Bundling; Its Origin, Progress and Decline in America Part 8

[34] _Butler's History of Groton_ (Pepperell & Shirley), page 174. At a church meeting, Feb. 29, 1739-40, the subject of compelling persons to confess themselves guilty of an offense, of which they said, "if not absolutely, yet next to impossible to convict them," was acted upon, and some relaxation made in the rule before adopted; but a part of the record is so worn as to be illegible.

Page 177. June 1, 1761. "The church also at this meeting, voted in relation to the confession necessary to be made by parents, to ent.i.tle their children to the rite of baptism, who might be supposed to have committed the offence of which, in Mr. Trowbridge's time, they supposed that, 'if not absolutely, yet next to impossible to convict them,' not materially varying from a _seven-months_ rule heretofore adopted. These regulations were signed by the moderator, and a.s.sented to by the pastor elect."

Page 181. "During Mr. Dana's ministry [1761-1775] 124 persons (38 males, 86 females) were admitted to the church in full communion; 200 (77 males, 123 females) owned the baptismal covenant. Of the first cla.s.s, 14 confessed having committed the offence aforementioned, and of the last cla.s.s, 66, a proportion not indicative of good customs and morals."

[35] A typographical mistake for _unruly_.

[36] But this was as late as 1785 to 1790, when the custom was very near its end.

[37] Another, when in his 96th year, in speaking of his knowledge of the custom, after answering all inquiries, voluntarily mentioned his own personal experience. "In my younger days," said he, and his voice trembled, more from emotion then age, "I was on the bed with as many as five or six young women, but I thank G.o.d, that in all my long life I have never had carnal knowledge of any but my lawfully wedded wives."

[38] A physician who kept school _on the Cape_ many years ago, says (June, 1869): "It is forty years since I was engaged on the Cape in teaching school, and a friend of mine then related to me some of his experience in a long career of courtship which included _bundling_. The family left the happy couple alone. After sitting up till nine or ten o'clock, the lady secures the fire, takes a light and retires, saying, you know the way up stairs, turn to the right, etc. At a proper time he follows, finding her nicely snuggled under the bed clothes, having previously put on a very appropriate and secure night dress, made neither like a bloomer or mantilla, but something like a common dress, excepting the lower part, which is furnished with legs, like drawers, properly attached. The dress is drawn at the neck and waist with strings tied with a very strong knot, and over this is put the ordinary apparel."

[39] _Caines' Cases_, II, 219; Seger _vs_. Slingerland.

[40] In reply to a query addressed to Mr. Neal, who is still living at Portland, Maine, as to whether this letter was a _bona fide_ communication, that gentleman says: "It was an actual communication from a correspondent. Who that correspondent was, I never knew, but I never entertained a doubt, and, in fact, find such internal evidence of good faith, that I should never question the facts set forth."

[41] Sandy River is near Farmington, Franklin county, Maine.