An Act Against Wearing Swords, ch. 9, N.J. STAT. (W. Bradford 1881) (Law Passed 1686).

“Chap. IX.

An Act against wearing Swords, &c.

    WHEREAS there hath been great complaint by the inhabitants of this Province, that several persons wearing swords, daggers, pistols, dirks, stilladoes, skeines, or any unusual or unlawful weapons, by reason of which several persons in the Province, receive great abuses, and put in great fear and quarrels, and challenges made, to the great abuse of the inhabitants of this Province. Be it therefore enacted by the Governor, and Council, and Deputies now met in General Assembly, and by authority of the same, that no person or persons within this Province, presume to send any challenge in writing, by word of mouth, or message, to any person to fight, upon pain of being imprisoned during the space of six months, without bail or mainprize, and forfeit ten pounds: and whosoever shall except of such challenge, and not discover the same to the Governor, or some publick officer of the peace, shall forfeit the sum of ten pounds: the one moiety of the said forfeiture to be paid unto the Treasurer for the time being, for the public use of the Province, and the other moiety to such person or persons as shall discover the same, and make proof thereof in any court of record within this Province, to be recovered by the usual action of debt, in any of the said courts. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that no person or persons after publication hereof, shall presume privately to wear any pocket pistol, skeines, stilladoes, daggers or dirks, or other unusual or unlawful weapons within this Province, upon penalty for the first offence five pounds, and to be committed by any justice of the peace, his warrant before whom proof thereof shall be made, who is hereby authorized to enquire of and proceed in the same, and keep in custody till he hath paid the said five pounds, one half to the public treasury for the use of this Province, and the other half to the informer: And if such person shall again offend against this law, he shall be in like manner committed upon proof thereof before any justice of the peace to the common gaol, there to remain till the next sessions, shall receive judgement to be in prison six month, and pay ten pounds for the use aforesaid. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that no planter shall ride or go armed with sword, pistol, or dagger upon the penalty of five pounds, to be levied as aforesaid, excepting all officer, civil and military, and soldiers while in actual service, as also all strangers, travelling upon their lawful occasions thro this Province, behaving themselves peaceably.”