From The Gazetteer of the State of New Hampshire (in three parts), 
compiled from the best authorities, by Eliphalet Merrill and the Late 
Phinehas Merrill, Esq.,
Printed by C. Norris & Co. , Exeter, NH, ©1817, pg 54-55

Part I - General View- History

1649 - Early in this year died Gov. Winthrop, one of the fathers of New England.  He was 
succeeded by Endicot.  Mr. Dudley remained deputy governor.  It is asserted by some 
writers, that when Gov. Winthrop was on his death bed, he was solicited by Mr. Dudley to 
sign a warrant for the banishment of one of those persons then called heretics.  Winthrop 
refused, and observed that "he had done too much of that work already."
	In every age, many actions indifferent in their nature, have been regarded as sinful 
and been classed among the greatest enormities.  The text in the Apostle’s epistle to the 
Corinthians against wearing long hair, led our ancestors to suppose that this of course 
must be a sin in all ages and nations.  They treated long hair therefore as one of the 
enormities.
	It is wonderful, that a certain text in Leviticus, "ye shall not round the corners of 
your head," was never urged the custom of short hair.  It was the regulation at this period 
in New England, that the hair should not be worn below the ears.  This regulation was 
enforced with peculiar rigour upon clergymen.  They were especially required to appear, 
"patenibus auribus."  A few years before this, the use of tobacco was prohibited by a 
heavy penalty.  Some of the writers of that day compared the smoke of it to the smoke of 
the bottomless pit.  Some of the clergymen however, yielded to the sin of smoking, and 
tobacco was accordingly set a liberty by an act of the legislature.  Beards as well as wigs 
were also prohibited by authority.

Submitted by T.C. Parziale 5/30/00
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