Witchcraft Salem Village)/Author(Nevins, Winfield S

REB EC C A NURS E ON N D ANVERS . M UME T ,

WITCHCRAFT

S A L E M V I L L A G E%

1 6 9 2

TOGETHER WITH SOME ACC OUNT OF OTHER WITCHCRAFT PROSECUTIONS IN NEW ENGLAND AND ELSEWHERE

N N WINFIELD S . EVI S

” ” A H R OLD NA K AG “ T HE NO H SHORE UT O UM E , RT , “ % THE IN VA E ETC . TER L ,

M MA SA E SS . L , NORTH SHORE PUBLISHING COMPANY BOSTON LEE AND SHEPARD 1892 ( Efeox

1892 Copyrighted, ,

EV S . BY WINFIELD S . N IN

All Rights Re se rve d .

SALEM OBSERVER PRESS 1 City Hall Avenue

Sa m Mass . le ,

CONTENTS .

ST o r UST AT S LI ILL R ION , AC PREF E,

AP . a 1 . 692 CH I S lem previous to ,

AP . a it ch craf t a CH II . E rly W C ses ,

AP r a in a m a CH . III . Outb e k S le Vill ge, AP r and a a CH . IV . Cou t Pl ces of Tri l ,

AP r d . a a an CH V . M th Giles Corey , AP a s CH . VI . Story of Rebecc Nur e,

AP r r CH . VII . Rev . Geo ge Bur oughs ,

AP . and a CH VIII . Bridget Bishop the J a cobs F mily,

AP IX Pro ct e rs ~ illard . W CH . The , , Car HOW rier and , A E st P X. na a n a a CH . Susan M rti , M ry y and others , AP XI and CH . . Accused Tried but not

Executed, II AP . X . CH A Review ,

PP A ENDIX .

t n A . Lis of Perso s Accused, e m a a Re co m B . R ov l of Att inders and

pense , ’ a C . Gov . Phips Expl natory Letter, n D . The Bury St . Edmu ds Case, LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS .

R a r n m e n r n . ebecc Nu se Mo u t , F o tispiece Old r C r S a m 13 Fi st hu ch , le ,

. ra r H S a m 42 Gov B dst eet ouse , le , arr H an r 47 P is ouse , D ve s , a m V a S le ill ge Church , 53 a H an r 55 G dge ouse , D ve s , S ara O rn H an r 60 h sbu ouse , D ve s , rn r rwi n H s 69 Co e of Judge Co ou e , S n 71 Chief Justice toughto , Sam S a 72 Judge uel ew ll , n o r R r a H Corwi oge Willi m s ouse , 75 16 r H Site of 92 Cou t ouse , 78 ’ n a r ra n 8 1 Cotto M the s G ve , Bosto , n a r Cot to M the , 84 r 97 Giles Co ey Mill , ar r C m r a How d St eet e ete y , S lem , 107 Ann nam H an r 108 Put ouse , D ve s , R a r H an r 112 ebecc Nu se ouse , D ve s , Fac S m r E am na n 126-7 i ile Nu se x i tio , ara Ho ult e n H an r 130 S h ouse , D ve s , a H Sa m 144 G llows ill , le , ’ Sa m H s e Site of Bishop s le ou , 148 Tra H r r 152 sk ouse , No th Beve ly , H Sa m Shattuck ouse , le , 156 H r e r 157 Bishop ouse , No th B ve ly , a e rn Sa m Be adle T v , le , 160 abo bs ra an rs 164 J G ve , D ve , a H an r 166 J cobs ouse , D ve s , a Procter House , Pe body , 169 a an n H 175 N th iel Felto ouse , Ta rn m Site Bea dle ve , Sale , 180 n am n u r H o n 181 Be j i F lle ouse , Middlet , T m a r H n 183 ho s Fulle ouse , Middleto , n a n nam H s 194 Co st ble Joh Put ou e , H n H 1 Thom as ai es ouse , 20 ar nam H an rs 205 M y Put ouse , D ve , E n H Sa Phillip glish ouse , lem , 215 n nam 3d H an r 220 Joh Put , , ouse , D ve s , n Sa m C r H u 231 Witch Pi s , le ou t o se , n am H us an r 237 Joseph Put o e , D ve s , PREFACE.

Y design in writing this book has been to tell the story of the witchcraft de lusio n of 1692 in such a way as to h convey a faithful picture to t e reader . In order to do this it seemed advisable to give some account of the settlement of S alem and the i a and r r 1626 ne ghboring vill ges , their g owth f om 1692 a n to , that the re der might understa d the character of the people w h o lived there during r the period covered by this histo y . Following hi a t s , will be found a ch pter descriptive of the c ourt that tried the accused persons , and a brief n summary of its several sitti gs . A chapter de n a voted to some accou t of e rlier witchcraft cases , ad in this country and in Europe , seemed also v un an isable , that we might the better derst d that in 16 2 witchcraft was not new to the world 9 , and ” a so - th t Salem Witchcraft, called , differed from other witchcraft only in the details . A PREF CE . 7

In succeeding chapters I have de alt with each a and of the individu ls tried executed, according to the interest in the case or the full ness of the m n docu entary records that have come do w to us .

In addition to these, such mention is made of

a ~ other c ses , where the accused were not exe o as uted , the circumstances connected with a o r them seemed to demand . No chronologic l ' o rtio n o f der is observed in this p the work . aim d The has been in giving the evi ence , to quote the exact langu age so far as space would n permit, otherwise it has bee abridged with strict regard to conveying the true m eaning of n the wit ess . a no a I m ke claim to originality of m terial . Possibly a few documents and a few facts of interest m ay here be brought within the range ﬁ m of the reading public for the rst ti e . If my view of the witchcraft delusion of 1692 and n ff the respo sibility therefor , di ers somewhat f m n ro that e tertained by most of those writers , I believe it is the one now generally accepted among historical students , and the one which the j udgment of the future will pronounce cor rect . The mistake which , it seems to me , the majority of the writers on this chapter of our history have made , is that they did not put themselves in the places of the m e n and women 1 2 n a of 69 , but judged by the sta d rd of the lat ter half of the nineteenth century . I have 8 P A REF CE .

tried to avoid this . Whether I have succeeded , d n the ver ict of the reader alo e will tell . I have not deemed it necessary to give my authority f o r statem ents made when that author ity was the records of the trials no w on ﬁle in a m the court house in S le . In all other cases where important statements are m ade on the a uthority of others , the reference is given . In ’ s a a n Cale f s the ca e of cert in public tio s , like ” ’ “ and a More Wonders , M ther s Wonders of ” n ua t o the Invisible World, the refere ce is us lly n n some rece t editio , because the early editions of s the e works are not always accessible . CHAPTER I .

SALEM P RE VI O US TO 1 6 9 2 .

a ALEM It s ; Q was s ettled by the Puritans . R b settlement was a natural result o f the e Th e me n formation in England . hardy and fi women who rst came to ancient Naumkeag, f u law and came , not so much because o njust re tyrannical rulers, as because they could not Spect the enforced forms of worship then exist f s ing in that country . They pre erred the toil and privations of the w ilderness in the ne w world to the tyranny of the Established Church and its supporters in the old . In religious matters those w ho came to Salem diff ered somewhat from those who established w no t themselves at Plym outh . The former ere true separatists from the Church of England ; n u it s they were disse ters from its corr ptions, e and n w s intoleranc , its formula o ly . In the ord u l of the ministers at Salem , to John and Sam e “ 162 the Browne in 9, they separated not from ” m s Church of England, but fro its corruption . c w s d th e co m We ame a ay , ai they, from 10 WITCHCRAFT IN SALEM VILLAGE . mon prayer and cerem onies in our n ative l and h la in t is p ce of liberty we cannot, we will not , ” m n . O use the the other hand, the people who 1 settled at Plymouth were separatists . John Lyford and a f e w followers left the Ply mouth colony a f e w years after the settlement “ w n a a n there , o i g to diss tisf ctio with the ex ” m a a tre e sep r tion from the English Church . at n 1625 They settled or ear Nantasket , but in a Ann removed to C pe . There they sought to n nd establish a fishi g a farming community . Roger Conant joined the colony in the fall of ” 1625 afi airs and was made governor . The a a were in an uns tisfactory st te . Fishing and n farming had been unprofitable . Duri g the succeeding Spring Conant explored the coast to the mouth of Naumke ag river and co nclude i to at AS make a settlement Naumkeag . a result of this movement a company was formed in England known as the Governor and Colony ” a of the Mass chusetts Bay in Ne w England . n n The compa y chose John E dicott governor, and f and a he , with his wi e a few others , s iled w o n 20 1628 for the new orld June , . They ar in a a a rived S lem h rbor e rly in September . On 16 i a the th of April , follow ng , bout two hundred

n and n - persons , includi g sixty females twe ty six an n children, left Engl d to join the colo y . “ They took with them one hundred and

l 1 O d Naum ke ag , 2. S TO 1692 11 SALEM PREVI OU .

forty head of cattle , besides food , arms , clo th ing, and tools . There were four ministers in m — n Hi the company . Two of the Fra cis g — ginso n and Samuel Skelton were m e n of a more than ordin ry ability, and they were de s tined to pl ay no unimportant part in the history ”2 of the new world . m In the letters fro the home company to Mr .

Higginson , during the following y ear or two , “ we ﬁ nd much paternal advice . Noe idl e i ” drone ( s to) be permitted to live among us . “ Justice is urged in this Spirit : Wee hartely pray you to admit of all complaints that shall o u th e be made to you, or any of y that are of co unce ll and , be the complaints never so meane , pass it not slightly over but seriously exam ine ” the truth of the business . “ In another letter : Wee pray y o u to m ak e some good lawes for the punishment of swear ers, whereof it is to be feared too many are i ” ad ct e d .

o f The suppression intemperance is urged, by “ endeavoring though there bee much strong w ater sent for sale , so to order it as that salva ges m ay not for our lucre sake bee i nduced to ” excessive use, or rather abuse of it, and by “ ” drunck punishing those who shall become .

The company urges that , noe tobacco bee planted unless it bee some small quantitie for m ere ne ce ssitie and for phisick for pre se rvaco n

2 Old aumke a 9 . N g , T A T SA M A 12 WI CHCR F IN LE VILL GE .

Of a their healths, and that the s me bee taken ” privately by ancient men and none others . The ﬁrst step after the arrival of the minis and an m e n ters this large b d of and women ,

was to form a church . The Plymouth church had been transplanted with the emigrants from a m Holland , but the men at S le brought no n church with them . They decided to fou d one w hich should be indepen dent of all others and m of all higher ecclesiastical bodies . A eeting 20 1629 a n was held on July , , as solem day of humiliation for choyce of pastor and teacher ” n O n h for Salem . The meeti g was pe ed wit n a prayer and preachi g , fter which the vote was taken by each o ne writing in a note the name ” This w as the o ri in o th u of his choice . g f e se 3 o the ba llo t in this co untr w as f y . Skelton thus and n n a chosen pastor, Higgi so , teacher . H ving th e S da made choice of these, ixth y of August was designated for the completion of the n n da a n church orga ization . O that y de co s and r n w as uling elders were chose . Thus fully con s C at a tituted the First hurch S lem , and the “ rs t P ro te sta nt Church in Am e rica o n ﬁ , the principle of the independence of each religious ” NO w as unne ce s community . liturgy used ; a m n and s ry cere o ies were rejected , the sim plicity of Calvin was reduced to a still plainer n a sta d rd .

’ 3 an r H . U . S . Ce n nar cd . L 271 . B c oft s ist , te y , ,

4 Old a m e a 12 . N u k g ,

A 14 WITCH CRAF T IN SALEM VILL GE .

n and am r n a Joh S uel B ow e, lthough opposed to state censor ship and rebelling agai nst the in tolerance and corruption of t h e Established u a ur and m m n Ch rch , desired th t the lit gy co o

a r and a m t o pr ye be used , tte pted set up a r n church founded o n th at idea. They we e se t back to Engl and o n th e ground that the s afety of the colony would be e ndange re d by any an n w t of u ity . In the sum mer of 1629 the e nti re govern m ent of the colony w as t ran sfe rre d to John Winth rop and eleven follo w ers o n co ndition n n th at the y go and reside in Ne w E gl a d . It w as oste nsibly a com m e rci al Operat ion ; but it w as actually the ﬁrst ste p to w ard the fo rm ation

of a. future p o werful and independent com m on 6 w e alth Wi nthrop and som e sev e n hund red others arrive d in S alem in June of the follow

in ar an h as a g ye . B croft ptly described them “ as a m m n t r n m co u i y of believers , p ofessi g the selves to be fello w m e mbe rs of Chris t ; no t a

S r r a m n n r a chool of philosophe s , p ocl i i g u ive s l t oleration and i nvitin g associ ates without re ” ar d On arr n at a m g d to cree . ivi g S le they

un th e in u r m an fo d people destit te ci cu st ces ,

r in fo r n n d r a an . suffe g w t of food, clothi g shelte Wi nthrop w as no t favo rably impressed with the location of the colony and explored the co ast in

6 Old a m a 18 . N u ke g , ’ 7 an r U . S . I . 279 . B c oft s , , S A M P V O S T O LE RE I U 1692 .

n r n a t n the vici ity of the Mystic rive , ﬁ lly set li g at a n W r r m Ch rlestow , hithe he sho tly oved the

n rr r m r se at of govern me t . The te ito y co p ised in the town of S alem at th at tim e w as much

a r a at n n n all gre te th n prese t , i cludi g of the

n and n o f an r prese t city the tow s Beverly, D ve s ,

ar a a n am an M blehe d, Pe body, We h , M chester , and ar To sﬁ e ld and n p ts of p Middleto .

16 92 all r na r o ﬁ In , with the o igi l ter itory set a and n a n s ve Danvers Middleto , the popul tio m n o ne nu bered 1700. It is evide t to who stud ie s the history of th e people in Salem and Vi cinity in 1632 and in 1692 th at a change had taken place between those periods in the ch arac an n n n n 8 ter d ge eral intellige ce of the i habita ts . Many of the e arly settlers were m e n of educ a

and f o r m r a and r tion , , those ti es , b o d libe al views . n n n Sal Endicott, Wi throp , Higgi so , Skelton and t nstall and t a a o , others of heir ssoci tes , were m a m m m n men of ore th n co on ould . E dicott , a in t h e O n n a perh ps , pi io of some , exhibite d little i ntole rance or conte mpt when he cut the red cross from the ﬂag because it reminded him

w as no n an su e rs ti of popery , but it such ig or t p tion as that which led to the witchcraft delu n a sio . There were other cts which we shoul d

a in a now c ll bigoted , but which those d ys were

’ “ ” H M r n 1 5 6 . . W . am in 8 G . . a 88 7 C oo e s Fi l Notes , , Uph ’ Ma a n S . 1869 140. n d e n s n an Th e . U Hist g zi e . ept , , New E gl d ” ’ P l Ne En ra C nan Tran a n 222 . a f ra . w oc cy, o t s sl tio , y , Hist g an 4 128. l d , , 1 A A V 6 WI TC HCR F T IN S LEM ILLAGE . no t n d e r NO u m e n as a so co si ed . s ch those I h ve m n ne e in e un in 1692 and e tio d liv d Ess x co ty , f e w in n rw n a h rn arr the colo y . Co i , H t o e, P is ,

e th e nam and e r a at e r Noy s , Put s th i ssoci s , we e m e n o f m e ar no t m an m li it d p ts . I do e to i ply th at th e s e m e n w e re in fe rior t o their p re de ce s

ra t Ev sors be ca us e the y be liev e d in w it chc f . e r bo d e in n n and y y believ d it the . E dicott Wi nthrop h ad both signe d de ath w arrants for p e rsons convicte d of the c rim e ; or at l e ast h ad n mn not stayed the ex e cut ion s of th e co de ed . The people gene rally l acke d the educational ad

an a e Of e an e r re w as a v t g s th ir c sto s . True , the

ar ar a w as a r in H v d College , but wh t th t poo ,

an n n rar m te in f t i stitutio , with its lib y li i d vol

m e and a e t o r and am r u s v ri ty , Oxfo d C b idge ,

n r Th e whe ce cam e some of the e arly settle s .

r m y in 1692 a ri people we e ore likel , , to be c r ed aw ay by such a cry as t h at of witchcraft th an in 1632 n r a an d t n at . I c e se Co to M her , of Bos

t o n it r w e r e arne d m e n w as . , is t ue, e l ; so Rev

Mr r h e e m e n and . a t e a e Will d , but dvic of th s

t n r m o her Boston m iniste rs w as ig o e d . So e m inis te rs the re we re in Boston and S al e m w h o believed in all the curre nt s upe rstitio ns of the age and who sought to e ducate t h e p e ople to

e in m rat e h an n h e n r b lieve the , h r t to e lig t thei m n an d e a n a a int e lli i ds xpl i w y , by the light of

e n m n r n rr n . a e g ce, see i gly st a ge occu e ces The g may well be term e d the dark age of New Eng SA M P V O S To 1 2 17 LE RE I U 69 .

a a r am ind e e v l nd history . The e rly d e s of p de nce of old England we re dissipated ; re ligio n h ad n n e lost its stro g hold o the peopl . The ’ n n n n mi ister s power and i nﬂue ce were w a i g .

a as m r He could not le d the people for e ly . The

al nan a Palf ra h ad n loc u imity , s ys y , bee dis 9 a s h n rm n solved . P rtie ad bee fo ed with a t ag o nist ic V a and n a a r In iews of loc l colo i l m tte s . aﬁ airs r of church the e were dissenters . Cer tain m e n in the commu nity would brook no dissent from the views which it ple ased the m

h d m m n a . e to old They ee ed the selves i f llibl , and were i ntolerant of all who diffe red f rom

m a a r a r the . Puritan bigotry st lked b o d mo e

1629 n n e r d m r O s than in . But it e cou t e o e p po i a O n n a e tion , and , for time , ppositio only i cre s d

a n and n ran the n rrow ess the i tole ce .

an a : n an anaan B croft s ys New E gl d , like C ,

h ad . been settled by fugitives Like the Jews , ﬂe d a ne k s they had to wilder ss ; li e the Jew , they looked to Heave n f o r light to lead th e m o n h ad no S r m ; like the Jews , they up e e ruler h ad a n but God ; like the Jews , they he the for thei r foes ; and they de rived their legisl ation

r f om the Jewish code . But for the people of

n an a and a New E gl d, the d ys of Moses Joshu we re p ast ; for them there was no lo nger a — n promised l and they were in possessio . Re ason no w insisted o n bringi ng the adopte d

9 . n an I V. 3 . Hist New E gl d , , A T SA M 18 WITCHCR F IN LE VILLAGE .

a n laws to the proof, th t it might hold fast o ly

an a a . to the good . Skepticism beg to ppe r The fear of sorcery and the evil power of the invisible wo rld h ad sprung alike from the letter of the Mos aic l aw and from the wonder excited by the mysteries of nature The belief in witchcraft h ad fastened itself o n the elements of faith and com e deeply branded m n m n into the com o i d . The people did not a a e su e rsti r lly to the error , they cc pted the p tion only because it h ad no t yet been dise n l n gaged from re igio . The s ame causes which h ad give n e nergy to th e religious principle had n n In give weight to the mi ister . the settle m n n an m e t of New E gl d, the te ple , or, as it

as a m n w as w c lled, the eeti g house , the centre a round which the people g thered . As the church h ad successfully assum ed the exclusive a n possession of civil fr nchises, the ambitio of the m inisters h ad been both excited and grati no t n n ﬁ e d . They were o ly the cou sellors by an n n law a u writte , they were the uthors of a a r n o n m a st te p pe s , ofte employed e b ssies , and, m S a r at n and in n at ho e , pe ke s electio s tow ”10 m n m n r a an eeti gs . These i iste s, like P rris, d n Noyes , and Hale , at the close of the seve t e e nth n r n an ce tury , we e losi g their power d their prom inence because som e few e nlightened m e n r n n and thinke s were begi ni g to doubt .

- nar Ed . 246 . 10 Hist . U . S . , Cente y 7 SA M P V O S To 19 LE RE I U 1692 .

They could continue their influence only by and n An building on error superstitio . y man or woman who doubted was their enemy . That ’ person s power and influence must be crushed n or the mi isterial control w as lost . Between th e settlement of S alem by Roger Conant in 1626 and the witch craft days of 1692 , the intolerance of the Puritans had been strikingly m anifested on more than one occa n a En sion . The Bro w nes had been se t b ck to g l and for differing from E ndicott and the First Church people ; Endicott h ad cut the red cross from the flag because it reminded him of pop ery Roger Willi ams had been banished from the colony for preachi ng that m e n should be allowed 9 freedom of conscience in religious m atters . a n in n and a Q u kers had been hu g Bosto , Q u ker a a s women , half n ked dr gged through the treets l ai a an d d of Sa em at the t l of a c rt whippe , for 10 m aintaining the doctri nes of thei r sect . All n ce n this by a people who , withi half a h ad m S tury, co e to these hores to worship n a n accordi g to the dict tes of co science . So , a Scru and d also , Thom s gg, a deputy a ju ge of a Ann the loc l court , for sympathy with Hutch ’ inso n s Antim o nian w as views , proscribed, dis

9 1t w as no t Sa m a an am n a le th t b ished Willi s , but the colo i l

r . Sa m r m a n r h im t h e a cou t le e i ed t ue to to l st . 10 These Q uak er wom en h ad previously gon e through th e r na n ar ra r a na n st eets ked , volu t ily , to illust te the spi itu l ked ess of the people . 20 W TC C A T SA M V A I H R F IN LE ILL GE . arm ed and deprived of his public functions ; am r m at n Scru Willi Alfo d, for sy p hizi g with gg, w as ce nsured and dis armed and left the colony ar a r man an n n n Rich d W te , i tellige t, i dustrious m an and law - a n n n n r bidi g citize , for disse ti g f om the severe policy of the leading m e n of the

n w as m r n and n an e n colo y, i p iso ed the b ished ; ev n n 1645 au did no t Tow se d Bishop , in , bec se he m n a an n an a m pro ptly bri g forw rd i f t for b ptis , w as an f o r n and a t h ded over discipli e, he depu y and al m a a a a loc gistr te . L dy Debor h Moody , because she doubted the necessity of infant

a w as m a n . b ptism , co pelled to le ve the colo y in a a d a a ra w as Even much l ter y , Willi m G y ’ persecuted in S alem for (political) Opinio n s nd r n m t a a . s ke, d ive fro the ci y m n n a am e Sir Ed u d A dros , ppointed by J s II, in 1686 r n r En , the ﬁ st royal gover o of New g an h ad in 1688 a O l d, been deposed for cts of p

n n ar ar pressio . For e ly three ye s the people of Mass achusetts B ay colony governed them selves n n n n n n an e tirely i depe de t of the ki g of E gl d . a am and a On the ccession of Willi M ry, Sir a w as n and Willi m Phips appointed gover or, am in n 1692 n n c e over the spri g of , bri gi g with th e ne w w as no t an him charter . Phips edu c at e d m an no r w as m an e x e ri , he a of much p

n in af a r h ad m m an o ne e ce public f i s . He co ded s uccessful military expeditio n and o ne unsuc c e ssf ul na a n r m n v l expeditio . His rise to p o ine ce

C HAPTER II .

TH E EAR L Y WI T C H C R AF T C A SE S .

ELIEF in i ra m n l r w tchc ft , de o o ogy , spi it

ualis m and n r m un S ki d ed is s, der lightly r n nam and a as as diffe i g es ph ses, is old

r m an n r a v r e ar in the histo y of ki d . We e d e y ly “ ” o ur l 1 Bib e : Thou sh alt no t suffe r a w it ch to live . We ﬁ nd oth e r m e ntion of w it chcraft in the Holy

and o n n r all a Book , so dow th ough the p ges of his t o ry to the ve ry ye ar In t h e twelfth

e n ur i w c t y t as be lieved that a Witch w as a.

1 Exodus xx 18 . 2 Th e Kd d /c az a a n s an rn a a an n r , le di g Ru si jou l , g ve i te est i n ac n in t h e ar ar 1889 a r n a g cou t , e ly p t of , of evolti g c se of r r An l n n n n ar w a e t n . O d as a w m a v itchc ft sup sti io pe t o , li i g e

S o o k o o m in C au as w as u e w h ra . n , c us , s spect d of itc c ft Bey o d t h e in ﬁ rm itie s a e an d e I h a s ill m r t h e nh a of g , . p p , of te pe , u ppy wretch w as n o d oubt as innoce n t as t h e Victim s of o ur o w n w c ﬁ n d e r w r . He r so n d e and m m a l t h e r m r it h s e e i d , i edi te y u o ran h a S h e h ad a n h im w t h e a i an t h e One t t sl i ith ss st ce of Evil , s - r h n r sat in w ho e c o o pe ation she h ad cl ai m ed . T e e ighbo s jud gm ent over h e r and d ecided tha t Sh e should be subm itted t h e r e a d re — a is s a Sh e w as t o rn an d to o d l by th t to y , be bu ed tortured in t h e hope th at sh e would confess h e r supposed r m Th e rr r h l e r h e r c o c i e . te o of t e poor O d wom an d p ived of

r n s T w r h e r l . he e t p e ech . his as assum ed to be a p oof of gui t h e Wh a S w as seized and tied to a p o l e and burned to death . t gives a still m o re ﬁ endish aspect to this carnival of crue lty is that h e r Surviving So n w as among the m o st energetic of those T A THE EARLY WI TC H CRAF C SES . 28

wom an w h o h ad m ade a secret comp act w ith the devil and receive d from him power to r ide through the air when goi ng to meetings of kin n 1484 nn n i S . I s dred pirits , Pope I oce t VIII, a u n ar n sued b ll , orderi g the rest of perso s sus

e ra In 1485 -o ne a ct e d . p of witchc ft , forty ged wom en were bu rned at the stake in B urlia for substanti ally the s am e thing as w as alleged against th e men and wom en of Essex c ou nty in

1692 and r in a a a r an , othe s M ss chusetts e rlie th

m a a r r - e h r a . n th t So e ye rs l te , fo ty ig t pe so s

r n m n in a n and a n r we e co de ed R ve sburg , hu d ed in m n n a in 151 n e . In 5 r Pi d o t Ge ev , , ﬁve hu d ed persons are s aid to h ave been ex e cuted f o r

a in w 3 n an a witchcr ft t elve weeks . E gl d , th t

r r m r Th e as an r r m r w h o to tu ed his othe . pe t y of this e ote egion are a n ra am a an d af na an d is n s id to be ge e lly i ble fectio te , it o ly whe n their supern atural terrors are aroused that they seek thei r o w n s afety in m alignant m anifestation s of fanatic c ru

city . Som e of t h e negroes of the South st ill believe in the reality r In t h e S r n 18 a m n Of w i tchc aft . p i g of 90 wo a of th e nam e of a c n in Ge r a a m W M J y ox , livi g o gi , tte pted to bewitch illis itch h e r a a r h i d r a h d ell . S d opped to d befo e s oo fter aving ecorated it with a lon g strip of re d ﬂ ann el in w hich Sh e h ad tied num et ons kn ots and to which Sh e h ad attached pieces of white sewing thread and a bundle of re d ﬂ ann el in which were a lot

of roots and sewing needles . Se e Journa l of Am erican Folk “ ” r Vo l . III 205 Th e P an a n r as a r m an Lo e , , , l t tio Neg o F ee , by “ ” r n d r M f r m h e r a t e a C a C C . B uce , Neg o yths o G o gi o st , by . n s Se e a s A n n n S r Ma n Jo e . l o ppe dix Lo do pi itual gazi e f o r 1868 f o r a case that happened in Lon don that year Notes and Q ue r nd n V 143 4t h r Mo r ansh ire A r r ies , Lo o , , ( se ies) ; g dve tise ,

f o r 1862. Eng . ,

Re v . C . B . an r h as n Rice of D ve s , wisely poi ted out the d is ” n n n a i ra an d “ ti ctio betwee Biblic l w tchc ft, the legal witch

craft of t h e 17t h Cen tury .

3 Po . i . U . S . II 451 p H st , 24 T A T SA M VI A WI C HCR F IN LE LL GE .

a an r and l aw n bo sted l d of light , libe ty , has bee t h e S r n r r cursed with upe stitio . Histo y reco ds a as f ar as r n K n n th t back the eig of i g Joh , a a 1200 n f o r bout the ye r , perso s were executed th e so - a nt n a c lled crime . It co i ued to be rec o nize d m 1 12 in n an and g cri e down to 7 E gl d, 1727 in n n in Scotl a d . Executio s are recorded

n in 1597 n n - r r n Aberdee , whe twe ty fou pe so s m in r rn a . In a a we e bu ed to de th the s e pl ce ,

1617 n - n m n r rne at t h e , twe ty seve wo e we e bu d

a e r r an o r rn in ar st ke . Oth s we e h ged bu ed B k in in 1575 in e m r n n and g, ; Ch l sfo d, Abi gto ’ r i i h in am in 1579 r n n . Os t s C b idge , ; thi tee St ,

2 n r n n 1 5 an d o ne 158 . a i 64 Ni ety we e h ged , n r and n in 1661 a e x e cu hu d ed twe ty . The l st n h a in n an w as in 1712 and tio for witc cr ft E gl d , in an 17 a w a o ne Scotl d in Sir M the H le , of a n m a the blest of E glish jurists , tried ny of these cases and ﬁrmly believed there w as such a

n r Dr m as a . . a thi g witchc ft More, Sir Tho s w n ranm w ar a a and Bro , Boyle, C er , Ed d F irf x , ’ m any other of Engl and s wise m e n were he

lie ve rs . n r me n as Whe , the efore , such these

in ra h o w believed witchc ft , could the people who dw elt in the Ame rican wilderness in 1692 be expected to doubt Chief Justice Holt w as the only man of prom inence on the E nglish n n a m h ad be ch who , dow to th t ti e, doubted the co rrectness of the extreme View of the delu

4 Ih d . 453. THE Y TC A T C AS S 25 EARL WI HC R F E .

n at a sio . He le st protected the rights of th e a m a w as o n ccused , which is ore th n d e by the judges at the tri als in S alem . The result of a century and a half of p rose c utio ns a and n in n an w as , tri ls executio s E gl d , a m o n crop o f books and p a phle ts the subject, mostly written by clergymen who h ad bee n be lie v e rs and r w h o w l prosecutors , or by ju ists ou d natu rally de fen d t he m selves and th ei r associ m ates and thei r inte rpretation of the l aw . So e

m e r a o f th e se boo ks foun d the ir w ay to A ic .

an m e r ad r n n n M y of the w e re , du i g the lo g wi ter e n n e r a n O n r ve i gs , b fore the o ri g pe ﬁ es , by the

m n re n Si ple New E n gla d pe ople . Child were nd a a m as u oubtedly llowed ccess to the , to the ’

n r r Mr . arr Bible a d the Pilg im s P ogress . P is him self se em s to h ave foun ded his kno wledge “ o f the del usion o n Discourses of the Damned ’ ” W ra r n a 1600 Art of itchc ft , w itte bout by

a r n a as 1765 a n Willi m Pe ki s . As l te , Bl cksto e ,

r a n e En lis h law r the g e t expou d r of g , w ote TO n na a a n de y the possibility , y , ctu l existe ce an d at ﬂa of witchcraft sorcery , is once tly to co ntradict the revealed word of God in various p ass ages both of the Old and New Testam ent ; and the thi ng itself is a truth to which every n n In a in m n atio the world h th , its ti e , bor e tes t imo n r am n l at y eithe by ex ple, seemi g y well

o r r a at a tested , by p ohibitory l ws which le st suppose the possibility of comm erce with evil 26 TC C A T SA M V A WI H R F IN LE ILL GE .

” ’ S r 5 a n a a a pi its . Bl cksto e dds th t these cts con tinned in force until l ately to the terror of all an n m a in th e in m and m an cie t fe les k gdo , y poor w retches were s acriﬁced th e reby to the pre ju o f n r and o w n n dice their eighbo s , their illusio s , no t a a n m m an r c o n few h vi g, by so e e s or othe , ” 6 a r fessed t he fact at the gallows . How ccu ately this l ast sente nce de scribes the condition a a in n t in 16 92 a of ff irs Essex cou y , we sh ll see in th e r a futu e p ges of this history . Wh at w as w itchcraft Wh at did p e ople m e an by the term These are que stio ns wh ich should be understood in studyi ng the d e lusion in n n e n ur In ar m the seve tee th c t y . e ly ti es ,

ra n m an in nn n witchc ft evide tly e t, co ectio with

m r n m n in r r e t c . a a s the te s sorce y , co ju er, , l ost y

ar n o n ar a n m r e s gul co duct the p t of perso , o e

e ciall a r n r an a e m a p y if th t pe so we e g d fe le . The crabbedness of Old age or misfo rtun e w as

n r evide tly looked upon as witchc aft . People

m no w rm mm n b who we te co o scolds , neigh or in m unacco unt hood gossips , those who, so e m ann n t h e nm able er , k ow i ost secrets of their a a n and a neighbors , wh t they h ve do e wh t they n m a in t h e a co te pl te to do future, would h ve

n t wo t n r a o a bee , or hree ce tu ies g , ccused of

i ll m r a n a an a . witchcr ft , hu p ob bility Witches were person s supposed to have fo rm ed a c o m

’ 5 Ch l t t s a n IV 42 6 Ih d . 43 . y Bl cksto e , . , THE A Y W TC C A T CAS S 27 E RL I H R F E .

’ a m n p ct with the devil to tor e t God s people , and m m a r a a so eti es to c use thei de th . The p paritio ns of these bewitche d persons we re sup e h u th e air m and pos d to go t ro gh , ostly at night

r m - a n . on b oo sticks or poles , to place of meeti g Many of them we re ch arged with having signed a book p re sented to th e m f o r signature by his

a an a w as n a s t ic m j esty . This book said to co t in a contract which bou nd those w h o signed it to d n m as do his bid i g . So etimes, was believed,

h r r t ey took the fo ms of negroes, hogs , bi ds or c ats whe n goi ng to perform their supern atural d eeds .

Fo r n a the punishme t of witchcraft, in wh t

rm a ar na a ever fo it ppe ed , the tions of the e rth , a a d n n a as we h ve lrea y see , ﬁxed the pe lty of d a En eath, usu lly without beneﬁt of clergy . g an at o f 33 a 8 l d by the st ute Henry VIII , ch p . , decl ared all w itchcraft and sorcery to be felony

n e r a a without be eﬁt of cl gy . L ter, by st tute of 12 w as n ll as . a . a a a J I, ch p , it e cted th t persons n n an S r n l n c o v i voki g y evil pi it , or co su ti g or e nantin n a n n n n g with , e tert i i g , employi g, feedi g ,

a n an or rew rdi g y evil spirit, etc . , should be Of n n and guilty felo y without be eﬁt of clergy , ] a n r a ar suffer de th U de the coloni l ch ter , laws m n o f n a for the govern e t the colo y were dopted , m n e o ne a a n ro a o g th m g i st witchcraft . It p “ vid e d a an m an an a th t, if y or wom be witch

7 Ibd . , 43. 28 TC C A T A M A WI H R F IN S LE VILL GE .

a bath o r n h a a ar (th t is , co sultet with f mili ” r 8 n spi it) they shall be put to de ath . Whe the ar w as a n aw a in 1684 aw ch ter t ke y , , these l s r a r a we e b og te d . Whether they were revived by

r am a n n r n m n the p ocl tio of A d os, o his beco i g

e rn a all n a no t nan t o gov or, th t colo y l ws repug t 9 aw n l an r an d the l s of E g d would be obse ved , whether t h e fo rcibl e re m oval of the gove rno r a

e ar a e r rm na m a a n av few y s l t te i ted the g i , h e been Op e n questio ns among histo rians and l aw e rs ar ra t r n in 1692 y . The e ly witchc f p osecutio s we re undoubtedly brough t under the st atute of

am at m a n r J es . Th so e of the l ter o es we e is

r a n n m n in ce t i . Most of the i dict e ts closed

r w a n rm these wo ds which ould h ve bee the fo , r a n n l aw r o r on a p ob bly, u der E glish di ect, col i l l aw approved by the ki ng agai nst t h e peace

o ur r n r and a n and of sove eig Lo d L dy, the ki g

n e r r w n and n and a a n quee , th i c o dig ity , g i st the form of the statute in th at case m ade and pro ” 1° v i d n m e n a a n amu de . The i dict ts g i st S el

ar w and e a am r r W d ell R becc E es , howeve , refe f m e di rectly to the statutes O Ja e s I . Th y were

m n un n rd are a o g the l ast fo d . The closi g wo s “ as foll o w s with the evil Spe ritt the d e v ill a nan m a r n m cove t did ke, whe ei he pro ised to honor wo rship believe the dcviii co ntrary to

8 o n r ra in Ma s 1883 Ge o . H. Notes the Histo y of Witchc ft s , , M r oo e , 6 .

9 Ibd . . 9 r Ma . . COIL 2d r VIII 77 . 7 a 517 . , G y , ss Hist , se ies, , 10 Essex Court Records .

0 T A T SA M A 3 WI C HC R F IN LE VILL GE .

a an a m an m an or t ke up y de d , wo or child , out

e r ra an a of his , her or th i g ve, or y other pl ce w r a r n n he e the de d body esteth, or the ski , bo e an ar an a n or y other p t of y de d perso , to be em

o r u in an m an ployed sed y ner of witchcraft ,

r arm o r n an n r an sorce y, ch e ch tme t whe eby y n a r a o r co n perso sh ll be killed , dest oyed , w sted

m n am in his h e r a su ed, pi ed or l ed or body, sh ll ” S r a n d a n uffe the p i s of e th . The seco d section provides that if any perso n attempt by sorcery

r an n r a to discove y hidde t e sure , or restore n o r n a stole g ods , or p ovoke u l wful love , or hurt an m an o r a am e f y be st, though the s e be not f e ct e d a m r n o ne a and , he sh ll be i p iso ed ye r o nce every quarte r stand o n the pillo ry in the shire town six hours with the offence written in capital letters o n his breast 13 Fo r a second Offence of this n ature the punishment w as a a r a de th . Both of these cts we e dis llowed on 22 1 695 h ad and Aug . , , but they full force effect in m an m the e ti e . It is a little un certai n just when the ﬁrst case ra ar in n an of witchc ft ose New E gl d . Hutch

n n a w as in 1645 at r n a i so s ys it Sp i gﬁeld, M ss . , n ra n r afﬂ a n whe seve l perso s we e icted , mo g them ’ m n r r n and two of the i iste s child e , that every effort w as m ade to convict some o ne of bewitch 14 in m in a n no t r g the , but v i . It is quite ce tain

r n M . I 13 P a I . 90. 14 . a L 16 . ovi ce L ws, , Hist ss , , T C A T AS S 3 1 THE EARLY WI CH R F C E . that Hutchinson has not her e co nfounded the 1 1 t Springﬁeld case of 65 with his date . The ﬁrst execution for witchcraft in the new in 1648 V world was at Charlestown , , the ictim n a Sh e w as a bei g Marg ret Jones . ccused of

ra n n and p ctici g witchcraft , tried , fou d guilty , a d a h nged . The recor s of her c se, if ever there

an n n . were y , have lo g since bee destroyed The n u a n best account of it, u do btedly , is th t fou d in

n n r . w as no t the jour als of Gov . Wi th op He

n r at o ly gove nor of the colony the time , but pre at a n a a n sided the tri l . He says the evide ce g i st “ her w as th at she w as found to have such a nan n n m e n malig t touch as ma y perso s , , women and d r sh e r o r chil en , whom st oked touched with

f n r a an a a & c . y f ectio or disple su e or , were t ken a n vo mittin V n with de f ess , or g, or other iole t ” n n He r m n n an p ai s or sick ess . edici es , bei g ise

o r a m n h ad a seed other h r less thi gs, yet , he s ys , na t an d such extraordi ry effec , she used to tell such as would not m ake use of her physic that “ a and n they would never be he led , accordi gly their diseases and hurts continued with rel apses ” a a n . a n n g i st the ordinary course Ag i , Wi throp a in r w as in h e r a m s ys , the p ison there seen r s a little child which ran from her i nto another ”5 m and f n an / roo the o ﬁcer followi g it, it v ished Such is the story told by the judge who t ried the Can r n case . we doubt the cor ect ess of his sum m ary of th e evide nce No m an in the colony

’ 15 n r rna IL 326 . Wi th op s Jou l , T A T SA M A 30 WI C HC R F IN LE VILL GE .

a an a m an m a or t ke up y de d , wo n or child , out

r ra an a of his , her or thei g ve, or y other pl ce w a r o r n n here the de d body esteth, the ski , bo e an ar an a or y other p t of y de d person, to be em u in an ann ra ployed or sed y m er of witchc ft ,

r r arm o r n an m n r an so ce y, ch e ch t e t whe eby y r n S a r a o r pe so h ll be killed , dest oyed , w sted con

m d n o r am in a su e , pi ed l ed his or her body, sh ll ” a n d a n suffer the p i s of e th . The seco d section p rovides that if any perso n attempt by sorcery

r an n a r r to discove y hidde tre su e , or estore

n r n a stole goods , or p ovoke u l wful love , or hurt an m an o r a am no t e f y be st, though the s e be f e ct e d a m n o ne a and , he sh ll be i priso ed ye r o nce every quarte r stan d o n the pillory in the shire town six hours with the offence written in capit al letters o n his breast 13 For a second offence of this nature the punishm e nt w as

a a r a de th . Both of these cts we e dis llowed on

22 1695 r and f Aug . , , but they had full fo ce e fect in m an m the e ti e . It is a little unce rtai n just when the ﬁrst case

ra a in n an of witchc ft rose New E gl d . Hutch

n n a w as in 1645 n a i so s ys it at Spri gﬁeld, M ss . , n ra r n r a ﬂ a n whe seve l pe so s we e f icted , mo g them ’ m n n and two of the i ister s childre , that every effort w as m ade to convict some o ne of bewitch 14 in m in a n no t r g the , but v i . It is quite ce tain

M I . 13 Pr n a I . 90. 14 . a . I 16 . ovi ce L ws , , Hist ss , , HE A TC C A T A S 3 1 T E RLY WI H R F C SE .

that Hutchinson h as not here co nfounded the a 1651 t a Springﬁeld c se of with his d te . The ﬁrst execution for witchcr aft in the new n in 1648 V world was at Charlestow , , the ictim a a n w as a being M rg ret Jo es . She ccused of a n and pr ctici g witchcraft , tried , found guilty ,

an a h ged . The records of her c se, if ever there

an n n n . were y , have lo g si ce bee destroyed The a n a in best ccount of it, u doubtedly , is th t found

na n . w as the jour ls of Gov . Wi throp He not n n only gover or of the colo y at the time , but pre at a a n a a n sided the tri l . He s ys the evide ce g i st “ her was that she w as found t o have such a a nan a n m e n m m lig t touch as m ny perso s , , wo en

n r and childre , whom she st oked or touched with

an a n a o r & c . a y ffectio or disple sure , were t ken a vo mittin V n with de fness , or g, or other iole t ” a n n n n an p i s or sick ess . Her medici es , bei g ise

a m n h ad a seed or other h r less thi gs , yet , he s ys ,

a nar e and such extr ordi y eff ct , she used to tell such as would no t m ake use of h e r physic tha t “ n a and a n they would ever be he led , ccordi gly their diseases and hurts conti nued with rel apses ” a a n a n g i st the ordinary course . Ag in, Wi throp

a in in h e r a s ys , the prison there was seen rm s a little child which ran from her i nto another ” and ﬁ n an 5 room the of cer followi g it, it v ished / Such is the story told by the judge who t ried the a Can n c se . we doubt the correct ess of his sum m ary of the evide nce 2 No m an in the colony

’ 15 n r rna II 326 . Wi th op s Jou l , . 32 A A A WITCH CR FT IN S LEM VILL GE .

an n n a a stood higher th Joh Wi throp . M rg ret

n m all c an arn h e r w as m Jo es, fro we le of , so e “ n o f an an rr ar ra thi g a physici , i egul p ctic ” io ne r r a — a w a a a , pe h ps wh t ould be c lled qu ck in a e this g . Possibly she met with success m m “ ” so eti es where a regul ar h ad failed . As n a n n m n m i dic ti g the se ti e ts of the ti es , it is

r a rn r a m an na u wo thy of note th t the gove o , t

a o f r n m m n n a in r lly ste li g co o se se , rel tes his “ na a am d a and h w as j our l, th t, s e y our she w as a r a m at executed, there very g e t te pest ” nn n m n 16 Co ecticut which ble w dow a y trees . r a u n o f ar ar n Sho tly fter the exec tio M g et Jo es , h e r husban d endeavored to secure p assage to B arbadoes in a vessel then lyi ng in Boston har bor with a hundred and eighty ton s of ball ast and o n r w as eighty horses boa d . He refused a a a w as an a p ss ge bec use he the husb d of witch , and it w as imm e di ately observed th at the ves ” r sel began to roll as if it would turn ove . This n n stra ge action w as alleged to be caused by Jo es . m a a n n ﬁ r The gistr tes , bei g oti ed , issued thei war

an f o r his a r AS fﬁ n r t r est . the o cer, goi g to a an w as n in f r serve the w rr t, crossi g the er y , the n n m a a vessel co ti ued to roll . He re rked th t he h ad that which would tam e the vessel and keep it at am m n quiet, the s e ti e exhibiti g the docu m n n an as a e t . I st tly the vessel ce ed to roll , fter a n n in m n n w as h vi g bee otio twelve hours . Jo es and n n n and arrested throw i to priso , the vessel

16 1bd . THE A Y TC C A T CAS S E RL WI H R F E .

