A few extracts
from Felt's "Annals of Salem" may not be out of place here, as
illustrating our subject:--
"In 1637, Dorothy Talby, for beating her husband, is _ordered to
be bound and chained to a post_."
"In 1638, the Assistants order two Salem men to _sit in the
Stocks, on Lecture day_, for travelling on the Sabbath."
"In 1644, Mary, wife of Thomas Oliver, was sentenced _to be
publickly whipped_ for reproaching the Magistrates."
"In August, 1646, for slandering the Elders, she had a _cleft
stick put on her tongue for half an hour_." Felt says: "It is
evident that her standing out for what she considered 'woman's
rights' brought her into frequent and severe trouble. Mr.
Winthrop says that she excelled Mrs. Hutchinson in zeal and
eloquence."
She finally, in 1650, left the colony, after having caused much
trouble to the Church and the authorities.
"In 1649, women were prosecuted in Salem for scolding," and
probably in many cases whipped or ducked.
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