First Laws in America: The General Fundamentals of New Plimouth

(Oct 4), in 1636, the Plymouth Colony, founded in 1620 by Pilgrims, established its first written set of laws. These laws were published as the 1636 Book of Laws, which were later called The General Fundamentals of New Plimouth.
punishable by death were treason, murder, witchcraft, arson, sodomy, rape, bestiality, adultery, and cursing or smiting one’s parents.