Obtained from my father, here is an account of disorderly conduct in a tavern. The man, John Meckene, is an ancestory of mine, caught up in the 'brawl' in Salem, MA in 1677.
1677: RECORDS AND FILES OF THE QUARTERLY COURTS OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
From the files of the SALEM Commissioners' court, Dec 5 1677, at Salem:
"Hana, wife of John Mason, was fined or to be whipped for drunkenness, and abusing by words and offering to strike Hen. West, a tithingman. Richard West deposed that he heard an outcry at Mason's house, " the Rogue will Kill me," and going in found it was John Meckene who was much in drink.
Peeter Joy was there and Goody Mason, all drunk, and Joy, after the uproar, owned that he struck Mekene twice. Henry West testified that Mr. Samuell Gardner came along looking for his man and they went in together, whereupon Goody Mason tried to strike him with an andiron, call- ing " thou West, thou Harry, thou Deuill," several times.
Someone took the andiron away from her and then she took up a chair. She was very much in drink, not being able to stand upon her legs, but fell down. Mackene and one Humphry Wilhams were also observed to be much in drink. Urged by Mr. Gardner to do his duty as tithingman, deponent requested assistance of Joy, as he appeared to be the soberest, but he refused.
Sworn in court. Constable Samuell Beadle, Jon. Cook and Walter Skiner deposed that they saw John Makene drunk that day. Goody Mason's bill of cost. John Bly mentioned. Peeter Joy, for refusing to assist Hen. West, tythingman, for drinking, and striking Mackene, was fined, which Mr. Hasket was to pay."