Difference between revisions of "Sodomy law: Pennsylvania, May 31, 1718"
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| − | + | ==Death for sodomy and buggery== | |
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| + | The death penalty for "sodomy and buggery" was reinstated in Pennsylvania, revising the [[Sodomy and buggery law: Pennsylvania, January 12, 1706|colony's law of 1706]]. This revision brought Pennsylvania law into conformity with English statute and common law.<ref>{{GLA}}, p. 130, citing Mitchell and Flanders, vol. 3, p. 202; Barnes, ''Evolution'', pp. 38-39.</ref> | ||
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| + | The new statute's reference to "any person or persons" who committed "sodomy or buggery" theoretically allowed female-female relations to be included, though, in practice, "sodomy" probably meant intercourse between men, or possibly, between a man and woman. | ||
| − | The law of 1718 provided death for thirteen crimes: (1) treason, (2) murder, | + | |
| − | (3) manslaughter by stabbing, (4) serious maiming, (5) highway robbery, (6) | + | The law of 1718 provided death for thirteen crimes: (1) treason, (2) murder, (3) manslaughter by stabbing, (4) serious maiming, (5) highway robbery, (6) burglary, (7) arson, (8) sodomy, (9) buggery, (10) rape, (11) concealing the death of a bastard child, (12) advising the killing of a bastard child, and (13) witchcraft. |
| − | burglary, (7) arson, (8) sodomy, (9) buggery, (10) rape, (11) concealing the death | ||
| − | of a bastard child, (12) advising the killing of a bastard child, and (13) witchcraft. | ||
The sodomy provision read: | The sodomy provision read: | ||
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<blockquote>... if any person or persons shall commit sodomy or buggery, or rape, or | <blockquote>... if any person or persons shall commit sodomy or buggery, or rape, or | ||
robbery ... he or they ... shall suffer as felons, according to the tenor, | robbery ... he or they ... shall suffer as felons, according to the tenor, | ||
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| − | This law remained in effect until 1786 when, after the Revolution, Pennsylvania | + | This law remained in effect until 1786 when, after the Revolution, Pennsylvania legislators were the first to revoke the death penalty for sodomy.<ref>Mitchell and Flanders, vol. 3, p. 281.</ref> |
| − | legislators were the first to revoke the death penalty for sodomy. | ||
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== References == | == References == | ||
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<references/> | <references/> | ||
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[[Category:The Age of Sodomitical Sin]] | [[Category:The Age of Sodomitical Sin]] | ||
| − | [[Category: | + | [[Category:Colonizing and Settling, 1585-1763]] |
| + | [[Category:Pennsylvania]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Sodomy]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Sodomy law]] | ||
[[Category:1710-1719]] | [[Category:1710-1719]] | ||
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[[Category:18th century]] | [[Category:18th century]] | ||
Latest revision as of 12:54, 15 July 2008
Death for sodomy and buggery
The death penalty for "sodomy and buggery" was reinstated in Pennsylvania, revising the colony's law of 1706. This revision brought Pennsylvania law into conformity with English statute and common law.[1]
The new statute's reference to "any person or persons" who committed "sodomy or buggery" theoretically allowed female-female relations to be included, though, in practice, "sodomy" probably meant intercourse between men, or possibly, between a man and woman.
The law of 1718 provided death for thirteen crimes: (1) treason, (2) murder, (3) manslaughter by stabbing, (4) serious maiming, (5) highway robbery, (6) burglary, (7) arson, (8) sodomy, (9) buggery, (10) rape, (11) concealing the death of a bastard child, (12) advising the killing of a bastard child, and (13) witchcraft.
The sodomy provision read:
... if any person or persons shall commit sodomy or buggery, or rape, or
robbery ... he or they ... shall suffer as felons, according to the tenor, direction, form and effect of the several statutes in such cases respectively made and practiced in Great Britain, any act or law of this province to the
contrary in anywise notwithstanding.
This law remained in effect until 1786 when, after the Revolution, Pennsylvania legislators were the first to revoke the death penalty for sodomy.[2]
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References