17 m w as n o t rolled no ore He executed, and I do no t ﬁ nd a w as th t he ever tried . a a n M ry P rso s , wife of Hugh Parsons of

r n in 1649 a a a th e Sp i gﬁeld, , circul ted report th t

Marshﬁ e ld w a widow s guilty of witchcraft . The w idow began an action against the Parsons

m an n n a m wo before Mr . Py cho , the loc l agis at o n t he an a n tr e, ground of sl der . Mrs . P rso s w as foun d guilty and sentenced to pay a ﬁ ne of 18 £ 3 a In Ma or be whipped twenty l shes y , 16 51 a a n , M ry P rso s was herself charged with

h o n r and e a witc craft Ma tha Reb k h Moxon , r m n w as child en of the i ister . She tried before n a in n o n Ma 13 1651 the Ge er l Court Bosto , y , , and w a acquitted . She as then ch rged with the o w n a murder of her child, to which ch rge she

‘’ ’ fi l efidhd gh iltfi fi nd the court sentenced her to an w as an o n 29 be h ged . A reprieve gr ted May , but w as a n n no t whether it m de perma e t , is

n n ar n w as r d in k ow . Hugh P so s t ie Boston on Ma 31 1652 o n a a a and y , , ch rge of witchcr ft , 19 acquitte d The particul ars in these cases are

’ 17 Everett s An ecdotes of Early Local History . ’ 18 King s H an d Book of Springﬁ eld . M A 2 Ma . n a r f o r a 1 1651 Ma 31 165 19 C 3 . . ss olo i l Reco ds y , lso, y , ra a s M ar P ar n in r n and a Sh e h ad D ke s y y so s died p iso , th t

ar h e r an w h n h e r . . n ch ged husb d ith bewitc i g (Hist of Bosto .

P a r n w as . . n and lf ey thi ks she executed (Hist New E gl , M r r P n IV. 96 n . A r r in t h e a n , , ote ) w ite e cu ius ublicus , Lo do “ n a r S . 25 1651 a : r in S r n ﬁ r ewsp pe , of ept , , s ys Fou p i g eld we e e w r o ne was f o r m r r h e r o w n d tected , he eof executed u de of and was e a an t r n mn a h rd child doubtl ss witch, o he is co de ed , t i ” nd r r a a r n r sus it io n . Ibd . u e t i l , fou th u de p ( ) A 34 WITCH CRAFT IN SALEM VILL GE .

r m e a r a a s a a an ve y g e . It is h rdly s fe to y th t y state m ent re l ative to the ﬁnal disposition of

r n n AS w n m them is t ue beyo d questio . sho i g so e a t h e a o f m n at a m e wh t st te the public i d th t ti , it is re l at e d that o n the s am e day th at Parsons w as r e d ne ra ur a n a d a t i , the Ge l Co t ppoi ted y of

m i a n in n ra n am n e r hu li tio , co side tio , o g oth “ n t he n a an r a thi gs , of exte t to which s t p ev ils ’ ’20 am n in re ra o gst us spect of witchc ft . Joh n B radst re e t of Row ley w as trie d in o n u 28 1652 o n a a am Ipswich J ly , , ch rge of f il ” iarit th e v r r ur y with de il . The o de of the co t , “ u e ue nt r n un e w as a n ra s bs q ly p o o c d, th t Joh B d stre e t upo n his p res e ntatio n o f the l ast court for

S n a n am ar uspicio of h vi g f ili ity with the devil , upon ex amination of the case they found he h ad a w as a n n n told lie , which seco d , bei g co victed

n e r a ﬁne 20 o ce b fo e The court sets of s . or ”21 else to be whipped . The next case of which we have a record w as at Ann Hibbins n a th of of Bosto , widow , whose and h ad d in 1654 B n h ad n a husb ied . ibbi s bee

r e r u ra e r r n a r ar p osp o s t d , but du i g the l te ye s of

h ad m e t r rs and n his life with eve es , soo sick n an d d e d u a ﬂ n a e ed i . This do ble f ictio is s id to av m a e ra and m m h e d his widow c bbed eddleso e .

all e n h ad m r u At ev ts , she so uch t o ble with her ne r a r n re h e r n ighbo s th t the chu ch ce su d . Duri g

M 20 a s . C n a o r f o r Ma 13 1651 . s olo i l Rec ds y , 2 r P r 1 Essex Cou t ape s .

36 TC C A T IN A WI H R F SALEM VILL GE .

n n am 23 and n Gover or Belli gh , he could u doubted l a r fﬁ n nﬂ a h e r y h ve exe ted su cie t i uence to s ve , n t n n o hi g of the kind appe ars to have been do e . In 1659 n n n m an , Joh Godfrey, a Essex cou ty ,

a ra and n was ccused of witchc ft, bou d over to

’ h AS f urth e r re co rd the igher court . no of his

a n r m w as t c se is to be fou d, it is p esu ed he ei her

t r a w as a . not brough to t i l or , if so , cquitted He sued two of the prosecutors and witness e s a a n him n m g i st a d recovered dam ages from the . Another item o n a later court record indicates that Godfrey w as before the court and ﬁned f o r n n bei g dru k . Ann nn in 1662 w as a . Cole of H rtford, Co , , conce rn ed with two people of the nam e of n m m an and m r Gree s ith, wife, in so e so t of trans action which brought against them all a ar r ch ge of witchcraft . John Whiting w ote to “ Incre ase Mather that she w as a person e s m a n a a a tee ed pious , beh vi g herself with ple s nt mixture of humility and faith under ve ry heavy “ ” n 24 a n n sufferi g . She m de a co fessio of some nature an d used the names of the Gre e n s mith s n m m a to their prejudice . The Gree s ith wo n confessed that a dem on had h ad c arnal knowl edge o f her with much seem i ng delight to her 25 w as and r self . She executed, two of the othe s 23 Poole ’ s Introduction to Johnson’ s Won der Working Provi

u . c x x Ix de ces Note , . 2 M 4 a . i . COL V . 466 . ss H st , III , ’ 25 n n . B Hutchi so s Hist . Mass ay , IL , 23 . A A S 37 THE EARLY WITCHC R F T C SE .

t an n m r a no . co de ned , but p ob bly h ged It looks

r m as n at all e and hu ve y uch if , be e h this pi ty li Ann e w as m mi ty exhibited by Cole , th re so e n w as a w a e r e evil ; th at her co duct not l ys p f ct, and that to cover Up he r respon sibility for evil n deeds she confessed to bei g a witch . The next c ase in ch ronological order w as that in 16 1 Kna r a . 7 a . of Eliz beth pp of G oton , M ss , ’ a r m nam a n co n I quote l rgely f o Put s ccou t,

e n e d m r Re v am e d s fro the reco d left by . S u l 26 r a w as at r e Willa d . Eliz beth ﬁ st subj ct to

n a m and V n a a t n me t l oods iole t physic l c io s . an n an an e Str ge , sudde shrieks , str ge ch g s of counte nance appe are d followed by t h e exclam a ” n m u rub tio s O , y leg, which she wo ld O, ” r n d ru a a b at . my b e st , she would th After

ar am ﬁ ts in h c r w ds c e whic she would y out, ” m n m n f e r h e r as n e m e n o ey, o ey, o f ed i duc ts to “ e n an d m m s in and m i y ield ob die ce, so eti es, s

as a n m e n a ery , thre ts of pu ish t for refus l to

O an V an Subse bey the wishes of her str ge isit t . quently she b arked like a dog and ble ate d like a “ a Mr ar w as a c lf . Then she told . Will d he ” a r e am n o t gre t rogue . Some voice plied I

an am a m re sat , I a pretty bl ck boy , this is y p tty ” r ar l a m an d m gi l . She ch ged Wil rd hi self so e

n h r rm e n r others of his parish with bei g e to to s . ‘ ’ Elizabe th Kn app s c ase seems to call for little

’ 2 P nam ra a n . 157 a Ma . 6 ut s Witchc ft Expl i ed , etc , ; lso ss

H . COIL V . 555 . ist , III , A 38 WITCHCRAFT IN SALEM V ILL GE .

m n m r m r o w O n n as com e t . We ay fo o u n pi io s to the disorder from which she suffered . The ﬁ rst important Essex County c ase of witchcraft w as th at w hich occurred in the fam ily

am w r no w r of Willi Morse of Ne bu y, Newbu y

r in 1 m n 679 . a po t, The f ily co sisted, besides the n m an m a old ge tle hi self , of his wife , bout sixty

ﬁ ve ar a e and a ran n n ye s of g , g dso , Joh Stiles ,

n r e twelve or ﬁftee ye a s of ag . To show the

n t n af a r as a ar r co di io of f i s it ppe ed to Mo se , I quote from his testim ony

A m n r n n n bout id ight , the doo bei g locked whe we we t to ar a r i r n and m a a bed , we he d g eat hog n the house g u t ke r a n a s n and a g e t oise , we thought willi g to get out . th t we m n o t r in o ur S ar h im ight be distu bed leep I ose to let out , n a d I foun d a hog in the house and the door unlocked . Th e r a rm Th e doo w s ﬁ ly locked when we went to bed . ' n n . a a r a aw l n in n ight followi g I h d g e t lyi g the wi dow , the which aw l we saw fall down out of the chim n ey in to the r A r i am ashes by the ﬁ e . fte this I h d the boy put the s e aw l n th e ar sa n and r i to cupbo d , which we w do e the doo T m l m r m n Shut to . his sa e aw ca e p esently down the chi ey a a n in ur A a n o S and m . g i ight , I took it up yself g i the sam e night we saw a little Indian baske t that w as in th e r m n m n a n An d loft befo e co e dow the chi ey ag i . I took the am a and a r n an d a s e b sket put b ick i to it , the b sket with r w as n nd m n r m the b ick go e , a ca e dow again the thi d ti e

r in and n a a n r m an d with the b ick it , we t up g i the fou th ti e am n a a n r n d r am c e dow g i without the b ick , a the b ick c e n a a n a a r Th e n d a in a rn n dow g i little fte . ext y the fte oo , r a r m a n m n m y th e d fou ti es t ke away , and ca e dow the m n a a n m aw l and m an n a a n m chi ey , g i y gi let w ti g , g i y

r a n a a am n m n a a n m lea the t ke w y, c e dow the chi ey , g i y

n a n in r a ﬁ rk in a n a a am ils , bei g the cove of , t ke w y , c e

n m n . Th e n d a n Sa a d a dow the chi ey ext y , bei g bb th y , I THE A Y TC C A T CAS S E RL WI H R F E . 39

a m an n an d an s w y sto es sticks , d pieces of bricks com e n down the chim n ey . O Mon day I saw the an di ron le ap n o t an an d a a a n a i i to the p , d ce le p out g i , le p n an d dance and a a ain and a o n a a an d re a le p out g le p t ble the bide , an d m saw t h e an r n o n a y wife di o s the t ble . Also I saw the pot rn r an d r n al l tu itself ove th ow dow the water .

Morse continued for som e tim e to rel ate such

rr e as n occu enc s these . He subseque tly t estiﬁed th at C aleb Powell came in and s aid This boy

t h e a i r r h a n is occ s on of you g ief , for he th do e n and a a these thi gs , h th c used his poor old ” ran m n a g d other to be cou ted witch . Powell then told Mo rse th at h e h ad seen young Stiles an n and t a do m y of the thi gs, h t if he w ould let h im h ave the boy he should be free from

r t ouble . He did let Powell have the lad Mo n d a n and h ad no m u n r y ight , ore tro ble u til F iday n an n ight . Then the str ge perform a ces were ’ Old a a renewed . The m n s c p w as pulled o ff his “ ” a and cat at he d the throwed him . They p ut cat and d and n the out shut the oors wi dows , and n alk in prese tly she w ed . After they went “ to bed the cat w as throwed at them ﬁ ve

n ra in a a a times , o ce w pped red w istco t . Such

t r n at an m an is the s o y told u der o h by old ,

m Mr a a w as m who Rev . . H le s id estee ed a sin cere and understanding Christi an by those who ” im nd h is n l n h . a a l k ew He wife, u der the m n a — and an a sole ities of their o ths , o th meant m a — m a a d e uch in those d ys , de these st rtling

a a sa positions . Wh t sh ll we y of them Have TC C A T SA M V A 40 WI H R F IN LE ILL GE . the statem ents ex aggerated th e facts How ? ‘P c an the y be m e t h o w expl ained Do we be liev e the se old people wilfully falsiﬁed Caleb Po w e ll s e e m s t o have suspe cted the boy Joh n of m is chi e vously p e rp e t rating the tricks o n the old

e h an e n p ople . He thoug t he could put d to th e m by re m oving the youth from their house ;

n d h e n as hn w as aw a e r a did . So lo g Jo y th e

n ran e rr n e w we re no e of th o s e st g occu e c s . Po ell

e a- ar n m an an d n o n an w as a s f i g , whe l d dwelt w as e r a a r ﬂe a n e ar the Mo rs e s . He p h ps t i bo st

e r and e m le unt rav ful of his pow s, told th se si p ,

e w a re m ar a t n e ll e d p ople h t k ble hi gs he could do,

m n r a u e e ra a o g othe s th t he co ld d t ct witchc ft .

na ura a e r h ad We should t lly expect, ft Powell d e m on strate d to Mo rse th at h is grandson w as a m e u a e ra a th e ran a ischi vo s sc p g ce, th t g df ther would h ave taken the boy hom e and give n h im a

n ra n and e n an m an w h o sou d th shi g , th th ked the

m r B u no w a an h ad e xpos e d the i postu e . t ; it s a e re r and u r n r g of ligious bigot y s pe stitio . Mo se at on c e turn e d upon Po w e ll and charge d h im w ra n w ra m a n w as m a ith p ctici g itchc ft . Co pl i t de a a n t him in t h r n D 1 e a o e c . 3 6 9 7 . g i s loc l cou t , m n e a a n a o n . 8 an d His x i tio took pl ce Dec , the court o rde re d Mors e t o give bonds to p ros e cute at th e ne t e rm ur in Th e a x t of c o t Ipswich . c se w h as e ar o n ar 30 1680 . r o r d M ch , The cou t

e re a u un no r un f o r d d, th t tho gh it fo d g o ds the “ r e ur a a n h ad p oc d e g i st Powell , yet he given E A TC C A T CAS S 4 1 TH E RLY WI H R F E . such groun d for Suspi cion of h is so dealing th at

no t a him a e r they could cquit , but th t he d se ved ” n to he ar his o w n sh are of costs of p rosecuti o . m n w n m a n Mrs r Co pl ai t as the ade gai st . Mo se h r e and o n Ma 20 1680 Sh e w as r e and e s lf, y , , t i d

V r Ma 27 a t e n e GO . a o n co vict d . B dstreet , y , f r

e t e in th e m n - in o n e nte n e l c ur eeti g house B sto , s c d h r n d an e a r r e o n e to be h a ge . He gr t d ep i ve n 1 n th e th e r Ju e , u til next session of cou t ,

n r w r n e whe the rep ieve as still fu rthe exte d d .

e r e e d and r e The House of D puties p ot st , u g d ex

u In 81 r e t o s e nt . 16 io , howeve , the House vot d

h e r a r a m a ra n urr n give new t i l , the gist tes co c i g in n r r at e a M s . the vote . We ext h r of Mo se

m in w r r a e e r r t e n her ho e Ne bu y, th ough l tt w i t

R v a in 1 r n o t e . 699 re by John H le . The co ds do i nfo rm us whether she w as eve r t rie d again o r h o w O a ne w e no she bt i d her libe rty . All k w is ,

a r m all m n a r th t f o the testi o y , she lived Ch ist ian m a n r a an d a w a life the re i de of her d ys , l ys

ra d e nie d th at Sh e w as eve r guilty of witchc ft .

. a a nt n o n . Gov Br dstreet, who p ssed se e ce Mrs

a m and Morse , subsequently lived in S le , his rem ai ns were buried in the old Charter stre e t r n un In 16 2 as in 1 80 a . 9 6 bu y i g gro d , , he d red to resist the clamors of a misguided people and

ar and an n ar r O u judici y, u le ned , supe stitious p p Had V n a . O n l ce G . Phips possessed his i tellige ce and ﬁ rm ness the h arvest of de ath o n Witch Hill would not have formed a p art of o ur e arly A 42 WI TCHCRAFT IN SALEM VILL GE .

44 TC C A T SA M V A WI H R F IN LE ILL GE .

and all n a ar elbows, their joi ts would ppe to be a and m a m disloc ted , they would ke the ost pit c r n n n cut w ous outc ies of bur i gs , of bei g ith & c m n r n and knives , . The i iste s of Bosto Charlestow n kept a d ay of fasting and prayers at r a w un e the t oubled house , fter hich the yo g st ” l a no m r m a n m a chi d m de o e co pl i ts . The gis

a n and r tr tes then i terposed , the elde Glover n w n a na wom a as apprehe ded . Upon ex mi tion

n r n no r n and a she would eithe co fess de y , p

e are d r r in n an p diso de ed her se ses . Physici s

a h e r O f n m n w n decl red to be sou d i d , hereupo w as n n e n an d she co victed, se t ced executed . The eldest child we nt to live in the fam ily of the

n t Fo r m m e a r r mi is er . so e ti e she b h ved p ope ly, and h ad a S r m in n then ﬁts for ho t ti e . Hutch so s ays that after this they returne d to th e i r o r dinar a r a a e m a y beh vio , lived to dult g , de pro f e ssio n r n and a ﬂ n h ad of eligio , the f ictio they been u nder they publicly decl ared to be o ne One m n an e ar motive to it . of the , I k ew m y y s r h ad a a r a r V r afte . She the ch r cte of ve y i tuous an and n a an a n m n wom , ever m de y ck owledge e t ’ ”9 a in an a n of fr ud the tr s ctio . It should be distinctly understood th at the Glover wom an w as not p rosecuted because of h e r n a h ad n n d o religio . Th t othi g to with it . This case has sometimes been connected with the a a 1692 h ad no nn S lem c ses of , but it co ection

m o r n r l with the , either directly i di ect y .

- M . 2 2 M . . . 6 . as a 5 6 . a . C V 3 7 Hist . ss , IL , ss Hist oll , III , A A S 45 THE EARLY WITCHCR F T C SE .

u ra all r ﬂ h a I have th s t ced, too b ie y , per ps , the m ore important witchcraft cases in New Engl and

r 1 2 n h as r n p evious to 69 . E ough he e bee given

r S a r a a m I t ust , to how th t the outb e k in S le Vil l age w as n othing phenom enal ; th at it d id no t

ff m a h ad a n r a di er fro wh t h ppe ed elsewhe e , s ve in obtai ni ng a ﬁrm er hold in the m inds Of the and in n a m n people , bei g fostered by cert in i isters

n r m n n r h n in a d p o i e t men m o e t a other pl aces .

r n a m r m in Fe bru A few st o g, c l w o ds from the 1692 a m a a a ary , , would h ve su m rily ll yed the excitem ent and put an e nd to the whole w retched n w busi ess . But those words ere not spoken, and

the tragedy followed .

O E . th e a in n an r 1692 N T Beside c ses New E gl d p evious to , there were p rosecutions f o r witchcraft in several southern states r subsequent to that tim e . G ace Sherwood w as accused in

Pr n Ann C n V r n a in 1696 . A r m n i cess ou ty , i gi i , ju y of wo e “ ” ar h e r f o r m ar and a r r a w as se ched witch ks , the w te o de l “ r . Tn at S r ff w as r r a all c o n t ied is , the he i o de ed to t ke such ve nie nt assistance of boats and m e n as shall be by him thought ’ ﬁ t m at n ar r an a n in r r a a , to eet Joh H pe s pl t tio o de to t ke s id ra and h e r n a r a m an ’ d and t r h e r G ce put %i to w te ] bove s epth, y h o w Sh e w m r n a a a n ar h e r re s i s the ei , lw ys h vi g c e of life to p r h e r r m r n n and as n as sh e am a h e se ve f o d ow i g , soo c e out th t request as many antient an d kn owing wom en as possible h e c an to S earch c arefully f o r all m arks o r spots about h e r body ” ” no t a o n r . T an n m n r r e usu l othe s , etc hese tie t wo e epo t d a d r r a n n m r m an th t they iscove ed ce t i disti ctive a ks of the wo . h e w a m m r S s co itted f o trial . Person s were accused of w itchcraft in South Carolin a in

1709 r and n n rn at a . ra a , t ied se te ced to be bu ed the st ke D ke s ys they were roasted by ﬁ re but there is no eviden ce that they

r urn at . . Pr n Sa m az No v . 6 1891 we e b ed to de h J i ce, le G ette, , , CHAPTER III .

TH E O UTB R EAK I N SALE M VI LLA GE .

HE witchcraft delusion of 1692 undoubt e dly h ad its inceptio n in the hom e of

m ar . a a Rev S uel P ris , p stor of the church a m a In am a a in S le Vill ge . his f ily were d ughter,

a n ar a e a n a Eliz beth, ni e ye s of g ; iece , Abig il

am n ar a e and a r an Willi s , eleve ye s of g ; se v t, di a a n an a n r . a Titub , h lf I di , h lf eg o The tr tion

a r r a a is th t the two gi ls , with pe h ps few other n n n childre of the eighborhood, used , duri g the ’ n 1691-2 a m in m n wi ter of , to sse ble the i ister s kitchen and practice tricks and incantat ion s with

m n r r n Tituba . A o g the othe gi ls of the eighbor

m m are e a n hood, so e of who believ d to h ve bee

n at a r n r rm an w prese t po tio of these pe fo ces , ere Ann nam w a a e a Put , t elve ye rs of g , d ughter of

m r r . m a na Se gt Tho s Put ; Me cy Lewis , seven f m in am n ar o a e a . tee ye s g , id the f ily of Sergt am a a n n ar Putn ; Eliz beth Hubb rd , seve tee ye s of

a e a n w Dr . V a g , iece of the ife of Griggs, the ill ge an an d a an in am and physici , serv t the f ily ; a a ar a an S ar h Churchill , ged twenty ye s , serv t A 47 THE OUTBREAK IN S ALEM VILL GE . 48 W TC C A T SA M V A I H R F IN LE ILL GE .

a r a Se n . r in the f mily of Geo ge J cobs , Me cy

ad r am Lewis h p eviously lived in the f ily of Rev .

r r n w n r George Bu roughs . Du i g the i te these girls held occasional meetings in the neighbor ’ a at m n r u a hood , usu lly the i iste s ho se . C lef s ays they began to act after a strange and unu a m ann n n and n su l er, by getti g i to holes creepi g

n a r and an d un r Odd u der ch i s stools , to use s d y ‘ r and an utt e rin f do lish postu es tic gestures , g , r S n t m idiculous peeches , which either they he f l selves no r any othe rs could m ake sense o . This stat e of affai rs continuing from l ate i n De c e mbe r un n e r ar 1692 til i to F b u y, , the elder peo ple learned something of wh at w as tran spiring

in r m r a w as n e na n . thei idst . G e t their co st r tio m m h a Dr . r w as a but as G iggs c lled , so eti es p n n in t a e r a arn n pe s , eve his g of g e t le i g, the doctor did no t know what ailed the young “ r a w as o ne n n n people . Thei dise se u k ow m n n n to edical scie ce . Evide tly feeli g obliged n n r to give some expl a at io of the disorde , the doctor de cl ared th at the girls were possessed of n in r r . r the devil , othe wo ds, bewitched The eupo the curiosity of t h e whole com munity w as awak

n am r f ar and n a n e ed . People c e f om e r to wit ess r n the strange antics of these child e . Their

m . arr credulity w as taxed to its ut ost . Mr P is ,

w as n ra w as no t n an n st as atu l , o ly i tere ed spec

h e ar s n . tator , but took ch ge of the whole bu i ess

’ ’ l M r n rs e r s 224 . 1 Ca e f s o e Wo de , Fowl ed 49 THE OUTBREAK IN SALEM VILLAGE .

He c alled a meetin g of the mi nisters of the

n ar r n a neighbori g p ishes to obse ve , to i vestig te,

ra a saw co n to p y . They c me ; they ; they were

“

e i e d na m a t . qu . They u ni ously greed wi h Dr

r all Griggs that the gi ls were bewitched . The

m r a t n w as a a i po t n questio , Who or wh t c used them to act as they did IVh o bewitched the m 7 Whose Spi rit did the devil t ake to afﬂict them

ar and m n and r m Mr . P ris some of the i isters p o inc ut people of the Vill age undertook to solve t h e m a a a r ystery . Sever l priv te f sts we e held ’ at n and ra the mi ister s house, seve l were held

l r n at r pub icly . The child e ﬁ st refused to tell

n n m r a a ythi g about the yste ious aff ir . Tituba

r n and p ofessed to k ow how to discover witches ,

r n in V t ied som e expe rim e nts wit h that e d iew .

W a an h e r an n In ith the ssist ce of husb d, Joh

an m m m a r n di , she ixed so e e l with u i e of the fﬂ and a a n a a a . icted m de c ke The childre , he r ing that Tituba w as attem pting to discover the “ w are a a a a n itches , s id to h ve cried out g i st

a n h and t o r her . They s id she pi c ed, pricked m e nte d m and n ao the , they fell i to ﬁts . She knowledged that she h ad learned how to ﬁ nd a n e a w as o ne out witch , but de i d th t she her

a w as a an n an w as self . Titub c lled I di , but she no t a r m r an n an and No th A e ic I di . She her

u an r m In h sb d , John , were brought f o the West a n m h dies by Mr . P rris whe he ca e to Massac u T C A T SA M V A 50 WI C H R F IN LE ILL GE .

B a h d a setts y . They a been his sl ves there . Both spoke E nglish but imperfectly and under n ar a In a n a stood it o ly p ti lly . dditio to Titub , t h e child re n nam ed S arah Good and S arah Os

n m n r a bur as their tor e to s . Most of the e rly r n w as m in m ad w rite s, thi k there ethod their as a an ness . They describe Good mel choly ” “ a and rn as a - distr cted person, Osbu bed ridden ” m an 2 NO o ne r m n old wo . of the th ee wo e , they a n w as in an n a re so , likely to be believed y de i l Of the statem ents of these girls connected with m r m n n and r a fa ilies of p o i e ce espect bility .

in r a h as m n This , b ief , is the story th t co e dow to us from all the e arly and most of the l ater

r r am no t n rr w ite s . I disposed to de y its co ect ness but two or three suggestions occur in this

n n r m n n co nectio , which seem wo thy of e tio . Is

a a r n m a ar it prob ble th t these gi ls , livi g iles p t, in ’ som e i nstances ﬁve miles from the m inis ter s

in a rn a m r rr a house, wilde ess l ost , whe e ca i ges n n n and r a n an were u k ow b idle p ths ofte d gerous ,

ra n in ad n would t vel by ight , the de of wi ter, to ’ Parris s house and home again Is it p robable that their parents or m istresses would allow them out and away from home in this m anner a a m n as Is it prob ble th t such eeti gs, circles ’ a m at m n some c ll the , could be held the i ister s

’ M 2 n n . . IL 9 . Hutchi so s Hist ass , , 2

52 TC C A T SA M V LA WI H R F IN LE IL GE . e nough at l e ast t o enable the m to m ake a pre

n e n r no t te se of b i g bewitched . The gi ls could f o r a m ome nt realize the te rrible consequences

r w a n a n which we e to follo . H vi g t ke the ﬁrst

e r in n all a step , they w e the positio of who t ke a

r e in al o r an r r n n ﬁ st st p f sehood y othe w o g doi g, an e r am n e ar and e n an oth step bec e ec ss y , th oth e r n t e w r r a m m an . The h y e e p ob bly co ded by th e i r elde rs to te ll who c aus e d th e m to do these

ran h n o r as m r r st ge t i gs , ost w ite s put it, who ” afﬂ e m a r a a icted th . As l e dy st ted , they m n d n I n a a a . S ed Titub , Good Osbur it possible th at we h ave m isund e rstood the ﬁrst statements of these childre n Is it possible they did no t ’ s ay Tituba s app a ritio n ca us e d them to dd certain

ran h n t a a s h e tau ht st ge t i gs , but h t they s id g m IS a a i a an the it possible th t P rr s, to s ve sc d al in o w n m m a a his i edi te household , m de Titub a de clare that she h ad bewitched the girls? I do no t me an to assert th at this is the correct version Of the outbre ak of witchcraft in S alem

a n e r a m a Vill ge . I o ly d si e to suggest wh t y a n m e n r r a a h ve bee ; so thi g which offe s , pe h ps , r ation al expl anation of the beginni ng of this

r n h r a n h a r as ho r id ig tm are . Ce t i ly suc cou se is a as e a na and h as as m a pl usible , r so ble , uch b sis of fact as any of the th e o ri e s heretofore ad v n n n n a u n a ce d . We k ow othi g bo t these thi gs as m atter of absolute knowledge ; all is co nje c ture . A M A 53 THE OUTBREAK IN S LE VILL GE .

” n e n nam r At all eve ts, the childr ed the th ee

n as rm n r e n wome their to e to s . Jos ph Hutchi so n a na m a na and , Edw rd Put m , Tho s Put m Thom as Preston lodged compl ai nt against Titu ba and n nd 29 nat a a . , Good Osbur on Feb , Jo h n

SA VI AG H H 1692 . LEM LL E C URC , ,

and a r a m Corwin John H tho ne , the S lem agis

a a an a r r tr tes , issued w rr ts for their r est , the ﬁ st a a a in 16 2 w rr nts issued for witchcr ft 9 . The ex am inatio ns o n a ar 1 were begun Tuesd y, M ch ,

16 92 r . They we e to h ave been held in the

an n r house of Lieut . Nath iel I ge soll in S alem

a a Vill ge , the tavern of the pl ce ; but the num TC C A T SA M V A 54 WI H R F IN LE ILL GE . be rs who came to witness the Opening scene in this gre at dram a of the ne w world could no t be a m m da in r m and cco o ted its oo s , the court there

r a rn m n fo e djou ed to the eeti g house . As Sarah Good w as the ﬁrst person examined

a h r a r ara I will de l with e c se ﬁ st . S h Good was “ ” am a r a wife of Willi Good, l bo er . She is s id n a n r a to h ave bee bout seve ty yea s of age . C lef

% - s ays she h ad long bee n counted a mel ancholy or 5 distracte d woman ; and Upham s ays Sh e was b roken down by w re tchednes s of condition and Ill repute He r answers to the questions pro

n e h e r as pou d d to , the reader will see, give no “ evide nce of com i ng from a perso n broken ” “ ” n o r r rn . a ar a dow , fo lo She ppe s to h ve

n re a r r r n a swe d with a f i deg ee of Spi it . Duri g m r in ar o n a ost of the ﬁ st week M ch, while tri l

r a m a a ara w as befo e the loc l gistr tes, S h Good take n to Ipswich j ail every night and returned in th e m rn n a an a t e n o i g, dist ce of bout miles

w r m m n e ach ay . F o the testi o y of her keepers and the ofﬁcers who escorted her to and from a ar a Sh e n a j il , we le n th t exhibited co sider ble

an ma n . a o ff i tio She le ped her horse three times , ra at ra and nd a r iled the magist tes , e e vo ed to kill 6 r nam a r no a he self . Put s ys the e is evidence th t S arah Good ever h ad trouble with any of her n r a t a an h ad eighbo s or ccusers, or h t y of them

’ 4 r Ed . 226 . 5 Sa m ra IL 13 Fowle s , le Witchc ft, , . ’ 6 P nam ra a n 334 . ut s Witchc ft Expl i ed , EA IN SA M V A 55 THE OUTBR K LE ILL GE .

hostile feelings toward her . Evidently he had never seen the testim ony of the Abbeys and the

a -ﬁ ve l Gadges . Samuel Abbey , ged thirty , to d the magistrates that three years previous to the a a a n hearing Willi m and S r h Good , bei g destitute h of a house, came to dwell in t eir house out of charity that they let them live there unt il n S Sarah Good was of so turbule t a pirit , spite

AD H D . G G E OUSE, ANVERS

” ful and so maliciously bent that they could not n suffer her to live in their house . Ever si ce that tim e S arah Good hath c arried it v ery ” S n pitefully a d m alitio usly towards them . After sh e had gone from them they began to lose cat and an n m tle, lost several in u usual anner, in ’ n . a droopin g conditio , and yet they would eat 56 WITCHCRAFT IN SALEM VILLAGE .

n n in Altogether they lost seve tee two years , besides sheep and hogs and both doe believ e ” r they dyed o f witchcraft . They furthe testi ﬁ e d that William Good told them he went hom e o ne day and told his wife the Abbeys h ad lost two cows and she s aid Sh e did no t care if the h ad all n Abbeys lost their cows . They co cluded their testimony with this rem arkable statement : “ Just that very d ay th at the s aid S ar ah Good was taken up we the de ponents h ad a cow t hat

no t a n n r n a could ris e lo e , but si ce p ese tly fter

w as a n a co w w as and she t ke up, the s id well h n could rise so well as if she ad ailed nothi g . Sarah Gadge deposed that S arah Good c am e to h e r house about two and a h alf years p reviously and wanted to come in ; Gadge told h e r she no t Sh e w as a ra sh e h ad n could , for f id bee with

m a h ad h ad m a h r n the th t s ll pox , w e eupo m e n n n Good fell to utt ring a d scoldi g . The ext ’ rn n a d in a n mo i g G dge s cows ied , sudde , terri and an n a ann a m ble , str ge u usu l m er soe th t so e Of the neighbors s aid and deponent did thi nk it ” n m n to be do e by witchcraft . The testi o y of ’ these witnesses shows that some of Good s ac cuse rs h ad h ad na n n r perso l e cou te s with her ,

m a n n - n which y have e ge dered ill feeli g . We come now to the ex amination of S arah

r as n o n Good he self . It is given here fou d the

in m arran court ﬁles S ale . The w t issued by Hathorne and Corwin charged her with sus icio n n a p of witchcraft do e to Eliz beth Parris , A 5 THE OUTBREAK IN SALEM VILL GE . 7

m Ann m and a Abigail Willia s, Putna Eliz beth

ar n r m w Hubb d , at su d y ti es ithin this two ” n a w as n mo ths . This w rrant retur ed with the

r certific ate of Geo ge Locker , constable , that he h ad brought the person of the within named ” He r m n w as w S arah Good . testi o y written do n an n by Ezekiel Cheever, d is give below . The n exam ination w as o n the first a d fifth . It is quite evident that o nly po rtion s Of the testi m n r a n and r o y we e t ke , that is inte spersed with And comments by the reporter . here a word of m a caution y as well be uttered , which will apply not m ore to the case of Sarah Good th an to n in others . All the testimo y these trials , or ex am inatio ns m a a , before the local gistr tes was taken by pe rsons inten sely prejudiced tow ard n a n the prosecutio . In re di g it this should n in m n w as al ways be bor e i d . Much of it a m Kn n n t ken by Parris hi self . owi g his feeli gs , and th at he w as the leading prosecutor very O a ften , we feel th t he would be pretty sure to devote more attentio n t o testim ony against t h e n in In a a a a . accused th to th t their f vor f ct , this is evide nced throughout the records which

a n r h ve bee p eserved .

Th e e x a m ina tio n of Sa ra h Go o d bef o re the

Wo rs hi ul E s rs o hn H o rne a nd Jo na th a n pf g . J a th Co rw in .

Sara a r a am ar i h Good , wh t evil spi it h ve you f ili ity w th — No ne . W TC C A T SA M V A 58 I H R F IN LE ILL GE .

— Have you m ade no contracts with the devil No . — Why do y o u hurt these children I do no t hurt them .

I scorn it . — Who do you em ploy then to do it I em ploy n obody . — What creature do you em ploy then No creature : but I am falsely a ccused . ’ Mr P rr Why did you go away m uttering from . a is s house —I did n o t m r i f r a m utte , but thanked h m o wh at he g ve y child . r Have you no cont act with the devil No . H athorne desired the children all of them to look upon

r an d r r m an d h e see if this we e the pe son that hu rt the , so they all did look upon h e r and said th at this w as o ne of th e r n r r n r al l pe so s that did to m ent them . P ese tly they we e rm to ented . S ara n o t no w a a n ? h Good , do you see wh t you h ve do e Why do you no t tell us the truth Why do you thus t o r — m en t these poor children I do no t torm en t them . — rn Who do you em ploy then I em ploy n obody . I sco

— Ho w cam e they thus torm ented What do I kn ow

You bring others here and no w you charge m e with it . — Why who w as it I do no t know but it w as som e y o u r n b ought i to the m eeting house with y o u .

r - — We b ought you into the m eeting house . But you r in m r b ought two o e . Who is it then tha t torm ented the children It w as Os r bu n . What is it you s ay when you go m uttering away from ’ r n s — Ii pe so s hou es I m ust tell I will tell . — n Ii m u . Do tell us , the I st tell , I will tell It is the

m m an m n : m a sa m m m an m n . co d e ts I y y y co d e ts , I hope a m m an m n -If m i Wh t co d e t is it I ust tell you , I w ll a a m tell it is ps l . What psalm (After a long tim e Sh e m uttered over som e p art of a a m ps l . )

r — r Who do you se ve I se ve God . Wh at Go d do you serve - Th e God that m ade heaven

60 T A T A M A WI CHCR F IN S LE VILL GE . t n r and rm n o r afﬂ i m he did hu t to e t ct the , although both of them at the sam e tim e at a distance o r rem ote from them r T r r a n r r n pe sonally . he e we e lso su d y othe questio s put to h e r and an r r n h r r n as a , swe s given the eu to by e acco di g is lso i given n .

7 rn and a On March , Good , with Osbu Titub , w as n a in n r Sh e re se t to the j il Bosto . The e m ained until June 28 when t he gran d jury pre sented an i ndictm e nt against h e r a s follows

Th e r r f o r o ur ri n Lo r an d a n ju o s so ve g d L dy , the Ki g and n r n a Sara am Q uee , p ese t th t h Good , wife of Willi Good Sa m V a an m an n d a Ma in of le ill ge , husb d , the seco d y of y the fourth y e ar of the re igne of o ur so ve re in Lord and L a am an d ar ra En an dy , Willi M y, by the g ce of God , of gl d , S an ran an d r an n and n n r cotl d , F ce I el d , Ki g Q uee , defe de s m a a & c . and r r a and s of the f ith , dive s othe d ys ti es , well r as a r r a n a ar a ra and befo e fte , ce t i detest ble ts c lled witchc ft r r n n a ra so ce ies , wickedly a d felo iously h th used , p cticed an d r at an d n wn al m n exe cised , withi the to ship of S e withi n E a r a in n and a a n o ne the cou ty of ssex fo es id , upo g i st Sara Vibbe r n Vibbe r Sa m a r sa h , wife of Joh , of le fo e id , an m an ar a S ara husb d , by which said wicked ts she , s id h Vibbe r t h e a n a a in r ar , s id seco d d y of M y the fou th y e abovesaid and divers other d ays an d tim es as well before as a r w as an d aﬁli t e d n n m a and fte , is c , pi ed , co su ed , w sted rm n and a f o r n r r a ra to e ted , lso su d y othe cts of witchc ft by a ara m m nd n r and n a s id S h Good co itted a do e , befo e si ce th t m a a n ur r n L r an d La ti e , g i s t the peace of o sove eig o d dy , n and n h r r n an d n an d a a n the Ki g Q uee , t ei c ow dig ity g i st r i r the fo m e of the s t atute n that case m ade and p ovided .

A secon d indictment ch arged her with prac n am a a ar a tici g the s e rts on Eliz beth Hubb d, third charged a Si milar offence committed o n nn n m m a in a A Put a . The ti e lleged the l st two n m n a 1 re i dict e ts was M rch , which , it will be

61 THE OUTBREAK IN SALEM VILL AGE .

a a e x membered , was the d te of the prelimin ry n a a e ami nation . Duri g the tri l of these c s s De ” liver ance Hobbs gave a confession as follows

’ arr Being at a m eetin g of the witches in Mr . P is s ﬁeld

rr r a and a m n r a ra when Mr . Bu oughs p e ched d i iste ed the s c n m saw S ara a m n r and m e t to the , h Good o g the est this r ful ly agrees with wh at the afﬂ icted el ate .

Abigail Hobbs testiﬁed th at she w as in co m pany with S arah Good and knows her to be a

and a r ar w as a e n e a and witch , fte w ds t k d f ; M ary Walcott s aw Good and Osburn run their ’ ﬁ ngers into this (deponent s) e ars and a little after she spoke and s aid Good told h e r she ” no t S e a ar ar e n n e should p k . M y W r co f ssed th at “ S arah Good is a Witch an d bro ught h e r t h e n book to Sig .

am a t n am aw and ra Willi B t e , Willi Sh Debo h ’ Sh aw testiﬁe d that S us an Sh e ldo n s h ands were tied in such a m anner th at they were fo rced to

r n n m w as cut the st i g . Sheldo told the it Good Dustin th at tied her h an ds ; that she h ad be e n

m in t w o t w o a thus tied four ti es weeks , the l st ” ra tim e s by S a h Good . They further de cl ared th at wheneve r she touched the string she w as hit ; also t o a broom being carri e d out of the

and n in a r house bei g put t ee . “ Joh anna Chilburn testiﬁed th at the app ari tion of S arah Good and her l ast child app e ared to deponent and told her th at its m other mur dered it th at Good s aid she did it because she T A T A I 62 WI C HCR F IN S LEM V LLAGE . could no t atten d it that the child told its m r Sh e w as a an d ara othe witch , then S h Good did it ” s aid she give to the devil . He nry He rrick test iﬁed th at S arah Good came ’ to his fat her s house and desi red to lodge there ' his f ath e r r a and nt a a rumb fo b de it , she we w y g n n and n in li g . Bei g followed forbidde to sleep arn a w the b , she replied th t it ould cost his

n w na an father o e or t o of his bes t cows . Jo th B atchelder added to this that about a w e e k after ” t wo of his m aster cattle w e re removed and

un r a in a and n yo ge c ttle put their pl ces , si ce then seve ral c attle h ad been let loose in a

ran m an ne st ge r .

a e ard o ne afﬂ d saw Eliz b th Hubb , of the icte ,

a ar n a a m the pp itio of S r h Good, who did ost grie vio usly afflict h e r by pinchi ng and p rick ” in and n n r n n r g, so co ti ued hu ti g her u til the fi st da ar and n r r o n a y of M ch , the to tu ed her th t da d a am na n h ad a y, the y of her ex i tio . She lso seen the app aritio n of Sarah Good afflict Eliza

arr a W am Ann nam and beth P is , Abig il illi s , Put “ ” ara Vibbe r . One n n d S h ight, she co tinue ,

am a w as a n m e r S uel Sibley , th t ttendi g , st uck n arm anna l S arah Good o the . Sus h She don s aid she h ad been most grievously tortu red by “ a a n ara n n the pp ritio of S h Good biti g, pricki g, ” n n and a m n m e a On pi chi g l ost choki g to de th . n 26 1692 m V n d h e r Ju e , , Good ost iole tly pulle down behi nd a chest and tied her hands t o ge th THE O UTB REAK IN SALEM VILLAG E. 63 e r i a e an and and w th wh el b d choked her, Wil liam B attis and Thom as Bufﬁ nto n were forced

. an r m h e r a l to cut the b d f o h nds , for they cou d

n ur n t he a na not u tie it . D i g ex mi tion of Good

r r n be a ﬂ and this gi l p ete ded to f icted, said

a a nv b an S r h Good , by i isi le h ds , took a censer

and a r it o ut d off the table c r ied oors . Here is the deposition of An n Put nam

n r ifi n h n A n n am . T e depositio of Put , J , who t e st e th a d sa a o n 25th r ar 1691-92 s aw a a ith th t the of Feb u y , , I the pp ritio n Sara r r m e m re vio us l of h Good which did to tu e ost g y , n o t n h e r n am n 27th r ar but I did k ow e u til the of Feb u y , An an d then she told m e h e r n am e w as S arah Good . d n n m m re v io l and a n the she did pi ch e ost g us y , lso si ce , sev r m r r in h And e al ti es u ging m e vehem ently to w ite e r book . a o n r r n d e r m n lso the fi st of Ma ch , bei g the ay of h ex a i a n Sara m re vio usl r r m e and a tio , h Good did ost g y to tu e , lso r m n r seve al ti es Si ce . And also o n the fi rst d ay of Ma ch , 1692 saw a ar n Sara G and a fl , I the pp itio of h ood go f ict the i E a arr A a am and E a bod es of liz beth P is , big il Willi s liz beth r A h r Hubba d . lso I h ave seen t e app a ition of Sarah Good fiiic tin r i r r a g the body of S a ah V bbe . m a k

Ann x Putnam .

a a Vibbe r a m an 36 a a e S r h , wo ye rs of g , testi

ﬁ e d at r w o n 11 th Good to tured Mercy Le is April , and r o n Ma 2 n a h he self y , by pressi g her bre t

m o ut and a afﬂ t n an a al ost , lso ic ed her I f t so th t and Vibbe r no t n n she could hold it . Si ce the

a ar n ara h ad n a the pp itio of S h Good pi ched , be t and and r h e r n choked her , p icked with pi s . ’ n o ne n G a n m Subseque tly , ight , ood s pparitio ca e n m n and i to her roo , pulled dow the clothes

at a h ad looked her four ye rs old child, and it a a gre t ﬁt . 64 W TC C A T SA M V A I H R F IN LE ILL GE .

