Conneticut,- Aatutes

THE CODE

OF

1650,

BRING A COMPILATION THE EARLIEST LAWS AND URDERS

OF THE

GENERAL COURT OF CONNECTICUT:

ALSO, THE

CONSTITUTION, OR CIVIL COMPACT,

ENTERED INTO AD ADOPTED BY THE TOWNS OF

WINDSOR, HARTF RD, AND WETHERSFIELD

IN 1638-9.

TO WHICH IS ADDED

SOME EXTRACTS ROM THE LAWS AND JUDICIAL
PROCEEDING OF NEW-HAVEN COLONY

L.S. BB

E IT REMEMBERED, That on the first day of January, in the forty-sixth year of the Independence of the United States of America, SILAS ANDRUS, of the said district, has deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as proprietor, in the words following, to wit: "The code of 1650, being a coinpilation of the earliest laws and orders of the General Court of Connecticut. Also, the Constitution, or civil compact, entered into and adopted by the towns of Windsor, Hartford and Wethersfield, in 1638-9. To which is added, some extracts from the laws and judicial proceedings of New-Haven colony, commonly called blue laws.”

In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled, " An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned."

CHARLES A. INGERSOLL,

Clerk of the District of Connecticut, A true copy of Record, examined and sealed by me, CHARLES A. INGERSOLL,

Clerk of the District of Connecticut

LENOX LIBRARY

NEW YORK

ADVERTISEMENT.

THE follving sheets contain an exact copy of the con stitution, or orm of civil government, as adopted by the towns of Vndsor, Hartford and Wethersfield, and the Code of 16, as confirmed by the General Court of Connecticut. These were both taken from the original records rem ining in the office of the Secretary for the State. Much tim and accuracy were required to obtain an exact copy, on account of the orthography, and particularly for the reason, that the record, in some parts, was nearly obliterated, and in others, totally gone. Other parts of the receid, therefore, have been resorted to, and the copy rendered complete. The ancient orthography has been accurately preserved.

"

This small volume is offered to the public, without apology of comment: nor does the publisher deem it necessary detail the reasons which induced him to undertake the publication. Only, suffice it to say, that the first revisi of the early laws of Connecticut, was never before primed. Prior to the revision of 1672, which was printed in 1875, the laws and orders of the General Court, were pr nulgated only by manuscript copies. They were reco ded in the public records of the court, and also in the to vn records, and it was made the duty of the constables of the several towns, to publish such laws as should be ade from time to time, and, annually to read the capital I ws at some public meeting.

To this Code may be traced the origin of almost all our vil and religious institutions. Our ancestors have thus, in a great measure, transmitted to their posterity their present customs, manners, and civil and religious opinions. The laws were few and simple, yet they were such as the exigences of the commonwealth required, and such as may be supposed to exist in the infancy of civil govern

ments.

TO THE PRINCIPAL MATTERS.

Arrests, the person not to be arrested or imprisoned for debt, if

sufficient estate can be found.

debtors not to remain in prison, unless estate be concealed.
Assembly General, at what times to be holden.

Actions Civil, proceedings on the trial of, by jury.

60, 61

Court may vary the verdict of the jury.

Adultery, how. punishable.

Age and ability of persons.

20, 21

61

28

21

ib.

12

12, 14

of what officers and persons constituted

members of, when and how chosen.

how convened.

stated and special sessions of, when called by the freemen.
powers of such courts.

Assignment in service, of poor debtors, when authorized.
Attachment, for contempt of court, when to be issued.
of lands or estate, when authorized.

to be made for the benefit of all or any of the creditors.

il oppressive, the party to pay damages.
notice to the defendant, what.

Ballast, not to be taken from any shore, or thrown into any

to be renewed and perambulation performed, yearly
of lands of individuals, to be perambulated.

Burglary, how punishable,

Capital Laws.

20, 29

Casks, assize of

Cattle to be ear-marked.

22, 23

23, 24

24

33

Caveat may be entered with the register, against the alienation
of lands of fraudulent or insolvent debtors-effect thereof--
and mode of proceeding in such cases.

Church, members of, amenable to the civil power for ecelesiasti-

censure of not to degrade any one from any civil dignity.

Commissioners, form of oath of, prescribed.

Common Coasters, punishable for idleness.

44, 45

45

77

56