The Fourth Commandment in Colonial Connecticut ....... So Now You Know!

In Colonial Connecticut there were stiff legal penalties against disobedient children. Examples:

• "If any Childe or Children above fifteen years old, and of sufficient understanding, shall curse or smite their natural Father or Mother, he or they shall be put to death, unless it can be sufficiently testified, that the Parents have been unchristianly negligent in the education of such Children."

• "If any man have a stubborn, or rebellious Son, of sufficient understanding and years, viz. fifteen years of age, which will not obey the voice of his Father, or the voice of his Mother, and that when they have chastened him, he will not hearken unto them; then may his Father or Mother, being his natural Parents, lay hold on him , and bring him to the Magistrates assembled in Court, and testifie unto them, that their Son is Stubborn and Rebellious, and will not obey their voice and chastisment, but lives in sundry notorious Crimes, such a Son shall be put to Death!"

So now you know!