During this tri al o ne of the witnesses who sat in the room c ried out that Good h ad stabbed

nd h ad r e n th e n - a in n a . her , b ok k ife bl de so doi g The poin t of t h e bl ade w as take n from her

e re a sh e w as a r clo thes wh she s id st bbed . The e upon a y oun g m an arose in t h e cou rt and stated th at h e broke th at very k nife the previous d ay n and th re w aw ay the poi t . He produced the n n ar th e n w as rem ai i g p t of k ife . It then ap pare nt that the gi rl h ad picked up the poin t which he threw away an d put it in the bosom of

r r n r rr o a he d ess , whe ce she d ew it to co ob r te her

m n a m o ne h ad a h e r state e t th t so e st bbed . She b a al and u h ad deli er tely f siﬁed , sed the knife

r n r a w a point to ei fo ce the f lsehood . If she s in a m n Wh no t all n false this st te e t, y in If o e a m be girl f lsiﬁed , how do we know who to lieve ? m r ma a n in a an The ost e rk ble wit ess this c se, d a e m m ar a in respect to g , the ost re k ble in this

r w as a a whole histo y , Dorc s Good Dorc s w as au r a ara and d ghte of the ccused S h Good , r w a only ﬁve yea s of age . She s called to testi

a a n h e r o w n m e n w as f y g i st oth r . Her evide ce “ r a h e r m t h ad e r o ne me ely th t o her thre bi ds ,

a o ne w and r ur bl ck, yello , these bi ds h t the ” n fﬂ n m child ren a d a icted perso s . It ay be as well to dispose of little Dorcas and her p art in ra ra at n as a the witchc ft t gedy this poi t l ter . w as r a n and She he self ccused of bei g a witch , t n a a ns are hree depositio s g i t her on the ﬁles .

6 6 T A A M A WI CHCR F T IN S LE VILL GE .

r an a ar 1692 from I el d few ye s previous to , bound to service f o r a term of ye ars to o ne of e r in a in n ra n a the s ttle s the Vill ge, co side tio of sum of money advanced to pay his expenses to

n r r n n n m this cou t y . The widow P i ce, eedi g so e o ne m ana h e r arm une x to ge f , bought out his ire d m n n a o n p ti e for ﬁftee pou ds . He c rried the farm f o r a short tim e and then m arried the

w 8 r ar r t r an d subs e wido . Thei e lie life toge he quent m arriage naturally gave rise to som e gos

an n m m e n ar na r sip of u co pli t y tu e . This , n w as o ne n m n u doubtedly, of the i duce e ts for the “ ” accusin g girls to cry out against her among

rn a ar a n in the ﬁrst . The Osbu s ppe to h ve bee

m r a r m an a r co fo t ble ci cu st ces . Their gre test c oss w as the illness which conﬁned the wife to h e r

m m r m m r bed uch of the ti e . Both we e e be s of

r and f ar as n w r the chu ch , so we k o , they we e

r an and n devout Ch isti s , sober i dustrious citi n ze s . S arah Osburn w as examined before the local m a a o n r n and gistr tes the ﬁ st , seco d third of a a a n e w n n a M rch . No p rticul rly or i teresti g f cts He r am na n were developed . ex i tio was very nearly a repetition of the p roceedings in the

r n n case of S a ah Good . She de ied havi g famil iarit an S r a n a an y with y evil pi it , or h vi g m de y

n a and a no co tr ct with the devil, s id she did t hurt the children or employ any o ne to hurt

8 Sa m ra IL 17. le Witchc ft , , A 67 THE OUTBREAK IN S ALEM VILL GE .

’ a n a r them . Mr . H thor e , s ys Cheeve s report, desi red all the children to stan d up and look

n h e r and n o t n o upo , see if they did k w her,

And r o ne which they all did . eve y of them s aid th at this was o ne of the wo me n th at did

ﬂ and a h ad ns an af ict them , th t they co t tly seen n her in the very habit she was now i . Three evidences decl ared th at she s aid this morni ng that she w as more like to be

a a w as a w . bewitched th n th t she itch . Mr

Hathorne a sked what m ade her say so . She answered th at she w as frightened o ne tim e in and saw am saw her sleep, either or dre ed she a

n an n an all a n thi g like I di , bl ck , which did pi ch and a her in the neck , pulled her by the b ck part ” Th of her he ad to the door of the house . e

m n w as n a n wo a se t to j il in Bosto . There she nd n a n died . The excitement a me tal str i of the

and am n n r in arrest ex i atio , the exposu e going to m a and a and fro Ipswich j il , the h rdships of j ail

n - m life in Bosto , together with the ill treat ent and brutality to which all the accused were sub e cte d j , proved fatal to this feeble old woman . The last record in her case is this bill of the Boston j ailer : To chains for S arah Good and

a a 14 n . S r h Osburn , shilli gs To the keeping of a a th e 7th a 10 Ma S r h Osburn from M rch to y, and when she died, being nine weeks two days, ”9 1 58 3s 5d n . . . In the fullest se se of the word,

9 Essex Court Records . 68 W TC C A T SA M V A I H R F IN LE ILL GE .

S arah Osburn w as o ne of the Victim s of the a n 1692 witchcr ft delusio of . u a in r am na n l Tit b , the cou se of her ex i tio , to d a n and m a n a r mbli g so ewh t disjoi ted story, evi de ntly due p artly to h e r want of comprehe nsion n an a and r n n of the E glish l gu ge, the b oke E glish

h w a r in which S e s obliged to eply . Asked if she ever went on a witch expedition with Good and

rn are r n an d Osbu , she replied ; They ve y stro g “ m e and m a m e m pull , ke go with the . Where ” a m a a did you go , sked the gistr te . Up to ’ ” na and m a m e rt Mr . Put m s ke hu the child . “ Who did m ake you go A m an th at is very

r n and m n and rn st o g, these two wo e , Good Osbu , ” m r a but I a so ry . How did you go Wh t ” “ do you ride upon? I ride upon a stick or and and n n m e pole , Good Osbur behi d we ride ’ taking hold of o ne another ; I don t know how

s aw no r o r a we go, for I t ees p th, but was pres ” n a ently there whe we were up . She decl red that she never practiced witchcraft in h e r own n a saw n cou try . Asked wh t sights she whe she

° “ a m an a went abro d , she replied I see a , dog, and a a a and and a hog, two c ts, bl ck red, the ’ strange monster was Osburn s that I m entioned m an before, this was the hairy imp . The would ” n give it to me but I would o t have it . To the n a a a jail in Bosto went Titub also . C lef s ys she “ w as afterwards com mitted to prison and lay ” n there u til sold for her fees . She declared THE O T A SA M V A 6 9 U BRE K IN LE ILL GE . th at her m aster bea t h e r and other wise abused her to make her confess and accuse others of w itchcraft th at whatever she s aid by w ay of

n r w as a a accusi g othe s bec use of such tre tment, and that her m aster refused to pay h e r fees un 10 an less she would st d to her confession . Drake says Tituba w as sold to pay her priso n fees after n 11 w as n lyi g there thirteen months . She ever an tried before y court .

’ 0 r Ed 22 . 11 Ann 1 7 a . E . 190. Fowle s ls of N ,

CORN R OF D G E OR N E E JU C WI HOUS . A CH PTER IV.

THE C O UR T AND P LAC E S OF TR I AL .

V a rr ve in n o n HEN GO . Phi ps i d Bosto Ma 14 1692 n a y , , he fou d the j ils ﬁlled with persons accused of witch

a r h ad a n cr ft . No cou ts existed ; they f lle with the ” provisio nal government which succeeded the

m n r n ar Andros ad i ist atio . The ch ter that Phips brought ove r em powered the Gene ral Court to erect and co nstitute judicatories and courts of

r r r reco d or other cou ts , of which the Gove nor a n 1 m n w as to ppoi t the judges . No eeti g of the Ge neral Court could be held until after an elec n m e m r m o r tio of be s , which ust be two three a r m m d a r a t h e a weeks l te . I e i te t i l of ccused w as m an as r r and a de ded thei ight, lso to relieve

r r d n n h ad the ove c ow ed co ditio of the j ails . It n n u m in n and in a lo g bee the c sto E gl , c ses of

m r n f o r n a n m n e e ge cy , the ki g to ppoi t Com issio ers of Oy e r and Term ine r to hear and decide ’ a In a n ur and as the c uses . the bse ce of co ts the

1 P r n ar r 1692 . Pr n a I . 1 . ovi ce ch te , ovi ce L ws , , ’ 2 C a n IV. 221. hitty s Bl cksto e, Book , A THE COURT AND PLACES OF TRI L . 71

n a K n o perso al represent tive of the ing , doubt, a m Gov . Phips issued com ission for a court of 3 and n a n Oy er Termi er . He ppoi ted the com 2 a t Ma 7 . missioners on y Willi m S oughton, the

rn w as am ﬁ and a deputy gove or, n ed rst lways

as i presided chief just ce . His previous political

CHI EF JUSTI CE ST OUGHTON . afﬁliation s h ad m ade him som ewh at unpopular

a a a f o r a with the people . As c ndid te judicial

n n r n a n a positio u de the precedi g dmi istr tion , he

“ Ma 2 1692 n n i r n r 3 7 . a a r a e m an y , Upo co s de tio th t the e y crim inal off enders no w in custo dy som e w hereof have lyen long and m any inconveniences attending t h e thronging of t h e goals at h o t as n t h e a r r n no ud ac at o ri this se o of ye , the e bei g j e s o r ” r r m cou ts of justices yet established . P ea ble to orde r of

C n l t a n t h e ur . Ex . . IL 176 . ou ci es blishi g co t Recd , , 72 TC C A T SA M V A WI H R F IN LE ILL GE .

4 no t n w as received a single vote . Stoughto edu cat e d f o r n and no t l aw all the mi istry the , but a n a w as a m an ccou ts gree that he a very ble . He a was not without judici l experience, for he sat with Dudley and others at the tri al of Mary in 1688 n w as a Glover . Stoughto a gre t friend a r n and of the M thers . To this f ie dship to his acknowledged ability he undoubtedly owed h is in 1 2 a a o n appointment 69 . His ssoci tes the comm issio n were Nathaniel S alton stall o f Haver a ar m n n a hill, M jor B tholo ew Ged ey, Joh H th

and na an r n a m a orne Jo th Co wi of S le , M jor

n ar a n r ar n Joh Rich ds, W it Wi throp, Pete S ge t am u a n a n a . . and C pt S el Sew ll , of Bosto S lto w w n a r a n m n stall ithdre soo fte his ppoi t e t, probably im mediately after the first sitting of ‘ r at r w as r the cou t, which B idget Bishop t ied , because he w as ve ry m uch diss atisfied with the ” n it 5 p rocee di gs of . m e n n e mm n The who co stitut d this co issio , or m n a in ur r a n . co t, we e o g the blest the colo y None stood higher in the social scale ; none in the colony we re bette r qualifie d f o r the work of

n . On r a n the be ch the g e t questio of the hour , they entertained substanti ally the sam e views as n an and in r e n the j urists of E gl d , thei subs que t acts w ere governed by the rules l aid down by ur in n m a a the E nglish co ts u erous c ses, lthough

’ . U . S . II 258 . 4 Ban croft s Hist , - ra Ma . . CO L I V. 75 . 5 B ttle , ss Hist I , ,

r T A THE COURT AND PLACES o RI L . 73 possibly they did not al w ays protect the rights of accused persons as c arefully as the E nglish m a n a u . j dges did Tho as Newton , a tr i ed l wyer, ’ w as appointed special king s attorney for the

a r a and a tri l of the witchc aft c ses , prep red the n re earlier o es for the court, after which he and n n a n n signed the attor ey ge er l , A tho y

a n . Checkley, took ch rge of the prosecutio a n n a n 1689 Checkley had been ttor ey ge er l si ce , n n r havi g been first chosen by the gover o , ” n a a and re c o m cou cil and ssembly , in that ye r m i ssmne d 27 1692 by Phips on July . The fact that none of these j udges were educated for the bar h as bee n e m ph asized by som e w riters on 2 a t 169 . a the witchcr f troubles of Th t is true, but these m e n probably knew as much about the law of witchcraft as any l aw yers in Ame rica at a m a an m t m th t ti e ; perh ps more th ost of he . The c as es were t ried in accordance with disti n uish e d n l n and m g E g ish precede ts , it is very uch to be doubted whether the result would h ave been an difi e re nt h ad n y lawyers occupied the be ch . The office of sheriff w as substituted for th at of a a and n a a o na m rsh l , George Corwi , rel tive of J

a n a ﬁ Mar th n Corwi , ppointed to the new of ce . a w a n sh l Herrick as ppoi ted a deputy sheriff. Per son s accused o f witchcraft were com mitted to the a a m and a j ils in S le , Boston , Ipswich C mbridge . Most of those ﬁrst committed by the m agis trate s to await the action of the higher court 74 C C A T A WIT H R F IN S LEM VILLAGE . w r e n o n as m all a e e s t to B sto , up to this ti e c pi t al r a s h ad a n a e r r r a t i l t ke pl ce th e . Afte the t i ls

r e un in a m r n r mm we e b g S le , p iso e s were co itted a in a n 6 to the j il th t tow . The p reliminary trials o r e xaminatio ns of the ’ accus e d w e re held in Nathaniel l ngersoll s tav

rn and in m e n in a a e the e ti g house S lem Vill ge , no w Danvers in the me e ting- house in the town

a m o n t h e t r nt r r of S le si e of the p ese Fi st Chu ch, ’ r in m a ad o r a n o n o Tho s Be le s house, t ver ,

r e a all a u e r Essex st e t . Ne rly the cc s d we e ﬁnally tried in t h e court house th at stood in

a w as n n- an no w a n wh t the Tow house l e , W shi g t o n r e a O o e nd o f n st e t , bout pp site the Ly de

r a m m r a r in st eet , S le . So e , pe h ps , we e tried the m m n S ale eeti g house . There is a tradition th at tri alsor examinations of som e kind we re held in the Roge r William s

u o n rn r and r r ho se the co e of Essex No th st eets .

r n r No di ect evide ce of this exists . The cou t of and rm n r n sat r Oyer Te i e ever the e . The house w as at m na an n occupied the ti e by Jo th Corwi , and no doubt complaint s were there m ade to h im a a n e r n and a an g i st suspected p so s , w rr ts for

r r n r de li thei arrest issued . Possibly g a d ju y b e rat io ns were held in the house while trials n in r In all were bei g held the cou t house .

6 Th e Sa m a w as a o n Pr n an no w St . P r le j il loc ted iso L e, ete r o n rn r r s n ra r and m st eet, the co e of the p e e t Fede l st eet , so e of t h e timbers of t h e old buildi ng are contained in the fram e of ’ Mr A . . C . G h n ar rn r o n e e ra r . oodell s ouse e this co e , F d l st eet THE C O T AND P AC S OF T A UR L E RI L . 76 W TC C A T SA M V A I H R F IN LE ILL GE . probability it h ad som e connection with the t ra n a n h as n wi chc ft prosecutio s . The tr ditio bee h anded down w ith too m uch directness to admit o f r se ious doubt . Where w ere the witchcraft victim s h anged

o ne kn w as m a r a r a n No o s tte of bsolute ce t i ty .

a n h as a w a n a a The tr ditio l ys bee th t G llows hill , e n a e m and a d w as n betw e S l Pe bo y, the sce e of

e n 0 t a h as r the xecutio s . N o her pl ce eve been

r rd r w se iously suggested . The reco s do not th o

t ue n rad n light upon his q stio , but the t itio is ar n a n in h dly ope to doubt . The e rliest writi gs which I ﬁ nd m ention of this hill as the pl ace of ex e cution bear d ate about o ne hundred years after the event Two lives might w ell h ave Sp ann ed th at peri od certai nly three did in ih num erable instances ; so th at the story could h ardly have been m is understood or m isstated in

ran m n r r in a those t s issio s . A lette w itten S lem ,

2 Dr n 5 179 1 . Nov . , , by Rev . Holy oke , fur ishes the following in f orm ation In the l ast m onth a m an in n na there died this tow , by the me of

n m n a a n r a a n Joh Sy o ds , ged hu d ed ye rs l cki g a m n ay i n n n in f a bout six o ths, h g bee bor the ’ h as m e a n h ad mous 92. He told th t his urse n h im a w w as a n n ofte told , th t hile she tte di g his m r at m la in him saw othe the ti e she y with , she

r m am n n a e o f o the ch ber wi dows , those u h ppy p

an n o n a ple h gi g G llows hill , who were executed ” f r n o witches by the delusio of the times . A THE C OURT AND P AC S o r T A L E RI L . 7 7

am am n an f ily of the n e of Symo ds lived , m y

a a o o n a m a ye rs g , Bridge street, S le , ne r the n l m bridge le adi g to Bever y . Fro that spot Gal

w as a n V m n am lows hill pl i ly isible . Sy o ds f i a ih a n and lies lso lived North S lem the , the hill

a n m r could be e sily see fro there . A w iter in

a m a 1880 a an the S le Register bout , st ted that elderly citizen h ad told him that he h ad traced a n a the ncie t p th to the summit of the hill . It

a m n r e t as no w did not le d fro Bosto st e , , but from the old p asture e ntrance at the he ad of

r am e n re m Broad st eet . This s e elderly citiz em bered the o ak tree th at stood o n the hill and h ad

n as a al an d n o ut a bee used g lows , poi ted the pl ce % r n a whe e it stood in his you ger d ys . The ne w cou rt of Oyer and Te rmi ne r sat for

m a m n fo r r the ﬁrst ti e in S le in Ju e , the pu pose

r i n e ar n m of t y g Bridget Bishop . Th re e o c o

r r n w n ur ih ple t e ecords of this cou t o ex ta t . O form ation o f its proceedings is obtained m ainly from the loose p apers o n ﬁle in the court house

After long and c areful i nvestigation I am convi nced that the condem ned pers on s we re h anged near the head of what is no w N r o n a t h e - a e r ichols st eet , the hill , little to south e st , p haps ; and the bodies were buried near the he ad of H anson

r . C a ff m at and st eet leb Bu u , who lived the foot of the hill fﬁ n is a b h is n an a in m ade co s , s id y desce d ts to have ssisted _ n n r r r n r co veyi g the bodies to the No th ive , whe ce they we e taken away in boats by rel atives o r friends . There w as a tavern o n the spot no w occupied by the Nichol s ’ at a Pr r r and r o n n h ouse the he d of octo s cou t, the e , executio d a ra n in uff m am a r y , t ditio the B u f ily s ys , the c owd would m m r m n n r r n and a r a d r n . gathe t o d i k ke e y , ygetti g u k 78 A M V A WITCHC RAFT IN S LE ILL GE .

80 TC C A T SA M V A WI H R F IN LE ILL GE . were going to give in th eir depositions they ” f o r a n t ak n would lo g while be e with ﬁts , etc .

m a n a rn n ra r Tho s Newto , the tto ey ge e l , w ote to the clerk : I fear we shall no t this week try all a n f o r a n a we h ve se t , by re so the tri ls will be

and affl r n ann a tedious, the icted pe so s c ot re dily r m n n r dum and give thei testi o y , bei g st uck b ” n a a n a se seless for se so . The prob bility is th at the dates mentioned by Hutchinson and oth e rs as a a r a o n n n d ys of tri l, we e the d ys which se te ce

n n w r w as pro ou ced . August 5 as F iday ; Sep m 9 w as r a and e t r 17 w a te ber F id y, S p embe s

a r na ra n n S aturd y . These would ve y tu lly be se te ce a r a n no t a o n th e d ys , but ce t i ly d ys which court would com e in t o begin the t rial of a half dozen

m r n a rm r a r a . i po t t c ses Furthe o e , the p pe s on a r n n a ﬁle show th t Bu roughs , who , Hutchi so s ys w as o n A 5 w as on r a o n th e 2d tried ugust , t i l n m n 8 r a a w a a d 3rd of that o th . His t i l prob bly s begun o n the 2d and w as ﬁnished o n o r before

5th m n r ran in the . Most testi o y befo e the g d w as n n and at quest writte down whe given , the jury trials read to the court and sworn to by n m m w as a m n the wit ess . So eti es it c lled testi o y at n and others , depositio . The trial of B ridget Bishop w as held the ﬁrst

8 Wh n I a “ r a % I n am na n b e e spe k of t i ls , i clude the ex i tio s r ran ur f o r m t h e m w as in a n fo e the g d j y , ost of ti e occupied t ki g m m n r . f r r r a n n testi o y the e Be o e the ju y of t i ls , whe this testi o y w as r a af ﬂ n r a n n n and e d, the icted ofte c e ted sce es of co fusio ,

n r n . h ad ﬁ t s , a d otherwise interrupted the p oceedi gs T AND P AC F T A 1 THE COUR L ES O RI L . 8 2 TC C A T SA M V A 8 WI H R F IN LE ILL GE .

e in n t n an d we k Ju e . Mos of the depositio s

m n n h r r n testi o y agai st e a e date d Ju e 2 . This w as p robably the date o n w hich th e y we re take n befo re the grand j ury no t that of the d ay

r n r ur r a they we e give befo e the j y of t i ls . She was n e and an e o n n 10 r a co vict d , h g d Ju e , F id y .

r n The cou t the adjourned to the 28th of June . The newly el e cte d Ge ne ral Court conve ne d in n in t h m n m n u e a 8 . e Bosto e ti e , Ju e The j dg s ,

r e m u ne in a r an e befo e th y resu ed b si ss , cco d c

a m - n r u m n e w t with ti e ho o ed c sto , u it d i h the Gove rnor and cou ncil in re que sting the Opi nion of the m inist ers of the churches in and around Boston o n the m omento us que stion then pe n d in n r r r . a w t n n at g The swe , it e by Cotto M he ,

a a m a r r ack no wle d was c l , judicious p pe . Afte g “ ing the success which God h ad gi ven to the sedulous and assiduous endeavor s of the rulers ” a a m na ra to defe t the bo i ble witchc fts , they p rayed th at the discovery of those mysterious and m ischievious wickednesses m ight be p e r ” d n n f e ct e . They co ti ue

a in th e r n an d ll We judge th t , p osecutio of these a such witchcraf ts there is n eed of a very critical an d ex i it e a t i n m r f o r n qu s c u o , lest by too uch c edulity thi gs ’ n n a t r r a r received o ly upo the devil s u ho ity , the e be doo n ra n m ra n n and Opened f o r a lo g t i of ise ble co seque ces , Satan get an advantage over us f o r we Should ; n o t be

ignoran t of his devices . As in com plaints upon witchc raft there m ay be m atters of inquiry which do n o t am ount un to m atters of p re sum p n and r m a m a r r m n tio , the e y be tte s of p esu ptio which yet AND P A S F T A 83 THE C OURT L CE O RI L .

r n i n n ar a all m ay no t be m a tte s of co vict o , so it is ecess y th t p roceedings thereabou t be m anaged with an exceeding t e n r a m a m a n de rn ess towa d those th t y be co pl i ed of , especially if they have been pe rsons form erly of an un blem ished re p

ut at io n . When the ﬁrst in quiry is m ade into the circum stances of un r n Of ra such as m ay lie de the just suspicio witchc fts , w e could wish that there m ay be adm itted as little as possible m an and O nn as m a o f such n oise , co p y pe ess y too h astily are am n and a r m expose them th a t ex i ed , th t the e ay be n a f o r r a h nothi g used as test the t i l of the suspected , t e a ln r m a b l wfu ess whe eof y be doubted y the people of God , but that the direction s given by such judicious writers as

r rn ar m a O r . Pe kins and Ba d , y be bse ved

re um t n r n r n m a m m P s p io s whe eupo pe so s y be co itted , and m r n n r n r n m a m uch o e , co victio s whe eupo pe so s y be c o n n ra r n d e m e d as guilty of witchc fts , ought ce tai ly to be m ore considerable than barely the accused person s being

r n a r n th e afﬂ n m rep ese ted by spect e u to icted , i as uch as it an n and n r in a a m n m is u doubted oto ious th g , th t de o ay by ’ rm n a ar n r in a e God s pe issio ppe , eve to ill pu poses , the sh p nn n e a an d a r u m n of an i oce t , y , vi t ous a . No r c an we e s m a ra n m a in ff r r tee lte tio s de the su e e s , by a look o r touch

” a s an n a e n of the ccu ed , to be i f llibl evide ce of guilt , but ’ r n a a r m a f eque tly li ble to be bused by the devil s lege de in . We know n o t whether som e rem arkable aff ron ts given the o ur n m n devils , by disbelievi g these testi o ies whose whole r and r n r m m a n m fo ce st e gth is f o the lo e , ay no t put a period n r r r a a ami n n u to the p og ess of the d e dful c l ty begu upo us , in a u a n SO m an r n r the cc s tio of y pe so s , whe eof som e , w e are ar f r m r r hope , yet cle o the g eat t ansgression l aid t o r r thei cha ge .

r s ann m r m Neve theles , we c ot but hu bly eco m en d un to rnm n a nd the gove e t , the speedy vigorous prosecution s of as a r n r m O n such h ve e de ed the selves b oxious , a ccording to the di rections given in the l aws of God an d the wholesom e statutes of the English nation f o r the detection of witch ” crafts . n in m Ma y writers, co menting on this letter of 84 W TC C A T IN SA M VI A I H R F LE LL GE .

a a a advice, lay p rticul r stress on the l st clause , n a often ignori g the others . M ny have quoted that alone as indicating the views Of the minis

an n m r ters . Could ythi g be o e unjust The e ra e whole history of the witchcraft , and spec iall a m n in y the p rt the i isters took it, has been w af e d Of t a p by such perversion this let er . Re d w h r no t m a it out p ejudice , is it ore like the ch rge of a judge to a jury than a s avage d em and for d n nn n as an the she di g of i oce t blood , m y histo , rians would have us believe Five of the six paragraphs in th e lett er devoted to advice are nar n o ne at cautio y , while o ly urges th those who a a and m an as un have viol ted the l ws of God , de rsto o d o n e n i r by every the , be v go ously prose o n na uted . U fortu tely, the judges did not heed a n r m n a the c utio s . They we e ore bli ded th n the “ m n ar t n a was an i isters . As B re t We dell s ys , it honest warning of a danger in spite of which the court h ad no moral right to hesitate in the per ’ ’9 f o rm ance Of O a its fﬁci l duty . r r n n a n an The cou t eco ve ed the l st of Ju e, d r a a ara l a h t ied S r h Good , S h Wildes, E iz bet Howe and ann ar n and n a Sus a M ti , ﬁ ished the tri l of a e une 2d and n n Rebecc Nurse , b gun on J co ti ued

3rd and n on the . All were convicted , sente ced an o n a 19 to be h ged Tuesd y , July . The third

n w as a 2 a n . sitti g bout August , Tuesd y , whe Rev n a George Burroughs , Joh Procter, Eliz beth M ” n a r 8 . 9 Cotto the , 10 O ON DI A H C TT T E K.

86 T A T S A M A WI CHCR F IN LE VILL GE .

n n a urn After these co victio s , the court djo ed a a n NOV 2 the witchcr ft tri ls u til . . But it never

a n r r sat ag i to t y witchc aft cases . It did sit in n o n 10 a r n m alatto Bosto Oct . , to trie F e ch for ” 12 n a an n On 28th shooti g de d E glish youth . the of the p receding June the Gene ral Court p assed an act establishing courts of ge ne ral sessions of a o n and a a a in the pe ce fter the l st Tuesd y July , which w as the 26 th ; also establishin g i nfe rior courts of com mon pleas to hold sessions at the s am e time and in pl aces whe re they we re rm r act w as a fo e ly held . This dis llowed by the m e rnm n Au 22 1695 ho gove e t on g . , . These court s w e re established only until othe rs should

r r be p ovided . At the session of the Gene al r in a an n V 25 ac t w as o O . Cou t the f ll passed, N , a n ar am n t m cre ti g v ious courts , o g he courts of quarter sessions and common ple as and a supe n 16th rior court of judicature . O the of De

c e mbe r a u t r act w as a r , f r he p ssed which p ovided “ a n r n m an r n in th t, co side i g the y pe so s Essex

n ar as a a O n and a cou ty ch ged c pit l ffe ders , th t the ” m h ad a f o r S n t he r ti e p ssed the itti g of cou t , a Special court of assize and j ail delive ry w as Or

r in n 18 r m de ed the cou ty . The ﬁ st ter of this in a m in an ar cou rt w as to be held S le J u y . These acts establishi ng regul ar courts certai nly term in

and rm n r ated the special court of Oyer Te i e . T ribunals cre ated in emergencies always ceased

12 S a Pa r I . 366 . 13 Pr v n a I . 100. ew ll pe s , , o i ce L ws , , THE CO T AND P AC S OF T A 87 UR L E RI L .

m n w a 14 to exist when the e erge cy s p assed . It w as no w a a r ar r h ad n p ssed, bec use egul cou ts bee established competent to do the work previously don e by the Comm issio n ers of Oye r and Te r m n r t n w as m a i e . Stough o de chief justice of

ne w r ar in r a the cou t, with Rich ds , W th op , Sew ll nd an a a a . n D forth , ssoci tes At its sessio held in

a m in an a an ur n a S le J u ry , the gr d j y fou d bout

n m n a and n - o ne ﬁfty i dict e ts for witchcr ft , twe ty

n r h r perso s were t ied . T ee of them were con i n n n v ct e d a d an . a se te ced to be h ged, viz , M ry a n n and Post of Rowley, Eliz beth Johnso , ju ior,

a a ar a r S r h W dwell, widow of S muel Wa dwell , n n of A dover . They were ever executed . Four

in ar n o ne n and were tried Ch lestow , in Bosto ,

in in Ma t h e a a n o ﬁve Ipswich y ( l st tri ls) , but m n r na ore convictio s could be secu ed . Fi lly, in

. a r am a n a May , Gov Phips issued p ocl tio rele sing all person s held in custody o n ch arge of witch ” a a u o ne n re and in n m r cr ft bo t hu d d ﬁfty u be . NO other prosecutions for witchcraft were ever m a in n de Essex cou ty . O nly o ne c as e of witchcraft ever after o c

r in in a a . a w as 16 cu red M ss chusetts Th t 93 . ’ Cotton Mather s ays : It w as upon the Lord s d a 10th m r in a 1693 y , the of Septe be , the ye r , a a a a h r v th t M rg ret Rule, fter some ou s of pre ious an in a m n disturb ce the public sse bly , fell i to odd

14 a P . C . IL 4 . H le , , ,

X. P n m n . H . C . I . 2 15 a 81. hips to Notti gh , Essex I st ist oll , pt , 88 TC A T S A M V A WI H CR F IN LE ILL GE .

a h e r r n arr h e r m fits, which c used f ie ds to c y ho e, where h e r fits gre w in a f e w h o urs i nto a figure th at s ati sfied the spect ators of th e i r being pre ” rna ural a r r a un t e t . He s ys fu the th t the yo g

m an w as a a r S e r wo ss ulted by eight c uel p ct es . “ These spectre s brought unto h e r a book and dem anded of h e r that she w ould se t h e r h and to

o r u at a w t h e r h an as a S n it to ch it le st i h d , ig of m n a r an n her beco i g se v t of the devil . Upo her refus al to do wh at they asked t he y did no t re

r ff r t he n t h e r new the p o e s of ‘book u o , but fell to torm enti ng h e r in a m anner too he llish ’ to be sufﬁcie ntly desc ribed The afflictions “ ar ar n n of M g et Rule co ti ued six weeks . At ” “ a sa a r e n as it r r l st, ys M the , b i g we e ti ed with their ineffectual attem pts to m ortify h e r they ’ ’ r u a o u an t be a fu io sly s id, Well , y sh the l st . And a r a a a d and fte p use they dde , Go, the ’ t w e c an d o no m r r devil go wi h you, o e , whe e

n ﬁ e w th e r o m and S h e t rn upo they out of o , , re u in r r m a e na a g pe fectly to he self , ost ff ctio tely g ve thanks to God f o r h e r delive rance C alef s ays ’ that in ans w e r to a question o ne of Margaret s

r n a : no t e at at all f ie ds s id She does . , but “ d r n rum r a h ad a bad i ks . Fowle s ys she ”16 a o f m r m n c se deliriu t e e s . “ ” w in ra e a a al D ight , his T v ls , tells of c se

16 S e e M ather’ s account of th e Suﬁ e rings of Margaret ” ’ Rul e and Cal e f s m m n r in Sal m , co e ts , quoted by Fowle his e W ra 2 - . 5 27 itchc ft , pp .

90 TC C A T SA M V A WI H R F IN LE ILL GE .

a n h ad d bec use they co fessed, those who escape , o r n hail e d n r and bee , or otherwise go e f ee, the total numbe r accused and arrested must have n m r an t wo un and f bee o e th h dred ﬁ ty . What led the Governor to issue this procl ama “ tio n ? What c aused h im to put an e nd to the ” w itchcraft p rosecutions ? It h as bee n Often “ a r in an a Of sse ted subst ce , th t the eyes ” “ ” the Gove rno r and the eyes of the people we re Opened to the e rror of their w ay when

Mrs a Of m n t at . H le , wife the i is er Bever l w as a One w a . s y , ccused writer says this h na r 18 a . w t ﬁ lly b oke the spell . Let us see Mrs . ’ “ a nam w as m n n o r r H le s e e tio ed , whispe ed ” a u in t e r 1692 n a bo t, Oc ob , . Yet whe , few a r rt w as n — weeks l te , the cou reco structed, for

a w as all am n — it w as m th t it ou ted to , co posed

m e n all o ne w m h ad n m m r of , but of ho bee e be s

ur r and rm n a of the co t of Oye Te i er . All s ve Danfo rth were kno wn to be in full symp athy

r r n a r m with witchc aft p osecutio s . Th t the e ight be no question about the right of this tribun al an n a r in to h g witches , the ge er l cou t October , r - na e n a a a a e e ct d the colo i l st tute ag inst witchcr ft, and in December re - enforced it with the Engli sh statute 19 The ne w court resum ed the business in a as a a a m r S lem , lre dy st ted, in the ost vigo ous a ne a no t m n r, with zeal exceeded by the tribu

18 S a m W ra IL 345. le itchc ft, ,

M . M r 9 19 o n . ra in a . Notes Hist Witchc ft ss , oo e , THE CO T AND P AC S OF T A 91 UR L E RI L .

nal which preceded it . Every effort was made by the authorities for three months longer to n n as secure co victio s . Does this look if the spell had been broken in October ? Does this look as if the prosecutions h ad been brought ” a h ad n am to a close because Mrs . H le bee n ed, and other persons of high connection s sus e cte d ? O fi a n p The f ci ls , who would , u der those circumstances , have been the first to abate in z a e fi o rt s n e l , never relaxed their u til the j uries , composed of the common people , had refused a repeatedly to convict . The j uries th t tried the a in 1 Of r n ccused 692 were composed f eeme only , while those of 1693 were chosen from among all th ose i nhabitants who possessed the requisite am ount of property to qualify them as electors

n n e w a 20 r m n s e u der the ch rter . F ee e were u es sarily church members and n o t as likely to act independently as the jurors selected from sub

n i ll : It s t a t a y the whole body of the people . is evident that during the period between Septem 17 Of ber , when the court Oyer and Terminer a O n sat for the l st time, and the pe ing of the session of the Superior Court the following Jan a n a m u ry , the people ge er lly began to e erge from

n n - the lo g ight mare, the panic, into which they h ad an been thrown . The inhabit ts of Andover am n n re were o g the ﬁrst to protest, u iting in a

20 r r n o n . ra l Fu the otes the Hist of Witchc ft , etc . , Goodel ,

A Pr n a . 1884 . 33 i a 33 . , p ; lso , ov ce L ws , ch p 92 A WITCHC RAFT IN SALEM VILL GE . monstrance to the General Court against the

ra r n and r n n witchc ft p oceedi gs , even b i gi g suits a n m ra ag i st so e of their accusers . Spect l evi

n r and na w as n de ce lost its fo ce , ﬁ lly e tirely a n n an a rejected, le vi g nothi g to subst ti te the h r n n h ad n c a ges . All other co victio s bee secured l argely o n this species of eviden ce One thi ng is impressed o n our m in ds as we study the

r a : and a a histo y of these tri ls th t is , th t such proceedings would no t be allowed in any court

n in r d ran n a all in this cou try o u ay . G ti g th t “ ” that is s aid in criticism of the red tape re

uire m e nts Of o ur m n r as q oder cou ts is true, yet ,

H n r n h a : n r o . W . D . No the d as s id u de the rules of l aw as no w fully established no ne of the evidence upon which convictions were found a m a and in would be d itted . Spectr l k dred evi n n o t a and w no t de ce could be llowed, ithout it 21 one of the accused could have bee n co nvicted . n a w as There is evide ce th t Gov . Phips never in full sym pathy with the m odes of procedure in

a n n n arn the witchcr ft prosecutio s . Bei g u le ed law and m a in theology , he see s to h ve followed

it h n d a fi r r r ar W e the chief ju ge g ve the st ju y thei ch ge, he told them that they we re no t to m ind w hether the bodies of the s aid afii ic t e d were really pined and consumed as w as expressed ’ in th e indictm ent ; but whether the said afflicted d id no t suff er from the accused such affl iction as naturally tended to their n n and n m Th e is a in bei g pi ed co su ed , wasted , & c . is , said h , p ” ’ in an d n m n in th e n l aw . r r g co su i g se se of the B attle s Lette ,

Ma . H . C . l st r V 77. ss ist oll se ies ,

x n . H . 21 L sse 270 . I st , ist

94 W TC C A T SA M V A I H R F IN LE ILL GE . b n and a rar m ann r een co stituted , the rbit y e in which it h ad p roc e eded with its w ork 9 This ’ View is strengthened by Phips letter to the m nm n in a th at ' h e n ho e gover e t , which he s ys w he came hom e from the w ar in the e ast he foun d m any persons in a strange ferm ent of dissatis

a n 123 rn r m a f ctio . The Gove o hi self s ys he issued his freedom procl amation because he h ad been ’ inform ed by the King s attorney gene ral that “ som e Of ye cleared and ye con dem ned we re under ye s am e circum stances or that there was ye s am e reason to clear ye three condem ned as ” a r n d m n 24 ye rest cco di g to his ju ge e t . He fur a a n a n ther st tes th t the judges , whe he ppoi ted

m ne w r m the to the cou t , pro ised to proceed an m ant after other ethod , by which he me that convictio ns we re n o t to be secured o n Spectral n 25 n o t at an m evide ce . He does y ti e question the validity of the Commission of Oyer and Ter

n no r r no r a mi er of the Supe ior Court, the re lity m a n are r of witchcraft . All co pl i ts di ected a n m re ce dure a a a ag i st odes of p . Th t the ccus tions m ade agai nst so m any people of high character and i rrep roach able life led to grave doubts whethe r the devil did no t take the shapes n n o r n n of pe rso s without their k owledge co se t ,

aff s can no n . to lict his victim , there be questio But there is no evidence th at at t his time any one doubted that there w as such a thing as

23 1m . 24 P N n am . 21 1693 . 25 Ib d . hips to otti gh , Feb , THE O T AND P AC S o r T A 95 C UR L E RI L .

a a e witchcr ft . Even C lef , the gr at critic of

Mather and the j udges , wrote as late as Novem “ 1693 : a ber, Th t there are witches is not the doubt . The scriptures else were vain which as n m a signs their pu ish ent to be by de th , but what a w this witchcr ft is and herein it d oes consist , ffi ” 26 seems to be the whole di culty . n 11 1 2 n l in O . 69 Se s Oct , , He ry p and Peter Pie t rus n , mi isters of New York, Godfrey Delius, m n Ne w an i ister of the Dutch church at Alb y, arich n a an Rudolph V , mi ister at Fl tbush, swered a n cert i questions propounded to them by Gov . D udley of New York on behalf of the Mass a chuse t ts a uthorities, for guidance in future a a tri ls there . They s id, that there was such a thi ng as witchcraft ; that the formal essence of witchcraft consists in an alliance with the Devil that “ the spectre or apparition of one who imm ediately works violence and injury up o n the afflicted is by no m eans sufﬁcient to con

a za a vict witch or wiz rd , lthough preceded by a n enmity or threats . The re so is because the can a a Devil assume the sh pe of good man . An an d and honest charitable life conduct, probably rem oves the suspicion of criminal intent from those who are accused Of witchcraft by the tes n Of fﬂ no t tim e y the a icted . Still, this is an indubitable evidence Of false accus ation be cause a cunning man might conceal his devilish

’ 26 r e d . 62 Fowle s , . 96 TC C A T SA M V A WI H R F IN LE ILL GE . practices under the sembl ance of a good l ife in r a Sll S lClOIl and r nde m orde to esc pe p , ighteous co

a n It f o r are a n tio . is possible those who re lly n and a ﬂ tortured , co vulsed f icted by the Devil an m r n v a n with m y iseries, du i g se er l mo ths, to suffer no wasting of body and no we akening of r r a a n their spi its . The e son is th t utrition is ” m a h r n r perfect, the sto c suffe s no i ju y . This inform ation m ay have bee n asked for by

an r rn the Lieuten t Gove nor, or by the Gove or himself during o ne Of his brief visits to Boston

m r r t r nﬂ th at sum e . Whethe the let e i uenced the n n a n no t Gover or in his subseque t ctio , it is pos

r a n sible to say with ce t i ty . Q uite likely it did

m n . On n an n to so e exte t the whole , otwithst di g r Of OV m rn the lette s G . Phips to the ho e gove n n a a me t, it is not e tirely cle r just wh t motives prom pted his acts d uring the fall and winter Of

1 2- m r n n n 69 3 . In so e respects they we e i co siste t o ne an and f ar r n a with other , f om bei g in ccord m n with his written state e ts .

CHAPTER V.

MAR TH A AND GI LE S C OR E Y .

WEL E a s a t d rn and V d y f er Goo , Osbu Ti

a n a a an r tub were se t to j il , w rr ts we e is

d f O r a a O sue M rth Corey , wife of Giles C Sh e w a s m e a a n n rey . i m di tely t ke i to custody, and o n March 21 ex ami ned before Hathorne and

n ar a w as n all v n Corwi . M th Corey , upo the e ide ce a h as m n m an Of m a th t co e dow to us , a wo ore th n a m n and aver ge j udg e t discretion . From the nn n an d begi i g, she resolutely persistently d e no unc e d t he a n whole witchcr ft busi ess . While

an w as at r m arr her husb d , ﬁ st, co pletely c ied away

“ wit h the sto rm whic h swept over th e rur al com h h d no a t n t S e a . mu i y , f i h in— it She sought to a him a nd the h a n no r persu de not to tte e ri gs , to

“ n nan r ion in an m ann cou te ce the p osecut s y er . It w as ch arged against her that she took the s addle Off his ho rse o n o ne occasio n when he w as prepar am na n ing to go to the ex i tio s . Giles Corey w as

ar a e and a ar w a eighty ye s of g , lthough M tha s his thi rd wife and n o doubt som ewh at his ba r a a junior , she was pro bly mo e th n sixty ye rs A M V A 98 WITC HCRAFT IN S LE ILL GE .

n a of age at this time . She joi ed the Vill ge in 1691 church in he the S alem church . It h as alw ays seem ed a little singul ar th at a wom an of her character should be am ong the r and e ar ﬁrst to be accused . Whether her ea ly nest protest led to the use o f her n am e among

h as a a n a n . the suspected, lw ys bee questio It m ay have aroused a suspicion that she was in a o ne le gue with the evil . When the nam e of Martha Corey w as ﬁrst whispered around by the girls Of the accusing r w a nam and c i cle , Ed rd Put Ezekiel Cheever a a r r m p id visit to her . They sought to secu e f o n n w as this old wom an some sort of co fessio . It o n ar h 12 w a a at Ann M c . On the y , they c lled ’ u nam w h at assist anc e re n P t s , to see she could d e r e a r w e re n . Ask d bout the clothes Co ey whe she appe ared o n her spectral visits , Ann re a h ad a o ne a plied th t she just m de of those c lls , but h ad so blinded h e r that she could no t see “ ” a r wh t clothes she wo e . These detectives ’ n r o n t o n arr a Mar the ode Corey s . O their iv l , th a s aid to them : I know what you h ave com e are m a w a n for . You co e to t lk ith me bout bei g ’ a am n n ann witch , but I o e . I c ot help people s ” a n a n r t lki g bout me . She i qui ed whether the afﬂ h ad a m r h e r icted tte pted to desc ibe clothes . That she should so accurately divine the object

1 Se e C r r a Ma . . CO L 3rd r 111 hu ch Reco d ; lso, ss Hist I , se ies ,

169 .

