Family humor--I'm very distantly decended from this Mayflower child, born in Plymouth Harbor prior to disembarking. I was looking something up and bumped into mayflower/Plymouth colony records. 6 March 1648-9 : "Wee psent Peregrin White, and Sara, his wife, both of Marshfeild, for fornication before marriage or contract. Cleared by paying the fine." Records of Plymouth Colony, Vol. 2, p. 138. Embarrassing days, I'm sure this was a church based announcement.

I wonder how much the fine was? And who had to pay it to who? Did the hubby have to pay his wife's father, or did they both have to pay the church?

I wonder if they were caught? Or baby was born too soon and too healthy? Fine was probably to the Colony which was the Puritan church essentially.

good old Christian extortion.