A Common Scold

A COMMON SCOLD Endorsed on the exterior of a petition: At the Court of General Quarter Session of the Peace held at Philad[elphi]a for the County of Philad[elphi]a on the 7th Day of December instant Ann Maise of the District of Southwark was indicted and duly convicted of being “A common Scold and disturber of the Peace of the Neighbourhood and of all faithful Subjects of this CommonWealth” and is Sentenced “to be publickly ducked in the River Delaware at the End of Market Street, in the City of Philadelphia, on the second Wednesday in the Month of March next between the Hours of ten and twelve in the Forenoon, and to stand committed till the sentence is complied with and Costs of Prosecution paid.”–Witness my Hand December 10th 1779 Hilary Baker junr Clerk The petition says: Philad[elphi]a, Dec[embe]r 10 1779. To the honourable the President, Vice President and Members of the Executive Council of the State of Pennsylvania. The Petition of Ann Mease most humbly Sheweth That at a Court of Quarter Sessions held at Philad[elphi]a for the County of Philadelphia on Wednesday last your Petitioner was Convicted of being a common Scold, an offence which she apprehends was never by her committed, without great Provocation given by the Person under whose Testimony the Conviction took place–That the Sentence inflicted by the worshipfull the Court is that she be ducked for the Offence, a punishment of the most scandalous Nature–She prays that upon giving Security to any Justice of the Peace that she will remove from the neighborhood and upon Payment of the Costs of Prosecution that your honours would be pleased to remit the Corporal Punishment and give an order for her Enlargement and she as in Duty bound etc. [signed] Ann Mease Philad[elphi]a, Dec[embe]r 10 1779. We beg Leave to recommend the within Petitioner to the Clemency of your Honours provided she gives security to leave the City and its vicinities. [signed] Jn’o Ord, Plunk’t Fleeson, John Miller, Isaac Howell, William Rush, David Kennedy1 Her petition was successful. On 26 January 1780: A recommendation from the Justices of the said Court, of said Ann Mease, being also read; thereupon, Ordered, That the said Corporal Punishment be remitted, and that she be discharged from confinement, on giving Security to leave the City and its Vicinities, and paying the Costs of Prosecution. 2 1 Petition of Ann Mease, Society Collection, Miscellaneous, Petitions, Box 3b, Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 2 Colonial Records of Pennsylvania: Minutes of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, 16 volumes (Harrisburg: State of Pennsylvania, 1851—53), 12:235, 243. 330 Final copy 28 October, 2008 Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Vol. 45 (2008)