100 W TC C A T S A M V A I H R F IN LE ILL GE .

Of tho s e who lived centu ries before us by the

n a e r a and a k owledge we h ve of th i cts, th t

n e d but ar a and im r And k owl ge p ti l pe fect . yet, ’ the te nor of Ann Put nam s acts all th rough these tri als w as such as to justify v e ry stron g n as h e r ne x am na n suspicio s to ho sty . The e i tio of Martha Corey w as a s am ple of cross - e x am in at ion and brow -be ating o n the p art of t h e m agis

ra e w h n a a e n in n t t s , ich ﬁ ds p r ll l o ly the co duct of som e u nge nt l e m anly shyste r l awyer of a type

a no w r rar . w as n h ppily ve y e It quite exte ded, but conﬁne d m ainly t o an effo rt to m ake the

r n n e r in n n p iso er co fess . She p sisted de yi g . Here are some s am ples

r H a rn . are n i n r M . o a tho e You w n the h ds of autho ity . — T m e no w r s r ns I no t . ell , , why you hu t the e pe so do rn — Pra m e a Hatho e . Who doth y give le ve to go t o r T r r m p ray e . his equest w as m ade sund y ti es .

Hath o rne . no t n f o r ra r but We do se d you to go to p ye , — m e r . I m an nn n r n tell why you hu t these a i oce t pe so . I r n eve h ad to do with witchcraft since I w as born . I am a m if if it if gospel wo an . H a rn Ho w n a tho e . could you tell , the , th t the child w as bid to Observe what clothes you wore when som e o ne cam e to Spea k with you ? Cheeve r interrupted h e r an d bid h e r no t n a an d E ar P n am ar begi with lie , so dw d ut decl ed the m atter. rn a — H e a Hatho e . Who told you th t s id the child said .

- Y . T n E ar P n Cheever . o u speak falsely he dw d ut am r a a n e d ag i . Ha rn ask a a tho e . Why did you if the child sked wh t — r clothes you w e re MV husband told m e the othe s told .

H r h e r ? h a n . m an r T e tho e Good Co ey , did you tell old m an n r de ied that he told h e so . S CO Y 101 MARTHA AND GILE RE .

o u no t sa r an so ? Hathorn e . Did y y you husb d told you NO an r swe .

rn ar in all a m . Hatho e . You d e thus to lie this sse bly r You are no w before authority . I expect the t uth . You and a p rom ised it . Speak no w tell who told you wh t — clothes . Nobody .

At o ne tim e the children cried out th at a m an

r n in e ar a rn a w as whispe i g her . H tho e sked “ ” What did he say to you? She replied We must not believe all that these distracted chil ” n n an ar m a dren say . Whe she de ied y ch ge de “ against h e r there w as extre me agony of all the ” afflicted . “ a r r a a w as P rris, who repo ted this t i l , s y s , It n oted whe n she hit h e r lip several of the af ” “ flict e d r n e n h e r an we e bitte Also , wh h ds ” at r affl int e d r n were libe ty the we e pi ched . Hatho rne asked : DO you no t se e th e se children and wom en are rational and sober wh en your ” “ hands are fastened ? Im m ediate ly they were

and an r - b a w as seized with ﬁts , the st de s y s id she

S n h e r n r h e r an a queezi g ﬁ ge s , h ds being e sed by

m o n r a them that held the pu p‘ose for tri l . a a a bit Q uickly after , the marsh ll s id , She h th ’ and m m d a a ﬂ in an her lip , i e i tely the f icted were ” r a m n n w a up o r . Throughout her ex a i atio she s

“ a r a a r n b dge ed by H thorne, b dge ed by Corwi ,

Mr a e e badgered by Rev. . Noyes , b dg r d by the ar a and n m sh l by the audie ce . The following document is on ﬁle in the court house in S alem A M A 102 WI TCHC RAFT IN S LE VILL GE .

r t e stiﬁ e th an d a a in n n sit Giles Cho ee s ith th t the eve i g,

n ﬁ re m a m e . h e r ti g by the , y wife sked to go to bed I told ( ) I would go to p rayer whe n I went to prayer I could n ott r n n no t n m m t o utter m y desi es with a y se se , ope y outh

M e rc ie v e 85 am ar m e 87. Speak . y wife did p itt c e tow ds s aid she w as com ing to m e After this in a little space I i m S m m d d according to y m easure atten d the duty . o e ti e l ast week I fetched an ox well out of the woods about n oon he l aying down in the yard I went to raise h im to yo ke h im but he could n o t rise but draged his hinder p arts as if h r r h ad a a m he ad been hip shott but a fte did ise . I c tt so e m a ran ak u d am 85 ti es l st week st gely t en o n the s d , did m a m e n r n m ke thi k she would have died p ese tly , y wife bid m e knock h e r in the head butt I did no t an d since she An r rr is well . othe tim e going to duties I w as in te upte d f o r a Sp ace butt afterwards I w as helpt a ccording to m y r m r M a n n a r poo easu e . y wife h th bee wo t to Sitt up fte I went t o bed I h ave p e rcie ve d h e r to kn eel down o n the ar as r at ra r ar n A he th if she we e p ye but he d nothi g . t th e e x am inatio n of S arah Go od 85 others m y wife w as willing

e r t h e a m n a m at H e st te e t ce ses . So e writers te m pt to disc redit it as n o t given in the usual and re ar w a a n a n gul y . Bec use a li e is dr w r u th e w r a a n th o gh o ds it licised bove, they thi k

m n a a and a ar so e suspicio tt ches to it , th t the p ties who tried to get the old m an to testify against his wife discove red that they could not d ra an n a r him and w ythi g derog tory f om , there w as d anger that his evidence would be favorable h r n to e . Is it o t more probable th at the record er w as i nte rrupte d at this point and did no t the n complete the statem e nt ; th at afterw ards he ar ra n m n st ted to e se the u co pleted li e, or , per a m e an m a m a n h ps, t the rk he de to be a erasure ?

104 TC C A T SA M V A WI H R F IN LE ILL GE .

a Of in m The c se Giles Corey is , so e respects , the most interesti ng and the m ost tragic in all

w n u r re this o derf l d am a of witchcraft . As p vio usl a w as ar a a y st ted, he c ried w y with the n r m and a a n delusio f o the outset , g i st the wishes w m n n a n ar r a a . of his ife , tte ded the e lie ex i tio s

w as ar o n a ar an r 18 He rested w r t issued Ap il , and am n o n 19 th in t h e a ex i ed the , Vill ge meet in a n n m g house . The ccusi g girls co ducted the

ih a m ann r and r a selves the usu l e , we e so b dly affected with ﬁts an d t roubled with pinches ’ a r r r r an th t the cou t o de ed Co ey s h ds to be tied . When the m agistrates asked h im if it w as no t

n act ra at r m e ough to witchc ft othe ti es, but ” must you do it no w in face of authority ? he “ am r a and ann replied, I poor c e ture c ot help ” “ r m r a m : . a a a it L te , the gist te excl i ed Why ” do you tell s uch w icked lies against witnesses? ” b ands w as n n One of his let go , co ti ues the r fl and a a . ecord, sever l were f icted He held a o n o ne and n a his he d side , the the he ds of sev a th e a fl r o n o ne er l of f icted we e held side . He r in and ch e ck s d ew his cheeks, the of some of ” affl r in the icted we e sucked . Elizabeth Wo o dw e ll deposed that she saw him

r n m n that h ad don e anything to h e r just discovery o co de ation . W r n a r a r f o r h e r m r n s he eupo , fte little discou se ( i pe ious es n o t suff e r m and a r ra r w sh e w as n would uch), fte p y e , hich willi g — to d ecline the d readful sentence of excom m un ic ation w as p ro ” ’ n d n h ra r m Parr r r in t h e no u c e agai st e r. Ext ct f o is eco d

r Ma . C 3d s r III . 169 . chu ch book , ss Hist. oll e ies , , A T A AND S C O Y 105 M R H GILE RE . on a lecture day come in and sit in t h e middle ’ m a m n a a ost se t of the e s se ts by the post . M ry

’ Warren s aid he w as hostile to her and afﬂicted her because he thought she caused John Procter to ask more for a piece of me adow th an he w as n n willi g to give . Joh Derick , sixteen years of t a a am age, tes iﬁed th t s id Giles Corey c e about the 20th of August and told me that he wanted some platers for he w as gowen to h ave a feast he told me th at he h ad a good m ind to ask my dam e but he s aid th at she would no t let him h ave the m so h e took the platers and cared them away being gown about half a oure with them then he brot them againe gowen aw ay and s aid ” n w as n a a r nothi g . If Corey goi g s spect e why did he wish the actual pl atters It is another

a Of a c se bodily, m terial presence like that of a Abig il Hobbs . This testimony was given o n September 7 be ran fore the g d inquest . There is very little ’ n in r n evide ce Giles Co ey s case . That give here m all Of a n m co prises speci l i terest . The agis ra m m h im t o a w as t tes co itted j il . This on or 1 w about April 8 . He as brought before the r in a an n m n cou t September , to ple d to i dict e t f r a m n o . a witchcr ft The old refused to plead, ” m l aw m stood ute , as the ter s it . The records of the S alem church under date Of September “ 18 n a a a e x c o m , Su d y, st te th t, G . Corey was

m unicat e d . a w as a n The c use of it , th t he bei g 10 6 WITCHCRAF T IN SALEM VILLAGE . a and n a ccused i dicted for the sin of witchcr ft, a n rr se n he refused to ple d, and so i cu ed the

and na ain o rtdure n uh tence pe lty of p f , bei g sin a doubtedly guilty of the of witchcr ft , or of n m n n and a n a throwi g hi self upo sudde cert i de th, ” w nn n i d n o t if he were other ise i oce t . Th s oes s a na w as n n a it y the pe lty e forced, o ly th t was

n r i cur ed . n a f o r an n The E glish law of those d ys , st di g ” “ m ute w as that the priso ner be rem anded to the prison from whence he came and put into a lo w ar am and a a d k ch ber , there be l id on his b ck a ﬂ a n on the b re oor, n ked, u less where decency forbids ; that there be placed upon his body as

r n as and great a weight of i o he could bear, a a no nan a n o n more, th t he h ve suste ce , s ve o ly da th e a the ﬁrst y , three morsels of worst bre d , o n n da a an and the seco d y , three dr ughts of st d in a ar th g water, th t should be ne est to e prison and in a n a door , this situ tio this should be lter nat e l a o r— as an y his d ily diet till he died , cient ’ ’ l m n ran— an 5 y the judge e t till he swered . NO other instance of the enforcement of this a n n in n a r pen lty is k ow New E gl nd histo y . Bl ackstone s ays it w as adopted in E ngl and a nn n f nr bout the begi i g of the rein O He y IV . a a n a n n He dds th t the u cert i ty of its origi , the

a t and r nan doubts of its leg li y , the epug ce of its theory to the hum anity of the l aws of E ngland

’ 5 C s a n IV. 265. hitty Bl cksto e . ,

D S CO Y 107 MARTHA AN GILE RE . all concurred to require the abolishment of the n n cruel pu ishment , so that standi g mute should n 6 amount only to a co fession of guilt . There is some uncertainty as to the place where the last act in this terrible tragedy took Th e n h as a place . traditio lways been that it was between the How ard street burial n und and r in O fi B own street, an pen eld , and that fi m r Corey urged the of cers to add o e weight, a m re th t his isery might the sooner be ended , a quest perfectly natural for a man who had made m n a w a a up his i d to die th t y . C lef is authority for this story of monstrous brutality o n the part “ Offi : In n n of the cers pressing, his to gue bei g

sh e rifi pressed out of his mouth , the with his ” n 7 cane forced it in again when he w as dyi g . “ : n a Sewall left this record Mo d y, September 19 1692 n n a m , . About oo at S le , Giles Corey was pressed to death for stan ding Mute much a w as a o ne p ins used with him two d ys , after an and a a n Of other, by the court C pt . G rd er Nan h ad a a n a tucket who been of his cqu i t nce, but ”8 in a n w as na all v i . This horrible tragedy e cted three d ays p revious to the h anging of Martha and n NO Corey her ine companions . one knows just why Corey refused to plead and snfi e re d m a n a such a death . It y have bee bec use of his r a stubbo n n ture and firm will , but more proba bly it w as to s ave the attaint of his family and

’ 6 Ih d . 266 . 7 r cd . 260 . 8 S a Pa r I . 364 . , Fowle s , ew ll pe s , , 108 TC C A T SA M V A WI H R F IN LE ILL GE .

the forfeiture of his property, which would fol

n n a a low co victio if he ple ded . From wh t he h ad n Of r a r a see previous t i ls , he p ob bly con a n n w as a n in cluded th t co victio cert i his case, especially if he h ad m ade up his min d no t to n n in a r w an co fess . While lyi g j il he d e up d executed a p aper which he inte nded should Op a as a w as in r a cr te will, but which e lity a deed

ANN NA HO S DANV S . PUT M U E , ER

be n all of convey ance . By it co veyed his prop

r a and n n e ty to Willi m Cleeves Joh Moulto , his ’ - - d a a r a sons ln law . The y fte Corey s de th Thom as Putnam sent to Judge Sewall the follo w ing comm unication

A SA M V A 110 WI TCHCR F T IN LE ILL GE .

Ann u nam w as rn a r P t bo , but the r est of Corey and his subsequent horrible de ath must h ave

v ve all r a him re i d the old sto ies bout . No doubt

Ann e ar m at m and h d the this ti e , they were

r n r r m an n n su e , u de the ci cu st ces, to lose othi g in

re - n r w as a r r the telli g . Co ey lso befo e the cou t in 1678 o n suspicion of having set ﬁre to John ’ e r o nn n w as e ar Proct s h use . His i oce ce cl ly

r e an d rne o n r e r and e r p ov d , he tu d P oct oth of his e am r and m r n ro all d f e s sued the , recove i g f m t h e m h ad h ad a a u r of . He l ws it with P octer 10 r h In r w a w as m e p evious to t is . othe ys he ix d

un n r a a r up pl e asa tly in neighbo hood ff i s . Whe the r these controversies h ad anything t o do w r se t n f o r ra in 1692 ith his p o cu io witchc ft , or

e r t w h w as a I am un the sev i y it which he de lt, id h im a s a . r a u no t a ble to y Their eviv l wo ld ,

r a n w a a ar a ce t i ly . Se ll s ys of the ch ge th t Corey am and r a m an a a st ped p essed to de th , th t ’ tw as no t rem em be red t ill Ane Put nam w as ’ told of it by s aid Corey s Spectre the S abb ath ”11 n e r u n ar ight b fo e the exec tio . It is h dly pos sible that a m an could be arr ested and dealt with in the m anner Co rey w as an d no o ne re m embe r and recall that fourtee n and sixteen years be fore he h ad been charged with m urder and ar n so .

“ 10 n P ro k t e r a a n Co r e n an in an a n Joh g i st Giles y , defe d t ctio m a a r a m n Ma . a rn in A a of ppe l f o judge e t of j H tho e ugust l st , t h e ur n f o r t h e d n an t h e nﬁ rm a i n th e f o r j y fou d efe d t , co t o of m ” m e r n . C n C r r Sa m . judge e t Essex ou ty ou t Reco ds , le

11 S wa P a r I . 364 . e ll pe s , , C HAPTER VI .

TH E S T OR Y OF R EB E C CA N UR SE .

EBE A n in arm h CC Nurse was bor Y out ,

n lan and a r o n ar E g d, b ptised the e Febru y 21 1621 u m 71 a , . This wo ld ake her ye rs a e at t m a of g the i e of the witchcr ft troubles . She was d aughter of Willi am Towne and wife

’ an r a a r of Fr cis Nu se of S lem Vill ge . Nu se lived from about 1638 to 1678 ne ar wh at is no w

rr in a Ske y street the city of S lem . His occup a

w as a - a In 1678 tion th t of tray m ker . he pur I chased the farm in S alem Vill age th e n known as n e n arm no w n n the Tow s d Bishop f , better k ow m as the Nurse far . The histo ry of the pl ace is this : To w nse nd

o n an a 16 1636 re e e a ran Bishop , J u ry , , c iv d g t of

300 a re an a e n . O c s of l d in the Vill g _ this he a u n a an built s bsta tial house . Th t house is st d in - da and n n b a g to y , is the widely k ow Re ecc

n r n Nurse house . Its ide tity is p oved beyo d

m n ar v n question by docu e t y e ide ce . Bishop sold

a 1641 t nr n in the est te in , o He y Chickeri g, who turn sold it to Governor E ndicott in 1 648 for 112 W TC C A T SA M A I H R F IN LE VILL GE .

W TC C A T I N SA M V A I H R F LE ILL GE . established at S alem Vill age by F rancis Nur se and e a h ad n r m ne n his wife Reb cc . He bee p o i t

nd n r i n r w a ho o ed n the commu ities whe e he d elt . w as an n e n u m an a She i tellig t , pio s , devout wo , ” veritable m oth e r in Israel i ? Againsﬁ h e r good name and fai r fam e no bre ath of suspicio n h ad

e e n re r t ro ubl e a e ars . yet b utte d The ﬁ st i pp to h ave com e to this family soo n afte r the p urchase

arm n h ad aran of the Bishop f . Alle gu teed the

w as n a n n title . He soo c lled upo to defe d it ‘ a a n a m Z e rubabe l n w h o g i st the cl i s of E dicott , cl aim e d a boundary lin e to th e E ndicott poss e s sions th at push e d back the eastern boun ds of the

ar m ntr e r w as a n o ne Bishop f . The co ov sy lo g , going ﬁnally to the G e n eral Cou rt for settle m n n n r w as e a a c . e t . It d cided g i st E di ott Nu se

' ur w as n indire ctl int e re st e d in to be s e, o ly y the

e n was —t h e r n a and suit . All p i cip l , he kept his l p ro mise to de fe nd th e t itle Nath aniel Putnam

’ am n l in t h e s ui m r r al bec e i vo ved t . So e w ite s lege that Nurse thus i ncurred his hostility an d th at this w as o ne of - th e incentives to th e subs e

n r n r w que t p osecutio of Rebecca Nu se . It ould m a u nam an n w as n see th t P t , if ythi g , u ited with n and in n n Alle Nurse ﬁghti g E dicott . It is even less likely t h at the To psﬁ e ld controversy e ngendered ill -feeling between the Vill age peo ple and the Nurse fam ily which l asted until

ra t a af a r m a as nar witchc f d ys . This f i y well be a at n r ted this poi t . THE STORY OF REBE CCA NURS E .

In 1636 the General Cou rt deﬁned the boun ds

a and r as e e n n of S lem , Ipswich Newbu y xt di g

m n t h e nt r m a ur n r m six iles i to cou y , e s i g f o their

m e n e h re e e a r a re spective eti g hous s . T y s l ter,

am in n i a n h a t h e n ah the s e power, co s der tio t t i b it ant s of S alem h ad ag re e d to pl an t a vill age

a th e r a n r e re ne r iver th t ru s to Ipswich , o d d that all l ands ne ar thei r boun ds b e twee n S al e m and

r r no t n n an e r n o r n the ive , belo gi g to y p so tow

m r n n r a a a . by fo er g t , should belo g to s id vill ge The farm e rs of S alem Vill age there upo n b e gan to

e m n e n - m push s ttle e ts b yo d the six ile limit .

e ar r and u They cl ed the fo ests b ilt houses . In

1643 n ra nm n u ra the Ge e l Court, u i df l of its g nt t o a m a a r e ih the S le Vill ge people , utho iz d the h abitants of Ipswich to loc ate o n t h e s am e terri

n a Th e w n tory a d establish a Vill ge . to of Ips w w as n a e r 18 1 650 and ich i corpor ted Octob , , in 1658 a portion of the disp ute d l an d w as m ade a

a n r n p rt of the tow . This b ought i to direct con ﬂict a m e n h ad a n n the Vill ge , who t ke up la ds

n ra r 1639 under the vote of the Ge e l Cou t in , and w h o nd act 16 43 those settled u er the of . John Putnam of the Vill age and others of his great fam ily and of the settlem e nt met the East e y s and Townes of To p sﬁ e ld o n the disputed n and h ad an grou d gry words with them . Not n 1728 n n u til , when the tow of Middleto w as n r ra n m i co po ted , to i clude ost of the disputed r r To sﬁe ld th ter itory f om the Village and p , was e dispute settled . 116 W TC C A T SA M VI A I H R F IN LE LL GE .

’ Isaac Easty s wife w as sister of Rebecca

. n n and r . Nurse The Tow es, Joh Joseph, j , r n a a we e e rly rel ted to her . While most of the inhabitants of the Vill age took sides against the Te sﬁe ld m e n am l p , the Nurse f i y supported ”

m n a m n r the . Whe the Vill ge eeti g passed a p o a a n TO sﬁ e ld a m a test g i st the p cl i , S muel Nurse, ’ a so n and ma r n Rebecc s oldest , Tho s P esto , her so n -in-law n r r r n n , e te ed thei w itte disse t . Whether this long and bitter co nt ro ve rs e y had anything to do with the p rosecution of Rebecca and ar B a n u Nurse M y sty is left to co ject re . It is certai n that Thom as Preston joined with Thom as and Edward Putnam in Si gni ng the m a n a n in 1 co pl i t ag i st S arah Good 692 . Does no t this indicate that wh atever ill -feelin gs arose r m To sﬁe ld r a r f o the p feud , thi ty ye rs befo e, had

n n r r n at e a r iv n? bee e ti ely fo gotte , or l st fo g e The compl ai nt against Rebecca Nurse w as m a am nam m a an d Ed de by these s e Put s, Tho s r m n h w a d . They co pl ained agai st her for ve e m ent suspicion of having committed sundry acts

a Mrs Ann nam Ann of witchcr ft upon . Put , m n r and a . Put am , j . , Abig il Willia s The justi an n a 23 On ces issued their warr t o M rch . the following day Marshal Herrick m ade retu rn that “ he h ad apprehended the within named Rebecc a ’ ” and h e r a an n r Nurse lodged at N th iel I ge soll s . h The examination took place o n the 24t . The a m n n record of th t exa i atio , as made by Rev .

118 W TC C A T SA M V A I H R F IN LE ILL GE .

—Th e L r n no t r m m n i you o d k ows I have hu t the . I a a h n n r oce t pe son . It is very awful f o r all to see these agonies and you an Old r f r r p o esso , thus cha ged with contracting with the devil f and an d r by the ef ects of it , yet to see you st d with y eyes — n r are m an Y o u n o t n m ar . whe the e so y wet . do k ow y he t Y o u would do well if you are guilty to con fess an d give — r . I a m as ar a n rn glo y to God cle s the child u bo . Wh at unce rtain ty there m ay be in a pp arition s I know no t m e r ar n a are a t , yet this with st ikes h d upo you , th t you r r n ar am ar r r this ve y p ese t ch ged with f ili spi its , this is you r n T a n o bodily pe so they speak to . hey s y w they see these am ar r m r r n no a f ili spi its co e to you bodily pe so , w wh t do

- sa a I a n n sir . you y to th t h ve o e , P m a a r n are no a ossibly you y pp ehe d you witch , but h ve — you no t been led aside by tem ptation s th at w ay I have

no t .

T a e no t h ad issibl e a aran m r an ell us , h v you v ppe ces o e th — what is com m on in n ature I h ave non e no r never h ad in m f y li e . — Do you think these suff er voluntary o r involuntary I ann c ot tell . — T a ran r n e an e I m n . h t is st ge , eve y o c judg ust be sile t They accuse you of hurting them if you thin k it is no t unwillingly b ut by design you m ust look upon them as m r r r — u de e s I c ann ot tell what to think of it . A r ar o n a fte w ds when this w as som ewh at insisted she s id , no t e n r an ar a w as I do think so . Sh did n o t u de st d ight wh t said .

n an n r n n Well . the , give a sw e o w , do you thi k these suf f e r against their wills Or no t ? I do no t think these sufi e r a a n r g i st thei wills . Why did you n ever Visit these afflicted person s - B e a w as r c use I af aid I Should h ave fits too . Upon m otion of h e r body fits followed upon the c o m a nan a pl i ts bundantly and very frequently . Is it n o t an un accoun table c ase tha t when you are exam — ine d these persons are afflicted I h ave got nobody to look to but God . F CCA S 119 THE STORY O REBE NUR E .

Again upon stirring h e r h an ds the afflicted persons were seized with Violent fits of tortur e . — Do you believe th ese afflicted persons are bewitched I do thin k they are . When this witchcraft cam e upon the st age there w as no ’ m n r n T a Mr . arri n an a o suspicio of itub ( P s I di wo ), she p arr w as h e r fessed m uch love to that child , Betty P is , but it an n o t a apparition did the m ischief , d why should you lso , — f o r r a ar n r a be guilty , you pp itio doth hu t lso Would you have m e belie m yself Sh e held h e r n eck o n o ne side an d accordingly so were the affl icted taken .

r n am . arr r a a h Then authority requi i g it , S P is e d wh t he ad ’ r T m a P n am in h r in characters taken from M . ho s ut s wife e

ﬁts . n — I ann Wh at do you thi k of this c ot help it , the devil i m ay appear n m y shape . T a r a n um h e r am n a n his is t ue ccou t of the s of ex i tio , but by re ason of great n oises by the afﬂ icted an d m an y speakers

n n r r rm m m r n m m a y t hi gs a e p ete itted e o a du . Nurse held h e r he a d o n o n e side an d E liz abeth Hubbard o n e ff r r h ad h e r n in a r ( of the su e e s ) eck set th t postu e , r n an r a n A a am r whe eupo othe p tie t , big il Willi s , c ied out , ’ ’ r a m a n r set up Goody Nu se s he d , the id s eck will be b oke , ’ and when som e set up Nurse s he a d Aaron Way Observed ’ a H ar a m m a r th t Betty ubb d s w s i edi tely ighted .

m a r 2 S a V a 4th 1 Th e Re . am r le ill ge , M ch 6% v S uel Pa ris bein g desired to take in writin g the exam ination of Rebec ca Nurse h a th return ed it as afores aid an d seein g what we then did see together with the ch arge of the persons then

r n m m R a r ran p ese t we co itted ebecc Nu se , the wife of F cis ’ r Sa m V a n r m a a in S a m Nu se , of le ill ge u to thei jesties go l le as p e r a m ittim us then gi ven out in order to furthe r ex am

inatio n .

n Ha rn Joh tho e , n a an r n a Jo th Co wi , sts .

Goody Nurse rem ained in j ail until the ﬁ rst Of n Ju e , when she was brought before the grand 120 T A T A A WI CHCR F IN S LEM VILL GE .

n n 2 r rn r n j ury . O Ju e the ju y retu ed fou i dict

n a a n r w as a fl n me ts g i st her . The ﬁ st for f icti g Ann Putnam o n March 24 ; the seco nd and third fo r afflicting Mary Walcott and Eliz abeth Hub

On am da and ur ar bard the s e y , the fo th ch ged a f n a am her with f licti g Abig il Willi s . It will be noticed that the date of the offe nces alleged in these several indictm ents is that of the day of

r m nar m n n am the p eli i y ex a i atio . The s e is n a in m ra a e In otice ble ost of these witchc ft c s s . few of the indictments is the s am e date of o f fence alleged as in the origi nal com pl ai nt before

n in t h e a r the justices . The wit esses c se we e

mm n n o n r d a n 2 su o ed to be prese t Thu s y, Ju e ; m n Ann u nam ar a the testi o ies of P t , M y W lcott and others against Nurse are dated and sworn to n 2 an d 3 and n m n a am Ju e , the i dict e ts be r the s e a n n a a n o n n 28 d te . The court co ve ed g i Ju e and there is o n the ﬁles a petition o n beh alf of ” “ Rebecc a Nurse p rese nted to the court no w

n in a m a r a Sitti g S le . It would seem th t the t i l must h ave been del ayed from the 3rd to the 28th a Ann na . At the tri l which followed, Put m deposed th at o n the 13th of March Sh e

S aw a ar n r an d Sh e m m the pp itio of Goody Nu se , did i e iat e l afﬂ m e no t n a h e r nam w as d y ict , but I did k ow wh t e n n r in o ur m n the , though I k ew whe e she used to sit eeti g S n a Sh e a r afﬂ house , but i ce th t h th g ievously icted by

n n an d r n m e and r n m e r bitin g , pi chi g p icki g , u gi g to w ite

r n a o n r d a Mar n in h e book a d lso the fou th y of ch , bei g the d a h e r am na n w as r r r h e r y of ex i tio , I g ievously to tu ed by

A M A WI TCHCRAFT IN S LE VILL GE .

Th e dep o sition of Jo h ann ah Ch il din %Sheldon] t e stiﬁ e th and a a o n 2nd n 1692 a a r s ith th t y p the of Ju e , , th t the pe i tion of Goody Nuss and Goodm an Harwood did ap e are to h e r an d the s aid H arwood did look Goody Nuss in the face and s aid to h e r that Sh e did m urder h im by pushing h im Off ” the cart a nd strock t h e breath out of his body . E dward Putnam deposed that o n March 26 Ann Put

n am se n . w as n R a r as Sh e a , , bitte by ebecc Nu s s id did , about 2 of the clock the s am e d ay she w as strock with a chane the m ark being in a b an d of a roun d ring an d three s tro aks across the ring she h ad Six blos with a ch an e in the S a Of a an r an d h ad o ne r m ark a o ne p ce h lf owe , she e ble

ix r k r aw m ar with S st o a e s ac oss h e r arm e . I s the k both of ” bite an d ch an e .

’ S arah Ho lt e n s deposition is the o nly p aper am ong all those o n ﬁle that gives any i nfo rm a tion th at R e b e cca Nurse ever h ad trouble with h e r ne ighbo rs or ever w as called a railer and

raw e r e r a in a a an b l , P h ps this c se, llow ce should be m ade f o r the possible exaggeration of an an r and d n r w g y excite eighbo . The wido Houlto n de posed as follows

About this tim e three years ago m y dear 85 loving hus

an n am in Ho ul t e n a w as as as r b d , Be j , dece sed , well eve I n w h im in m o n e S a r a m rn n a k e y life , till tu d y o i g th t Re becca Nurse who no w stands ch arged f o r witchcraft cam e to o ur house and fell railing at h im because o ur pigs got h e r d ur r ffi n into fiel , tho o pigs we e su cie tly y ok ed an d r n w as n in ra a al l thei fe ce dow seve l pl ces , yet we could say t o h e r could n o ways p acify h e r but she con tinued railing an d n f o r a r a a n h e r so n scoldi g g e t while , c lli g to Benj . Nurse to go and get a gun an d kill o ur pigs and let n one of m m r an the go out of the field , though y poo husb d gave h e r n r a m isbe h o ldin r and n a r eve g wo d , withi Sho t tim e a fter m r an o n r ar in th e m rn n this y poo husb d , g i g out ve y e ly o i g , as he w as com ing in again he w as taken with a strange fit THE STO Y OF C CA N U S 123 R REBE R E . in the en try being struck blin d an d struck down two o r three tim es so th a t when he cam e t o him self he told m e he thought he Should n ever h ave com e into the house any m r n d all m m r a r n n in a an n o e , a su e fte he co ti ued l guishi g n n n m a n at h is m a an d t n co ditio , bei g uch p i ed sto ch of e

r n a t a r n r w as st uck bli d , but bou fo t ight befo e he died he t aken with strange and Violen t ﬁts a cting m uch like to o ur poor beloved parson s %person s] when we thought they would h ave died an d the doctor th at w as wi t h h im could

ﬁ n d a m r w as an d d a r di no t wh t his diste pe , the y befo e he ed

w as ch e arl a m ni w as a ain m he y , but bout id ght he g ost Violently seized upon with viole nt ﬁts till the n ex t night

m n ar a r a . about id ight , he dep ted this life by c uel de th

The following deposition s found o n th e court ﬁles in dicate th at there wer e thos e who dared to i testify n beh alf of the accused . I quote both exactly as they appear in the originals

Joh n Tarbell bein g at the house of Thom as Putnam u n 2 th d a in an ar n ar po the 8 y of this st t M ch , bei g the ye 1692 n r m an n a m m , upo discou se of y thi gs I sked the so e questions an d am ong others I asked this question whether the garle that w as affl icted did first Speak of Goody Nurse r r m n n h e r h e r a m befo e othe s e tio ed to , they s id she told the she s aw the app arish tio n of a p ale- fast wom an that sat in ’ h e r ran-m r a n o t n h e r n am n g othe s se t but did k ow e , the I r an d a h r eplied s id , but who w as it th at told e th at it w as Good Nurs ; Mercy Lewis s aid it w as Goody Putnam th at s aid it w as Goody Nurs ; Goody Putn am s aid it w as Mercy L h a h e r rn n o n e an r ewes t t told ; thus they tu ed it upo othe , a n w as and a h e r s yi g it you it w as you th t told , this w as ’ befo re any w as afflicted at Thom s Putn am s beside his a r a a r w as r d ughte , th t they told his d ughte it Goody Nu s . r S am uel Nu s doth t e stifi e too all above written . We whos nam es are un derwritten c an e t e st ifi e if cald to it th at Go o d d e Nurs h ave been e troubled with an in firm ity of body f o r m any years which the juries of wom en seem to 124 W TC C A T SA M V A I H R F IN LE ILL GE .

a ra m n Rb ah Pr n r be f id it should be so thi g else c eso , M a y T r a be l .

This last statem ent refers to t h e witch m ark alleged to h ave been foun d o n th e body of Re

a r ne r becc Nu se . O of the theo ies of the age w as that the devil set his m ark upon e ach of

an a r all m a his serv ts th t witches we e rked . A jury of the s e x of the accused w as appointed to

am n f o r u m ar ex i e the body s ch ks . It often h appened that som e excresence of ﬂesh common o r o ne a na na a to old people, expl i ble by tur l a w a n ne h ad n n s . O c uses , fou d such bee fou d o n d ur and r r the body of Goo y N se, epo ted to r all o ne r a re n th e the cou t, but of the ju y g ei g to

r n an d a report . Rebecc a P esto M ry Tarbell kn a m ar w as r m na ra a ew th t the k f o tu l c uses . The p rison er stated to the court that the dis sent ing wom an of the jury of e xami nation w as o ne m t an nt and nt of the os cie , skilful prude , and r r d ar re r n a sufﬁ fu the ecl ed , I the e dered cie nt know n reason of the m oving cause ” r a f o r th e a n m n the e of . She sked ppoi t e t of another jury to inquire i nto the cas e and exam

n m n h e r n NO i e the arks fou d On e r p so . docu ments h ave been found to i ndicate whether her

w r n r a w as n o t . request as g a ted . P ob bly it

r r rn r o f no t The ju y of t ials retu ed a ve dict , o n n 28 r n all a r guilty Ju e . The eupo the ccuse s “ ” in court cried out with re newed vigor and

a n in m n n and were t ke the ost viole t ﬁts , rolli g

A 126 WITCHCRAFT IN SALEM VILL GE . F A S 127 THE STOR Y O REBEC C NUR E . A A A 128 WITCHCR FT IN S LEM VILL GE .

m a Tho as Fisk , one of the jurymen, m de a state m n a a a a in e t few d ys fter the tri l , which he ” a r and s ys , the court objected to the ve dict , ” “ m an t a n and a ifested dissa isf ctio , sever l of the jury decl ared themselves desirous to go out ” a a n n r n a g i a d the eupo the court gave le ve . He “ further stated that h e could no t tell how to take the words in question till Sh e h ad further Opportunity to put her sense upon them that goi n g into court and mentioning the words and m a n no n a n m she ki g reply nor i terpret tio of the , whereupon these words we re to me a principal ”3 d a a n evi ence g i st her . It is pl ain from all the evidence upon this point that h ad the court as counsel f o r the ao cuse d it w as n in , which the the theory of the l aw a n a r , gu rded her i terests , Rebecc Nu se would no t a n n ro h ve bee convicted . The questio p pounded to her by the jury would have been so expl ained that she could u nderstand and answer n a n n it . After co viction she w s se te ced to be h an n ran a ged . The Gover or g ted reprieve . m m Thereupon , she was exco municated fro the as church , the following from the records of the First Church in Salem will show

1692 . 3 . A r a ram n r r nd July fte s c e t , the elde s p opou ed — to the church and it w as by un anim ous vote consented to

“ 3 m n : h a e r. Fisk quoted the excl a atio thus W t, do these p s o ns give in evidence against m e n o w ? They used to com e ” m n T d r m t h e r a o g us . his iff e s very m aterially fro wo ds d a r m n quote bove f o Neal a d Calef .

A A A 128 WITCHCR FT IN S LEM VILL GE .

o ne a a Thomas Fisk , of the jurymen , m de a st te m n a a a a in e t few d ys fter the tri l , which he “ ” a r and s ys , the court objected to the ve dict , ” “ m an t a n and a ifested dissa isf ctio , sever l of the jury decl ared themselves desi rous to go out ” a a n and n a a g i thereupo the court g ve le ve . He “ further stated that h e could no t tell how to take the words in question till Sh e h ad further Opportunity to put her sense upon them that goi n g into court and mentionin g the words and Sh e m a n no n a n m ki g reply nor i terpret tio of the , whereupon these words we re to me a p rincipal ”3 d a a n evi ence g i st her . It is plain from all the evidence upon this point that h ad the court as counsel for the ac cuse d it w as n in r , which the the theo y of the law a n a , gu rded her i terests , Rebecc Nurse would no t n n have been co victed . The questio pro pounded to her by the jury would have been so expl ained that she could u nderstand and answer n n it . After co viction she w as se tenced to be h an n ran a ged . The Gover or g ted reprieve . n w as n a r Thereupo , she excommu ic ted f om the

r as n r m th e chu ch , the followi g f o the records of First Church in Salem will Show

1692 . 3 . A r a ram n r r n d July fte s c e t , the elde s p opou ed — to the church and it w as by un anim ous vote consented to

“ 3 am n : a d o e r Fisk quoted the excl atio thus Wh t , these p so ns give in e vidence against m e no w ? They used to com e ” m T m t h e r a ong us . his d iff ers Very m ate rially fro wo ds a r m n quoted bove f o Neal a d Calef . THE F CCA S 129 STORY O REBE NUR E .

— a o ur r r in a n th t siste Nu se , be g co victed witch by the r an d n m n S m m n a cou t , co de ed to die , hould be exco u ic ted ; a rn n n which w as accordingly don e in the fte oo , she bei g r n p ese t .

Upham s ays this w as m e ant to be understood an na m 4 in a as eter l doo . People those d ys looked upo n excom m unic ation from the chu rch as n r m a n a m expulsio f o He ve . Wh t then ust h ave been the feelings of this wom an as she stood in the presence of her alm ost life -long r sh e and chu ch , a church which loved , to which she h ad been true and loyal for m ore t h an h alf n r a n a m a ce tu y, with the ch i s of conde ned witch clanking about her withered and tottering

m an d ar a li bs, he d the wful doom of her soul 5 p ro nounced ? Happily the age of superstition a and n a is p ssed, we k ow th t wherever the noblest and best of mankind and wom ankind abide there rests the soul of this s aint and m a rtyr . Immediately o n the reprieve bei ng granted

a ﬂ n m r the f icted r e ewed their cl a o s . They

a m e n ri v u l fﬂ i cl i d to be agai g e o s v a icted . The r n w m a n a n Of th e at re e ed co pl i ts, the ctio church “ a m and am f m a m n S le , the cl ors O so e S le ge tle ” m an inﬂuenced the Governor to rec all the re

4 S a m ra I 291 . le Witchc ft, L , 5 Th e se ntence of ex com munication w as erased from the r a 1712. chu ch book bout A A M V A 130 WI TCH CRAF T IN S LE ILL GE .

r n r n n a ur p ieve a d app ove the se te ce . Rebecc N se w as r r o n u 19 ar t h e m m , the efo e , J ly , c ted to su it a an d an of G llows hill h ged . “ n ar m an r They ha ged this we y wo the e, Like any fe lon stout He r white h ai rs o n th e cruel rope ’ ’ r a r ll a 6 We e sc tte ed a bout .

“ ” 6 Th e a r T rr C . De th of Goody Nu se , by Rose e y ooke

SA AH HO N HO S DANV S . R LTE U E, ER

132 WITOHORAE T SA M V A E IN LE ILL G . an appeal w as m ade to the p arent church in ’ a m n a n n r S lem . A o g B yley s oppo e ts we e

a an u nam and ra n m e n N th iel P t B y Wilki s , of

and nﬂ n in th e m m n wealth i ue ce co u ity . The

n a a th e n ra a dispute ﬁ lly re ched Ge e l Court . Th t

in a m n r and o r body decided f vor of the i iste , a n n an d t and dered th t he be co ti ued se tled, be a £ 60 ann m o ne - r in m n and llowed per u , thi d o ey 2 t w o -t r in r am hi ds p ovisions and fuel f o r his f ily . The people of the p arish p aid no attention to

r and in 1 Mr a r n . this o der, 679 . B yley esig ed

a am a r m r B yley c e to the Vill ge f o Newbu y , ’ h ad m ar ar arr where he ried M y C . His wife s

S Ann a r a m an a ister , C r , cco p ied them to S lem

a in 1678 m a r r . Vill ge where , , she r ied Se gt m a u nam 3 m a ar m Tho s P t , of who we sh ll he uch

r a n r n befo e we h ve ﬁ ished this sto y . This u ited ’ th e m inister s fam ily with the wealthiest and m r u am in a ost powe f l f ily the pl ce . George Burro ughs w as en gage d as p reacher in

a Mr a in m r 1680 ra pl ce of . B yley Nove be , . G d na n r m ar ar in 1670 ar n n ti g f o H v d , he e ly we t i to

r a n r a and the dist ict of M i e to p e ch, dwelt for

m t m at a no w r an r re so e i e C sco, Po tl d, whe e he ce ive d a grant of 150 acres of l and in a section art s an now the very he of the city . Thi l d he

r generously gave to the to wn in l ater ye a s . Mr . Burroughs e arly encountered hostility in his ne w

’ 2 . r Par in an rs 15 . Rice s Hist Fi st ish D ve , a ’ G n n r 3 Sav ge s e ealogical Dictio a y . E 133 R O O S . V. GE RGE BURR UGH

a an w as n a a p rish in D vers , as quite tur l , from th e a an a ar p rtis s of his predecessor . His s l y w as no t r m a and n 16 81 p o ptly p id, whe , in , his h e h ad no m n a n a wife died, o ey to p y the fu er l n v n a expe ses . A iole t dispute raged in the p rish

n a e and an - Ba e a n betwee the B yl y ti yl y f ctio s , and r a ra 1682 Bur oughs gave up the p sto te in .

n o t e nd r He am Even this did his t oubles . c e a m a n w e h ad m b ck fro M i e , hith r he oved , to “ a r n n n and w as get ecko i g or settleme t , ar

a d n am o n rested for ebt due to Joh Putn . Yet the ve ry d ay of his arrest he h ad Signed an order for the p aym ent to Thom as Putnam of the

m n m e r m a a a ou t due to hi s lf f o the p rish . It p pe ars by a bill o n ﬁle o n the r e cords th at when ’ B r w n u nam a w h im ur oughs ife died , Joh P t llo ed

buy t w o a n Cana rum m to g llo s of ry , so e cloth and a o n a n e w as other rticles his ccou t . The d bt

an £ 14 and a e for less th , the p rish ow d Bur

d a u n m a £33 6 s . 8 . a w s roughs , so th t P t amply 4 secured .

