Breaking the Sabbath

 Performing work and labor on the Sabbath was frowned upon and usually resulted in being brought before the court and fined. The following cases are found in Crittenden County Circuit Court case files, Accession #A1994-267, Box 4, Bundle 21, Dept for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort, Kentucky.

 Presentments against William Walker and Jeremiah Dunning are listed in Crittenden County Circuit Court Order Book A, page 307, 26 May 1847, but the details of the case are found only in the case file. Rarely did anyone get away with laboring on Sunday as there was always a nearby neighbor willing to report the offenders.

 The Grand Jurors … at the May term of the Crittenden Circuit Court in 1847 present that William Walker, yeoman, on the 9^th day of March 1847 did … violate and break the Sabbath by performing work and labour on the Sabbath, in his usual avocation: taking coal from the pit and transporting it to a place of deposit for sale; labour not being the ordinary household business or labour of necessity, or charity.

Information given by T.S. Phillips and John W. Phillips.

The Grand Jurors … at the May term of the Crittenden Circuit Court in 1847 present that Jeremiah Dunning, yeoman, on the 9^th day of May 1847 … did violate and break the Sabbath day by … labouring at his usual business: packing timber for making staves, the work or labour not being the usual or ordinary household and domestic business nor work of necessity or charity.

Information given by Bennett Crouch, yeoman.

Published 1 July 2021, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/