Difference between revisions of "Sodomy law: Rhode Island, 1663"
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| − | The Rhode Island Colony revised its [[Sodomy law: Rhode Island, May 19, 1647|sodomy law of 1647]].<ref> | + | ==death for "sodomy" or "buggery"== |
| − | and Laws of His Majesties Colony of Rhode | + | |
| − | Island. . . (Boston: Nicholas Boone, | + | {{Protected}} |
| − | 1719), p. 6. This law, as first published | + | |
| − | in 1719, provided that those convicted | + | The Rhode Island Colony revised its [[Sodomy law: Rhode Island, May 19, 1647|sodomy law of 1647]]. The new statute dropped the earlier law's New Testament citations, adopting a wording more like that of the English buggery law.<ref>{{GLA}}, p. 105, citing ''Acts and Laws of His Majesties Colony of Rhode Island. . .'' (Boston: Nicholas Boone, 1719), p. 6. This law, as first published in 1719, provided that those convicted of sodomy be punished by death "with benefit of Clergy." This was probably a printer's error for "without" benefit of clergy -- an error which might theoretically have removed the mandatory death penalty for sodomy. "Benefit of Clergy" provided an exemption of the death penalty for the clergy and some others.</ref> |
| − | of sodomy be punished by death "with | ||
| − | benefit of Clergy." This was probably a | ||
| − | printer's error for "without" benefit of | ||
| − | clergy-an error which might theoretically | ||
| − | have removed the mandatory | ||
| − | death penalty for sodomy. "Benefit of | ||
| − | Clergy" provided an exemption of the | ||
| − | death penalty for the clergy and some | ||
| − | others.</ref> | ||
| − | |||
The law of 1663 read: | The law of 1663 read: | ||
| − | <blockquote>... whosoever shall perpetuate and commit the Detestable and Abominable | + | |
| − | Crimes of Sodomy, or Buggery, and be thereof Lawfully Convicted, shall | + | <blockquote>... whosoever shall perpetuate and commit the Detestable and Abominable Crimes of Sodomy, or Buggery, and be thereof Lawfully Convicted, shall suffer the Pains of Death, as in Cases of Felony, with benefit of Clergy.</blockquote> |
| − | suffer the Pains of Death, as in Cases of Felony, with benefit of Clergy.</blockquote> | ||
| − | This Rhode Island law was next revised in 1798 when the death penalty for | + | This Rhode Island law was next revised in 1798 when the death penalty for sodomy was abolished.<ref>{RR} Will someone research and email this text and the citation?</ref> |
| − | sodomy was abolished. | ||
<div style="text-align: right; direction: ltr; margin-left: 1em;"> | <div style="text-align: right; direction: ltr; margin-left: 1em;"> | ||
| − | Return to [[Colonial America: The Age of Sodomitical Sin|Age of Sodomitical Sin]] index • Go to [[Mathew Giles | + | Return to [[Colonial America: The Age of Sodomitical Sin|Age of Sodomitical Sin]] index • Go to [[Buggery case: Mathew Giles; New Hampshire, July 4, 1663|next article]] |
</div> | </div> | ||
== 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: Buggery Law]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Law]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Rhode Island Colony]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Rhode Island]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Sodomy]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Sodomy Law]] | ||
[[Category:1660-1669]] | [[Category:1660-1669]] | ||
[[Category:17th century]] | [[Category:17th century]] | ||
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Latest revision as of 11:59, 15 July 2008
death for "sodomy" or "buggery"
PROTECTED ENTRY: This entry by a named creator or site administrator can be changed only by that creator and site administrators, so they are responsible for its accuracy, coverage, evidence, and clarity. Please do use this entry's Comment section at the bottom of the page to suggest improvements. Thanks.
The Rhode Island Colony revised its sodomy law of 1647. The new statute dropped the earlier law's New Testament citations, adopting a wording more like that of the English buggery law.[1]
The law of 1663 read:
... whosoever shall perpetuate and commit the Detestable and Abominable Crimes of Sodomy, or Buggery, and be thereof Lawfully Convicted, shall suffer the Pains of Death, as in Cases of Felony, with benefit of Clergy.
This Rhode Island law was next revised in 1798 when the death penalty for sodomy was abolished.[2]
Return to Age of Sodomitical Sin index • Go to next article
References
- ↑ Jonathan Ned Katz, Gay/Lesbian Almanac (NY: Harper & Row, 1983), p. 105, citing Acts and Laws of His Majesties Colony of Rhode Island. . . (Boston: Nicholas Boone, 1719), p. 6. This law, as first published in 1719, provided that those convicted of sodomy be punished by death "with benefit of Clergy." This was probably a printer's error for "without" benefit of clergy -- an error which might theoretically have removed the mandatory death penalty for sodomy. "Benefit of Clergy" provided an exemption of the death penalty for the clergy and some others.
- ↑ {RR} Will someone research and email this text and the citation?
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