Quince = Marmalade

John Harris and Elizabeth Welles, both of Chesham, for bastardy. These two people were charged with this crime while living in Colonial America. I wonder... are they bastards? Did they create a bastard? Was their father a bastard?  I am searching through Criminal Acts of Bastardy. Really?? The law defined a bastard as a child born out of wedlock, or by adultery.  They were illegitimate which meant they had no legal standing in society. (Like it was the child’s fault their parents misbehaved?) If you were charged with bastardy you were also charged with adultery or fornication.

In 1070 bastard children were considered no one’s child and the parent was not responsible for them.  They could not make any legal claim against a parent for support. The wealthy tended to take care of their bastards and the villages took care of the poor and unwanted bastards.

In the 1650s the normal punishment was a fine and a public whipping of up to 15 blows with the whip being the maximum for both people.  If the father of the bastard did not come forward and confess and admit his guilt the mother was publicly whipped. The thought behind this was that no man (notice the word man not male) would stand by and watch the mother of his child whipped and publicly humiliated.  Well I guess we know what John and Elizabeth were up to.

More....

Court records from Salem Massachusetts.

John Legg for uncleanliness – sit in stocks for 1 hour and make confession on the Lord’s Day. (Did he have to take a bath first?)

Abram Temple vs.  John Humphreys, Mr. Howe, Mr. Hauks. Trespass by their horses. (Their horses? Were they on them? Did they just turn them loose? Did they wander off unsupervised?) Verdict for Plaintiff. They will give Mr. Temple 2 bushels of corn and 5 shillings.

Charles Gott – Severely whipped for drunkenness on the Lord’s Day (There goes Sunday football)

Jane, wife of Joshua Verrin, presented for absence from religious worship. Mr. Peter requested time to confer with her again. (Again? What did they confer about the first time? What did they not finish the first time that they need to meet again. I am very suspicious of this.)

James Smith – to be severely whipped for filching and stealing and disobedience and stubbornness to his parents. (This is a public whipping. Did his parents turn him in? Did someone else turn him in? Did he ever speak to them again? How old was he 6 or 16?)

Thomas Rolinson – proven impotent, on complaint of his wife. Was to take counsel of physicians forthwith, follow their advice and report to court. (Can you just imagine your wife going to court and filing a complaint that you cannot have sex with her?

Remember I mentioned quince?  I have been putting quince paste on my bagels and cream cheese.

Quince is a member of the apple and pear family. It is a small fruit resembling a pear and is yellow when mature.  The blossoms are pale pink and the tree is used as an ornamental tree in gardens.  

They can grow to 26 feet tall.  It is native to Southwest Asia, Turkey and Persia (Iran).  T can grow in colder climates such as Scotland.  It is resistant to frost and requires a short cold period in order to flower.

In ancient Greece quince was a common offering at weddings since it was a sacred fruit to Aphrodite. It was tradition for a bride to eat a small bite of quince to perfume her breath before entering the bridal chamber.

It is not tasty to eat until it has become soft from being overripe and had a few frosty mornings. Then it is sweet and delicate like a pear. The fruit is usually cooked and made into jams, jellies and marmalades. It is sometimes added into apple pies to add a sparkle of flavor.  The word marmalade actually derives from this fruit not from Queen Mary as some would believe.  The Portuguese word for Quince is Marmelo and when stewed and sweetened into a paste it is called Marmelado.

Quinces are often made into very sweet wines, brandies and ports. In Middle Eastern countries it is a common ingredient in fragrant meat dishes.

Quince has been used as a salve for rashes and inflammation of the vocal chords.  A spoonful of the jam mixed with boiling water can ease intestinal discomfort. Seeds can also be boiled and the liquid when strained can be drunk and aides in pneumonia.  Eating too many seeds can cause volatile gas, and do not mean in your car!

That little bit of quince in an apple pie sounds very tasty... where can I buy a quince?