_The Ducking-stool_ (Vol. viii., p.315.).--As late as the year 1824, a
woman was convicted of being a common scold in the Court of Quarter
Sessions of Philadelphia County, and sentenced "to be placed in a certain
instrument of correction called a cucking or ducking-stool," and plunged
three times into the water; but the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, upon the
removal of the case by writ of error, decided that this punishment was
obsolete, and contrary to the spirit of the age.
Our fathers held the ducking-stool in higher respect, as appears from the
following presentments of the grand juries of Philadelphia, the originals
of which have been lately discovered. In January, 1717, they say (through
William Fishbourne, their foreman),--
"Whereas it has been frequently and often presented by several former
grand juries for this city, the necessity of a ducking-stool and house
of correction for the just punishment of scolding, drunken women, as
well as divers other profligate and unruly persons in this place, who
are become a public nuisance and disturbance to this town in general;
therefore we, the present grand jury, do earnestly again present the
same to this court of quarter sessions for the city, desiring their
immediate care, that _those publick conveniences_ may not be any longer
delayed, but with all possible speed provided for the detection and
quieting such disorderly persons."
Another, the date of which is not given, but which is signed by the same
foreman, presents "Alsoe that a ducking-stoole be made for publick use,
being very much wanting for scolding women," &c. And in 1720, another grand
jury, of which Benjamin Duffield was foreman, say:
"The Grand Inquest, we taking in consideration the great disorders of
the turbulent and ill-behaviour of many people in this city, we present
the great necessity of a ducking-stool for such people according to
their deserts."