7. Blue laws in colonial times carried penalties which were somewhat draconian
When the Jamestown Colony enacted the first blue law in America, it also defined the penalties for those who chose to break it. At a time when all food in the colony was evenly shared, first-time violators were denied their food allowance until the following Sabbath, at which time they would presumably mend their ways. Second-time offenders lost their allowance for a week, and were whipped at the stake to boot. The law provided “and for the third to suffer death”. The Virginia leaders were serious about observing the Sabbath faithfully. Leaders of other colonies were as well.
In 1656, a sea captain returned from a three-year voyage, and unsurprisingly kissed his welcoming wife. Unfortunately for the captain, it was on a Sunday. For his “unseemly behavior” on Lord’s day, he was placed in the public stocks for two hours. Several New England colonies banned “unnecessary travel” on Sunday. Throughout the colonies dancing on Sunday was considered to be profaning the Lord’s day, as was loud and joyous laughter, or any other “uproarious” public display. In Puritan New England the Sabbath began at sunset on Saturday. Visitors to communities were required to comply with the demands of the local laws and regulations and were subject to the same fines and punishments if they did not.