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Letter of Richard Mather (Age 12) to His Father (c.1638)

Though I am thus well in my body, yet I question whether my soul doth prosper as my body doth; for I perceive, yet to this very day little growth in grace; and this makes me question, whether grace be in my heart or no. I feel also daily great unwillingness to good duties, and the great ruling sin of my' heart; and that God is angry' with me, and gives me no answers to my prayers, but many times, he even throws them down as dust in my' face; and he does not grant my continual requests for the spiritual blessing of the softning of my hard heart. And in all this I could yet take some comfort, but that it makes me to wonder, what God's secret decree concerning me may be; for I doubt whether ever God is wont to deny grace and mercy to his chosen (though uncalled) when they seek unto him, by prayer, for it; and therefore, seeing he doth thus deny it to me, I think that the reason of it is most like to be, because I belong not unto the election of grace. I desire that you would let me have your prayers, as I doubt not but I have them.

[Source: Cotton Mather. Magnalia Christi Americana (New York: Russell and Russell. 1967), p. 40, reproduced from 1852 ed., originally published in 1702.]

Massachusetts Court Records

[1646]. If any child[ren] above sixteen years old and of sufficient under- standing shall curse or smite their natural father or mother, they shall be put - to death, unless it can be sufficiently testified that the parents have been very unchristianly negligent in the education of such children, or so provoked them by extreme and cruel correction that they have been forced thereunto to preserve themselves. from death or maiming. ...

If a man have a stubborn or rebellious son of sufficient years of under- standing, viz. sixteen, which will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and that when they have chastened him will not harken unto them, then shall his father and mother, being his natural parents, lay hold on him and bring him to the magistrates assembled in Court, and testify to them by sufficient evidence that this their son is stubborn and rebellious and will not obey their voice and chastisement, but lives in sundry notorious crimes. Such a son shall be put to death.*

[1670]. Ordered that John Edy, Senior, shall go to John Fisk's house and to George Lawrence's and William Priest's houses to inquire about their children, whether they be learned to read the English tongue and in case they be defective to warn in the said John, George, and William to the next meeting of the Selectmen. ...

William Priest, John Fisk, and George Lawrence, being warned to a meeting of the Selectmen at John Bigulah's house, they making their appearance and being found defective, were admonished for not learning their children to read the English tongue: were convinced, did acknowledge their neglects, and did promise amendment.

[1674]. Agreed that Thomas Reg, John Whitney, and Joseph Bemus should go about the town to see that children were taught to read the English tongue and that they were taught some orthodox catechism and to see that each man has in his house a copy of the capital laws. For which end the Selectmen agreed there should be copies procured by Captain Mason at the printers and that to be paid for out of the town rate and the men above mentioned to carry them along with them to such of the inhabitants as have none.

Thomas Fleg, John Whitney, and Joseph Bemus gave in an account of what they had found concerning children's education and John Fisk being found wholly negligent of educating his children as to reading or catechizing, the Selectmen agreed that Joseph Bemus should warn him into answer for his neglect at the next meeting of the Selectmen.

[1676]. Ordered that Captain Mason and Simon Stone shall go to John Fisk to see if his children be taught to read English and their catechism.
[Note: this penalty was never actually imposed on a child in Puritan Massachusetts.]

Lawrence Hammond, Diary Entry for April 23, 1688

This day came into our family Elizabeth Nevenson, daughter of Mr. John Nevinson and Elizabeth his wife, who wilbe 13 yeares of age the 22d day of October next: The verbal Covenant betweene my wife and Mrs. Nevenson is, that she the said Elizabeth shall dwell with my wife as a servant six yeares, to be taught, instructed and provided for as shalbe meet, and that she shall not depart from our family during the said time without my wives consent.

Source: Massachussett's Historical Society Proceedings. (XXVII, 146.)

Samuel Sewall on the Trials of His Fifteen-Year-Old Daughter (1696)

May 3, 1696. Betty can hardly read her chapter for weeping; tells me she is afraid she is gon back, does not taste that sweetness in reading the Word which once she did; fears that what once upon her is worn off. I said what I could to her, and in the evening pray'd alone with her,

November 12, 1696. I set Betty to read Ezekiel 37. and she weeps so that can hardly read; I talk with her and she tells me of the various Temptations she had; that she was a Reprobat, Loved not God's people as she should.

Source: Diary of Samuel Sewall, 1674-1729, (Massachusetts Historical Society Collections, 5th series. Vol. V). 1.423.437.

The Well-Ordered Family (1719)

BENJAMIN WADSWORTH

Parents should govern their children well, restrain, reprove, correct them, and there is occasion. A Christian householder should rule well his own house. .. Children should not be left to themselves, to a loose end, to do as they please; but should be under tutors and governors, not being fit to govern themselves , ..Children being bid to obey their parents in all things. ..plainly implies that parents should give suitable precepts to, and maintain a wise government over their children; so carry it, as their children may both fear and love them. You should restrain your children from sin as much as possible. ..You should reprove them for their faults; yea, if need be, correct them too. ..Divide precepts plainly show that, as there is occasion, you should chasten and correct your children; you dishonor God and hurt them if you neglect it. Yet, on the other hand, a father should pity his children. ..You should by no means carry it ill to them; you should not frown, be harsh, morose, faulting and blaming them when they don't deserve it, but do behave themselves well. If you fault and blame your children, show yourself displeased and discontent when they do their best to please you, this is the way to provoke them to wrath and anger, and to discourage them; therefore you should carefully avoid such ill carriage to them. Nor should you ever correct them upon uncertainties, without sufficient evidence of their fault. Neither should you correct them in a rage or passion, but should deliberately endeavor to convince them of their fault, their sin; and that 'tis out of love to God's honor and their good (if they're capable of considering such things) that you correct them. Again, you should never be cruel nor barbarous in your corrections, and if milder ones will reform them, more severe ones should never be used. Under this head of government I might further say; you should refrain your children from bad company as far as possibly you can. ..If you would not have your sons and daughters destroyed, then keep them from ill company as much as may be. ..You should not suffer your children needlessly to frequent taverns, nor to be abroad unseasonably on nights, lest they're drawn into numberless hazards and mischiefs thereby. You can't be too careful in these matters.

Source: America Firsthand, Volume I, edited by Robert D. Marcus and David Burner, (1989). Originally from Benjamin Wadsworth, The Well-Ordered Family (Boston, 1719).