Throughout Massachusetts's colonial history the interest and confusion can be targeted to the punishments done, for the crimes committed. Presentism is a major idea to remember when reflecting on the actions taken during colonial times. The below excerpt is taken from The Body of Liberties of 1641 and can add to the understanding of why and how such punishments discussed were carried out. Perhaps the magistrates in power took things too far; Possibly the law enforcers took the word of God too literally. Nevertheless Colonial Massachusetts proves to have been a place for persecution, guilty or not, and a place to affirm power and the interpretation of God's law.

The free fruition of such liberties Immunities and priveledges as humanitie, civilitie, and christianitie call for as due to every man in his place and proportion with out impeachment and Infringement hath ever bene and ever will be the tranquillitie and Stabilitie of Churches and Commonwealths. And the deniall or deprival thereof, the disturbance if not the ruin of both.

We hold it therefore our dutie and safetie whilst we are about the further establishing of this government to collect and expresse all such freedomes as fo

We doe therefore this day religiously and unanimously decree and confirme these following Rites, liberties and priveledges concerning our churches, and Civill state to be respectively impartialle and inviolably enjoyed and observed throughout our jurisdiction for ever.

The Puritans believed that if one member of their group suffered guilt, then the whole group must suffer along with that person or persons. If the person was not punished in a satisfying manner to the public, then they believed that they too would be punished. A simple breaking of their legal codes such as lying or idleness could cause the whole group to pay the price.

Among such trivial crimes as laughing there were serious crimes that could see a person to death or long drawn-out torture such as rape, murder, adultery and blasphemy. Blasphemy was a crime, which warranted harsh punishment. At the courts discretion blasphemers could be whipped, put in the pillory, have his tongue bored out with a hot iron or be forced to stand in the gallows with a rope tied around his neck. Adultery was a crime punishable by death by 1641 as Governor Winthrop had pushed. Yet there are still cases evident were the adultery was to live although he/she could be banished, publicly beaten, or branded.

Crimes were considered sins and any offense against God was an automatic crime against the village and the people therein. Many religious leaders preached sermons about God's punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah to remind the people of what could happen to them if they disobeyed God's law. But, it was more a case of the colony leader's own law rather than God's moral law.

Giving frequent secret and unseasonable Entertainment in her house to lewd lascivious and notorious persons of both sexes, giving them opportunity to commit carnall wickedness, and that by common fame she is a common Baud.

Prostitution made some advances into the Bay colony as well as the surrounding colonies. In 1672 Alice Thomas was found guilty of entertaining males in her home.

The settlers in Massachusetts looked upon themselves as moral and religious people. Yet, there were many wrongdoers in the new colony. They had a strict moral code and violators were handed bizarre punishments. With every crime imaginable there was a harsh punishment to follow, weather it be emotional or physical. Either way in colonial Massachusetts's laws were made and enforced. The crimes and punishments in Colonial Massachusetts not only reflect the societies morality but an embedded commitment to God.

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Approximate Word count = 2078
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)