Some Old Families of Wrightstown Township, Pennsylvania

Abstract

These barbarous measures of punishment were not in accordance with the spirit and feelings of our forefathers, who early aimed at commuting work and confinement for crime ; but the parent country, familiar with its sanguinary code, always revoked the laws formed upon our schemes of reformation. These punishments, therefore, generally prevailed till the time of our self-government, when measures were speedily taken, first by societies of citizens, and afterwards by the Legislature to introduce those reforms into prison discipline which have made our city and state to be celebrated for its early " Penitentiary System." 62