Anglican priest Samuel Peters opposed American independence and was forced to flee the colonies as the revolution approached. From London he exacted a sort of revenge by publishing a list of 45 draconian laws that he said prevailed in Connecticut, in an attempt to make the colonies look backward and fanatical. Among the sterner measures:

• No one to cross a river, but with an authorized ferryman.
• No one shall run on the Sabbath day, or walk in his garden or elsewhere, except reverently to and from meeting.
• No one shall travel, cook victuals, make beds, sweep house, cut hair, or shave, on the Sabbath day.
• No woman shall kiss her child on the Sabbath or fasting day.
• When it appears that an accused has confederates, and he refuses to discover them, he may be racked.
• Whoever wears clothes trimmed with gold, silver, or bone lace, above two shillings by the yard, shall be presented by the grand jurors, and the selectmen shall tax the offender at £300 estate.
• A debtor in prison, swearing he has no estate, shall be let out and sold, to make satisfaction.
• No one shall read Common-Prayer, keep Christmas or saints-days, make minced pies, dance, play cards, or play on any instrument of music, except the drum, trumpet, and the jaw harp.
• The selectmen, on finding children ignorant, may take them away from their parents, and put them into better hands, at the expense of their parents.
• Married persons must live together, or be imprisoned.
• Every male shall have his hair cut round according to a cap.

The full list is here. Peters’ hoax did have one lasting effect — it popularized the term “blue laws” to describe laws that restrict activity on Sunday.