if Goodie Torfe had profited by the experience of her husband, Peter Tufts; but her woman¹s nature could not control her tongue, which soon brought her to grief. James Barrett and William Luddington had been witnesses in the Swillaway case, and it was for slander against that she was found guilty. The penalty was damages ten shillings apeece , and a acknowledgmn to be made by the deff at Mauldon, upon the Lords day in the after noone, within the space of thirty dayes next ensuieng, and it to be made after the publicke execise is ended, before the congregation depart in mann following viz in these words. That whereas I Mary Tufts am legally convicted of slandering & wrongdoing James Barratt and Wlliam Luddington, or any other whom my words might refect upon, by speaking Rashly, irregularly, & sinfully, I am heartily sorry, and doe desire to be humbled for the same, & in case of non observance to doe as above promised either to pay ye said ten shill apeece, or makeing such acknowledgmn both for mann & time: the Jury doe find the ye deff shall pay unto ye pts fifty shill apeece, and costs of court thirty one shill¹s and two pence. Note: the William Luddington mentioned in the above article was the patriarch of the American Luddington/Ludington famly of today. He arrived in Boston about 1638 from England and later settled near Malden, MA where he worked as a weaver for many years. In the 1660s he took his family to New Haven, CT where he supposedly became involved in the operation of a furnace (todays metal foundry). He died there in 1662.