De o dat a n Mr Rev . L wso succeeded . Bur

n a in 1684 . roughs , comi g to the Vill ge He f n r a n n ou d much discord p ev ili g , not o ly over the settlem ents of B ayley and Bur roughs but a ar r w as a e lso over the p ish reco ds , which it ll ged h ad no t b e en co rre ctly kept duri ng t heir m i nis r r r m m t ies . Both disputes we e eferred to e bers

Of in a m v the church S le for ad ice . The advice

4 Sa m ra I 26 le Witchc ft , L , 1 4 T A A A 3 WI C HCR F T IN S LEM VILL GE . give n w as that certain changes be m ade in the r arm n no t r ecords . H o y could be secu ed , how

r n r r in 1 F 1 a d M . a n w 688 O eve , L wso withd e .

n h im am am a r w as lowi g c e Rev . S uel P r is, who a n n n 1 8 o a NOV. 19 6 9 ord i ed Mo d y, , . It is evi

n r r at r m a n Mr de t, the efo e , th f o the c lli g of .

a in 16 72 r na n Of Mr a r B yley to the o di tio . P r is in 1689 there w as wanting in the p arish that

arm n n r r r h o y so esse tial t o chu ch p osp e ity . That th e dis agre e m ents about the s e ttl e m ents of t h e diffe re nt p astors and ove r th e p arish rec o rds affe cte d the m i nds of the peopl e afte r the witchc raft de l usion app e ared am ong th e m the re t h a w as a is lit le doubt . T t it the c use of the

r r m r r ﬁ st cha ge s be i ng m ade see s ha dly p ob able .

e r urr o n a n a e m a G o ge B oughs , le vi g S l Vill ge, r urne t o a a n r m a n e r a et d C sco , M i e . He e i d the e

n t m f o r and r e in 1690 lo g i e , he others we e th re w n m n w a ra nd an he the settle e t s ided by I i s .

r u n n a n and Bu ro ghs the we t to Wells, M i e , r a e a ar o r m r r w as n p e ch d ye o e . The e he livi g in pe ace and quietne ss when the m essenge r from

r m u am arr him at m an Po ts o th c e to est , the de d

m m ra in 2 r a e a 16 9 . a of the S l gist tes , Afte le v in al m a h ad m arr a r g S e Vill ge he ied thi d wife , a wom an w h o h ad bee n p reviously m arrie d and ’ h ad child ren of h e r o w n ; f o r after B urroughs d at w n a a n ran e h , he the M ss chusetts colo y g ted m n at o n am r n c o m co pe s i to his f ily , his child e

r r r h pl ai ne d th at this thi d M s . Bu roug s took the

136 TC C A T A M V A WI H R F IN S LE ILL GE .

h a me n a e ar be un m r All t ese st te ts pp to fo ded, o e ’ “ e o n n at r n e r or l ss , Cotto M he s Wo d s of the ” n r n r na n I visible Wo ld . U fo tu tely we h ave no e e m n r e n an of the t sti o y offe ed for the d fe ce , if y

w as . e re w as n ne Mr there Possibly th o . . Bu rroughs w as ne arly a hu nd re d miles dist an t from the pl aces wh e re he h ad live d m uch of his

m n d f ar o m r n n a e . w as am ti e, fr his f i ds He o g a e ar e and e r a w as n peopl l gely hostil , p h ps de ied all O n O a n r n n pportu ity to bt i f ie dly wit esses . Wh atever we m ay say abo ut the trials being n t a r n n l aw co duc ed cco di g to the E glish , which did n o t n a w n th e a the llo cou sel to ccused ,

in r n e r n but theo y co sid ed the judges his cou sel , n n a a in a as in m an it is u de i ble th t this c se , y oth

raf t r a n re er of these witchc t i ls , the i te sts of the

r accused were n o t p roperly g ua ded . The whole

n d e r m e nn n e nd co duct of the ju g s, f o b gi i g to , w as a r e u n a rne r n th t of p os c ti g tto ys . P eco ceived belief in the guilt of the accus e d is evide nced

r n r r th oughout by th e i r acts a d by thei wo ds .

n r n ana n and a The o ly g ou d of expl tio , th t by no m an a a r and e r a n no t a e s s tisf cto y, c t i ly justi

ﬁ cat io n a r w as n , is th t the cou t followi g the advice given to Majo r Rich ards by Cot to n “ a r a w a r at a e n n M the , th t h teve h h t de cy to put the witches i nto con fusio n is lik e ly to bring them unto confe ssion too Here c rosse swift “ e n r r qu stio s have thei use . A c edible confession of the guilty wretches Is o ne of the REV O O S 137 . GE RGE BURR UGH

” “ a a m n at most hopeful w ys he s ys , of co i g

m r n n the , I say a c edible co fessio , because n n i f m m n even co fessio t se l e so eti es is o t credible . I am f ar from urgi ng the un-English

o f r r a n n n 10 method to tu e to obt i co fessio s . The w arrant for the arrest of George Bur in m H roughs was issued Ports outh , N . . , on ” 30 1692 a n n m a April , , by Elish Hutchi so , jor, ” r m r r no . a a a e directed to J P rt idge , ﬁeld sh l , “ n r quiri g him to app ehend the body of Mr .

rr at r r a at George Bu oughs p esent p e cher Wells , in the Province of Maine and convey him with S a m n all peed to S le , he bei g suspected for a confede racy with the devil in Opp ressin g Of ” r a a as a sund y bout S lem, they rel te , he (Hutch “ inson ) h aving recei ved p articul ar o r der from the gover nor and cou ncil of their m ajesties col ” n a m P r o y of the Mass chusetts for the s a e . a t ridge returned th at by Vi rtue of the warrant h e “ h ad app rehe nded s aid George Bur roughs and h ave brought him to S alem and delivered him to

s d a Ma the authority there thi fourth y of y ,

Some question h as been raised about the h aste

a w as m a arran with which the rrest de . The w t w s o n t he a da A n M a issued l st y of pril . O ay

n n a r a a h rn 2 , Hutchi so dd essed letter to H t o e “ and r n a n h ad a Co wi , s yi g he c used Burroughs ” a n and n a to be pprehe ded se t to S lem . This

M . . C V . 391. 11 Ih d . . 10 a v 32. ss Hist oll III , , , 138 WI TCHC RAFT IN SALEM VILLAGE . letter Partridge probably took to S alem with n a him him o that d y . This would give two n n r m d ay s to go to Wells a d retur to Po ts outh , and the third and fourth in which to r each

S a m w as a n in lem . The ti e mple, eve those t n ar n d ays of Slow travel . Deposi io s ch gi g Burroughs with bei ng concerned in the witch craft business h ad been m ade as early as Ap ril

2 t rm a m a n h ad b n m a and 3 . Af er fo l co pl i t ee de ar ant u was na a a m a the w r iss ed, it tur l th t tters

nn ar s co ected with the re t should be expedited . Burroughs re m ain ed in j ail until the 9th of n nd Ma n w as a n . u a y , whe he ex mi ed Sto ghto Sew all com e dow n to assist Hathorne and Cor w in in A r a n r w as in the work . p iv te i qui y s titute d by the judges and the m iniste rs of the

n r n ur a o r eighbo i g ch ches . The record of th t p tion of the ex amination is as follows

’ n a n ar L r r Bei g sked whe he p took of the o d s suppe , he n a a in m m n n t R r bei g ( s he s id) full co u io a oxbu y , he n r it a l n n a swe ed w s so o g si ce he could no t tell , yet he o w n w as at m n n r ed he eeti g o e Sabbath at Boston , pa t of the d a and r r ar y , the othe at C h a lestown p t of a Sabbath when the sacram ent h appened to be at both yet did no t r r t p a take of eithe . H e denied th at his house a Casco w as n Th h au ted yet he owned there were toads . e above w as r in p ivate n one of the bewitched being present .

Then followed the examination in Open court

At his e ntry into the court room m any (if no t all of t h e r r an bewitched) we e g ievously tortured . Sus Sheldon testi ’ ﬁ e d that Burroughs two wives appeared in their winding s and a heets s id that m an killed them . He w as bid to look

140 T WI CHCRAFT IN SALEM VILLAGE .

Burroughs w as brought upon his trial on Au 5 gust . Among the m ore in teresting depositions m ade durin g the trial of Burroughs we re those of

Ann na an d r t w o Put m Me cy Lewis, of the a fl Ann a r a a f icted . testified th t Bur oughs ppe red to h e r o ne night and told her he h ad h ad three wives and h ad bewitched the two first of them a n h a . S e to de th Subseque tly, testified th t Bur ’ roughs two first w ives appeared to her when

Mr . Burroughs was p resent ; that they turned “ their faces towards Burroughs and looked ” re d and an r and him a very g y , told th t he had been a very cruel m an to them ; that they “ should be clothed with white robes in heaven ” n a n n whe he should be c st i to hell . As soo as Burroughs dis appe ared the t w o turned their “ a a An n and as a as f ces tow rd , looked p il a ” a an d t wo white w ll, told her they were his ﬁ rst wives and th at he h ad murdered them . ” “ m e n n Sh e w as One told , she co ti ues , his ﬁrst wife and he stabbed her under the left arm a a n w ax n and put piece of se li g on the wou d , and Sh e pulled aside the windi ng Sheet an d ” n w showed me the pl ace . The seco d ife tol d “ Ann a w a no w , th t ife which he h th , killed her in the vessel as Sh e w as com ing to see his ” friends .

12 n an IL 131 . New E gl d, , 141 REV O O S . . GE RGE BURR UGH

In in r a read g this rema k ble piece of evidence , which is given here substantially in the l angu age

na r an of the origi l , it is impo t t not to lose sight a a Ann n e au of the f ct th t Put am , the r puted

w as a a e . thor of it, only twelve ye rs of g Are we no t forced to o ne of two conclusio ns either ’ a r ra r a it th t the gi l s story is lite lly t ue , or th t w as m anufactured for her by her father or some other of the Older people i nterested in the pros e cut io n Would a girl of that age be c apable “ of m anufact uring such a story To whom sh all we attribute the authorship To Thomas a m an a Putn m If he uf ctured this , how much more of the witchcraft testimony owe s its origin to the s ame source I am no t disposed to sit in judgm ent in this m atter but certainly even the casual re ader should no t be allo wed to ﬁll his mind with these rem arkable statements without having his attention called to important n controlli g facts . The statement of Mercy Lewis is equally re a n mark ble . She deposed that on the ight of 9 a o n a May , Burroughs c rried her up to high mountainand Showed her all the kingdoms of the earth and told m e th at he would give them u and all to me if I wo ld write in his book, if I would n o t he would throw m e down and break ” m n y neck . She told him she would o t write in the book if he threw her down on “ 100 ” pitchforks . 142 TC C AFT S A M V A WI H R IN LE ILL GE .

A great portion of the testim o ny again st rr as a a n a Bu oughs , I h ve s id, co sisted of st te

n r r n n me ts ega di g his phenom e nal stre gth .

a r h w Mr n an o . S muel Webbe , for i st ce, told Burroughs put h is ﬁnger into the bung of a

a r n rr b r el of mol asses . lifted it up a d c a ied it a n h im an d n n rou d set it dow . This is the o ly direct testim o ny of great feats of st rength

no t r which does disc edit itse lf . No doubt this is an exaggeration of the facts or a m isappre h e n ’ n r m an m a Gre e nslit s sio of the ci cu st ces . Tho s testim ony which is given belo w is the o nly r n n m na r n other di ect evide ce of phe o e l st e gth .

r n ar a n AS f o r Eve ythi g else is he s y evide ce . Gre e nslit a a a n m an e r , he ppe rs to h ve bee a utt ly

Of a a and no t . devoid ch r cter , to be believed

n ar a m r 15 w His depositio be s d te Septe be , hich would be nearly a month after the execution of r Ma n n Bu roughs . y it o t have bee procured a r n o n na n fte the executio , to ffset the i dig tio of ’ some Of Burroughs friends We m ay as w ell dispose of Gre e nslit at this n n u an n poi t , by givi g the s bst ce of his depositio ,

n r n r r altho ugh no t i ch o ological o de . He de

a saw Mr . rr w as posed th t he Bu oughs, who e lately execut d , “ lift a gun of six foot barrel o r thereabouts putting the forefinger of his right han d into the m uz ze ll of s aid gun r a n r an d that he held it out at a m s e nd only with th t fi ge , an d further this depon en t t e stifi e th that at the s am e tim e he saw the said Burroughs take a full barrel of m olasses

W TC C A T IN SA M V A I H R F LE ILL GE .

a w h a the pl ce ere she s id she saw Burroughs . am n a Willi s fell i to ﬁt .

m n Sh e a a rn a f o r ar Co i g out s id , You h ve to his co t I he d ” “ ” “ r r a ? a . n n it te a . Whe e bouts s id I O o e Side said ” . T n n L n r and she he we we t to the house of ieut . I ge soll , n n a r a r m and A a am in an d a I we t i to g e t oo big il c e s id , ” “ r an . a r ? r ? and r the e he st ds I s id , whe e whe e p es n r r T n A a a n e tly d ew m y apier. he big il s id he is go e but ’ “ r r T n a r a ? the e is a g ay c at . he I s id whe e bouts “ “ ” T r a Sh e r . T n r m he e , s id , the e he I st uck with y rapier and she fell into a ﬁt ; an d when it was over Sh e “ ” a h e r . s id , you killed

n n a h e no t cat Hutchi so s id could see the , whereupon William s i n formed his credulous soul th at the spect re o f S arah Good h ad come in an arr a a a an m a d c ied w y the de d i l .

a a r r m r These ff i s , be it eme be ed, occurred in

a d a - an a bro d y light . Deliver ce Hobbs , c lled as

a n in as r t h e r nn n . wit ess the c e, p otes ed i oce ce Subseque ntly she was exami ned in p riso n and n a h Sh e h ad at co fessed th t S e w as a witch . tended a m eeting of witches whe re Burroughs

’ w as r a r an d r m all p e che , p essed the to bewitch

a a m n r a ram n in the vill ge . He d i iste ed the s c e t

m r and re d n to the with red b ead wi e like blood . a t A a a n Her d ugh er, b g il Hobbs , bei g in at am m h m brought the s e ti e , w ile her other w as r n w as m m a a n a p ese t, i edi tely t ke with dre adful ﬁt ; and h e r m other being asked who w as h a r au an w as it t t hu t her d ghter, swered it m an and s aw him and Good Corey , she the

146 A A A WITC HCR F T IN S LEM VILL GE .

na ra they found nothi ng but wh at w as tu l . He w as n w r and o n 19 co victed, ho eve , the th of

- an o n a h a m . August h ged G llows ill , S le

Cal ef s ays he w as c arried in a cart with the others r n Was th ough the streets of Salem to execution . Whe he upon the ladder he m ade a speech f o r the clearing of his in no ce n cy wi t h such solem n an d serious exp ressions as were to the adm iration of all p resen t : h is prayer which he co n ’ cluded by repeating the Lord s prayer so well worded an d uttered with such com posedn ess and such (at least seem ing) r n r as w as r aff t n and r ar fe ve cy of spi it , ve y ec i g , d ew te s r m m an a i m m a S a r f o y , so th t t see ed to so e th t the pect to s

n r n Th e a r a a would hi de the executio . ccuse s s id the bl ck m an i 14 n a w as stood and dictated to h m . AS soo s he

rn ff r - M r n m n n a r O M . C o t t o n a tu ed , the , bei g ou ted upo ho se , a r m ar r a dd essed hi self to the people , p tly to decla e th t he

rr w as n o r a n m n r and ar l (Bu oughs) o d i ed i iste , p t y to possess the people of his guilt s aying that the devil h as of ten been tran sf orm ed in to an angel of light ; an d this som ewhat ap a n n n pe sed the people a d the executio we t o n . When he w as n w as ra a r a h o r cut dow , he d gged by the h lte to ole , ra n r a S r and g ve , betwee the ocks , bout two feet deep , his hi t r n Off a nd an a r o f r r b eeches bei g pulled , old p i t owse s of o ne o n r r i executed put his lowe p a ts . He w as so put n together with Will ard and C arrier that o ne of his h ands and his ” n an d a o ne m r n r 15 chi , foot of of the , we e left u cove ed .

Judge S e w all w rot e under d ate of August 19

T d a r e rr u n ar n Pr his y Geo g Bu o ghs , Joh Will d , Joh oc t e r Mar a C arr r and r a r , th ie Geo ge J cobs we e executed at

4 A r n ra w as 1 pe so guilty of witchc ft suppo s ed to be inc ap ar ’ r a n t h e L r ra r rr a h ble of epe ti g o d s p ye co ectly, lthoug this w as only incidental and corroborative testim ony and w as never r n n It i conside ed as i any sense co clusive . s no t certain that t h e r n w as a a m an m a ra o r d epetitio lw ys de ded by the gist tes ju ges . It does appear however that the accused often volunt arily re e at e d t h e ra r as rr o n p p ye Bu oughs did this occasion . ’ 15 r Ed . 254 . Fowle s , 147 REV GE ORGE O S . . BURR UGH

a m a r r a n m r Of a r n r n S le , ve y g e t u be spect to s bei g p ese t , Mr m Ha Mr . n a r w as r . S Cotto M the the e , i s , le , Noyes , Al l m a r nn n arr r Cheever & c . of the s id they we e i oce t , C ie a R an d all . Mr a r a all . M the s ys they died by ighteous

r rr ra r r n a Sen tence . M . Bu ough by his Speech , P ye , p ese t n nn n m m n n in r ns tio of his I oce ce did uch ove u thi k g pe so , which occasion s their spe aking hardly concerning his being ” 16 executed . Thus ended the life of the m ost im portant personage executed during this period an d o ne m n of. the most note d of witchcraft victi s i the

r a O n n histo y of the world . Wh tever pi io s we m ay e ntertain with regard to the general subject

t ra m a Of r of wi chc ft , or of the ist kes the cou ts a O n n m in these c ses , only one pi io see s possible concerning the tre atment of the accused before a a and after tri l . They were tre ted with the

a r n grossest brut lity , f om the begi ning to the m a end , fro the most ged and inﬁrm to the nd m nn youngest a ost i ocent .

16 S wa Pa r 369 . e ll pe s , A T R I CH P E V II .

B R I D GE T B I SH OP AND TH E JA C OB S FAMI L Y .

B w as arr r 19 IDGET Bishop ested Ap il ,

1 2 o n a arran d r 69 a . , w t issued the y befo e He r exami nation t ook pl ace o n the day arr and w as mm t a of est , she co it ed to j il .

r d w as e n a B i get the s co d wife of Edw rd Bishop , ” w h r r a r . as e a s wye Bishop thi d husb nd . Her w as o ne Wassl e be e an d h e r n m a ﬁrst , seco d , Tho s

r m e m ar a a n n n Olive . Bishop hi s lf ried g i i e

n a r r w as an mo ths fte B idget h ged . The Bishops ’ at the time O f B ridget s arrest we re livin g n ear

ne a m a and r o n the li between S le Vill ge Beve ly , the ro ad which no w l e ads fro m No rth Beverly

an r and ne ar O t rr to D verspo t, ly pposi e the Che y

arm w m e r Of hill f . Good ife Bishop kept so so t a public h ouse for the entert ai nment of travel e rs r m um n s o n ar a . F o the doc e t ﬁle it appe s th t

r n n r n and a h e r she sold cide , if othi g st o ger , th t gue sts sat up l ate at night pl aying at shovel

ar r n n and m a n m n h a bo d, d i ki g ki g so uch oise t t the neighbo rs com pl ained of the pl ace . Bishop and r anna r his ﬁ st wife H h , we e before the court

A A 149 BRIDGET BI SH OP AND THE J COB S F M ILY .

16 53 and n n a in ﬁ ed, he for pilferi g of pples and a n n ian n and and lying, she for ste li g I d cor

n 1 w as n n lyi g . Bishop also ﬁ ed for co tempt of

in no t n mm n in an a court obeyi g a su o s J u ry ,

1692 r w as a e o n a ar . B idget Bishop rrest d ch ge

ra in 1680 r and ar e . of witchc ft , t ied disch g d It

n r m is evide t, the efore, that neither of the stood m m n in before the co u ity the best possible light . Any n e w ch arge to the discredit of either w as quite likely to be believed .

am e ra th e r S u l G y , who preferred cha ge of

ra a n m an in 1680 e witchc ft ag i st this wo , testiﬁ d

n a t r a w and re lo g f e , on his de th bed, his sorro pe nt anc e for such accus atio ns as b e i n g wholly n 2 n a n grou dless . The court reporter o the occ sio ’ of Bridget Bishop s exam inatio n before the magistrates in 1692 left this record

n As soo as she c am e n ear all fell into ﬁts . M ary Walcott s aid th at h e r brothe r Jon ath an stroke h e r appe aran ce and she saw that he h ad tore h e r coat in strik in and r n m r in r a g she hea d it tear . Upo so e sea ch the cou t n re t that seem s to an swer what w as alleged w as foun d . — They say you bewitched your ﬁ rst husban d to death Ii

a r r I n n n . it ple se you wo ship , k ow othi g of it Sh r e sh ake h e head and the afﬂicted were tortured . Th e a a n like g i upon m otion of h e r hea d . The court sought to m ake her confess by lead n a in m but ing questio s repe ted various for s , w as u nable to shake her ﬁ rm deni al of every a ch rge .

- 1 C n C r at 1653 . 42 43 . Essex ou ty ou t Ipswich, , Nos ’ 2 C a r . 247. lef, Fowle s ed 150 TC C A T SA M A WI H R F IN LE VILL GE .

The report continues Then she turned up h e r eyes and the eyes of the afﬂicted we re turn ed up . I t m ay be you do n o t know that any have confessed to d ay who h ave been exam in ed before you that they are W — I kn w n n n s n Of . n H itche No , o othi g it Joh utchi so and John L ewis in open court afﬁ rm ed that they h ad told

h e r. — are a in ﬂ at li . t Why , look you , you t ken no w a e I did no m hear the . The rem ainder of the report is so nearly like th at in other cases that its use he re would be

n h r n w T e as t a . mere repetitio . p iso er sen to j il ne w and m n r h ad The court of Oyer Ter i e , which n n V o n Ma 27 sat bee co stituted by GO . Phips y in a m n 2 th e r a r S le , Ju e , for t i l of B idget a and w as Bishop , Rebecc Nurse others . She ,

r o ne n r therefo e , of the ﬁrst perso s t ied by the

r and o ne r a new cou t, of the ﬁ st of the lleged witches of S alem and S alem Village to be tried in 1692 d n a a n h e r at r a . The evi e ce g i st this t i l h as com e down to us with a considerable deg ree

n r n m n of ful ess . The e were ﬁve i dict e ts . They charged the p risone r in the usual form with

ra in n and a a n witchc ft , upo g i st Mercy Lewis, a am a a a e Abig il Willi s, M ry W lcott, Eliz b th a and An n na v Hubb rd Put m , respecti ely . In additio n to the custom ary testim ony of the af ﬂict e d that the shape of the accused did Often

n an d e r r m and pi ch, bite, choke oth wise hu t the , h ad t m na in a urged he to write their mes book, “ ” a n a which the pparitio c lled our book , they

1 2 A A M A 5 WITCH CR FT IN S LE VILL GE .

’ kill ; after he h ad p assed by this deponen t s horse stood still wi a ma a n SO a r r n th s ll lo d goi g up hill , th t the ho se t yi g to ” ra all ar ﬂ i and ar n . d w, his ge s e w n pieces the c t fell dow

. n a a Rev Joh H le of Beverly, testiﬁed th t the wife of John Trask desired of him th at Bishop ’ be not perm itted to receive the Lord s Supper till Sh e h ad given s atisfaction for som e offences

TB ASK HO S NO H V Y . U E , RT BE ERL that were against her because Sh e did entertain certain people in her house at unseasonable hours in the night to keep drinking and pl aying at shovel-board whereby discord did arise in the other fam ilies and young people we re in danger ” “ a a a a to be corrupted . He gre tly fe red th t if stop had not been put to those disorders Edward Y 153 BRIDGE T BI SH OP AND THE JACOB S FAMIL .

’ Bishop s house would h ave bee n a house of gre at ” r h n n n n w p o p ainne ss a d i iquity . The ext e s he he ard of Christian Trask w as that she w as dis ” a and a a Sh e w as tr cted, her husb nd s id so taken the night after she compl ained of Goody Bishop . n n n at n a He co ti ued his testimo y le gth, st ting “ th at the dist ractions returned from time to

m n r n ti e u til Mrs . T ask died . As to the wou ds that she died of I did Observe three deadly

n Of n n o es, a piece her wi dpipe cut out, a other wound above it through the wind pipe and gul n a a lets the vei s they call jugl r , so th t I then judged and still do apprehend it impossible for her with so short a pair of scissors to m angle herself SO w ithout some extraordinary work of ” an the devil or witchcraft . Is there y reason to a a m n a doubt, fter re ding this testi o y , th t Chris an w as n n and m ti ‘Trask i sa e , so com itted sui cide ? ‘ Two witnesses testiﬁed that on taking down the cell ar wall in the old Bishop house where r d in 1685 B i get lived , they found in holes in the ’ wall several poppits m ade up of rags and hog s brussels with headless pins in them with the n n poi ts out . Poppits were believed to represe t r m aff the pe son who the witch desired to lict, and by sticking pi ns i nto those im ages the mischief w as supposed to be myste riously and safely ao m a w as co plished . Wh tever done to the im ages 154 TC C A T A M A WI H R F IN S LE VILL GE . w as f ran n n m , so the belie , do e to the perso who

r n 8 they rep ese ted . S am uel Sh attuck testiﬁed th at B ridget Bishop cam e to his house to buy a hogshe ad which he r and n a a asked ve y little for, she we t w y without

n r m in a m it . Su dry othe times she ca e s ooth ﬂattering m anner he had thought since to m ake

o r n m mischief . At very ear this ti e his eldest child which h ad promised much he alth and nu “ de rst an ding w as take n in a droopi ng co ndition and as she came often to the house it grew worse and AS an n at worse . he would be st di g the door would fall out and bruise his face upon a great step -stone as if he h ad been thrust out by ” n an an i visible h d . Sometimes the child would go out in the garden and ge t on a board and when they would call it it would walk to the end of the board and hold out its hands as if it ff could come no further and they h ad to lift it o .

A a n r him a a Of g i , Bishop b ought p ir sleeves to m n h e a him dye . He dyed the a d S p id two n m n nr a . a pe ce He g ve the o ey to He y Willi ms , and Willi am s told h im he put it in a purse among some other m oney and put the purse in a

n n r a r n box a d locked the box . He eve fte fou d the “ ” n in h ad n . mo ey or purse the box . It go e out John Lander testiﬁed that Bishop came into his m room o ne night and sat o n his sto ach . He put

3 n . Hi . COIL II . 143. Essex I st st , ,

156 TC C A T SA M V A WI H R F IN LE ILL GE . a a n and a n and g i , we did then pprehe d or judge a a h ad do still , th t s id Bishop bewitched said ” n r sow . Joh Cook told the cou t that five or Six ye ars previously he w as ass aulted with the S Of r n r in am and hape the p iso e his ch ber, so terrified th at an apple th at he h ad in his h an d ’ fle w strangely from him into his m other s l ap n six or eight feet dista t .

r a m r The t i l occupied ost of the week . B idget n w as convicted and sentenced to be ha ged . She w as o n r a n 10 n n executed F id y , Ju e , bei g the o ly n an o n a da and n perso h ged th t y , he ce the ﬁrst

m r r u n 1692 victi of the g eat wit chc aft del sio of . a a Sh e m a no t a n n C lef s ys, de the le st co fessio ’ ’4 n n r a n ra of a ythi g el ti g to witchc ft . Of her u n a n o a r exec tio we h ve det ils , but the cou t reco rds co ntain the origi nal w arrant for h e r exe ’ c utio n and S r n n AS h the he iff s retur thereo . t is is t h e only death warrant which h as been pre served ih these cases it is quoted he re in full

To George C orwin gentm High Sheriff of the coun ty of Essex greeting r a B r al r E ar Whe e s idget Bishop , s Olive , the wife of dw d S a m in n E a r at a Bishop of le the cou ty of ssex , s wye , spec iall court of Oyer an d Term in er held at Salem the secon d d ay of this instan t m onth of Jun e f o r the co un t y e s of ES

e x an d ff r am n E s . S , Middlesex Su olk befo e Willi Stoughto q and his associate justices of the said court w as indicted n d arra n r n m n f o r n a ign ed upo ﬁve seve al i dict e ts usi g , practicing an d exercising o n the nyn t e e nth d ay of April l ast p ast an d divers other days an d tim es before a nd after

’ 4 r Ed . 247 . Fowle s ,

158 TC C A T SA M V A WI H R F IN LE ILL GE . tio n an d there c ause h e r to be b ange d by the neck until she a and r n r n m a r rn be de d , of you doi gs he ei ke etu to the r r n r an r are no t cle ke of the S d cou t a d p cept . d he eof you to faile at your peril an d this shall be your sufﬁcien t w ar ran t given under m y h an d and seal a t Boston the eight h d y of Jun e in the fourth year of the reign of o ur S o virgne Lord 85 L ady William 85 Mary no w King and Q ueen over Engl an d 85 0 anno gr d o m 1692 William Stoughton

According to the within written precept I have taken the body of the wi thin nam ed B rige t t Bishop out of thei r m ajes ties goal in Sa lem and s afely c o nv e igh e d h e r to the place provided f o r h e r execution an d c aused ye sd B rige tt to be h anged by the neck untill she w as dead %and buried in the place] al l which w as according to the tim e within required r urn e m an d so I m ake e t by e . r n h riﬁ Geo ge Corwi S e .

’ The words in b rackets in the sheriff s return were w ritten in the original and the n p artially a are m r an r as n er sed . They i po t t, howeve , i di ’ a n th e n Of N c ti g dispositio Bishop s body . o doubt other bodies were disposed of in the s ame

m ann r r n r a r r e . Co wi p ob bly e ased the wo ds after writing them because the m atter of burial w as no t m n n in arran e tio ed the w t . The history Of the J acobs family in connection with the witchcraft prosecutions is peculiarly

n r n r a Se n. r i te esti g . Geo ge J cobs, , Geo ge n nd a and a a u . a J cobs , J , his wife Rebecc d ughter ll m n m ar ar a a u . a M g et , were cc sed The old ust a n n a m r h ve bee seve ty ye rs of age or o e , for he ﬂ n a h ad n . a lo g , owi g white h ir He lived on

rm in a w as No rthﬁe ld s fa wh t then known as , T S OP AND THE AC O S AM Y 15 BRIDGE BI H J B F IL . 9

in a m a a a m a o n and S le r ther th n S le Vill ge, but territo ry no w i ncluded in the town of Dan a w as n m vers . The ex ct site ear the outh of

r Endicott or Cow House river, the ﬁ st of the three rivers o ne crosses in driving from S alem to a a w as n a m an m D nvers . J cobs evide tly of so e

r and r a a a ra n prope ty, p ob bly good ve ge citize ;

r n but , like most of the othe s who fell u der sus

ic io n ra an d a m a r m n p of witchc ft, for th t tte , a y

r n h ad h ad a of thei eighbors, he little trouble h h im n which ad brought i to court . The records Show th at in 1677 he w as ﬁned for st riking a

so n un . a man . His , George , j , three ye rs earlier, w as sued by N ath aniel Putnam to recover the value of some horses th at he h ad ch ased into the n river where they were drow e d . The court a a n a o b 5 1 h M c s . 0t da a found g i st J On the y of y , “ 1692 a rn and n a a an , H tho e Corwi issued w rr t to ” the constable of S alem directin g him to ap m n e a s e n . a e prehe d G orge J cobs , , of S l , and

a a a s a r a M rg ret J cob , d ughte of Geo rge J cobs , m n un . a a On a j , of S le , si gle wom n . the s me “ ” da a n a a m re y, Joseph Ne l , co st ble for S le , turned that he h ad apprehended the bodies of

nd r a a a . a a George J cobs , sen , M g ret J cobs . They

5 r a un . n m a n f o r r n Geo ge J cobs , j , bei g co pl i ed of d ivi g of horses into th e river and threatening to drown them and som e horses l ost and o n e foun d de ad in t h e river shortly afterwards t h e court found t h e said Jacobs bl am able an d that they do adjud ge h im to p ay t h e charge ari sing upon the hearing

t h e a t h e is 2os . C n C r Sa m I . 11 . of c se , costs ou ty ou t, le , , No W TC C A T I N S A M V A E I H R F LE ILL G . w e re ake n t o a e m at d a and th e e am na t S l th y , x i

n o f Old m an w as e un at n e r tio the b g o ce . Aft som e p re lim i nary que s tio ns and th e us ual s uf ” e r n O f th e afﬂi t e t h e re r n n e f i gs c d, po t co ti u s, Jaco bs s aying

AD AV N SA . BE LE T ER , LEM

r - I am as innocen t as the child bo n to night . I have lived

33 ye ars here in S alem . — What then If you can prove that I am guilty I will lye n r u de it . S ara C r a a ni w as afﬂ at a n h hu chill s id , l st ght I icted De co ’ n r an d Mar a a w as a m an 2 I ge soll s , y W lcott s id , it with

a . a m m r st ves It w s y aste .

162 TC C A T SA M V A WI H R F IN LE ILL GE .

rn m e o r an m e l an in th e r Well , bu h g I wil st d t uth of

C r n n n . h ist . I k ow othi g of it

a na n o n l o th w as This ex mi tio , begun the , sus n m a m n and pe ded for so e re son before co pletio , n n ﬁ ished on the 11th . On that day the accusi g

n r n m girls were prese t in full fo ce . Amo g the w as a a r a S r h Chu chill, who g ve very positive n a n n evide ce ag i st the prisoner . Subseque tly, ara n S h I gersoll deposed .

T a n ara r r r h t seei g S h Chu chill afte h e exam ination , she am m e r in an d r n n h e r an m n c e to c y g , w i gi g h ds , see i gly

a r a a h . h e m uch troubled in spirit . I sked h e wh t iled e r S

an r h ad n n r a in a . Sh e swe ed she u do e he self . I sked wh t s aid in belyin g herself an d others in saying she h ad set h e r ’ an h d to the devil s book whereas Sh e s aid I n ever did . I h told h e r I beli eved Sh e h ad set h e r hand to the book . S e

an r and a no no no . n r . a h e r th e n swe ed s id , , , I eve did I sked h an r a wh at m ade h e r say she did . S e swe ed bec use they r a n h e r an d h e r h e r n t h e th e te ed , told they would put i to

n n and h e r a n Mr . rr and u du geo put lo g with Bu oughs , th s several tim es Sh e followed m e up and down telling m e she

h ad n n r in n r and r . a u do e he self , belyi g he self othe s I sked h n h m a e r why she did no t de y she wrote it . S e told e bec use

h ad n in a n o Sh e r no t . Sh e she stood out so lo g it , th t w du st

a a a Mr . n h ad s id , lso , th t if she told Noyes but o ce she set h r h e r e hand to the book , he would believe , but if she told h e n h e r an the truth , and said S h ad o t set h d to the book a r hun dred tim es he would no t believe h e .

George Herrick testiﬁed that in May he went f to the j ail and searched the body O Jacobs . He found a t e tt u nder the right shoulder a quarter r n a in of an inch long . He a p through it but “ w as n a r n there either w ter , blood nor cor uptio , ”

an at and n . nor y other m ter, so we make retur T IS OP AND T HE AC O S AM Y 163 BRIDGE B H J B F IL .

The following document is also am ong th e pa pe rs

wee whose n am es are under written h aving received an order from ye sreife to search ye bo d y e s o f George B ur rough s and George J acobs wee ﬁ nd n othing upon ye body of ye above sayd Burroughs but wt is n aturall but upon y e body of George Jacobs wee ﬁ n d 3 t e tt s w ch according to y e best of o ur judgem ents wee think is no t n at urall f o r w e e run a pinn through 2 of ym an d he w as no t sin c ibl e of it o ne of them bein g within his m outh upon y e inside of h is right cheak and 2d upon his right shoulde r bl ade and a 3d upon his right hipp . Ed Welch sw o rne John Flint jurat Will Gill sw o rne To m West sw o rne Z e b Gill jurat Sam Morgan sw o rne

John B are jurat .

a w as The jury found J cobs guilty, and he sen t e nc e d a and o n t to the g llows , executed Augus ’ After his condem nation the sheriff s Officers to and all s went his house seized his good , and ’ n even took his wife s wedding ri g . It was with n gre at diffi culty th at she obtai ed it again . She was under the necessity of buying provisions of f h ad a the sheri f, such as he t ken from her . s ffi These not being u cient to sustain life , the m neighbors supplied her with ore . In the mean tim e w arrants were issued on

14 a . and w May , for George J cobs, jun , his ife

a . Rebecc . Jacobs escaped When the constables took Rebecca she had four young children in her home . Some of them followed her on the road, but being too young to conti nue far they - were 164 TC A T A M A WI HC R F IN S LE VILL GE .

n and left behi d, cared for by the n e i gh bo r s Re becca Jacobs w as kept in i ro ns eight i months , then n dicted and brought

6 Jacobs w as buried o n h is farm in Danvers r r po t , whe e h is grave m a n at d y be see this ay . Th e rem ains were ex h um e d a 1 6 bout 8 4, ex am ine d and redeposited in the earth where they h ad l ain f o r n early two n r ce tu ies . Th e skull w as found to be fairly r r T well p ese ved . h e j aw bones were those of an m an old , the teeth being all n g o e . A m etalio p in w as the only article found s ave the bones m F a ily tradi tion h as it that Jacobs w as hanged o n a tree o n h is o wn arm M . r. C . f M . Endi cott says h is grand m r a r othe , di ect d e sce n an h im d t , told that the body after execution in Salem w as brought h m e f o r burial by h is so n w h , o witnessed t h e an n O h gi g . thers s ay it w r n as a g a dson . Essex n . . C . I . 53 I st Hist oll , , ’ Ca F w r Ed 258 lef , o le s . ,

166 W TC C A T SA M V A I H R F IN LE ILL GE . and r ar n w etched he t , co fessed several things contrary to m o w n n n an d n n y co scie ce k owledge , though to the wou d in m o w n L r ar n m e f o r th e g of y soul , the o d p do it . But O ,

rr r a un n n h r ? B ut te o s of wo ded co scie ce , w o c an bea L r m n blessed be the o d , he would no t let m e go o n in y si s , in m r m no t suff e r m e but e cy , I hope , to y soul , would to in an n r b ut w as f r n r keep it y lo ge , I o ced to co fess the t uth al l r m a r m e of befo e the gist ates , who would no t believe , ’ r a r m e r and n but tis thei ple su e to put he e , God k ows how n m e r a a . ar a r soo I sh ll be put to de th De f the , let beg you ra r L r o n m a an d n a and p ye s to the o d y beh lf , se d us joyful m n i r r m an a n H a n . m h ppy eeti g e ve My othe , poo wo , is

r ra and r m m r h e r n and ve y c zy, e e be s ki d love to you , to n iz d— A a n r n u cle , V . so le vi g you to the p otectio of the

L r r r u a r . o d , I est you d tiful d ughte Margaret Jacobs . From the dun geon in a m r n S le p iso ,

Au 20 1 2 . g . , 69 At the next session of the court Margaret n n in a made a other co fession w hich she s id , Th e Lord above kn ows I know nothing in the le ast a r o r aﬂl i e m m e m e su e , how who ct d the , they told without o r no t a n at m e doubt I did , else they would f ll dow , they told m e if I would n o t confess I should be put down into n n and an n the du geo would be h ged , but if I would co fess I, a m id aff r m e should h ve y life . Th e which d so ight with m o w n ar a m e m a m e m a y Vile wicked he t , to s ve y lif de ke n n n n m a a the like co fessio I did , which co fessio , y it ple se the hon ored court is altogether false an d un true Whatever I s aid w as altogether false against m y grand m an d a r and Mr . rr a f the Bu oughs , which I did to s ve y life a m r L r ar i n m co n to h ve y libe ty , but the o d , ch g g it to y science m ade m e in so m uch horror that I could n o t conta in m r h ad n n n yself befo e I de ied the co fessio , which I did , s aw n n a r m e n ra r though I othi g but de th befo e , choosi g the rr r death with a quiet conscience than to live in such ho o ,

n ff r r n m n n m co n which I could o t su e . Whe eupo y de yi g y ” f e i n r ss o I w as com m itted to close p ison .

CHA TER P IX.

TH E P R O C T R WI ARD E S , LL , C AR R I ER AND H O W.

HE story of the t rial of John Procter and

a Of n e r his wife Eliz beth is full i t est . The

r r e r na in P octe s liv d o igi lly Ipswich, but

e u n in a m a e at t h e n no w subs q e tly S le Vill g , poi t ’ n n as r r r n in e a k ow P octe s C ossi g P body . The house stood near the southe rly e nd of Ple as ant

r r w as a r a and e -t o - hill . P octe espect ble w ll do

a m r am n nﬂ o n o ne o r f r e . He c e i to co ict two

a n t r no t occ sio s wi h Giles Co ey , but this does seem to have h ad anythi ng to do with the s ub sequent proce edi ngs o n the charge of witch

ra a a n h im Or his a am c ft g i st wife, lthough the s e efforts have been m ade in thi s c ase as in m any ot he rs to att ribute the p ros e cution to pe rso nal

m t e r e r in 1 w a r r in an . 678 as i osi i s P oct , , efe ee a case be t ween Corey and John Gloyd . The de cis io n e r and r ar b t ra r w as of Proct , the othe i to s a a n r but a n o t a ar t o r at g i st Co ey , th t did ppe c e e an - n n t wo and are y ill feeli gs betwee the , they s aid to have dru nk toge ther afte r t h e T HE P OC T S W A A AND H 16 C o w . 9 R ER , ILL RD , RRIER

h ad n a 1 decision bee nnounced . A short ’ tim e afte r this Procter s house caught ﬁ re a nd so me o ne was u nkind e nough to suggest

a r as a r a m n n in th t Co ey set the ﬁre, l e dy e tio ed an ar e a t e r a w as ac e li r ch p er . As th e st ted , he

t t n r qui ed, whe brought to t ial .

O HO S A ODY . PR CTER U E , PE B

Com pl ai nt w as m ade against Elizabeth Proc

n r 4 o a t . na an a o an d ter Ap il , by C p Jo th W lc tt

. a an l n r a ﬂ n a Lieut N th ie I ge soll , for f icti g Abig il

am h n n an ar al t Ann Willi s , Jo I di , M y W co t ,

n am and r w as ar o n Put Me cy Lewis . She rested

i l th and a a m f o r am n a n the , t ken to S le ex i tio ,

a a e a together with S r h Cloyes , sist r of Rebecc

l E x r sse Cou t Records . A A M V A 170 WITC HCR FT IN S LE ILL GE .

N r an n am u se . D forth , deputy gover or , S uel n am a and aa n Appleto , S uel Sew ll Is c Addi gton s at with Hathorne and Corwin o n this occa

n r m a an sio . Procte hi self, like good husb d , h i s Wi at followed fe to court, but the cost of his

r a n r r life . The gi ls of the ccusi g ci cle c ied out n h im n n n agai st a d he w as the a d there arrested . u n am na r D ri g the ex i tion of Goodwife P octer , this sce ne occurred

E a r r n r an r are liz beth P octe , you u de st d whe eof you ar n r a Of ra ch ged , viz . , to be guilty of su d y cts witchc ft . a sa S a r and SO a are Wh t y you to it pe k the t uth , you th t ﬂii e d m r a an r f o r a ct , you ust speak the t uth s you will swe it Mar a t m a r an r d a . n befo e God othe y y W lcott , do h this wo — n r h r r h r hurt you I eve saw e so as to be hu t by e . M r L r — He r m a e cy ewis , does she hu t you ( outh w s stopped . ) — Ann n am r h e no t a . Put , does she hu t you (S could spe k ) A a am r — He an big il Willi s , does she hu t you ( r h d w as i thrust n h e r o w n m outh . ) n n an Sh e r — T m an a Joh I di , does hu t you his is the wo th t in h n cam e e r Shift a d choked m e . — Sh e r r n sir . Did eve b i g the book Yes , — What to do To write . — a m an s ir . Wh t , this wo Yes , — Are r sir . you su e of it Yes , Again Abigail William s and Ann Putnam were spoke to r n r m m ak an an by the cou t , but eithe of the could e y swer, m n o r r by reason of du b ess , othe ﬁts .

a sa r r n — I a Wh t do you y , Goody P octe , to these thi gs t ke in H a n m n a n n n God e ve to be y wit ess , th t I k ow othi g of it , n n rn no m ore tha the child u bo . Ann nam m an r — Y e sir Put , doth this wo hu t you s , , a T great m any tim es . ( hen the accused looked upon them and they fell into ﬁts) .

as at as

1 72 W TC C A T SA EM V A I H R F IN L ILL GE .

ar af ﬂ r n r ch ge of the icted pe so s , we e by the advice of the n all m m cou cil co itted by us . ’ ’ John Hathorn e Ass t s .

Jonath an Corwin . Procter and his wife were b rought to trial a 5 fi nd t re n m n bout August . I h e i dict e ts a a n s him o n th e e One h ar a g i t fil s . c ges th t he afflicte d Mary Walcot t o n Ap ril 1 1 ; a s e cond

h at affli r w i o n t h e am d a t he cted Me cy Le s s e y , and the t hird that he afflicte d Mary Warren o n ar 2 Tw o n m e n a a n a M ch 6 . i dict ts g i st Eliz beth r e r are o n One ar a af P oct file . ch ges th t she flict e d ar a r at affl t M y W lcott , the othe th she ic ed

r a n a Me cy Lewis , the d te of the offe ce lleged in

a a n r 1 1 m n O r e ch c se bei g Ap il . The testi o y ffe ed at these tri als differed very litt le from th at used

n in r a and n r to co vict othe c ses , the wit esses we e an al am One subst ti ly the s e . or two of the depositions are of rather m ore th an ordi nary in

rc e r a m n m ﬁ nd m te t, pe h ps . A o g the , I this so e w h at rem arkable p roduction Elizabeth Booth testiﬁed th at o n ye 8th of June hugh joanes Ap e re d unto m e 85 told m e that El e se be th Pro ck t e r k il e d h im because he h ad a p o gh t of sider of h e r which e r On n 8th El e se be th S a he h ad n o t p aid h f o r. Ju e h w Ap e re d un to m e 85 told m e y t Ele se be t h Procter 85 John Willard kile d H e r Because Sh e did no t use those doctors Y e n r A e e d Sh e Advised h e r to . wife of Joh Fulle p r un to m e an d told m e that El e se be th Procter k il e d h e r be h r A l e w n n f o r u cause sh e would no t give e p s he she se t s m . Th e app arition of L aw Sh ap ling and Doc Z eru babel Endicott appeared and said Elizabeth Procter killed

m and a ar n R r n se n . h i the , the pp itio of obe t Sto e , , told m a n Pr r and h im and at am e th t Joh octe his wife killed , the s THE P OCT S A CA AND Ho w . 173 R ER , WILL RD, RRIER

t m R r n r r and h is S n . a r a d a i e obe t to e , jr , ppea ed s id P octe ’ wife killed h im because he took his father s p art .

