“1669: Any person or persons that shalle be found smoking tobacco on the Lord’s Day, going to or coming from the meetings, within two miles of the meeting house, shall pay 12 pence for every such default to the colonies’ use.”
“1692: All and every justices of the peace, constables and tything men are required to restrain all persons from swimming in the water; unnecessary and unreasonable walking in the streets or fields in the toun of Boston, or other places; in the evening preceding the Lord’s Day, or any other part of the said day or the evening following.”
“1634: The court, taking into consideration the greate, superfluous and unnecessary expenses occassioned by some newe and immodest fashions, as also the ordinary wearing of golde, silver, silke, laces, girdles, hat-bands, etc., hath, therefore, ordered that noe person, either man or woman, shall hereafter make or buy any apparell, either woolen, silke or lynen, with any lace on it, silver, golde, silke or thread, under the penalty of the forfeiture of such clothes.”
“1782: Be it enacted that each person, being able of body and mind, not otherwise necessarily prevented, who shall, for the space of one month together, absent himself or herself from the public worship of God, on the Lord’s Day, shall forfeit and pay the sum of ten shillings.”
In old Connecticut we find legislation similar in character. In 1647: “Forasmuch, as it is observed that many abuses are crept in and committed by the frequent taking of tobacco, it is ordered by the authority of this Court, that no person under the age of 20 years, nor any other that hath not accustomed himself to the use thereof, shall take any tobacco until he hath brought a certificate under the hands of some who are approved for knowledge and skill in physic, that it is useful to him and that he hath received a license from the Court for the same.”
“1643: Whoever shall prophane the Lord’s Day, or any part of it, by unlawful sport, recreation or otherwise, whether wilfully or in careless neglect, shall be duly punished by fine, imprisonment, or corporally, according to the nature and measure of the sin and offense.”
Here are some of the celebrated New Haven “Blue Laws:”
“Whoever wears clothes trimmed with golde, silver or bone lace, above two shillings by the yard, shall be presented to the Grand Jurors, and the selectmen shall tax the offender at £300 estate.”
“No one shall read Common Prayer, keep Xmas or Saint’s Days, make minced pies, dance, play cards, or play on any instrument of music, except the drum, trumpet and jew’s-harp.”
“No one shall run on the Sabbath Day, or walk in the Garden or elsewhere, except reverently to and from meeting.”