The Tuttles in Carrington History - Part 2

This has been an interesting review for me. I do have to remember to keep my names straight, as this whole Carrington branch uses the same first names over and over again.

Here's that bit about Sarah Tuttle, sister of John Tuttle (my 8th great grand aunt). Sarah was born in 1642 and was "merely a flirt". At a court held in New Haven in 1660, she and a Jacob Murline were prosecuted for 'sinful daliance'. They were accused of 'sitting down on a chest together, his arm about her waist and her arm upon his shoulder or about his neck, and continuing in this sinful position about a half an hour, in which time he kissed her and she kissed him, and they kissed one another', according to the witness testimony. This complaint was made by Sarah's father under a law that "whosoever should draw away the affections of any maid or maid servant for himself or others, without first obtaining the consent of her parents or guardians, should pay, besides all the damages the parent might sustain, 40 shillings for the first offense and for the second towards the same person, 4 pounds and for the third, fined, imprisoned and corporally punished, as the Plantation court may direct."

Note: There were cases in which a young man charged with this offense had done nothing more than walk with a girl on a country road.

There is much more to this story. I have the entire manuscript It's much too long for a blog but I'll be glad to share it, if any reader is interested. There is an amazing change in moral interpretation over the years.

Anyway, Sarah was characterized by the court as a 'bold virgin' who had better mend her ways. On Nov. 17, 1676 her 29 year old brother Benjamin Tuttle began quarreling with her. They may have been arguing about the division of their dead father's considerable property, or perhaps Sarah made "a disparaging remark about their sister, Elizabeth, who was showing signs of an impetuous nature and lack of decorum which was quite at odds with the Puritan standards of the day." Benjamin may have reminded Sarah that she was no angel; she had scandalized the town in her youth by publicly exchanging kisses with a Dutch sailor, for which she and the sailor were fined."

Whatever the quarrel...Benjamin went to the barn, got an ax, returned to the house and struck Sarah on the head, "maulling & mashing her head to many pieces in a barbarous and bloudy maner." Benjamin ran away and hid in the woods but was later apprehended and tried and convicted for the murder in 1677.

Wait! There is more...next time the history of John, Benjamin, and Sarah's sister, Elizabeth. Stay tuned!