John Bailey deposed that,

On the 25t h of May l ast m yself an d wife being boun d to n o n r a n am in S e Bosto the o d , whe I c e ight of the hous where John Procter did live there w a s a very h ard blow r o n m r r a a n in m st uck y b east , which caused g e t p i y m a and am a m n in m a no r n sto ch ze e t y he d , but did see pe so near m e only m y wife o n m y horse behin d m e o n the sam e ’ r and n am a a n a r r ac ho se ; whe I c e g i st s id P octe s house , c r n m n r an n n r r and o di g to y u de st di g , I did see Joh P octe at r r m t he his wife said house . P octe hi self looked out of

n and an r . wi dow , his wife did st d just without the doo I told m y wife of it ; an d she did look that w ay and se e n n a m r ar a a othi g but little aid at the door . Afte w ds , bout m r m a r a w as a n S f o r ile f o the fo es id house , I t ke peechless m r m . ask m e ra n so e sho t ti e My wife did seve l questio s , and desired m e if I could n o t spe ak I Should hold up m y h an d ; which I did an d im m ediately I could Speak as well as ever. And when we cam e to the w ay where Salem roa d m n r a r r an r o n co eth i to Ipswich o d , the e I eceived othe blow m r a a m e m a n no t Sit y b e st , which c used so uch p i I could o n m r And n a o ﬁ m r m y ho se . whe I did light y ho se , to y un r and n saw a m an m n ar a 16 de st i g , I wo co i g tow ds us bout o r 20 r m M pole f o us , but did no t kn ow who it w as . y wife

no t h e r . n o n m r a a n could see Whe I did get up y ho se g i , t o m n r t an n r a r saw th e y u de s di g , the e stood cow whe e I ” m an wo .

AS a a and m tter of f ct, Procter his wife were a in n and h ad at this time, in j il Bosto , been

11 a w as there since April . B iley undoubtedly frightened at the stories he h ad he ard the pre n in a a vions eveni g S lem Vill ge , where he must have p assed the night o n his way from his home in w n a Ne bury to Bosto . His wife, who perh ps had 174 TC C A T SA M V A WI H R F IN LE ILL GE . not he ard the st ories about Procter and other w as no t a a and a witches , git ted could pl inly see that the re w as only a m aid standi ng at the ’ a e door . As for B il y s other troubles th at morn in m a as o r as g, we y believe much little as we l a n w no p e se of the story he told . We k o w that

w as no t a ar r a in there p ticle of e lity it . It may a n ra a d m a a h ve bee delibe te f lsehoo , or it y h ve n e a to o m a na n bee the eff ct of fervid i gi tio . Of ’ Pr r am n am n O octe s f ily, Be j i , the ldest, was in

r n ar n and S a a p iso with his p e ts ; his ister S r h ,

a n W am a n am ged sixtee , illi , ged eightee , S uel ,

a n a w n and r and ged seve , Abig il bet ee three fou , o ne n r w r a m a still you ge , e e bout ho e . Willi m

w as n r n r a a r se t to p iso th ee d ys l te , so it must “ ” a n m a a h ve bee the little id , Abig il, whom

a s aw an in in w a B iley st d g the door y . Daniel Elliott t e stiﬁed that he he ard o ne of the accusing gi rls say that she c ried out agai nst “ m an r r S r m Good P octe for port . The gi ls ust ” a m r sh e is a a a 2 h ve so e spo t , s id to h ve dded . r and r n and se n P octer his wife we e co victed , n f t e nc e d to be ha ged . Every ef ort possible w as m a a him r m f r n na de to s ve f o su fe i g the pe lty . John Wise and thirty -o ne Old neighbo rs in Ips wich sig ned a petition in his behalf to the

r a an a cou t of ssist ts . They s id

r n n o ur ar We ecko it withi the duties of ch ity, that as n f teaches us to do we would be do e by, to of er thus m uch

’ 2 P nam Sa m ra a n 449 . ut s le Witchc ft Expl i ed ,

176 W T C A T SA M A I CH R F IN LE VILL GE .

a Mather, Allen , Moody, Willard and B iley , which w as signed by him self and several of his r n in fellow p iso ers , which he said

Here are ﬁve persons who h ave l ately confessed them s and a m n elves to be witches , do ccuse so e of us of bei g a n i m a ram n n r m m lo g w th the at sac e t , si ce we we e co itted in r n n to close p iso , which we k ow to be lies . t w o of the ﬁve ’ are arr r n (C ie s children) young m e n , who would no t co fess an t n h m n and t y hi g till they tied t e eck heels , ill the blood w as r a m r n n am e dy to co e out of thei oses . My so Willi r r a no t n a as P octe , bec use he would co fess th t he w guilty n w as nn n h i n n whe he i oce t , they tied m eck a d heels till th e blood gus hed out at his nose . This letter w as written after the preliminary a na n and n l ex mi tio s , while the priso ers were y n t r a ing in j ail awaiti g ial . They asked th t they in t n and a might be tried Bos o , if not, th t they a m a a — h ve other gistr tes, requests which show in the strongest m anner that the trials were no t o rio usl n a r no a n y u f i , for ccused perso s would take the risk of offendi ng the m agistrat es before whom they m ight be tried unless the em ergency

na o ne a a r was a most extraordi ry , bec use f ilu e to attain the object sought w as sure to be p re judi cial a a to their c use . They also begged th t some m n r at a of the i isters be p esent the tri ls , hop ing thereby you m ay be the means of s aving the ” n n NO n n shedding of our in oce t blood . atte tio a a in a no r was paid to this ppeal for f irness tri l , ’ to the appeals for life subsequent to Procter s n n w as convictio and se tence . He executed on

19 . August His body, it is believed by his de A A D H 1 THE P OCT S A C N o w . 77 R ER , WILL RD, RRIER sc e nd ant s w as a a and , recovered fterw rds buried

m r h as n o n a . his f r , whe e it si ce reposed E liz abeth Procter escaped by pleading preg an m m n a a n cy . So e o ths fter the de th of her n a a h ild 3 husb a d she g ve birth to c . Her hom e h ad n a e a bee desol t d . Not only had her husb nd

e n an h e r m n be h ged, three of children i priso ed, and Sh e herself brought withi n the very sh adow

a O r l aw of the g llows , but the fﬁce s of the had stripped th at hom e o f all its worldly posses n n w as a a sio s . Her executio g in ordered early in 1693 OV an G . , but . Phips gr ted a reprieve Many of her rel atives in Lynn were accused and m in o a . so e br ught to tri l All all , the severe treatment of this family h as led to the charge S a r n a of peci l pe secutio . The re son for this , it ’ e w as r n n O is believ d, P octer s i te se pposition to the w itchcraft prosecutions from the very begin n n and a a a i g, p rticul rly when he s id he could ’ ’4 whip the devil out of them . Possibly if he could have applied his remedy to the accusing in nn n girls , the begi i g, we should never have ” h ad an a m a y S le Vill ge Witchcraft . John Willard of S alem Farm s was employed

’ 3 S avage s Genealogical Dicti onary of New Englan d gives — d a Jan . 27 1692 3 rr n the te , ; but the co ect ess of this is ques t io ne d . “ 4 Lieut . Ingersoll decl ared yt John Proctor tould Joseph Pope y t if h e hade John Indian in his custody h e would soon ” a d e vill h im and so said se ve rall r . Co rt be t ye out of , j othe s u r Sa m Reco ds , le . 178 W TC C A T SA M V A I H R F IN LE ILL GE . during the earlier days of the witchcraft prose cu i n in r n n n t o s to assist b i gi g in perso s accused . Accusation s were ﬁnally m ade agai nst Willard m h n ar hi self. It as bee stated that he w as ch ged because he h ad expressed sympathy with the ao cuse d and doubt s of the justice of the p roceed

n . One ma an t m i gs re rk quoted is H g he , ” e are all m a th y witches . Just why this re rk should bring upo n h im the disple asure of the

no t a n r an prosecutors is e sy to u de st d . Is it not a a w as a a n as more prob ble th t he cried out g i st ,

an r r m no a ar n m so m y othe s were, f o pp e t otive , but through the ex citem ent and terror of the times ? He w as talked about for some time

n m n m r h im before a y move e t was ade to a rest . ra a a n and He went to his g ndf ther , Br y Wilki s, man a asked the old to pr y with him , but Wil kins w as just goin g from hom e and could not a stop then . He told Will rd he would not be un m willing if he got ho e before night , but Wil

a a ar n n l rd did not re ppe . On electio week Wilki s

r an ar a e and his wife , both mo e th eighty ye s of g ,

n o n r a n rode to Bosto thei horse . Will rd we t

n n r. an n also with He ry Wilki s , j D iel Wilki s , ’ nr so n h ad ar r a a He y s , he d the sto ies bout Will rd and a n n him protested ag i st his father goi g with . “ He is quoted as s aying of Willard ° It were ” r n d a a an . On well if Will d were h ged electio y , n n n De o dat Bray Wilki s a d his wife a d Rev . ’ a a L wson were at Lieut . Richard W ys house for

180 W TC C A T SA M V A I H R F IN LE ILL GE . ing p apers o n ﬁle in the c ase is the follow ing

n Mr Ann n m s t a . r depositio of . Pu Wheth e it w as p resented to the m agistrate s to induce them ’ a arran ar arr o r w a to issue w t for Will d s est, s given in at the prelim in ary ex am i nation at

SI E OF AD AV N S S X S E SA ASS . T BE LE T ER , E E TR ET . LEM , M

’ a t a e rn in a e m w e av no m an Be dle s v S l , h e e s of

n w n um n as o w k o i g . The doc e t is f llo s

Th e shape Of Sam uel Ful ler and Lydia Wilkins this d ay m e at m o w n e a ar in told y house by the b dside , who ppe ed H rn wi n n a n o t and Mr . a di g sheets , th t if I did go tell tho e that John Willard h ad m urdered them they would tear m e r to pieces . At th e sam e tim e the appa ition of John A A A H 18 1 THE P OCT S C ND o w . R ER , WILL RD, RRIER

ar m e a h ad Sam u r L a Will d told th t he killed uel F lle , ydi ’ n Sh a and r n an d Wilki s , Goody w Fulle s seco d wife , ’ ’ Aar n a and B e n r and , o W y s child , Fulle s child this depo ’ ’ ne nt s S ara Old and n child , h , six weeks , Phillip K ight s am H and na an child with the help of Willi obbs , Jo th ’ ’ Knight s child and two of E zekiel Cheever s children with the help of William Hobbs ; an d Elliott and Isaac Nichols

NJA I N FU HO S IDD L O N . BE M LLER U E . M ET His % child bewitched to death by Willard .]

am H ’ with the help of Willi obbs . Joseph Euler s apparition also the sam e d ay cam e to m e and told m e that r h ad i Goody Co ey killed h fn .

Must we no t accept o ne of two expl anations of this rem arkable piece of evidence : th at the and whole story was literally true, therefore 182 W TC C A T SA M V A I H R F IN LE ILL GE .

ra a o r a Mr Ann n s . a witchc ft “ a re lity, th t Put m deliberately falsiﬁed? Will the theory of ge n e ral terro r and h alluci nation in the com m unity sufﬁciently expl ain the statem ent? Were the ” e o ut as ar a arr peopl of their wits , M th C ier

a On r and am un s a s id the othe h , I bo d to y that I ﬁnd no evide nce of any cause which r m Mrs nam a should p o pt . Put to m ke such

h ar a a n ar and un serious c ges g i st Will d others , less we accept the cl aim o f some w riters who profess to believe th at it w as f o r the purpose of supporting the ge ne ral pl an of p ros e cution f o r

r mm a nd ra . a w as e a w itchc ft Will d co itt d to j il , subs e quently trie d at the August sessio n of the

r n o ne e nc h as n re cou t . O ly pi ce of evide e bee p m h r a n n n r . a e served f o t is t i l Sus Sh ldo , eightee

ar a e e a at a h an n y e s of g , t stiﬁed th t N t iel I ger ’ o n Ma 9 saw a ar soll s house, y , she the pp itions

e r n of fou r p so s .

’ am S a r m an Willi h w s ﬁ st wife , the widow Cook , Good and an d am n am a ar n Jones his child , o g these c e the pp itio n ar m r a a m r of Joh Will d to who these fou s id , you h ve u r a n a ar dered us . These fou h vi g s id thus to Will d they And rn n a at m e turned as re d as blood . tu i g bout to look T r r m e they turned as p ale as death . hese fou desi ed to tell

r Ha rn . ar ar n m a n M . tho e Will d he i g the , pulled out k ife , n an saying if I did h e would cut m y throat . O oth e r occasion there cam e to h e r a shin ing m an and told h e r to r h e h im Sh e go and tell Hatho ne . S told would if he would “ a h a a . hunt Willard aw y , she would believe w t he s id With th at the shining m an held up his hands an d Willard van A t w o r a r am a ar ish e d away . bout hou s fte , the s e ppe ed to a n and a ar m and a m m e ag i the s id Will d with the , I sked the

184 W TC A T A A I HCR F IN S LEM VILL GE .

a a ar w as a r r a o n Ma M rth C rier r ested, p ob bly y

28 as th e arra a a n h e r w as u , w nt g i st iss ed on a d a Sh e w as am n o n 31st Mar th t y . ex i ed the . th a w as a u r ar a e and bo t fo ty ye s of g , the mother

a ar am r n r w of l ge f ily of child e , fou of hom were take n into custody at the s am e time th at

Sh e w as a n rm at n a d n . We h ve little i fo io reg r i g

r h e r arr e x am in her life p evious to est . At the ation before the local m agistrates they s aid to h e r : You see you look upon them and they ” ” “ a n a Sh e f ll dow . It is f lse , replied ; the a n n n S n am devil is a li r . I looked upo o e i ce I c e ” o u a n a : into the room but y . Sus n Sheldo s id I wonder what could you murder thirteenpersons ” a ri t h e n n n for . Goodwife C r er repelled i si uatio , aff l all h ad r and the icted ter ible ﬁts . She a a m a rat n a and ch rged th t the gist es were u f ir , s aid : It is a sh am eful thing that you should ” n t a are e mi d these folks h t out of th ir wits . To “ r r : am the accuse s she c ied You lie , I

” ' r n r r r r a a w o ge d . The eco de of the t i l dds “ Th e tortures of the afflicted were so great that there was n n r n as rd r a a and o e du i g it , SO that she w o e ed w y to be n n l di on aflfli ct e d in bou d hand a d foot w ith al expe ti , the m an alm AS n as w as the e while ost killed . soo she well ” boun d they all h ad strange an d sudden cease . Martha C arrier w as com mitted to prison where she rem ained until the August term of

n w as r n and se n court, whe she t ied , co victed e n d n a o n 19th t ce . Her executio took pl ce the of am m n the s e o th . THE P OCT S A CA AND Ho w . 185 R ER , WILL RD, RRIER

a a a a a e co n Her d ughter S r h , eight ye rs of g , fessed herself a witch and testiﬁed against her l h h a mother . Litt e Sarah s aid S e d been a witch ' n w as a a si ce she six ye rs old , th t her mother m ade her a witch and made her set her han d to th e w as book . The pl ace where she did it in ’ n a A drew Foster s p sture . The witches promised

a black am . to give her dog, but it never c e to her A cat came to her and said it would te ar her in pieces if she would not set her h and to the

a a cat . book . Her mother came like bl ck The a cat told her th at she w as her m other . Rich rd a Of a e a C rrier, eighteen years g , told the m gis ’ ” a a h ad nar tr tes th t he been in the devil s s e . His examination continued as follows

’ Is your brother An drew ensn ared by the devil s snare

Yes . r r a m n Ho w long h as your b othe been a witch Ne r a o th . — Ho w lOng have you been a witch Not long . u n i in n — Have y o joi ed n afflict g the afflicted perso s Yes . — l r T m S an . You he ped to hu t i othy w , did you Yes n o u n — Ho w lo g have y bee a witch About five weeks . Who w as at the Village m eeting when you were there

’ Ho w N r r r Goodwife , Goodwife u se , Goodwife Wilds , P octe ' ’ Mrs . B radbur an d r and his wife , y Co ey s wife . - E nd r n a r at a n . Wh t did they do the e , d i k wi e — r m n h ad r n e r m S a m in . F o whe ce you you wi F o le , I th k — O r r n h e r. Goodwife live the e Yes , I k ow

th e a a r a During trial of Marth C rrie , Benj min Abbott testiﬁed that he had some l and granted him to by the town of Andover, and, When this lan d cam e to be l aid out Goodwife C arrier

n r and a B e n ap wa s very a g y , s id she would stick as close to j A 186 WI TCHCRAFT IN SALEM VILL GE .

m in A as ar a r and h a bbott the b k stuck to t ee , t t I should n e nd a d a repen t of it before seven years cam e to a , n th t D r r r r m e T r r a . P escott could neve cu e . hese wo ds we e lso ar A n T a r Sh e a a Ra arn m he d by lle ooth ke . lso s id to lph F u , r n n jr. , th at she would hold m y nose so close to the g i d sto e

as eve r it w as held Sin ce m y n am e w as Benj am in Abbott . r n a r w as a n a n in m and P ese tly fte I t ke with swelli g y foot , n w a a n a a n in m in t o r the s t ke with p i y side , exceed gly

m e nt e d a r w a an Dr . r , which led to so e which s l ced by P es and r n rr n run as w as cott , seve al gallo s of co uptio did out , d h e ju ged . This continued six weeks and subsequently h ad two sores in the groin which brought h im alm ost to ’ a r and n n n G arri r w as de th s doo co ti ued , u til oodwife C e a n an d arr l r d a t ke c ied away by the constab e , and that ve y y ” an r r r r h ad r a a to I beg to g ow bette , the efo e he g e t c use n a r r Ah thi k th t Ca rie h ad a great han d in his sickness . ’ all a and a a r w as bott s wife testiﬁed to the bove , lso th t the e rr n and a m n m te ible sick ess de th a o g the cows , so e of whom would com e up out of the woods with their tongues an i n r m in r n ff r in m n h g g out of thei ouths a st a ge , a ight g a

n e r .

a a The c se of Eliz beth How , wife of John an m an m m e How, husb d , so eti s described as of and m as To sﬁe ld h as al Ipswich someti es of p , a m in w ys excited uch interest . The documents the c ase Sh ow th at she w as a wom an of most m ar a a and and exe pl y ch r cter, devout pious, kind ar a a a a n ch it ble . These tr its v iled her othing, r n n a i howeve , whe childre ccused her of w tch

a w r n M . as a o a 29 o n a cr ft She r ested y , war ran da and t issued the previous y , brought before

m a i ra am na n o n 3 i st the g st tes for ex i tio the . Elizabeth How w as torn from a lo ving and af ﬂict e d n n a t husba d and two interesti g d ugh ers .

188 T C A T SA M A WI CH R F IN LE VILL GE .

Af an d rt r r a r t e n ar a e ﬂicted to u ed thei d ughte , y e s of g , until she pined away to skin an d bon e and ended h e r so r ” ro w f ul l A Ho r n r in ife . lso that w desi ed to joi the chu ch Ipswich and they went there to testify again st h e r and within a few days afte r h ad a c o w well in the m orn in g as f ar as n ak n ran r we k ow, this cow w as t e st gely unn ing about l ik e a m ad thing a little while and then ran into a great n and r r nd a n a h a m po d d owned he self, a s soo s S e w as de d y s ons and m yself towed h e r to th e Shore and sh e stunk so h a h a r t t we d m uch ado to Sica h e .

Francis Lane testiﬁed that he helped James ’ and a and How get out some posts r ils , How s wife told them she did no t think the posts and

a n r rails would do, bec use Joh Pe ley helped get and n n them , whe they we t to deliver the posts a n m o ff and r ils the e ds of so e forty broke , an a a in n n although L e s id, th t his apprehe sio n a a they were good sou d r ils C pt . John How ,

-in-law a a brother of Eliz beth, testiﬁed th t she him a a asked to go with her to S lem F rms , when w as a n and n she to be ex mi ed, he decli ed because h e h ad and a to go to Ipswich, th t soon after he got home ,

Standing at m y o w n door talking with o ne of m y n r h ad a six m a in ar th e eighbo s, I sow with s le pigs the y d , so w w as as as f ar as n as r o ne a n sh e well I k ow eve , sudde l eaped up about three o r four feet high and turned about ” n ne a and a a d gave o sque k fell down de d . He told his neighbor he thought the animal o ff and was bewitched, and then cut her ear , the h and he had the knife in was so numb and full of p ain that night and several days after that I and e could not do any work, I suspect d no other THE P OCT S A CA AND Ho w 189 R ER , WILL RD , RRIER .

n perso but my said sister Elizabeth How . S a and a n n muel Phillips Mr . P yso , mi ister of n o ne da a Rowley, we t y to see this ten ye rs old and d daughter of the Perleys , she tol Goodwife How in their presence that if she did compl ain of her in her ﬁts Sh e did not know th at Sh e did ” a a m a so . They lso fﬁr ed th t a brother of the n a a n girl , looki g out of ch mber wi dow, told her sa a w as to y th t Goodwife How a witch, and ” a n o t a Ho w the girl sp ke a word . Eliz beth

19 . was hanged with others on Tuesday , July CHAPTER X

S USANNA MAR TI N, MAR Y EAS T Y AND OTH ER S .

USANNA Marti n of Amesbury w as a h n ar widow . She ad bee ch ged with ra as a as 1669 a witchc ft e rly , but esc ped n n at m am na n in co victio that ti e . Her ex i tio 1692 a at a o n Ma 2 took pl ce the Vill ge y , the n h aVin n n h warra t g bee issued o the 30t of April . In m nar am na ar the preli i y ex i tion, Goodwife M tin was confronted by about the s am e witnesses and the s ame sort of testimony as those who

h e r n a had preceded . The followi g extr ct from the record of her examination is interesting — H ath this wom an hurt you Abigail William s declared h r r n P n r that she ad hu t h e ofte . Ann ut am th ew h e r glove at h e r i An d r r r m a r n a ﬁt . the est we e st uck du b t h e pres en ce . a a at — m a at Wh t , do you l ugh it Well I y such folly . ate at at at ale — I n n What ails these people do o t k ow . — But what do you think ails them I do no t desire to spen d m y judgem en t upon it . n are — no t n Do you thi k they bewitched No , I do thi k are they . — M Well tell us your thoughts about them . y thoughts are w n r in n are r m ine o when they a e , but whe they out they a e ’ an other s .

192 T A T SA M V A WI CHCR F IN LE ILL GE .

” n soles of her shoes were wet . This , the wit ess a a and at n n decl red, st rtled her she o ce co cluded h n w a t at the woma s a witch . John Ke mbal deposed that he agreed to pur a a u a n no t in ch se p ppy from M rti , but keep g his ar a n and n a r m o ne b g i , purchasi g puppy f om so e m a s h e h im else, she re rked would give puppies ” ’ m n m n n enough . Co i g fro his i te ded s house n a n o ne n soo fter su set ight,

There did arise a little black cloud in the n orth- west r In n and a few d rops of rain and the win d blew ha d . goi g ’ between John Weed s house and the m eeting house there r did appear a little thing like a puppy of a darkish colo . It ” He all shot between m y legs forward and backward . used n a r ax e no t r possible e de vo s to cut it with his , but could hu t n a r n ax a e it , a d as he w s thus labo i g with his e , the puppy g v a little jum p from h im and seem ed to go into the ground . In a little further going there did appear a bl ack puppy ” m a r an r as b a as a a so ewh t bigge th the fi st but l ck co l , to a r n n am a a n h im his pp ehe sio , which c e g i st with such vio lence as its quick m otions did exceed the m otions of his ” ax e a And fl e at and , do wh t he could . it w his belly , a n d i r r o ne w a aw y , a then at h s throat and ove his shoulde y , and o fi and at a a n an r w a and up it g i othe y , with such vio lence did it assault h im as if it would tear out his throat o r H r n his belly . e testified that he w as m uch f ighte ed but r r m and ran n and a n n ecove ed hi self to the fe ce , c lli g upo an d n am n nam r and n in God i g the e of Jesus Ch ist , the it fi e a visibly w aw y .

rnar a a an a a t Ba d Pe ch deposed th t Sus n M r in, ” o r n a a am at six seve ye rs p st , c e in his win

and r w dow, took hold of his feet d e his body into a h e ap and l ay upon him for an hour and a h alf or two hours ; ﬁnally he put out his hand S SA A MA T MA Y EASTY AND OT S . 193 U NN R IN , R HER and taking hold of hers drew it up to his mouth and bit three of her ﬁngers to the breaki ng of n a S a the bo es . Sever l other depositions of imil r

a n r a char cter to these were give in at the t i l , and Sus anna Martin was found guilty and exe o uted on July 19 . a East a B a To sﬁ e ld M ry y , wife of Is ac sty of p ,

S r and ar Cl o se and iste of Rebecca Nurse S ah y ,

ﬁf t - r in 1692 and was y eight yea s of age , the n n East s mother of seve childre . The y lived on , n n in n and ow ed o e of the l argest farms the tow . It w as the farm known to the present ge neration as r arm n a n the Pei ce f , having for ma y ye rs bee n m a and ow ed by Col . Tho s W . Peirce , occupied by him as a Sum m er residence u ntil his de ath in

1885 n . . Previous to the ow ership of Col Pe irce in hi l . B . ro w n s e d C . the proprietor was Mr W . A warrant for the arrest of Mary B asty w as issued

a a o n r 21 and S h e w as by the m gistr tes Ap il , ex amine d o n the following d ay and comm itted to

n r m na m a a priso . Du ing her exa i tion , the gistr tes “ ” s aid to her : Confess if you be guilty ; to w Sh e sa w as m hich replied I will y it, if it y ” am a sin an last time , I cle r of this . Her swers to this and other questions had evide ntly led the

a ra a as m gist tes to h ve doubts to her guilt, for they asked the accusing girls if they we re cer a w as a and all n n t in this the wom n, they we t i to

. u n a : B a ﬁts S bseque tly they s id O, Goody sty ,

B are n are Goody asty , you the woma , you the 194 TC C A T SA M V A WI H R F IN LE ILL GE .

” a On Ma 18 a n wom n . y , for re so s which the n a e n no t can n a prese t g k ows nor ever k ow , M ry East w as a Two a a y rele sed . d ys fter her dis n at n a charge , Mercy Lewis , livi g Co st ble John ’ na h ad a and m in a m an Put m s , ﬁt perfor ed a a n r m ner usu l to the ccusi g gi ls . A essenger w as sent for Ann Putnam to come and tell who ’ aﬁiict e d r At n m n Me cy . A n s ho e he fou d Abi

a iam and r g il Will s, the gi ls visited Mercy Lewis and decl ared that they s aw Mary B asty and l n a fl n h r na Joh Will rd af icti g e body . John Put m and Benj am in Hutchinson we nt to S alem the night of the 20th of May and p rocured from

Mr B a n a an a s a . H thor e a w rr t for the rrest of . sty She w as app rehended the next m orning and ’ a a in a m a na t ken to Be dle s S le for ex mi tion .

A r m n r r m S un fte id ight , she w as a oused f o leep by the

n m ar a rn r h e n and hi r n feeli g sh l , to f om r husba d c ld e , arr a r n a a n and na co n c ied b ck to p iso , lo ded with ch i s , ﬁ lly s n a r r h e w as an ig ed to d eadful and m ost c uel death . S ex c e ll e nt and m a r n H r an r rr n th e pious t o . e husb d , efe i g to t ransaction nearly twenty years afterwards justly exp ressed ’ ” 2 W a all m a m a n . h t ust feel , th t it w as a hellish olest tio

For the second tim e Mary B asty w as examined nd mm a m a n a co itted to j il . She re i ed there from May 21 until the Septe mber sitting of the

n w as r n and court , whe she t ied , co victed sen

n d r a Sh e n h t e ce . P evious to the tri l , u ited wit Sara Clo se in a her sister , h y , request to the court that the judges would act as counsel for

1 C r Pa rs 2 Sa m raf II 205. Essex ou t pe . le Witchc t,

S SA A MART MA Y E ASTY AND OT S . 195 U NN IN , R HER them and direct them wherein they stood in a need . This request to the j udges after sever l trials had bee n held would i ndicate that such service w as not being rendered to the accused a h a al persons . Th t this was the fact we ve a in a a a n as re dy seen other c ses . Inste d of cti g

n r n s a cou sel for the p iso ers , the judge usu lly per form ed m ore nearly the part of prosecuting

n and - a a n attor eys , cross ex mined the ccused , ofte

w- a n a in a bro be ti g m anner . These sisters lso asked t h at witnesses in their behalf might be a a a ex mined . They especi lly named the p stor

r ﬁ and othe s of the church in To ps e ld . If those persons previously tried had been allowed their in a a B a rights this particul r , why did M ry sty and S arah Clo y se petition t hus to the court? n n in a a n After co victio , and while j il aw iti g ex e cutio n a B n , M ry asty petitio ed the Governor, n judges and mi isters ,

f o r m o w n f o r n w m and m Not y life , I k o I ust die , y a n m L n a ppoi ted ti e is set , but the ord he k ows it is th t , if it no m r be possible , o e inn ocent blo od m ay be shed , which un doubtedly cann ot be avoided in the w ay and course you

in . m o w n nn n n are in go By y i oce cy , I k ow you r n a r the w o g . I would hum bly beg of you th t you honors would be ple ased to ex am in e these afﬂicted persons r and m n d t o st ictly , keep the apart som e tim e , a likewise t r m n n n n n y so e of these co fessi g witches , I bei g co ﬁde t r r n r the e is seve al of them h as belied them selves a d othe s , as a ar n o t in r am r in r will ppe , if this wo ld , I su e the wo ld ” m r to co e whithe I am no w agoin g .

Sarah Clo y se who was convicted and sentenced 196 W TC C A T SA M V A I H R F IN LE ILL GE . at am m w as n the s e ti e , ever executed . No record o r t radition re mains to tell us why Sh e w as a r m a h n n s ved f o the sl ughter . Hutc i so a a n n ra th e n n s ys , spe ki g ge e lly of seve perso s n n at m no t se te ced this ti e, but executed r n m n and no t Those who we e co de ed executed, all n r u a n I suppose co fessed thei g ilt . I h ve see ”3 n n a m ar the co fessio s of sever l of the . M y

B a w as n o n ur a m 22 t . sty hu g Th sd y , Sep e ber When Sh e took her l ast fare w ell of h e r hus ” an n and r n Sh e w as a b d , childre f ie ds , s ys “ a as r b m n as C lef, is repo ted y the prese t , r u r n and a na as se io s , eligious, disti ct ffectio te

r ra n a r m could well be exp essed, d wi g te rs f o the ”4 all r n eyes of p ese t .

ar r ar ar r Of Alice P ke , M y P ke , Wilmot Reed , ar ar Ann Pud e ato r and a a M g et Scott, S r h Wildes m n no t uch that is new c a be s aid . The docu m ents which h ave come do w n to us in their cases are less volumi nous th an those in many

a r r a n a a others . Wh t eco d we h ve i dic tes th t

r w as o ld r . a r thei s the , old sto y Their ccuse s r m n were the s ame as in othe cases . The testi o y w as u an a am n s bst ti lly the s e . The co duct of the accusers and the tre at me nt of th e prisoners by the court and the ofﬁcers of the law differed o nly in detail from th at in the c ases alre ady SO

r n fully ex pl ained in the p ecedi g pages . Alice Parker of S alem w as wife of John Par

’ M II . 4 r Ed . 261 . 3 . a . 59 Hist ss , Fowle s ,

A A A 198 WITCHCR F T IN S LEM VILL GE . all who read this sto ry will conclude that West a w as r n a n a n g te d u k th t ight, th t whe he fell his knife -point went through th e e nd of the sheath and him an d at am m a cut , the s e ti e the she th O n n was cut pe or crushed . Whe he got up , Westgate w as p robably SO drunk that he could n o n n no t walk without holdi g to the fe ce .

r d w ar a w as an a . M y P ker of Andover, wido A w arrant f o r h e r arres t w as issued o n Septem

1 n o ne a f o r an ber , bei g of the l test issued y per n w as u n w so who subseq e tly executed . She as

am ne o u n da r rn ex i d the followi g y befo e Hatho e, “ rw n e n and n n Co i , G d ey Higgi so , justices of the ” a w as ar ra n pe ce . She ch ged with p ctici g witch

ra Ou ar a ra r am c ft M th Sp gue of Boxfo d . S uel Sh attuck at the trial t e stiﬁed that o ne tim e a m an h e r a r h e r m took up to c r y ho e ,

But in a little w ay going he let h e r fall upon a place of n n o t a a h e r a m e n sto es , which did w ke , which c used to thi k w as r a a a r a arr h e r n she e lly de d , fte th t we c ied i to the and a h e r a n o ff and house c used clothes to be t ke , while we were taking o ff h e r clothes to put h e r in to bed sh e w as up ” and laughed in o ur faces . Jonath an Bullock testiﬁed to seeing Parker

n in r and n ar r lyi g o ut the di t s ow . M y Wa dwell owned Sh e h ad seen the Sh ape Of Parker when aﬁdict e d an and ar a a she Sw M th Spr gue, but did ” n ar r w as a not k ow P ke witch .

Ann Pude at o r a Pude at o r , widow of J cob , was n a a e about seve ty ye rs of g . She w as arrested o n r a Ma 12 a ra Thu sd y, y , on ch rge of witchc ft , A EA 1 MA T M Y STY AND T S . 99 SUSANNA R IN, R O HER

and examined the same day . She appears to

’ have been discharged and rearrested about July da Sh e a n a n 2 o n a . , for th t y was ag i ex mi ed She was committed to j ail and rem ained there until tried at th e September Sitti ng of the court and We a ar convicted . have no p rticul s of her ex io n a a o n T r e cut s ve th t it occurred hu sday , Sep Pud 2 . e ato r ad tember 2 . After sentence Mrs dressed a petition to the court in which she declared that the

n . r . n d no . r and E n o s a . vide ce of J Best , , J Best , j , rt a n a a n m i r Sam uel Pickwo h , which w s give g i st e n cou t , ll m a r a an d n r an d were a of the ltogethe f lse u t ue , , besides , a rm r the aforesaid Jno . Best h th been fo e ly whipped and likewise is recorded f o r a liar .

Ann Pude at o r was the mother of the notorious Thom as Gre e nslitt who testiﬁed to the herculean a a n feats performed, or lleged to h ve bee per

Mr . formed, by . Burroughs She owned some in a property S lem . Sa Wilmot Reed was wife of muel Ree d , a ” a ﬁ . th e M rblehead sherman Mammy Red, as

Marbl e h e ade rs h ad n used to call her, lo g been a m n counted witch, but her perfor a ces never n in troubled her eighbors the least . They did n m n n n not thi k of co plai i g of her . It remai ed a for the girls of Salem Vill ge to do that . This a SO n n wom n, ru s the traditio , used to wish that bloody cle avers might be found on the cradles a n of cert in childre , and whenever the wish was 0 TC C A T A M A 20 WI H R F IN S LE VILL GE .

l a w as n uttered, of course , the c e ver fou d there n and and the child sicke ed died . She would “ a a n as c use milk to curdle s soo it left the cow . Newly- churned butter turned to wool when it ’ ’ a n a am m 5 w ar c me in co t ct with M y Red . The

a r w M 28 r nt for her a rest as issued ay . The w as m a 3i st and am n arrest de on the , the ex i a n am d a w as tion held o the s e y . She charged

w a n ra a a ith pr ctici g witchc ft on M ry W lcott, and r a m co n Mercy Lewis othe s . J mes S ith ,

a o f ar a o n Ma 3 1 n a st ble M blehe d , y , retur ed th t h e had apprehen ded the s aid Reed and b rought n a m her to the house of Lieut . I gersoll in S le . sa o n am a n a a She had little to y ex in tio , s ve th t Sh e knew nothing of the m atter charged against

a r and her . Her tri l befo e the court of Oyer n no ne w a n Termi er developed f cts . Two i dict m n n o ne f o r a ﬂ n a e ts were prese ted, f icti g Eliz beth o n Ma 31 and r a and Booth y dive s other d ys , the other for afflicting Elizabeth Hubbard o n 1 a ne n May 3 and divers other d ys . O thi g is noticeable here as in m any other of these indict ments : that the in dictment is no t for afﬂicti ng any of the per sons nam ed in the original com n ff n a in plai t , nor is the o e ce alleged the s me as a a In m n the warr nt of rrest . ost of the i dict ments the crim e is alleged to have been com mitte d on the day of the preliminary exam i na in t e th e m n tion and h court room . At preli i ary

’ M r 1. 5 a . and Trad n a a 3 Ro d s Hist itio s of blehe d,

202 TC C AFT S A M V A WI H R IN LE ILL GE .

a na n a ex mi tio of Goodwife Reed , Abig il Wil m h ad a r a n lia s ﬁt . Me cy Lewis s id Reed pi ched

ar a r her . M y Walcott s id she b ought the book Ann na a n to her . Put m s id Reed ever hurt her,

Sh e h ad n r a but see her hurt othe s . Eliz beth Hubbard s aid Reed would k nock her down if Sh e

no t S n Ann na r a Sh e did ig . Put m c ied out th t ” u n w brought the book to her j st o . Elizabeth

n a and ar a and Booth fell i to fit , M y W lcott Ann nam a fl an h Put s id Reed af icted her . Sus S el ” do n n n r r , co ti ues the repo t, o dered to go to am nan w as n d n n arr d the ex i t , k ocked ow bei g c ie ; to Reed in a fit w as m ade well after Reed s arm a a a t gra ped her . Eliz beth Hubb rd de lt wi h “ after the s am e m anner Reed looked upon ” n Elizabeth Hubb ard and Sh e w as knocked do w . Abigail Williams and John Indian bei ng carried a a n to Reed in fit , were m de well by her graspi g a m their r s . “ This exam inan t being often urged what she thought

r n a r c an no t . T n in these pe so s iled would eply , I tell he be g h r sh e ans asked if S e did no t think they we e bewitched , r An d b n r f o r h e r n n in c an no t . we ed , I tell ei g u ged opi io a — all a m n n are in the c se , she would say w s , y opi io is they ” a sad condition .

r a o n m 14 a a At her t i l Septe ber , M ry W lcott , a a n Ann nam an d a M ry W rre , Put Eliz beth Hub

e in a t am a bard t stiﬁed ex c ly the s e words , th t, am na n a m an am before the ﬁrst ex i tio , wo c e to m and a h e r a w as and each of the s id n me Reed , that on the day of exam ination they saw her MA Y ASTY AND OT S 203 A MA T E . SUSANN R IN, R HER

ffl a a a ict others . Ch rity Pitman and S rah Dodd testified to a wordy e ncounter between Reed and am Of m fi ve a woman of the n e Sy s , years pre vio usl a y , in which Reed wished cert in troubles t might come to Syms, and soon af er it fell out ’ ” n R . with Mrs . Syms accordi g to eed s wish We have little information concerning Mar w garet Scott of Ro ley . No doubt there were numerous papers in her case but they have been f a n n e w . lost or destroyed . O ly a rem i Her preliminary examination took pl ace on August 5 a n o n th e , the arrest h ving probably bee made d a fi nd a previous y . I am unable to nything about her or her family from the records or from n an a a the writi gs of local histori s . M rg ret Scott w as tried at the September Sittin g of the court i th w as and sentenced on the 7 . She executed 22d a a fi on Thursday, the . Fr ncis Wym n testi ed “ fi during her trial , that quickly after the rst m t a t a a court at Sale about wi chcr f , M rg ret Scott or her appearance came to h im and did most grievously torment him by choking and almost n him pressi g to death , and he believed in his ” a he rt that Margaret Scott w as a witch . Phillip Nelson and his wife testifi e d that for

Tw o o r three ye ars before Robert Sh ill e t o died we have oft en he ard h im com plaining of M argaret Scott f o r hurt ing h im and O n a a h e w as a an d b e co n of fte s id th t s witch , so in m a n n a n h e n r n t ued co pl i i g , s yi g Should eve be well so lo g as ar ar S n h m n r M g et cott lived , a d so e co plai ed of Ma garet ” Scott until he died . 204 TC C A T SA M V A WI H R F IN LE ILL GE .

Most of the evidence against this woman re lated to affairs that transpired ﬁve or ten years 1 2 previous to 69 . a a s n S r h Wilde , wife of Joh Wildes of Salem a and To sﬁ e ld w as 22 Vill ge p , arrested April , on n n a w arra t issued the day before . Joh Buxton and Thomas Putnam went down to S alem from a o n l t and m a n the Vill ge the , co pl i ed to the justices of Mrs . Wildes . The justices issued their warant to Marshal Herrick to arrest her ’ and n a an In e r o ll s bri g her to Lieut . N th iel g g “ ” - r n w as to mor ow about t e of the clock . She

am n r n m and then ex i ed , du i g which ti e Bibber others cl aimed to see her on t h e beam of the n a meeti g house . The usu l circle of accusing “ ” girls was present and they performed after m n ra w as their custo ary m a ner . Sa h Wildes committed to j ail where she re mained until June 29 w as , when she tried before the higher court, and n an found guilty se tenced to be h ged . On a 19 Sh e n Tuesd y, July , we t to that court above no ar m a in na w here errors e de the fi l judgment . The Wildes fam ily belonged to the faction in To psfi e ld which was active in the feud with wh e th Salem Village . It is not possible to say er this in any w ay influenced the prosecutors o f a r a Sar h Wildes . Eph i m Wildes , son of Sarah , deposed that the m arshal of S alem c am e to TOpSfie ld with the warrants for the arrest of h is and and mother William Hobbs his wife . The

A T SA M A 206 WI TCHCR F IN LE VILL GE . she could discover any witchcraft about his ’ a am a an o ne wife s c se . She c e, ccomp ied by of h e r m an n co p io s . They were received with much

m and n a m w r po p solem ity, l ost ith supe stition b n a r a an eﬁtti g tribe of ba b ri s . The people

a r m n - Re v g the ed in the eeti g house, where the .

. a n o ﬂ e re d a n Mr B r ard pr yer . The girls the a a and at proceeded to the home of Mrs . B ll rd n nam a n n a o ce ed cert i perso s who, they lleged ,

rm n n n were to e ti g her . These perso s were

ar nd n a r forthwith rested a se t to j il . Befo e the m n d n a n h ad excite e t cease , e rly ﬁfty perso s been n m a arrested . Amo g the were M ry Osgood, wife of a deacon of the church ; Abigail Faulkner

and a n n a . a Eliz beth Joh so , d ughters of Rev Fr n an n a cis D e , the se ior p stor of the church ; two ’ Mr n n n s . a a d o e of F ulk er s d aughters of Mrs . ’ n n an an a -in Joh so s Mrs . Deliver ce D e, d ughter l aw of the ministe r ; S am uel Wardwell and Ann r d a a ar Foste , besi es C rrier and M ry P ker . Inti a n a n h m m tio s were m de that Mr . Da e i self and a a his Justice Dudley Br dstreet, Mrs . Br dstreet,

W and r n ife, his brothe Joh , were not free from

n r n suspicion . Joh was cha ged wit h bewitchi g a 6 and an m a w as as was dog, the i l executed, a in a n a nother the s me tow s id to be bewitched . ra ﬂe d Ann The B dstreets the colony . Foster in n a a died priso . Abig il F ulkner was tried, and re convicted sentenced, but subsequently

M . . 11 . 6 ass Hist 0 0 V , 71 . S SA A MA T MA Y EASTY AND OT S . 207 U NN R IN , R HER

’ a n prieved . Samuel W rdwell was fou d guilty hi . s and executed Sarah , wife , Elizabeth John son and Mary L acey were tried the following a and n n Janu ry convicted . They were se te ced

an am a n OV. to be h ged, but the procl tio of G Phips

a in a Sam set them free . The p pers the c se of uel Wardwell are quite numerous and are inter

n - a esti g . Ward well was about forty six ye rs of a a n a a a age, and ppe rs to have bee good ver ge c z m a iti en of the ti es . He was t ken before the loc al magistrates for examination on September

1 . a d n w What he s i then we k o not , but from his subsequent testimony it is evide nt that he denied the charge of witchcraft in the most m w as n positive ter s . He se t to j ail to await re the action of the grand jury . That body turned two indictments : o r at least that is all are o n ﬁle a that now . One ch rged that Samuel Wardwell practiced witchcraft on Mar tha Sprague of Boxford o n August 15 ; the “ a a a o other, th t he , about twenty ye rs g , with t h e e vill S iritt d e vill na p , the , a cove nt did make

r and wherein he promised to honor , wo ship de vill n a believe the , co trary to the st tute of ” K n am On i 3th i g J es the First , etc . the of

’ 7 Ca a sh w as r n an . r Ed . lef s ys bec ause e p eg t (Fowle s , am a m r n n and a Sir W am Uph s ys she ade a pa tial co fessio , th t illi r r a r r and a r Sh e h ad n r n in o de ed ep ieve , fte bee thi tee weeks r n h e r h e r ar o n r n insuf p iso , di ected to be disch ged the g ou d of ﬁ n H d i t h e n n an a cie t evide nce . e a ds that th s is o ly i st ce of Sa m Speci al pardon granted during the proceed ings . ( le Witch

ra II . c ft , , 208 WI TC C A T SA M V A E H R F IN LE ILL G .

m ar m a a n n sub Septe ber, W dwell de co fessio st antially as follows

A r r rn n ra n a an r h a fte etu i g seve l eg tive swe s , e said he w s n w as in nar h co scious he the s e of the de vil . He ad been m uch discontented that he could get no m ore work don e and that he h ad been foolishly led along with telling of f o r

m He a n tunes which so e tim es cam e to p ass . used lso whe n r a r am n n a y c e tu e c e i to his ﬁeld to bid the devil take it , a d a n h i it m ay be the devil took dva tage of m by that .

Constable Foster of Andove r s aid this Ward well told him once in the woods that when he w as a youn g man he could m ake all his cattle m n a him n a co e rou d bout whe he ple sed . The a War n r r s id dwell , bei g u ged to tell the t uth , he proceeded thus

That bein g once in a discontented fram e he saw som e c ats with the appearance of a m an w h o called him self th e r n air and r m h im l m p i ce of the , p o ised he Shou d live co fort a an d a a n an d r r a ar n r bly be c pt i , equi ed s id W dwell to ho o h im r m and w as a n which he p o ised to do , it bout twe ty H n n n ye ars ago . e s aid the reason of his disco te t the w as because he w as in love with a m aid n am ed Barker w h o ” nan slighted his love . He added th at he cove ted with the devil until he Should be Sixty years an d he w as no w about forty .

’ Wardw e ll s w ife and daughter appe ared to a a n him a a o w n testify g i st , prob bly to s ve their h in n . o w necks , which they succeeded doi g He,

r n a n n h ad eve , repe ted of the f lse co fessio he a and a ra m de retr cted . The ret ction cost him n m a r his life . At some subseque t ti e the d ughte retracted her confession against her father and

r a w as a a h ad mother . P ob bly it fter W rdwell

CHAPTER XI.

A C C USED AND TR I ED B UT N OT EXE C UTED .

in a ﬂ purpose this ch pter , brie y to sketch some Of the more peculiar and interes ting features connected with a few trials of per n o f a in 1692 so s accused witchcr ft , but not exe cut e d and in a no t n , sever l cases co victed . The case of Mary Perki ns Bradbury of S alisbu ry is one

Mr f m s . a w as of them . Br dbury the wi e of Tho as

r nd w a n -ﬁ ve a a e a s . B adbury, seve ty ye rs of g Som e of those living near her had Spoken of her

a n r 1692 In as witch lo g p evious to . July of th at year she w as exami ned and committed to r a a a j ail . Her t i l took pl ce at the e rly Septem n n ber sessio of the court . Two i dictments n n in agai st her have come dow to us . To these “ dictm e nt s Mary Bradbury answered ; I do I am nn n a u . ple d not g ilty _ wholly i oce t of any ” fi sa such wickedness . It is dif cult to y just ’ a nar a na when Mrs . Br dbury s prelimi y ex mi tion a n a n took pl ce . I find testimo y ag i st her by 2 George Herrick given on May 26 . On July 8 A AND T B T N T C T 21 CCUSED RIED U O EXE U ED . 1 her husband testified that they had lived to ge th

ﬁf t -ﬁve a h ad er y years, and th t his wife eleven

hi n - c ldre and four grand children . Her trial before the upper court occupied the whole or a a m part of three d ys . Testi ony was given on nd n t 7 8 a 9 . w as Sep ember , , She co victed and sentenced, but for some reason was not executed . I presume it was owing to her high ch aracter and the powerful inﬂuences brought to bear to n ﬁle secure pardo . From the depositions on we are enabled to gather something of interest re garding her life and the complications of her

a a . family with th t of Mrs . Ann Putn m . Mrs na m a na a il Put m , wife of Tho s Put m of S lem V

w as a a . lage , d ughter of George C rr of Salisbury The Carr and Bradbury families came into con ﬂict m under somewhat peculiar circu stances , and when Mrs . Bradbury was brought to trial most of the Carr family appeared to testify against her . The story of the trouble between the families

ﬂ : a is, brie y , this James C rr and William Brad bury , the latter , son of Mary Bradbury , were n n d paying atte tio , or trying to , to the wi ow

h l ri ht . W e e . Maverick, daughter of Mr g Carr 1692 a n deposed in , that bout twe ty years before, he w as invited most courteously by the w idow to

m r a a r o ne nin Co e Oftene , and within a few d ys fte eve g n r a a n an d n am r a a n I we t thithe g i , whe I c e thithe g i , Wil liam Bradbur y w as there wh o w as then a suit or to the said 212 W TC C A T IN SA M V A I H R F LE ILL GE .

no t n a r ar . Af r am e widow , but I did k ow it till fte w ds te I c in the widow did so co urse ly treat the said William Brad r m n r r bu y that h e went away see i g ve y ang y . Presen tly after this I w as taken after a strange m anner as if living creatures did run about every part of m y body ready to t ar m e And n n f o r r e to pieces . so I co ti ued about th ee ar rs a ar m and a m Dr qu te of ye , by ti es , I pplied yself to . r r a C osby, who gave m e a g eat de l of physic but could m ake n T a i r h no e work . hough he steeped tob cco n bosset d ink e c u m r o ld ake none to work , whe eupon he told m e that h e a e h a e d And h im h ad so believed I w s b g . I told I thought

a . And a m e m and h im good while he sked by who , I told no t ar f o r S a n f o r o ne w as n an o n t I did c e pe ki g , cou ted h es m an r n m e h im and a e wo , but he u gi g I told he s id he believ t a Mr ra r a a r a a r an Mar h t s . B dbu y w s g e t de l wo se th Good tin .

cat After this , one night, something like a n Off came to Carr in bed . He w e t to strike it m a but could not ove h nd or foot for a while . Finally he did hit it and since then physic had worked on him . R ichard Carr testiﬁed that,

A r n ar a r n a r m e ff r bout thi tee ye s go , p ese tly fte so di e

r a r Mr . e nce h ad happened to be between m y hon o ed f the ,

r arr and Mrs . ra r r n r at bar u Geo ge C , B dbu y, the p iso e the , p a a a n r r n m o n S bb th at oon , as we we e idi g ho e , by the house m r r r n M . ra o o f a . T a a r Saw s C pt ho s B dbu y , I B dbu y go i t h r a rn h e rn r m a r ar d e g te , tu t co e of , and im edi tely the e d te ’ h r a e r m a r o ut of e ; g t a blue boa , and darted at y f the s ’ r m a h im S m I saw no ho se s legs , which de ‘tu ble , but it r And m r We m o e . y fathe said , boys , what do you see 1 h an r a o t swe ed , blue boar.

Ze rubabe l was Young Endicott , who present n and o this occasion testiﬁed to the same , also ’ “ r that he saw the blue boar dart from Mr . Ca r s

A 214 WI TCHCRAFT IN SALEM VILL GE .

r a r a as o else she would no t h ve se ved the C pt . so to sell i An d r r n n t e st ifi e th h m such butter . fu the this depo e t , t hat in four days after they set sail they m e t with such a storm th at we lost o ur m ain m as t an d rigging an d lost fi f r n a r e t o ur teen horses , and that about a fo t ight fte , we s r m a and a r n r am a S Je sey st , th t ve y ight the e c e up hip by o ur side an d carried away two of the m izzen Shrouds and A n nt o ne of the leaches of the m ain sail . n d this depo e further say e th that after they arrived at Barbadoes and n l i ud h r n we t to Sa t t o s and ad laden thei vessel , the ext m rn n ran a in a o i g she sp g a le k the hold , which w sted sev eral tons of salt insom uch that we were forced to un lade ur T r as n o vessel again wholly to stop o ur leak . he e w the r A r h ad a n in o ur fou foot of water in the hold . fte we t ke m n l ading again we h ad a good p ass age ho e , but whe we m n ar n n n n r ar t o ca e e the la d the C apt . se t this depo e t fo w d f n n and as h e look out o r lan d in a bright m oonshini g ight , w as sitting upon the Win dl ass he heard a rum bling noise h at n r h im . a a n n t e stifi e t u de With th t he , the s id depo e t , th he looked o n th e side of the Windlass and saw the legs of m r n and a r n so e pe so , being no ways frighted , th t p ese tly he w as Sh o ck and looked over his Shoulder and saw the ap ar n ar s a n a p e a c e of a wom an from the m iddle upw d , h vi g white cap and white neck cloth o n h e r which then aff right h im r m and a rn n W n a s ed Ve y uch , s he w as tu i g of the i dl s r he saw the afo esaid two legs .

n a 9 1692 . This depositio be rs date September , The substance Of the testimony used to convict n m m n a a a an intellige t, high inded wo a of c pit l m a a se a cri e, is, th t some butter th t she sold to a a n him am an capt i , if she did sell it to , bec e r cid a a and a fter the vessel got into a hot clim te , th t

n a n the vessel spru g ale k . On these grou ds the

r a s ailo s concluded Sh e w as a witch . After th t it w as easy to see her appearance or most any n thi g else . ACC S AND T B UT NOT T 21 U ED RIED EXECU ED . 5 216 W TC C A T SA M V A E I H R F IN LE ILL G .

Th e story of the arrest and examination o f h n and a h ad all P illip E glish his wife M ry , if we m a no the docu ents in the c se , would, doubt, be n n n a s exceedi gly i teresti g . The p per have not m n a co e dow to us s ve in the most meagre form . Phillip English w as a wealthy merchant of a m and 1692 o n be S le , , in , lived Essex street, a and n tween wh t are now Webb E glish streets . He occupied one of the ﬁnest m ansions Of th e n and a n h tow , perh ps of the colony . E glis n in a a ar and owned fourteen buildi gs S lem , wh f 1 n -o ne ar twe ty vessels . How ch ges of witchcraft came to be made against him and his wife h as a n n m a alw ys bee a mystery . Dr . Be tly inti tes that his controversies and law-suits with the and in a town , the superior style which the f mily lived m ay have h ad som ething to do with lead a am are ing the ccusing children to n e them . We indebted to the same authority for our informa f a a O . w s tion bout the arrest Mrs . English She in n ff am bed whe the Sheri c e for her . The ser v him a ants admitted to her ch mber , where he d read the w arrant . Guards were then place n n n n Sh e w as arou d the house until mor i g, whe taken away for examination . It is related that the pious mother attended to fam ily devotions a n as usu l that morning , kissed her childre good b m in Sh e y , and cal ly discussed their future case o f never returned to them . She then told the

1 E In . His . C l . I . 161 . ssex st t ol , ,

218 A A I A WITCHCR FT IN S LEM V LL GE .

n n n her to stick pins i to . She did stick thor s i to “ ” m and r n Ma 12 the they c ied out O y , she w as a a n am n in n g i ex i ed priso .

Mr r r n n u i Did . Bu roughs b i g you a y of the p pp ts of his - r wives to stick pins into I do no t em em ber that he did . — Have any vessels been cast away by y o u I do n o t know

She testiﬁed that she stuck thorns into people n and o ne m whom she did not k ow, of the , Mary a r n n L w e ce , suggested to her mi d by the court ,

died .

- r rr . Who b ought the im ages to you It w as Mr. Bu oughs Ho w r n — n r n did he b i g it to you I his o wn pe so , bodily .

This is o ne of the most re m arkable statements in made the whole history of the delusion . At m a m a sh e w as in the ti e Abig il Hobbs de it jail, and h ad been since before the arrest of Bur

r a r w as in a roughs . P evious to her r est he M ine , m an a eighty iles dist t . Yet , she decl res that

rr am in his bo dil e rso n Bu oughs c e to her y p , bringing im ages of a half dozen girls for her to

afﬂ n rn n m and ict by sticki g tho s i to the , that w hen she pricked them thus the real girls cried r m a n and ar a out f o p i she he d them . Th t there m m a a m n ight be no ist ke bout this , see i gly, the a ra S a n an a m gist te asked, pe ki g of other p rty , m Sh e a h ad a ﬂ Was who s id she thus f icted , he (Burroughs) there him self with you in bo dily ” “ e rso n? an r w as : and p Her swe Yes , so he w as when he appeared to tempt me to set my hand to the book ; he then appeared in p e rso n A 219 CC USED AND TRIED B UT NOT EXECUTED .

l m ” and I f e t his h and at the s a e time . This last statement is stronger than the ﬁrst it leaves no question as to what w as meant by bodily per ” so n n n n . Before co cludi g her testimo y she de “ ” “ clare d that Sh e had killed both boys and a w as a n m a girls . Abig il ex mi ed before the g ist rat in e s n 2 . a on Ju e 9 At her tri l September , the followi ng testim ony w as given

lidia Nichols aged about 7 y ears te st iﬁ e th and saith that about a y e are and a h alfe agoe I asked abigaill h obs h o w she darst lie out a nights in ye woods alon she told m e she w as no t a fraid of anything f o r she told m e she h ad sold r nd n n a a he self body a soule to ye old boy . a d Si s this bout fortnight agoe ye s aid abigaill hobs h e r m other cam e to o ur h o us m y father & m other bein g no t at hom e Sh e begano to be rude to behave herself unseem ly I told h e r I won der she w as no t ash am ed she bide m e hold m y ton g o r elce she woul d rays all the folks there abouts bid m e look there w as old c ratt e n sate over the bedste ad then h e r m other told h e r shee little thought to abin the m other of such a d after . Elizabeth Nichols aged about 12 years t e stiﬁ e th y e sam e Sh e said at o ur house about a fortnight agoe Whe n William Ho bbs and his wife c am e be fore the magistrates they were confront e d with

n n o f r a r the co fessio thei d ughte , in which she a n had ch rged them w i th bei g witches . They

a Mr H a S h e s . were stounded . obbs s id regretted that she ever brought into the world such a n nan n n a at child . She i dig tly de ied bei g witch ,

r na r n e n n c o nf e s ﬁ st . Fi lly, afte lo g qu stio i g, a n w as in a sio secured from her, which she ch rged her husb and and young ch ild with witchcraft . The p aper containing the record of the exam ina A 220 WITCHCRAF T IN SALEM VILL GE .

A M V A 222 WITC HCRAF T IN S LE ILL GE .

’ o ff n am a n taken . In the Gover or s procl tio free in all a w as n and g the ccused, Hobbs i cluded n at a we t liberty . Abig il Hobbs was convicted in r r and n n an the highe cou t se te ced to be h ged , but the sentence w as never executed . Deliver l n n m ance Hobbs ay i j ail a lo g ti e . She does a a n and not appe r ever to h ve bee tried, it is cer a n a w as n o t t i th t she executed .

r a r a a Do c s Hoar of Beve ly, widow, was rrested

. ar n 30 and am n at on a w ra t issued April , ex i ed ’ n r M 2 a h a Lieut . I ge soll s on ay . Eliz bet Hubb rd

a n a r n n h e r compl i ed th t the p iso er pi ched , show in ar an r -b m ar a g the m ks to the st de s y . The sh l n n r at am said she pi ched her ﬁ ge s the s e time . ” r a a m an m a a Do c s Ho r , de ded the gistr te , ” “ why do you hurt these ? I never hurt a ” in m w as n a child y life, the respo se . Not s tis ﬁ e d w ith this the accuse rs told her she killed

an and ar a her husb d , ch ged her with v rious other “ a saw a m an crimes . They s id they the bl ck ” r n in e ar a m n w whispe i g her . These c lu ies ere n in S n and too much for her to e dure ile ce , she “ r a n n n c ied b ck to them i dig a tly, Oh , you are ” a and m li rs, God will stop the ouths of liars . You are not to Spe ak after this m anner in the ” “ a n S a th e court , chided H thor e . I will pe k as n as w as a and truth lo g I live, the br ve de ﬁ ant w as m m a and reply . She co itted for tri l , n o t subseque tly convicted and sente nced . N n withstandi g her courageous words, Dorcas 223 ACCUSED AND TRIED B UT NOT EXECUTED .

Hoar was brought to a confession . Judge Sew 21 a all , under date of Sept . , s ys

A p e titio n is sent to town in behalf of Dorcas Hoar r n an r r n who no w confesse s . Acco di gly o de is se t to the s heriff to forbear h e r execution notwithstan ding h e r being rr rr r n mn in the wa ant to die tom o ow . This is the ﬁ st co de ed ” 3 person w h o h as conf essed .

n r a a Duri g the t ial of Dorc s , Abig il Williams declared that Sh e saw the appearance of this wom an before ever she saw Tituba Indian or any m a one else . This , if true , would ke Dorcas Hoar N the ﬁrst of the Witches of 9 2 . She escaped from jail in the same mysterious m anner that n e s so ma y other of the accused did . These capes were numerous during the witchcraft tri als . Whether the j ails were we akly con

no t r structed, or the j ailers did gua d the prison ers closely at all times, it is not possibl e to say . It is possible that high ofﬁcials some times con nive d a at the esc pe of accused persons . Most m of these escapes were fro the Boston j ail, 4 which would naturally be as strong as any . On w as the other hand , the Ipswich jail a very primitive structure and escape from it must have a c been e sy , yet no one , accused of witch raft , ever escaped from it .

The case of Nehemiah Abbott is of interest,

3 S a P a r I . 365 . ew ll pe s , , 4 Ph illip English and wife were allowed the freedom of the

n n r nd n r r n in ai . tow u de bo s , bei g equi ed o ly to sleep j l Essex

In . H . . I . st ist Co l , , 161 . 224 W TC C A T SA M V A I H R F IN LE ILL GE .

f ar n n n because , so as k ow , he is the o ly person a a n n who was rele sed fter refusi g to co fess . Abbott w as arrested at th e s ame time as William 2 m n n 1 . w as a o Hobbs , April He ex i ed the fol

n d r ll n lowi g ay . At fi st a the accusi g girls s aid h ad a fl m n Ann he f icted the , and fell i to fits . ” na saw o n a O n Put m him the be m . thers ide t ifie d him o ne h ad a as who ppeared to them . n “ Asked to co fess and find mercy, he replied , I speak before God that I am cle ar in all re ” l spe ct s . The girls were a l struck dum b n n agai . Sudde ly Mercy Lewis s aid It is no t ” m n Ann a . t a Pu the O her accusers w vered . t nam said that the reason she h ad decl ared Ah bott to be the man was because the devil put a a mist before her eyes . The c se completely n w a ne broke down a d Abbott as rele sed . O question suggests itsel f very forcibly in this connection : If Abbott w as no t the m an who fl af icted these girls at the time, why did they fall down when he had looked on them ? and why did they have fits in the court room ? Parris in n his accou t of the trial says, when Abbott was

r in a ain r n m and m an B ought g , by easo of uch people , y in n a a r no t a a ar the wi dows , so th t the ccuse s could h ve cle h im a r r a r a and a r View of , he w s o de ed to be b o d the ccuse s r h im n h im t o go fo th to a d View in the light , which they r n m a ra and m an rs did in the p ese ce of the gist tes y othe , r h im o ne and all a n h im discou sed quietly with , cquitti g , n h d o t e n but yet said he w as like the m a , but he a n the w

t saw in a ar n . w as a a m an , hey his pp itio Note , he hilly f ced r r f o r and stood shaded by eason of h is o wn hai , so that a

226 TC C A T SA M V A WI H R F IN LE ILL GE .

The ofﬁcial record of the ex amination s ays

A r Co n n n in a m m a a fte ti ui g ﬁt so e ti e she s id , I will spe k ,

Oh am rr f o r am rr f o r . r n n h e r an s , I so y it , I so y it W i gi g h d n m n a r Sh e fell into an other ﬁt . The atte pti g a little l te to r r h e n an r and speak h e teeth we e set . S fell i to othe ﬁt

L r m e L r a m e . And shouted , O o d help . 0 good o d , s ve t n a r ar r a a n and n he fte w ds c ied g i , I will tell , I will tell , the fell in to a dea d ﬁt again . And a r ar r fte w ds c ied I will tell , I will tell , they did ,

an n n n a a n . they did , they did , d the fell i to a Viole t ﬁt g i

A r a r r Sh e r w . fte little ecove y , c ied , I will tell , I ill tell r m e n a a a n They b ought to it . And then fell i to ﬁt g i , o n n n h e w a r r and which ﬁts c ti ui g , S s o de ed to be led out ,

n r in r . the ext to be b ought , viz . B idget Bishop

i a n n . Sh e w as called n gai , but imm ediately take with ﬁts ’ — Have you Signed the devil s book No .

n n n r f o r ir . Then she fell into fits agai , a d w as se t fo th a After a considerable Sp ace of tim e Sh e w as brough t in a n r a n ag i , but could no t give account of things by e so of fits and so sent forth . Mary Warren w as called in afterwards in private before m a r no t S a a gist ates and m inisters . Sh e s aid I sh all pe k r a Sa an Sh e a wo d , but I will , I will spe k , t . s ith she will kill m e . Oh a m e a ite and a m e o ff . , she s ith she owes sp , will cl w An d n A Sa an f o r n am a . void t , the e of God , void the fell n a a n an d r r n in i to fits g i , c ied , Will ye I will p eve t ye the nam e of God .

n r a a Warr n all It will be u de stood th t M ry e ,

m w as n n and this ti e, struggli g to co fess the r n a a devil sought to p eve t her . At le st , th t is a w as n n w as wh t she prete di g . Whether it a n no t piece of the most perfect acti g , we do n k ow . Yet we do know now th at there w as no reality about the witchcraft pretensions from be

P 5 Essex Court apers . ACC S AND T B UT NOT E C T 227 U ED RIED XE U ED .

n e nd a a no t gi ning to . Mr . P rris notes th t one of the sufferers was afﬂicted during her examina a a Is tion fter she beg n to confess . it possible that the whole performance with Mary Warren was a part of a conspiracy between her and the other accusing girls and the older prose o u i a ? . tors It s possible , but h rdly probable She

a and a a n n m de a second circumst nti l co fessio , in ’ n n SO which she tur ed state s evide ce, to speak ,

all h ad ar and told she seen and he d . She was im m ediately released and returned to her for mer occupation of testifying against persons ac c use d of witchcraft . The impression which her case made on the credulous people of Salem was to convince them that there was no fraud about the witchcraft accusations and prosecutions when mem bers of the accusing circle were cried ” a o ne an n out ag inst by of their comp io s, and ’ that if she could tear herself from th e devil s do snare , the others could the same if so dis posed . na a a a Jo th n C rey, whose wife was ch rged with a u a a witchcr ft, has left a circ mstanti l ccount of ’ n m a his wife s exami ation before the gistrates . a a a It gives cle r ide of the mode of procedure , which did not differ in this case from th at fol in a lowed others . Capt . C rey was an old ship and w as master, a man whose word not to be doubted . He says

Ma 24 . a n ar s m e a a m i was y I h vi g he d o d ys , th t y w fe 228 W TC C A T S A M V A I H R F IN LE ILL GE . a ra n r ccused of witchc ft ; bei g m uch distu bed at it, by ad n Sa m a afﬂ n h e r vice we t to le Vill ge , to see if the icted k ew . arr r o n 24th a a n a We ived the e the of M y . It h ppe ed to be d a a n f o r am ina n a r n n a r o ur y ppoi ted ex tio , cco di gly, soo fte

Mr H a rn . arr a and r . r n & n th e iv l , . tho e M Co wi , c , we t to m n - a a n f o r a eeti g house , which w as the pl ce ppoi ted th t

r . Th e m n r an ra r and a n a n wo k i iste beg with p ye ; , h vi g t ke ar a n n n a O r a a c e to get co ve ie t pl ce , I bse ved th t the fﬂicted r r r we e two gi ls of about t e n years old , and about two o r r a n ne r a th ee othe s of bout eight ee . O of the gi ls t lked

m and rn m r an r . Th e r n rs ost , could disce o e th the est p iso e r a in o ne o ne an d as am in r we e c lled by , , they c e , we e

r at & c . Th e r n r r a a S n o r c ied out , p iso e s we e pl ced bout eve eight feet from the j ustices an d the accusers were betwee n n Th e r n r r r r the justices a d them . p iso e s we e o de ed to r r an r a n t stand ight befo e the justices . with ofﬁce ppoi ted o

a an S r af m . hold e ch h d , lest they hould the ewith ﬂict the ’ r r And the p isone s eyes m ust be constantly o n the jus tices , f o r o n af r a l , if they looked the ﬂicted , they would eithe f l

o r r n r m . A r an am into fits , c y out of bei g hu t by the fte ex i n r s n r w as affl r and inat o of the p i o e s , who it icted these gi ls , ’ r n a n L ra r a r l C . , they we e put upo s yi g the ord s p ye , s a t ia Af r ff l m r of their guilt . te the a icted see ed to be out of thei a a n m o ne r n n d fits , they would look ste df stly o so e pe so , a r n no t S a and n a re f eque tly pe k , the the justices s id they we

m and a r a m a a a n . struck du b , fte little ti e would spe k g i s a r l Then the ju tices s id to the accuse s , Which of you wil ” go and touch the p rison er at the bar ? Then the m ost a n r r h ad m a courageous would dve tu e , but , befo e they de r nar a a in Th three steps , would o di ily f ll dow n s a ﬁt . e justices ordered that they Should be taken up and carried r n r h a Sh e m m nd a n to the p iso e , t t ight touch the , a s soo as r a they we e touched by the ccused , the justices would say : ” T are r d rn an a ra n — b hey well , befo e I could isce y lte tio , y which I Observed that the justices understood the m ann er T f ar as n a a r M a w s a S . o of it . hus I o ly pect to y wife ls r ar m o n r w as the e p t of the ti e , but n notice w as take of h e afﬂ n r m h e r d by the icted , except o ce o t wice they ca e to an r asked h e name .

T A A A 230 WI CHCR F T IN S LEM VILL GE .

an : ans r h e m anin m and a di they we ed , S ( e g y wife) , th t she l a n h im r r h r h im no w y upo . Th e justices o de ed e to touch , in r r r h e r a m rn an r o de to his cu e , but he d ust be tu ed othe w a n a r n Sh e S m a h im r y , lest , i ste d of cu i g , hould ke wo se by h e r n at h im h r n n a looki g , e h a d bei g guided to t ke hold of h is n an h e r an an d h e r , but the I di took hold of h d pulled down o n the ﬂ oor in a barberons m anne r ; t h e n his h an d w as a n o ff and h e r an o n and r w as t ke , h d put his , the cu e quick l r y w ought .

a a h ad a Capt . C rey s id he difﬁculty to get bed n w as m for his wife that ight . She co mitted to a in n and n m j il Bosto , subseque tly re oved to “ am r d a n n r o ne C b i ge . H vi g bee the e night , n ext night the jailer put i rons o n her legs the ” w as a i n weight bout e ght pou ds . These irons and a ﬂ t n r h e r n n n other f ic io s th ew i to co vulsio s , and r a n a n he t ied to h ve the iro s t ke off, but in

n n h e a m o n ar vai . Whe t tri ls ca e C ey went to

a m r n F n n S le to see how they we e co ducted . i di g that spectral testimony and idle gossip were ad mitt e d as n evide ce, he told his wife she had

n r r o s nothi g to hope for the e . He procu ed her a r m a and n Ne w r c pe f o j il they we t to Yo k , r e n m whe e Gov . Fletch r befrie ded the . h n n n n se . a a Jo Alden , , of Bosto , lso wrote a n a r a d ccou t of how ccused people were t e te . n w as am n n o ne Alde son of the f ous Joh Alde ,

n r n of the fou de s of the Plymouth colo y . He h ad in a w as resided Boston thirty ye rs , a mem and h ad an an ber of the church there , comm ded n n w a armed vessel belo gi g to the colony . He s a a n seventy ye rs of ge a d quite wealthy . Alden WI H INS SA C O H . TC P , LEM URT O USE

232 W TC C AFT SA M V A I H R IN LE ILL GE .

“ am n no t n E es of bewitchi g her, she bei g as ” ” as h a n w am good S e might h ve bee . Good ife E es w as m a a r and w as am im edi tely r ested, ex ined

r m r in m n 1 befo e the agist ates Sale o August 9 . n n Co fessi g herself a witch ,

Sh e owned Sh e h ad bin in ye snare a m onth o r 2 h ad bin perswaded to it : 3 m onths : that ye devil ap e are d to h e r like a C olt very ugly : ye ﬁrst tim e : but Sh e would no t o w n yt Sh e h ad bin baptized by h im Sh e did n o t kn ow n but y t ye d evil did persuade h e r to renounce god christ fol low his w icked ways

mm a r n She was co itted to j il , t ied the followi g n n and o n 17th n n mo th , co victed, the , se te ced to an n n w as be h ged . The se te ce never executed , but Sh e rem ained in j ail until the following

h n h r e r n Marc whe S e w as eprieved . H husba d d o n 22 1693 and Sh e 1721 at ied July , , in the age of ara and a hitt re d e S h Buckley M ry W g , her

r r r am n n daughte , we e b ought before the ex i i g Ma 14 a a Ma 18 o n ar an . m gistr tes y , w r ts issued y n The accusing girls tes tiﬁed agai st Mrs . Buckley substantially as they h ad at the trials of other a n an n a ccused perso s . Sus Sheldo decl red that ” aw m n n in she s the black a whisperi g her ear . / w as mm r n Sh e re She co itted to p iso , where m a n n an a 1693 n a n i ed u til J u ry, , bei g he vily iro ed “ all th e m am r a ti e . Willi Hubba d the vener ble

6 Th e r r r o f n ra S n Jan . 18 eco ds of the Cou t Ge e l essio s of , 1692 S a Z e rub ab e l n w as arra n d o n ar , how th t E dicott ig e ch ge of adultery with Rebecca Eames and bound over in the S um of

£200. AC C S AND T B C T 233 U ED RIED UT N OT EXE U ED .

” n n 20 1692 mi ister of Ipswich, on Ju e , , certi ﬁ e d a to her high ch racter . He had

n n h e r f o r a t r and r n all a K ow bove ﬁf y ye a s , du i g th t

m n r n n o r ar an in h e r arr a o r ti e , I eve k ew he d of y evil c i ge , convers ation unbecom ing a Christian : likewise Sh e w as bred up by Christian p aren ts al l the tim e Sh e lived here in Ips ” “ He a ran r n wich . w s st gely surp rised that any pe so Sh ould speak o r think of h e r as o ne worthy to be suspected ” an r m of y such c i e .

n n n h n a m n . ad Rev Joh Higgi so , who bee i is ter of the gospel for ﬁ f ty -ﬁve years and p astor of the Fi rst Church in S alem for a third of a

n r and am a ce tu y , Rev . S uel Cheever , bore equ lly stro n g testim ony to the high characte r of S arah

m an w as a r n Buckley . The wo prob bly i o ed dur ing h e r conﬁnement in j ail because of statem ents m n n a a . n a of M ry W lcott Be j in Hutchi so , on 15 a e t July , deposed that his wife being t k n wi h great p ai n he we nt for Mary W alcott to com e and look to see if she could see any body upo n her ; and as soon as she cam e into the house she s aid S arah B uckley and Mary Whitridge were ” n upon his wife . These wome , be it remem a n n bered , were already in j il . Hutchi son se t to “ S n him a m c the heriff, desiri g to t ke so e ourse with those women that they might not h ave ” m n S such power to tor e t . The heriff ordered ” n a them to be fettered , and ever si ce th t ’ Hutchinson s w ife h ad been tolerably well . Sarah Buckley and Mary Whitridge were tried a 16 3 and 9 . in J nuary, , acquitted They were A SAL M A 234 WITCHCR FT IN E VILL GE .

and poor people, the costs of court , the expense ’ in a and £ 10 a of living j il the jailer s fee of , f ir l m m ffi y i poverished the . It is di cult for us to realize the state of a community where persons m a accused of a terrible cri e, kept he vily ironed n n a V for ma y mo ths in ile prison , tried for their and n l lives, fi al y acquitted, were compelled to n pay all the costs and fees before bei g liberated . There were m any other persons tried or ac cuse d and , still others suspected, besides those n a m n n n i dividu lly e tio ed in the precedi g pages , but the p articulars already given will suffice to n a i dic te how all were treated . The course pur sued by m agistrates and courts diff ered only in n mi or details .

TC C A T SA M V A 236 WI H R F IN LE ILL GE . believed in w itchcraft ; that there w as such a

o ne a n thing, no doubted . As we h ve see , the w as as all m n isest jurists , well the i isters , in n believed the existe ce of witches . Books n n as n n an were writte upo the subject, upo i s ity

n n r h ad a d ki d ed topics . People been arrested and executed for the alleged crime in all Chris

n n n a a n r tia cou tries . For e rly half ce tu y pre 1692 n a vions to , prosecutio s were m de for

a n n . Me n witchcr ft in New E gla d like Gov .

. n and a Endicott , Gov Wi throp , even the liber l m a h ad a n n inded Br dstreet , p ssed se te ce upon its m na t . a n unfortu te vic i s Sh ll we , then, wo der that the people of Salem Vill age attributed to the dem on witchcraft the strange perfo rmances am a Ann of Abigail Willi s , Elizabeth P rris , Put nam and t in 1 92 and 16 9 heir associates , 6 3 ? Rather Shall we no t record our admiration that a n then and there the belief in spectr l evide ce, a a and, necessarily witchcr ft, received its de th n blow . The refusal of the Essex jury to co vict 1693 in January , , was the beginning of the end, a m not only in S le but in the world . Some characters were exhibited during the dark period that command our profoundest respect . Heroic Joseph Putnam always denounced the course being pursued and kept his horse s addled for some w eeks in anticipation of a call from the constable and with the full determination to e s a c pe . A V 237 RE IEW.

a w as Th t Mr . Parris sincere in the belief that these children were bewitched , I see no reason ﬂ e n to doubt . That he fanned the ame and co urage d the prosecutions for the purpose of wreaking vengeance on his Opponents - in

affa as a . church irs , is often sserted, is doubtful That he should be more ready to believe one of his Opponents guilty th an o ne of his friends and

JOS H U NAM HO S DAN V S . EP P T U E, ER

n a a a supporters , is quite tur l , lthough we may look in vain for any positive evidence of even i a h a th s . F milies t t supported him did not a a a n lw ys esc pe prosecutio , while others , not of m a a n n m the inisteri l f ctio , were u bered among the most active accusers . Every neighborhood disagreement that court record or tradition h as an w h as h ded do n to us , been enlarged upon and em bellished by different writers to prove that persons were accused of witchcraft because of 2 TC C A T SA M A 38 WI H R F IN LE VILL GE . some differences of Opinion or som e petty suit

t -l And r n ﬁ nd a a aw . yet we f eque tly these s me n n in a m n ra as people u iti g co plai t for witchc ft , in a ara m a n the c se of S h Good , where the co pl i

m a n so n-in-l aw ants were Tho s Presto , of Rebecca and a and a nam a Nurse, Thom s Edw rd Put . Th t Parris should take an active p art in the affair w as na ra n w as m n r tu l , seei g he the i iste of the

IS m a r n a p arish . it tte of wo der th t he should attend the trials and ask questio ns ? He w as probably as familiar with the facts as any o ne n re who could be present . He w as freque tly o i n porter the evidence, appoi ted by the court because he wrote in charact e rs and could m ake n a m a mi utes faster th n ost others . It is true th t after the storm h ad past Parris h ad ren ewed dis w as r a agreements with the church . But it e lly a continuation of the old feud that h ad merely S a a a lumbered for ye r, together with the dded feelings enge ndered by the occurrences of that

. a ra a arr period N tu lly the ctivity of Mr . P is in the pros ecutions rendered him obn oxious to the surviving rel atives of those whose lives were

a n . n n t ke All this, however, would be co siste t n r o ne no w n with his si ce ity . No questio s but

h n rt affa r m t at the whole u fo unate ir, judged f o

n - w as an a our sta d point, error of the gr vest

a r an a r n n ture . But judged f om the v t ge g ou d of

1692 r rr w as in n , the ﬁ st e or the co viction of o n S persons purely pectral evidence , for which

240 TC C A T IN SA M V A WI H R F LE ILL GE .

a e n a a r n r a in all f th r , I cre se M ther, we e co se v tive matters relating to the witchcraft prosecution s

an at h as after they beg . Cotton M her been charged repeatedly with getting up the delu n a a n sio at S lem Vill ge, with bei g the chief ” n m and n age t of the ischief, helpi g it on m n a a . On a throughout th t d rk sum er the co tr ry, w as at S n a and w as at he not present a i gle tri l , n o ne n an n n o ly executio . It is ope questio w n n whether he as o t at the executio of Mr . Burroughs as a friend and brother m inister and a m not as a persecutor . We should t ke with so e ’ measure of allowance Cal e f s statem e nt about ’ M ather s decl aration that Burroughs w as no

a n n . a a ord i ed mi ister . Mr M ther dvised the and n t o a a judges the cou cil exercise gre t c re,

n ra n n and no t to co vict on S pect l evide ce alo e . It has been s aid that he advised test i ng the accused ’ r h r SO by havi ng them epeat t e Lo d s prayer . he in d n SO a n n did . But oi g he especi lly e joi ed the n n n judges o t to use it as evide ce to co vict . Here are his ex act words

’ Tha t they be tested by repeating the Lord s pray er o r those other Sist e m s of Christian ity which it seem s the dive ls often m ake the witches unable to repeat without ridiculous Th e an r e x e ri Depravations and Am putations . d ge of this p a m no n m ent will be taken aw y if you ake evide ce of it , but Th e only put it to the use I m ention . like I would say of som e other experim ents only we m ay venture too f ar ” r 2 before we are aw a e .

M . . . 2 a . C . V 391 ss Hist oll , III , ' I “ A REVIEwL 241

t t m t At the very ou se of the exa ina ion, Cotton

’ a r Ma ha M ther w ote to j . Ric rds ,

“ Most hum bly begging h im that he do no t l ay m ore ' i n I i st re ss o n pure spe c t re t e st m o y t han t will be ar . It s cert ain th at the d ivil s h ave sometim es rep re sented t h e ” r n no n nn n b ut r r 3 s hapes of pe so s t o ly i oce t ve y ve tuous . ‘ A 1 16 2 W . 7 9 He rote to Judge Sewall on ug ,

I do st ill Think Th at when there is no further Evide nce in r o n n Th a r a ga st a p e s but o ly This , at Spect e in their i r a E n ap e does aﬁ ct aneighbo , th t vide c e Is no t en ough r t o con vict ye of witchc aft .

This letter was written two d ays befo re the e x t n a ecu io of Proctor, Burroughs , Will rd, Car

i and a and e r er J cobs , ther fore this further sen tence i s peculiarly signiﬁc ant If any pers ons ha ve been condem ned about whom any f iI d are no a i r m o ye j ge s t e sy n thei ind s , that ye E vide nce a a n m h a n at a r w g i st the , s bee S isf cto y , it ould Cert ainly be f o r ye glory of the whole Trans action t o give th at person a R r ” 4 ep ieve .

a t a i i itc h cra t Th t Co ton M ther bel eved n w f , is

- n . o not , the questio We kn w he, did in the strongest manner and that he h ad wri tten e X t e nsnv l i he r No r Is e y n support o f t doct ine . _ n u a there a y . question b t th t he believed in the

m i n t ad ission of spectral e v de ce . But he ques n f ar o tio is , how would he g in , th ,e prosecutions - and h o w much credenc e would he give to this t a n r e a evidence . I seems pl i f om quotations alr dy

3 Ihd .

4 Tran a n t h e Lit . and H . S IL s ctio s of ist ociety of Q uebec, ,

313 . T A A 242 WI C HCR FT IN SALEM VILL GE .

a a m de from his writings th t, while he believed in the adm i ssion of the testimony h e did not e in n n a n b lieve convicti g perso s on it lo e . Phips o n 21 1693 a th e n wrote , Feb . , , th t advice give by the Mathers and other mi nisters for more a n th e a n had c utio in dmissio of evidence , much n n 5 lesse ed the peril of convictio . Nevertheless , Cotton Mather w as in a l arge degree responsible ra r 1692 a h ad for the witchc ft t oubles of , bec use he been f o r seve ral years instilli ng into the m inds of

no t n r a the people belief , o ly in the e lity of witch a in n an r cr ft , but the existe ce of eve present devil who w as usi ng the spectres of hum an n a a a bei gs to do his evil deeds . M ther ppe rs to h ave h ad an unbounded faith in his o w n knowl edge and power ; he believed himself d ivinely a n all n ppoi ted , above his brother mi isters , to lead in the wo rk of purifying the community if no t and d n o ne the world, rivi g out the evil . ’ a a a n t Mr . M ther s pl n for de li g wi h people w as a m supposed to be bewitched to pr y with the , not to p rosecute the persons whom they accused n m m a of bei g their tor entors . He see s to h ve been as successful with his remedy as th e judges t a were wi h theirs . He pr yed with the Goodwin

r n n r n r child e a d with th e ir alleged to me to s . That outbre ak w as checked in the family where it ori inat e d and n a g , no lives were the s criﬁced, beyond a Mrs r a a h ad th t of . Glover . Pe h ps if M ther

’ 5 Anna Sa m H . 482. Felt s ls of le , ,

‘ 244 - WI TCHCRAFT I ; SA V A V IS LEM ILL GE .

witnesses . Little Ann Putnam t estiﬁed in nine a , E a a in n Mar teen c ses liz beth Hubb rd twe ty , y , x t e , r n in w e Walcott in si e n , Mary Wa re t elv , e s in a a M rcy Lewi ten , Abig il Willi ms , Susan h o and b in In S eld n Eliza eth Booth e ight each . f act, the delusion o riginated with children an d

a - , r was kept live by them . Sho n of their t estis n u no t mo y, it co ld h ave bee n m aintained for a d a ’ y . Ann Putnam s power ove r life and death

a and r n exceeded th t of judges ju y . Whe she

S M a r w as a w itch ar a w as aid arth Co ey , M th e n a m n arrest ed . Wh she s id the a Abbott w as

o ne a aran h ad n r the whose ppe ce torme ted h e , n h he was arrested . Whe s e s aid he w as not the man n an a a m ti , he was i st tly rele sed . Wh t o ves it is d ifﬁ cult s a prompted these children to y . It m ay be they were carried away by the impo r ' tance in the co mm unity w hich their statem ents gave them ; or they m ay have been the victims o f the same mental derangement th at afflict ed

e O le d o no t ~ kno w we can the older p p ; We , n W a o m m act as never k ow, h t pr pted the to they Th e a m r m Ann u n m did . C rr fa ily f o which P t a ' w as c n n n a e n o ne w des e ded, is k ow to h ve b e hose r i m re ssmnabl 1ve n ﬁt s membe s were very p e , g to n n ra of ervous ess and hyste i . But how shall we accoun t f o r th e stories told by the numerous adult witnesses? Wh at ex planation shall be offered for the m arvelous a rs n a a a t les of M . An Putn m ” of Rich rd C rr, A REVIEW 245

a n a a a S muel Sheldo , Jon th n Westgate , S muel Shattuck and others ? Some statements by these witnesses are undoubtedly merely ex aggerated

nt r n accou s of eve y day occurre ces . Others are a na n not thus expl i ble . The only solutio which we should be likely to offer of such tales in this ’ and a n a n day gener tio , would be th t the perso s w as a a mind b dly disordered by ins nity, or by had habitual intemperance , or that he suffered an attack of nightmare . It is pretty evident that the two disorders l ast named did effect the n testimonies of some of the wit esses , but the solution th at seem s most re asonable is th at which attributes the conduct of these persons to m a a sort of epide ic , which perv ded the whole and n a community . Men wome were tempor rily ins ane over the strange occurrences in their

r u a n a a . midst . Thei mi ds were ct lly dise sed Many who confessed themselves witches subse “ quently expl ai ned that they did this because so many people were positive the devil h ad ap e are d p in their shapes, they could not doubt it ” h . d was true They a been educat‘ed to believe such things not only possible but probable and n common . They did not k ow but that the demon had invisibly take n their sh apes to torment n i others . Perso s whom they d d not suspect of n a a n ﬁ n a a i tention lly f lsifyi g, testi ed u der o th th t and these things had been done , they could not a doubt it . The s fest way therefore, as they well 246 TC C A T IN A M A WI H R F S LE VILL GE .

w as knew, to confess . Others , no doubt did not m a a m believe the testi ony g inst the selves , but acknowledged them selves to be witches because n ar those who co fessed were disch ged , while those who did no t were eventually convicted and n and executed . Some stood to the co fession a r n m n were s ved . Othe s , u der the pro pti gs of n n a n n and their co scie ces , repudi ted the co fessio f r a ﬁ n suf e ed de th . It is dif cult to reco cile the a nam and w conduct of Thom s Put , his ife Ann , and Ann r a . their d ughter , j , with other than

r na a n motives of pe so l m lice . You g Ann, as we a n w as n a an h ve see , a leadi g compl in t and wit in all m n a ness the i porta t c ses . The mother a a testiﬁed at sever l tri ls, telling some of the m ost improbable stories recorded in all this his ma w as a and a a tory . Tho s an ctive le ding ch rac ter throughout from ﬁrst to l ast . He prepared an n f o r a m y of the depositio s his d ughter , and n a n m a a m n o several occ sio s , de st te e ts for her n w as over his o w signature . Why he thus m n no t a a a m a pro ine t does cle rly ppe r . It y be t hat h e w as prompted solely by what he believed

: to be for the public good that he was honest, z a n but misguided , yet his eal was cert i ly extra n ordi ary . a n a a Of the conduct of the ex mini g m gistr tes , and O n the judges other ofﬁcials , but one pi ion seems possible : they were misguided in their unne c sense of duty, unjust to the accused , and

T A T SA M A 248 WI CHCR F IN LE VILL GE .

m m m what see ed to the legiti ate evidence . They undoubtedly believed that the word of a witch was not to be taken under any circumstances ; th at when the accused m ade any statements in their o w n behalf they were prompted to it by

and no t . the devil , therefore to be believed One thing at le ast seems certain regarding the Witchcraft prosecutions nearly every m an prominently connected with them subsequently s 1696 confe sed his error . Even Stoughton , in , approved a procl am ation o rdaining a public fast 14 a a 1697 im to be kept on the th of J nu ry , , to piore that the anger of God might be turned n away, and concludi g with the expression of a fear that something might still be wanting to m n a a as re acco pa y their supplic tions , especi lly a a l ted to the witchcr ft tragedy . The General Court subsequently reimbursed to the heirs of the executed persons and to those who were im prisoned from time to time during 1692-3 f more or less of the losses su fered by them, and a a n I am a reversed the tt i ders . ware that it is a disputed question whether all the necessary for m alitie s to make the several acts of the General Court of full force and effect were ever fulﬁlled but there is no question that the sentiment of the people’ s representatives was overwhelmingly in favor of doing thus much to right a great wrong . n Rev . Joh Hale of Beverly , one of the ablest A REVIE W: 249i

d n cf : ivines in New E gland, repented the part h ad t ake n n a a and he i the ff ir, wrote that,

r r r a im By following such t adition s of o u fathe s , m x s of m n l aw nd re c d e nt s a n d r h no w the com o , a ‘p e p inciples , w ich m a e n ar are we y s e weighed in the bal an ce of the s a ctu y ,

’ n — r ne h d a t o r; fou d too light such w as the da k ss of t at y , the ' ’ ‘ t ure s and a m n a n a i and r o f l e t tio s of the fﬂ cted , the powe rm r r n and ul fo e p ecede ts , that we walke d in the clouds co d ” ' no t Se e o u 1 r Way .

The F in a m irst Church S le , by vote recorded , ’ r » that we are th ough God s mercy to us , con

Vinc e d a r d a n th t we we e at that dark y , u der the power of those errors which then prevailed 1n ” 7 an m s . 8 1703 the l d On July , , the inister of Essex county addressed a m emorial to the Gen “ r n eral Cou t, sayi g there was great reason to a n n ff an fe r that i noce t persons then su ered, d that God may have a - co nt ro ve rse y with the land ” a 8 upon th t account . The jurors who tried and n ko S co victed the accuse d, united in a puh tate n o . me t in which they said, among ther things We justly fear that we were s adly deluded and ” m a n ist ke . It m ay intere st the reader to know h o w . . N a the jurymen were , e l gives the follow

” a ing list of one jury : Thom as Fisk , forem n , a William Fisk, John B tchelder, Thomas Fisk ,

n a Pe r: Joh Dane , Joseph Eveleth , Thom s

“ J a m P ly , sen . ohn Pe body , Tho as erkins , Sam e l w and u Sayer, Andre Elliott Henry Herrick ,

’ ’ e r 7 R co ds First Ch uréhf Sal e m .

BW ra Pa rs S a H n . itchc ft pe , t te ouse , Bosto A A M V A 250 WI TCHCR FT IN S LE ILL GE .

Ann na a sen . Put m lived to re lize the error of

n and n m r . her co duct, to repe t of it ost bitte ly In 1706 n n a r , Rev . Joseph Gree , the p sto of the

a r a n Vill ge church, e d her confessio to the w as as church . It follows I desire to be h um bled before God f o r that sad and h um ’ bling providence that be f e l m y father s fam ily in the year a 1692 a n n in m S bout th t I, the bei g y childhood , hould by a r n m a an n r m n f o r such p ovide ce of God , be de i st u e t the a n ra r n r m r ccusi g of seve l pe so s of a grievous c i e , whe eby r r a n a a r m m m no w a thei lives we e t ke w y f o the , who I h ve just groun ds and good reason to believe they were innocent persons ; and that it w as a great delusion of Satan that de c e ive d m e in a sad m r ar a th t ti e , whe eby I justly fe I h ve n n r m n a r n ran and un bee i st u e t l , with othe s , though ig o tly r n u wittingly , to b i g upon m yself and this land the g ilt of innocent blood ; though what w as said o r done by m e against any person I can truly and uprightly s ay before and m an no t an an r m a o r God , I did it out of y ge , lice ill W an r n f o r h ad no n a a n o ne ill to y pe so , I such thi g g i st of m a w as n ran n the , but wh t I did ig o tly , bei g deluded of And ar r n r m n sat an . p ticula ly as I w as a chief i st u e t of ac e n n r and h e r r r lie si g of goodwife Nu se two siste s , I desi e to in an d m f o r in a w as a aus the dust , to be hu bled it, th t I c e , r ad a a m nd r ami with othe s , of so s c l a ity to them a thei f f o r a r in and e ar lies ; which c use I desi e to lie the dust , ne st l r n and r m all n y beg fo give ess of God , f o those u to W m a n a rr and o ﬁ e nce W ho I h ve give just c use of so ow , hose relation s were t aken away o r accus ed . Many others connected with the prosecutions n a n n subseque tly ck owledged their error . No e as r an n of these people, I unde st d it , de ied a a witchcr ft itself . The error they cknowledged

was as to the method of procedure . They con fessed that they h ad be e n t o o h asty in their

252 TC C A T IN SA M V A WI H R F LE ILL GE .

These exam pl e s of repe ntance and ch ange o f sentiments might be continued almost ind e ﬁ nit e l but n h as n e n Sh w a y , e ough bee giv to o th t the a and fﬁ a n a le ding prosecutors the o ci ls ge er lly ,

“ a n e t m a subsequently ck owledg d heir ist ke . The

n n r h m s; m ra na co clusio , therefo e , whic see ost tio l % is that which attributes the unfortunate affair to

’ S o f ' n an a h a pecies neighborhood i s ity, w ole Sale delusion: It was like a cyclone - that sweeps ' ' a o r a conﬂa rat io n a over the l nd, g th t Wipes out “ n n f e do of existe ce whole sectio s o a city. W no t realize the - aw ful dram a which is being e n n s » n w e n t he t m acted arou d u . O ly h s or has

’ d passed and we a wake to a thorough . co mpreh en ‘ i th e a am t a re c at sion of c l i y, do we pp i e its force n a n ms a the , the hour of its r gi g see like a dre m . w as s an a t h e as Such, I judge, sub t ti lly c e with

r n n a o no t o u a cestors two ce turies g . They did a n th e m 16 92 a : re lize, duri g sum er of , the wful n a e na n ess of the tr gedy th y were e cti g . They t a a n and believe d h t they were , c sti g out devils ,

a an a e s i-f th t y me sures , however sever , were j u t ‘ ﬁ bl e T an a af r th e s m w as a . heir l gu ge te tor a and a e alm h a t an im p ssed d se tled ove r the l d , ' ' ' as m c —and - a e a ; plies u h, more , th t the full r liza n a h ad n a tio of wh t they been doi g, d wned on m n a ll r h e c cr t t a . T he o ly fter was ove , , wit h af t ra e d must a s m a g y z then h ve eemed to the like

n m ar th e nt n : horrid ight e . We of prese ge era

/ tion shudder at , the i nt o le rant pe rse cutio ns and A V W 253 RE IE .

superstitions of our ancestors . Let us do nothing in politics or re ligl o n that will cause o ur d a re desc en nts to blush for us . It is well to vive the unw ise or unjust acts of our ancestors s as w a a ometimes , we ould pl ce beacon on some s hoal or reef where a ship had been wrecked, to w arn others of the danger . APPENDIX A .

Fo r m ore convenient reference a list of all persons accused

ra in 1692 f ar a n n . of witchc ft , so s k own , is appe ded Th e following were executed : Jun e 10 Bridget Bishop ; 19 Sa ra Sara E i a Ho w Su July , h Good , h Wildes , l z beth , anna ar n and R a r A 19 r B ur s M ti ebecc Nu se ; ugust , Geo ge

r n r r r a se n . n ar oughs , Joh P octe , Geo ge J cobs , , Joh Will d , an d ar a arr r S m r 22 ar a G r ar M th C ie ; epte be , M th o ey , M y

B a A ar r Ann Pud e at r ar ar S sty , lice P ke , o , M g et cott , Wil m o t R am r m r eed , S uel Wardwell and Mary Parke ; Septe be 19 C r r , Giles o ey p essed to de ath . Th e following were condem ned but no t executed At the

t r n r El r r hi d sessio of the cou t in August , iz abeth P octe ; r n r a H ar t n A a a fou th sessio , Do c s o ; ﬁf h sessio , big il F ulk ne r R a Eam Mar La Ann r an d A a , ebecc es , y cy , Foste big il H at an ar n n e w r in 1693 obbs ; the J u y sessio of the cou t ,

ar Sara War w and E a n n . M y Post , h d ell liz beth Joh so Below will be foun d a p artial list of persons accused

r n r r N m ah A whethe co victed o no t : An dove , ehe i bbott , Sara r r r am ar r am h B idges , Abigail B a ke , Willi B ke , Willi E n r ar Mrs . r un . ar ar r n ra r B ke , j , M y B ke , Joh B dst eet , be eze a r a rr r arr r R ar C arr r B ke , Willi m B a y, Ma tha C ie , ich d ie , A a Sara a ran an Mrs . a an an h C ve , Delive ce D e , N th D e , big il a n r Ann r E n r Harr n t n F ulk e , Foste , u ice F ye , i g o , S t n n n n L a n r ar La Ma r ar ephe Joh so , Joh u d y , M y cy , y M s t o n ar r ar r Hann a T r ar a , M y Osgood , M a y P ke , h yle , M th T r anna T r HO e T r Sam u ar Sara yle , Jo yle , p yle , el W dwell , h

n ara n un . ar ar . Wilso , S h Wilso , j , M y W dwell

Am r nna Mar n . esbu y , Susa ti r r a H ar R a n n Sara M rr Beve ly , Do c s o , ebecc Joh so , h e ill , Sara M r S anna Ro o t e Sara R e T and h o ey , us , h ist , Job ukey

John Wright .

25 APP 6 ENDIX .

A PPENDIX B .

Th e question Whether the attainders were ever rem oved and whether the heirs of all t h e suﬁ e re rs ever received com pensation a t the h ands of the General Court h as been Mr an r A . . ably d exhaustively a gued by . C Goodell of

Sa m r r n La and Dr . r le , edito of the P ovi ce ws, Geo ge H . r r in a r r a r Massach u Moo e of New Yo k , p pe s e d befo e the se tts Historical Society and published in the proceedings of i m r and a n a m . that society , lso p phlet fo Both of these authorities agreed that an ac t pas sed in 1703 reversing the a a n r A a Fa n r S ara ar and E a tt i de s of big il ulk e , h W‘dwell liz T e r rd in o ﬁi e beth Procter . h eco s the c of the clerk of court s in Salem contain a statem ent of the am ounts allowed in the case of e ach person and also the ackn owledgm ent m n n m r a m an of the receipt of the o ey by u e ous cl i ts . Th e f ollowing docum ent shows beyond question that pecuniary compensation w as m ade to m any of the suff erers Whether the attaint w as ever fully rem oved o r no t

His E n rn r By xcelle cy the Gove o . Whereas ye Generall Assem bly in their l ast Session ao ce pt e d ye report of their co m it te appointed to consider o f ye D am ages Sustained by Sun dry persons prosecuted f o r Witchcraft in ye year 1692 Vizl —— —— To Elizabeth Ho w 12 0 0 John Procter wife 150 0 0

— — — - George Jacobs 79 0 0 S arah Wild 14 0 0

— — - — Mary Easty 20 0 0 Mary Bra dbury 20 0 0 — — —— M ary Parker 8 0 0 Abigail Faulkner 20 0 0 —— — — George Burroughs 50 0 0 Abigail Hobbs 10 0 0 — — — — Giles C orey wife 21 0 0 Anne Foster 6 10 0 — — — Re be ccah Nurse 25 0 0 Re be ccah Eam es 10- 0 0 — — — — John Willard 20 0 0 Dorc as Hoar 21 17 0 —— — — S arah Good 30 0 0 Mary Post 8 14 0 — — — Martha C arrier 7- 6 0 Mary Lacey 8 10 0 Sam uel Wardwell 83 wife 36 - 15- 0

309—0 1—00 APP 257 ENDIX .

Th e whole am ounting un to Five Hun dred Se v en ty Eight o un d e s 85 T p welve Shillings . I do by 85 with the advice 85 consent of He r Majt e y s coun cil hereby order you to p ay ye above Sum of ﬁve hundred Seventy Eight p o un d e s 85 Twelve shilli ngs to Stephen a E n m n C o m Sew ll sqr . who together with ye Ge tle e of ye itt e th at Estim ated an d Reported ye Said D am ages are de sired 8t directed to distribute ye S am e in p roportion as above to such of ye S aid persons as are Living 85 to those that legally represent them that are dead according as ye

l a r n w directs f o r which this shall be your war a t . Given under m y han d at Boston

the 17 d ay of Decem ber 1711 . J : Dudley Tr To Mr . easurer Taylor By order of ye Govern or 85 Coun cil I s a ADDIN GT O N Se c rty Othe r papers o n the sam e ﬁles contain the receipts of the heirs of the above n am ed p arties f o r the am oun ts allowed n n am r n to them . It will be see that the es of six pe so s who r r n r a we e executed do no t appea in this list , eithe doe s th t E a n m n but n o t of lizabeth Johnson jr . who w s co de ed exe

o n r r h urn in r n . I uted , o th at of S a a _ Osb who died p iso do no t ﬁ nd that their heirs eve r received any com pensation f o r a A the dam ages sustained by their persons and est tes . p p are ntly n on e of the heirs of the six who we re condem ned ever petitioned f o r reim bursem en t o r f o r the rem ov al of the

F r r r n no t a attaint . o this eason doubtless thei am es do p r i r E a pea n the list eported upon by the com m ittee . liz beth ns n n n h e r n am w as mi Joh o did sig the petitio , but e o tted , r a n a r h e r bad ara eithe ccide t lly , o r pu posely because of ch c

t e r .

A E X C PP NDI .

Th e r r lette of Gov . Phips to the hom e governm en t unde - a . 21 1692 3 as d te of Feb , is follows Ma a o r r h v y it ple se y Lo ds .

By the C apn . of ye Sam uell Henry I gave an account 258 APP ENDIX . that att m y arrivall here I foun d ye Prisons full of people m i c o t te d upon suspicion of witchcraft 85 that co nt inuall m co plaints were m ade to m e that m any persons were grie v l o us y torm ented bv witches 85 that they c ry e d out upon se ve rall r n n am as a pe so s by e , ye c use of their torm ents y e n m r m a n n r a n r d a u be of these co pl i ts i c e si g eve y y , by ad o f L t . G vice ye ieu o v r . 85 ye C ouncill I gave a C o m issio n of Oyer and Term in er to try ye suspected witches 85 at th a t tim e the generality of y e People represented ye m atter to m e as reall witchcraft 85 gave very strange instan ces of the

am . Th e r in C o m issio n w a r s e fi st s ye Lieut . Go vr . 85 ye est persons of y e best p rudence 85 figure that could then be pitched upon 85 I depen ded upon ye C ourt f o r a right m ethod of proceeding in c ases of witchcraft ; at that tim e I wen t to com an d the arm y at y e E astern p art of the Province f o r ye French an d In dians h ad m ade an attack n m o ur r n r T n n n r f o r upo so e of F o tie ow s , I co ti ued the e som e tim e but w h e n I re turn e d I f o und p e op le much dissat isfi e d a t y e p ro ce e d ings of y e Co ur t f o r about Twenty p e r sons were con dem ned and e x e cute d of which num ber so me r th o u h m an r o r we e g t by y p e s ns to be inno ce n t . Th e Co u t s till ro ce e d e d in e sam e m e th o d o tr in th e m w as p y f y g , which by ye evidence of ye afflicted persons who when they were brought into ye Court as soon as the suspected witches looked upon them inst an tly fell to ye groun d in strange

r rm n n t o uch d m agonies 85 g ievous to e ts , but whe by the upon ye arm e o r som e other part of their ﬂ esh they im e d l r 85 am m n iat e y evived c e to the selves , upo %which] they m ade oath that ye Prison er at ye B ar did afﬂict them 85 that they saw their shape o r spectre com e from their bodies which put them to such paines 8 5 torm ents : When I e n quired into ye m atter I w as enform ed by ye Judges that n h ad m an m n a a n they begu with this , but hu e testi o y g i st such as were condem ned 85 un doubted proof of their being at n n a D e v ill a u witches , but le g th I fou d th t the did t ke p o n h im y e shape o i innocent persons 85 som e were accused of w hose inn ocency I w as well assured 85 m any consid e rable p e rsons of unblam eable life conversation were cried out

X 260 APPENDI .

his o v . u n t pleasure be signified 85 declared th e Lie ut . G p o ’ occasio n w as inrage d dt fi lle d with p assiona te ange r do re f use d to s itt o n y e be n ch in a S up e rio r Co urt th e n he ld Tu sd a n r 1 a t h arle s T wne (ii ind e e d % e y , Ja ua y 31 , 693] C o h a th f ro m th e be gining hurrie d o n th e se m atte rs w ith gre a t s d h e e sta te s d s p re cip itancy (it by his w arrant h ath cau e t , goo a nd ch attle s of y e e x e cute d to be se ize d disp o se d of without m kno wle d o r o s nt th e st ut to e ir st m e th o d y ge c n e , op p y f of proceedings hath dissipated ye blak cloud that threatened this P—ro vince with d e st rucc o n ; f o r whereas this delusion of ye Dcvill did sp read 85 its dis m all eff ects touched ye lives t e s 85 re ut aco n 85 estates o f m any of their Ma . Subjects ye p of so m e of y e p rincip all p e rsons h e re 85 in deed unhappily fi aire s a clogged and interrupted their Mates . a which h th been a great vexation to m e % I have no ne w com pl‘aints but p e op le s m in ds bef ore d ivid e d and distracte d by difie ring m op inions concerning this m atter are no w well co posed .

am Yo r . L r m a m S r an I o dships ost f ithfull hu ble e v t ,

William Phips .

bl e To Rt . Ho n Ear n am att the . the le of Notti gh , White h all , London .

APPENDIX D .

Th e m n En a ra nd ost oted of the glish c ses of witchc ft , a o ne m r n in Sa m r a w as the ost f eque tly cited the le t i ls , that heard before Lord Chief Justice Hale in Bury St . Edm un ds n a a m n and R r in 1665 . O th t occ sion A y Du y ose Cullende r Th r r we e the accused an d were tried together . e epo t of “ r r i m a Tr this celeb ated t ial is foun d n volu e 6 , S t te ials , a r r l n n p ge 647 , and f om that repo t the fol owi g accou t h as n n bee conde sed . Th e m orning the afflicted cam e into the hall to give in stru tio n f r r r n m n c s o the d awing of thei bills of i dict e t , r n fi r n th ee of them fell i nto strange and viole t ts , sh ieki g A 2 1 PPENDIX . 6 o ut in a n a no t i an a m ost s d m a ner, so th t they could n y wis e give any instruction in the court who we re the cause r of their distem per . And although they did afte som e r a r r h r r ce t in space ecove out of t eir fits , yet they we e eve y o ne o f m r m o a n n m the st uck du b , s th t o e of the could s a n r a m no r r n a n th pe k eithe at th t ti e , du i g the ssizes u til e co n a a viction of the supposed witches . Eliz beth P cy , eleven e ars a e o ne th e af w as r n r at y of g , of flicted, b ought i to cou t th e tim e of th e fram ing of the indictm ent and afterwards at r r n r o t a o ne r the t ial of the p iso e s , but could n spe k wo d all r m n as n the tim e , and f o r the m ost p art she e ai ed o e W n and m holly se seless , as o ne in a deep sleep , could ove no ar h e r d all m n a a p t of body , an the otio of life th t p e are d in h l n n in p e r w as , that as she ay upo cushio s the r n h e r a r t o m ach e and t h e ra cou t upo b ck , h e s belly , by d w in h e r r a r a r a and a r g of b e th , would a ise to g e t height ; fte th e said Eliz abeth h ad lain a long tim e o n the table in th e r cou t , she came to a little herself and sat up , but could n r n r ns a w as a eithe see o speak , but w as se ible of wh t s id to h e r a r h , nd after a while sh e laid h e r head o n the ba of t e r r an and h e r a r n cou t with a cushion under it , and h e h d p o n a m : and upo th t , and there she l ay a good space of ti e by

“ the direction of the judge Am y Duny w as privately brought E a h e r an r n to liz beth Pacy , and she touched h d ; whe eupo t h e child without so m uch as seeing h e r f o r h e r eyes were all and a Am closed the while , sudde nly le aped up, c tched y n an and a r ar a and i Du y by the h d , fte w ds by the f ce ; w th h e r nails scratched h e r till the blood cam e and would by no m an e s leave h e r till she w as taken from h e r. D e borah w as held in such extrem e agony that h e r p arents d is aire d d r r no t r n wholly p of h e r life , an the efo e could b i g h e r a a r a to the ssizes . Sam uel Pa cy , the f the , testiﬁed th t r i e Debo ah w as suddenly taken with l am eness n o n leg . Th e s am e d ay Am y Dun y cam e to the house to buy som e herrings . Sh e cam e three tim es and w as denied three

m and r n . At ti es , the l ast tim e wen t away g um bli g the am n an r li s e i st t Debo ah w as taken with violent ﬁts , fee ng m r m a i r t r n ost ext e e p in n h e s o m ach e , like the p icki g of n d pi s , an shrieking out in a m ost dreadful m anner like unto 262 APP ENDIX .

a . Sh e n 10 whelp co tinued in thi s extrem ity from Oct . to 3o th am m a a n the of the s e onth . Th e child cried out g i st Am n as a h S n r y Du y the c use of e r m al ady . oo the othe w as a n n r T r an Am child t ke . the both c ied out , he e st ds y n and R n r n n f o r Du y , the ose Culle de . They co ti ued thus t wo m nt o hs . Th e father in the intervals c aused them t o r a in Ne w T a m e d the est m ent , and when they would co e to

nam L r o r o r r an d h n r the e of o d , Jesus , Ch ist , t e befo e they could pron ounce either of said words they would suddenly a n r n am f ll i to thei ﬁts . But when they would com e to the e Sa an o r n th e t , devil , they would clap their ﬁngers upo r n T a book , c yi g out , his bites but m akes m e spe k quite ” well .

’ ar ar Arn Pac s r a h e r r r M g et old , y siste , testiﬁed th t b othe brought the children to h e r as she lived in Y arm outh Sh e did no t believe the children vom ited pins but that they were a n r r h and pl yi g t icks , so she took al l the pins out of thei clot es m o n ra m sewed the , yet they afterw ards raised at seve l ti es at a 30 n s in h r n le st pi e presence . At tim es the you g child wen t to the door when som ething which looked like a bee at h e r m d n a ﬂew outh . Sh e ran into the house an fell i to

ﬁ t m - Th e , vo iting up a two penny nail with a broad head . child said the bee brought the n ail and forced it into h e r m T m outh . h e elder child at tim es declared that ﬂ ies c a e to h e r and brought pins and afterwards she raised several n pi s .

anna n a h e r a r h ad and Di Becki g deposed , th t d ughte ﬁts w as a n m h e r n she t ke with pain s in h e r st o ac , like p icki g

i n and a r ar n n n a n w th pi s ; fte w ds fell i to swoo i g ﬁts , t ki g “ o r n o an d u little food an d daily vom iting crooked pins , p % o n S n a a ra n and a a u d y l st ised seven pins . These pi s lso

a n a r r r C an r m r l the il we e p oduced in court . Ma y h dle , othe

S an h an r of us C dle , another of the afflicted , testified to searching the body of Rose Cullender an d finding various e x cre sce nse s of flesh an d other things no t proper to m ention r rr he e . Sh e also testified th at h e r daughter h ad te ible fits and m r ll m r an d vo ited up c ooked pins , a of which othe a r r r Th e r w as im d ughte att ibuted t o Rose Cullen de . gi l m m ediately brought into court and im m ediately struck du b , ” ” r n r c yi g out , bu n h e r, burn h e r .

4 APP 26 ENDIX .

r r T r would no t happen by the touch of any othe pe son . he e a r r a an n n r n w as wh t the epo t c lls , i ge ious pe so , who thought there m ight be great fallacy in the experim ent and T re that the children m ight counterfeit their distem per . he

n L r o nw lli ir E m n a n an d r . S r an upo o d C a s , S d u d B co M e je t Kneeling retired to the further e n d of the hall while o ne r w r i r Am n w as of the distem pe ed as he e n h e ﬁts . y Du y conveyed from the bar and brought to the m aid ; they put

r n r h r n n r r n an ap o befo e e eyes , a d then a othe pe so touched h e r an r am ff as h d , which p oduced the s e e ect the touch of r n n m n t e the Witch did in court . Whe eupo the ge tle e rn n r n a tu ed , ope ly p otesti g , th t they did believe the whole r 1 trans action of this business w as a m ere im postu e . at This put the court and all person s into a stan d . But r a ar m a m be length M . P cy decl ed that possibly the id ight deceived by a suspicion that the witch touched h e r when n a r r r n rm she did n o t . Whe his d ughte ecove ed co ﬁ ed _she d a h ad n n a a sh e this an s aid th t while she bee u ble to sp e k , heard and un derstood all that w as going o n in the court . This w as looked upon as a conﬁrm ation of the experim ent r r n m an and that the pa ties we e bewitched . It bei g de ded r n r h a h ad sa f o r m of the p iso e s w t they to y the selves , they n n m a r a an n a w as r replied , othi g te i l to yt hi g th t p oved

n m . r n n n s a n agai st the Whe eupo , co ti ue the ccou t , the in n r n r m a judge givi g his di ectio to the ju y told the , th t t n n m he would no repeat the evide ce u to the , lest by so doing he should wrong the evidence o n the o ne side o r n a a n m a h ad the other . O ly this cqu i ted the , th t they two

n n r a r . r r o r no r n thi gs to e qui e fte Fi st , whethe these child e r S n r o r n o r n r at we e bewitched eco dly , whethe the p iso e s

% the bar were guilty of it ? That there were such creatures m at ll Fo r r r r as witches he ade no doubt a ; ﬁ st , the sc iptu es

r m . n m all na n h ad afﬁ m ed so uch Seco dly , the wisdo of tio s h d r a a a n r n an ar a p ovided l ws g i st such pe so s , which is gu An d a m ent of their conﬁden ce of such crim e . such h th k n m a a ar a act been the judgm ent of this i gdo , s ppe s by th t of p arliament which hath provided punishm ents propor

1 It will be remembered that in t h e trials in Salem th e touch of th e witch o n the afﬂ icted restored them to their senses . AP PENDIX . 265 tio nabl e And e s r a t ff n . m to the qu li y of the o e ce d i ed the , st rictly to observe their evidence ; and desired the gre at Go d of he aven to direct their hearts in this weighty thing t h ad in an : Fo r n m n nn n and hey h d to co de the i oce t , to let

th e u r r a a m na n L r . g ilty go f ee , we e both n bo i tio to the o d With this short direction the jury retired an d within h alf a n hour returned with a verdict of guilty o n the thirteen

in m n . Th a T r rn n Mar dict e ts is w s upon hu sday afte oo , ch

13 1 65 Th r r , 6 . e next m o ning the three children with thei ’ ar n am t h L r r n Ha n p e ts c e to e o d Chief B a o le s lodgi gs , who all m a r and r in as d a h as of the sp ke pe fectly , we e goo he lt e r r r al l re ve they w e e . Mr. Pa cy decl ared that they we e c overed w ithin a half hour after the witches we re co n

victe d . In conclusion the judge and all the court we re f ully satis ﬁ e d h e r m n a a n with t ve dict , and therefore gave judge e t g i st T r m h the witches that they should be h anged . hey we e uc

r nf n o t . T a m rn n ar u ged to co ess , but would h t o i g we dep ted f o r am r r r ran and C b idge , but n o ep ieve w as g ted ; they r o n n ar n we e executed Mo day the 17th of M ch followi g , but n they co fessed n othing. In 1716 a m a ar r a n r a r a , l ost qu te of ce tu y fte the l st witch n i H and h e r a r w as n En an a Mrs . hu g New gl d , icks d ughte aged n ine years we re h anged in Hunti ngdon f o r selling

r rm n n and r n thei souls to the devil , to e ti g dest oyi g the n r m n an d ra n a eighbo s and causing them to vo it pi s , isi g storm so that ships were alm ost lost by pulling o ﬂ h e r Arn a stockings an d m aking a l ather with soap . ot s ys the in 1 22 n last execution f o r witchcraft in Scotland w as 7 , whe r r r s a a a wom an w as brought to the stake . Othe w ite s y th t n a in 1696 the l as t exec ution in the south of Scotl a d w s , n m n n m n m an ff r whe , a o g others , a h a dso e you g wo su e ed ; i 2 and the last instance in the n orth of Scotlan d w as n 17 9 . Th e statute against witchcraft w as repealed in England by

9t h . 2 in 1 36 . Geo , , 7

268 INDEX .

rr Re . . C n v 156 . Bu oughs , Geo , ook , Joh , - - 80 84 . 131 147 165 C r 89 97 110 144 , , , o ey , Giles , , , , 199 218 240 243 2 - - , , , , 54 6 . 168 , 254 6 . rr Mr - 134 . M r s . . a a 85 97 110 Bu oughs , Geo , th , , , - x n n 204 255 . 225 244 254 5 . Bu to , Joh , , , , ’ a R f r m r n r 3 C lef , ob t , quoted o , Co wi , Geo ge , 7 . 43 48 54 68 95 107 na an 16 53 72 , , , , , , Jo th , , , ,

156 240 . 74 101 1 1 , , , 70, 98, 228 , m r a 23 . C b idge , 0 231 . C an r . dy , 255 . Cou t a Ann A 10 . an C pe , ssist ts , C ar J n a an and E a m 1692 ey , o th wife , st blished , 86 . 22 2 - 7 30 254 5 . n ra 33 35 70 . 82 86 , , Ge e l , , , , arr r 211 C , Geo ge , . a m - 211 . 0 e r an d T rm n r 77 8 J es , y e i e , 7 , Mar 32 1 2- 1 0 - 1 9 9 4 5 246 258 . y , . , , , , 9 R ar 212 244 . S n in 1 93 ich d , , essio s 6 , 87 m a 213 . S a as 86 236 . Willi , peci l sizes , , arr r An r o r r r 1 C ie , d ew , 185 . Supe io , 9 , 259 . Mar C r ni i ld a 85 146 182 o w nsh e . W . 193 . th , , , , , B , 184-6 205 25 — C n r Ro s 2 - , , 4 6 . ulle de , e , 60 5 . R ar an D ran 2 185 . 06 254 . ich d , D e , elive ce , , r Re ran Sa a 185 . v . 206 . h . F cis , C r r B t N n a a 255 . a a te , e hi , th , D r M . an a e 134 . C sco , , fo th ,

a 27 68 185 . an r C ts , , , D ve s , r h a Sa a 254 . r C ve , , Delius , Godf ey , ar n 15 44 25 D m n Ch lestow , , , 87 , 5 . e o ology , B r ar r 70 . n Ch te , e ich , Joh , ar r S r C m r 41 r Mar Ch te t eet e ete y , . De ick , y , E D rril l Mar C r 57 98 147 . e heeve , zekiel , , , , y ,

S am 233 . Sara uel , Dodd , h , An Ch e kl e n 73 . y , tho y , Dog bewitched , m r D r Ann 25 256 . 5 . Chel sfo d , ollive , , H r C r n n r 1 11 . a 69 . hicke i g , e y , D ke , D Ch ilburn o ann a 6 1 72 25 . . 7 , J h , udley , Joseph , ,

in D N . Y r n ra . 95 . C hild e witchc ft , 46 , udley , of , D n Am 2 — u y , y , 60 5 . - C r Sara 46 160 2 n 6 1. Sara and hu chill , h , , Dusti , Good , h r En an 1 L a 255 C 9 0 . . hu ch of gl d , , ydi , W a m E am R a 2 5 231 C 108 . c 8 8 leeves . illi , es , ebe c , , , , - R a 25 . C n n 255 . 4 6 li to , chel ,

l o se S ara 169 171 193 R r 231 255 . C y , h , , , , obe t ,

194 195 196 255 . East e aa 116 193 . , , , y , Is c , , n Mar 255 M ar 85 116 193—6 C o ﬂi , y , . y , , , , - Ann 36 37 . Sara 25 254 6 . C ole , , , h , 5

E . 2 E an 174 . n 55 . Colso , liz , lliott , D iel ,

M 164 . m n r r an En C . . C om issio e s of Oye d dicott , m n r n 1 15 16 19 T r 70 . 0 e i e , Joh , , , , ,

R r 35 111 236 n r. C nan 10 19 . o t , oge , , , , , Joh j ,

al lis L r 2 . 113 . C o nw , o d, 64 E 269 IND X .

En Sam 213 Gre e nsm ith s Th e 36 . dicott , uel , , , ,

Z e rubabe l 114 172 r Dr . 46 48 . , , , G iggs , , , 2 3 21 232 . r n a . 7 . , G oto , M ss , - n H n T m 201 . E n a 0 2 . a a gl d , 7 7 i es , ho s , house ,

En and ar Ha Re v . n 18 39 4 1 glish , Phillip M y , le , Joh , , , , - 216 1 25 . 1 2 243 248 . 7 , 5 147 , 5 , 229 , , ’ 0 . 215 Mrs . 9 Phillip s house , . , — r n t 3 239 Sir Ma 24 260 5 . p ecede s , 7 , , tthew , , - 2 H rr 254 . 247 60 5 . a n n , i gto , 1 53 59 E C n 38 87 24 9 . Ha rn n 6 ssex ou ty , , tho e , Joh , , , , E n ra 2 105 2 10 10 1 170 194 vide ce , s pect l , 9 , , 7 , 0, , , , 222 , a r a E w ar 231 F i f x , d d , .

H r 1 132 . a m 143 . ar a 6 F l outh , Me v d College , , D 1 H 121 a a 44 49 248 25 . a r n . F st y , , , , wood , Joh ,

a n r A a a 85 206 Ha r 255 . F ulk e , b g il , , , ve hill , - H rr r 3 254 6 . ar a 7 e ick , M sh l Geo ge , ,

n a an 175 . 116 162 204 210 . Felto , N th iel , , , , 2 r r n 113 . H nr 6 . Fi st Chu ch , Bosto , e y , 6 ‘ U - S al m 12 1 B n Ann 34 5 . e , , 3 , ibbi s , , 1 4 3 H n 11 9 7 128 2 3 24 9 . n n Re v . ra , , , , iggi so , F cis , ,

r S a m 12 1 . Chu ch , le , cove , 5

n an n 198 . t of , Joh , m 3 T a 128 . Re v . n 2 3 . Fiske , ho s , Joh , r Ann 85 89 206 254-6 H ar r a 85 222-3 254 Foste , , , , , o , Do c s , , , , n 2 2 a 08 5 . Co st ble , . 6 r m n H A a a 6 1 85 105 F ee e , obbs , b g il , , , , - - r n am n 181 . 144 217 22 254 6 . Fulle , Be j i , , ,

n 172 . ran 144 Joh , Delive ce , , T m - 5 a 1 1 3 . 2 2 2 . ho s , 79 , 8 17 2 , 5

- - Ga S ara 55 6 . am 204 217 22 dge , h , Willi , , , H - a 7 146 231 . 255 . G llows ill , , ,

r n r a a n H 12 . a 107 . an G d e , C pt i , oll d , n e B art h o l o m H 24 Ge d e w 72 . J. . y , , , olt , Ch ,

198 231 . H n n . Sara 121 , olte , Be j , h , ,

r 122 . Glouceste , Mr r s . r H D . a 43 72 . Re v . r 76 . Glove , M y , , olyo ke , , n 168 . H 4 1 . Gloyd , Joh , ouse of deputies , r n H E a 84 186- 9 Godf ey , Joh , owe , liz beth , , , D r a — 64 255 . 254 6 . Good , o c s , , - - - S ara 50 2 3 54 60 65 am 186 188 255 . h , , , , J es , , , 84 144 25 - 4 6 . a . n 188 . , , C pt Joh , am H ar E a 46 5 Willi , ubb d , liz beth , , 7 ,

— - - A . C . 60 62 3 119 20 21 139 Goodell , , , , , , a 1 2 202 2 50 00 2 2 244 . J cob , , , , , n am H n n Ann 1 Goodwi f ily , utchi so , , 9 . ra S am n am n 143 G y , uel , Be j i , , am 3 Willi , 194 , 23 .

Gr n Re v . 250 . E a 137 . ee , Joseph , lish , r n Mar 255 G ee , y , . Gov . quoted Gre e ns lit T m a 142 199 . r m 30 43 79 80 85 . , ho s , , f o , , , , 270 INDEX .

H n n n Man r 15 . utchi so , Joh , cheste ,

Mar a 15 199 255 . Joseph , blehe d , , ,

n an n 49 169 170 Marsh ﬁ e ld 33 . I di , Joh , , , , , Widow ,

Mar n Mar 254 . sto , y , - n r L . a an Mar n S anna 84 190 93 I ge soll , ieut N th iel , ti , us h , , , 53 11 , 6 , 169 . 254 .

ara 1 2 . a 10 S h , 6 M ass achusetts B y , . ’ n r Ta rn 4 182 Ma r C n 16 43 72 I ge soll s ve , 7 , , the , otto , , , , 200 222 2 5 135 136 146 , . 8 , 87 , 9 , , , , - n ran P r an 19 . 239 43 . I tole ce of u it s , 34 40 54 67 87 Ma r n r a 16 35 36 Ipswich , , , , , , the , I c e se , , , ,

115 233 . 24 2 . , 135 , 176 , 0 , 59 - 1 a a m i 15 2 Ma r 2 1 . 8 67 55 . J cobs f ly , , ve ick , Widow , v a r S r . 48 85 M rr S ara 254 . J cobs . Geo ge , , , , e ill , h ,

15 . 146 254 25 . M n 15 1 , , 6 iddleto , , ’ ail o rs M n r r an r 82 . J fees , i iste s , thei swe ,

a 95 . J ils , Dutch , B C n 249 n 223 230 . E osto , , of ssex ou ty,

M L a ra 20 . 54 67 223 . Ipswich , , oody , dy Debo h ,

Sa m e . 176 . le , 74 . R v - n Mar r H 256 . a 3 1 2 . o r . . Jo es , g et , M o e , Geo , 24 n n r M r D r . . E a . 87 Joh so , liz beth , J , , o e ,

206 20 254 25 . M r ara , 7 , , 7 o ey , S h ,

S ara M r am 38 40 . h , o se , Willi , ,

41 . S n M r Mrs . tephe , o se , ,

r M n n 108 . Ju ies , oulto , Joh ,

r ran M n r n 33 . Ju y , g d , oxo child e ,

nn H nr an a 10 . Ke ey , e y , N t sket ,

m n Na m a 10 . Ke ble , Joh , u ke g , n E 159 a a N a . . K pp , liz beth , e l , Jos , ’ n n S r n P 203 . K eeli g , e g t , Nelso , hillip ,

n a Ne w bur 38 41 115 191 . K ife bl de , y , , , , - La Mar 85 2 2 N r r 38 . cey, y , , 07 , 54 6 . ewbu ypo t .

Lan ran Ne En an 10 236 . 188 . w e , F cis , gl d , ,

Lan r n N n T m a 73 80 . 154 . de , Joh , ewto , ho s , ,

L a n r n 254 N E a 219 . u d y , Joh , ichols , liz beth ,

La r n M n 221 . ar 218 . w e ce , y , Joh ,

Law so n Re . De o d at L a 219 . , v , 133 , ydi ,

l 78 . N r r 148 . o th Beve ly ,

L a r 92 . 3 . N r e nd wye s , 7 o th , L 35 n 150 . r n n ewis , Joh , No to , Joh , M a r N n am E r 259 . 46 48 63 65 . e cy, , , , , otti gh l of ,

1 Re . 16 18 6 39 140 141 150 169 N . v 5 , , , , , oyes , N , , , ,

5 10 1 147 162 243 . 194 , 200 , 8 , , , ,

202 22 m 113 . 1 224 244 . r a , , , Nu se f ily,

L r C n a l r ran 111 . ocke , o st b e Geo ge , F cis , - 57 . a 9 84 111 130 Rebecc , 7 , , , ’ L r Pra r 1 o d s ye , 46 , 228 , 240 . L r m 116 n 10 . Sa . yfo d , Joh , uel ,

L nn 2 T . 148 . 1 . r y , 77 , 55 Olive . hos ,

Ma n 2 rn A . 65 . lde , 55 . Osbu , lex ,

272 INDEX .

Sa m V a 43 45 4 52 S r alism 22 . le ill ge , , , 6 , , pi itu

53 rin 33 . , 131 133 173 S ﬁ eld , , , , p

204 23 S t ac e William 151 . , 6 255 . gj , ,

S a m 1 S n 38 . V a r 13 . le ill ge Chu ch , tiles , Joh ,

R t . Jr . S a r n R Sr . 210 255 . S . lisbu y , , to e , obt , ob , S a n a Na n 2 a . lto st ll , th iel , 7

R n Wm . 71 87 92 ar 15 . S ich d , toughto , , , , , - Sar n r 2 93 138 24 8 259 260 . ge t , Pete , 7 . , , 7 , ,

S Mar ar 85 1 203 S an Tim . 185 . cott , g et , , 96 , , w , ,

254 255 S m n n 76 . , y o ds , Joh ,

S S m Mrs . 2 3 . n 35 . 0 cottow , Joh , y s , , S wa 2 T ar n ar 123 Sam . 7 87 e ll , Judge , , , bell , Joh , M y, ,

108 110 3 0 223 124 . , , 1 8 , 17 , , ’ 241 251 Ta rn a 1 60 180 , . ve , Be dle s , , . ’ S n 9 257 . n r 53 tephe , 7 , I ge soll s , .

Se l ins H n r 5 Ta r Tr a . p , e y , 9 . ylo , e s , 257

Sh a lin L . 172 . T a 46 49 51 52 53 p g , , itub , , , , , , 60 , S a - 22 t Sam . 154 198 245 . 68 9 119 3 255 . h tuck , , , , , , ,

S a D b ra 6 1 . T a r a n ar h w , e o h , ooth ke , J so , M y, R r S a E a 172 . 255 h w , liz beth , oge , .

am 61 . To sﬁ e ld 15 1 3 Willi , p , , 9 , 204 . S n ann a 122 . n r r 114 heldo , Joh , co t ove sy,

S n Sam 145 245 16 255 . heldo , uel , , . , n 1 62 3 T r r Susa , 6 , , 1 9 , o tu es , 176 . - 182 184 202 244 . T n n . r . 4 15 16 . , , , ow es , Joh J J ,

S ar R a . 221 hep d , ebecc , Jos , . S r ra Tra r an n 152 he wood , G ce , sk , Ch isti , Joh , S h ille t o R r 3 , obe t , S m R Tr a r - e v . Mr . 77 8 136 . i s , , i ls by Ju y , 7 , S r m nar - ibley, Sam . , p eli i y, 74 246 . T S n Re v . Sam . 11 12 254 . kelto , , , , ukey , Job , r Hann a H 15 . T o yle , h , ope , J m ann S a T 65 . a ar a 4 ll , hos . , h , M th , 25 . U am Sm as . 200 . 54 ith , J , ph , m Vari h R S A 255 . c 5 . o es , bagail , , udolph , 9

S ar na 45 . Vibbe r S ara n 60 62 outh C oli , , h , Joh , , ,

63 121 . S ar Ma 255 . p ks , rtha, ,

ra M r 8 20 . V r nia 45 . Sp gue , a tha , 19 , 7 i gi ,

ERRATA.

On a 186 n Ho w r a am Ho w . p ge , Joh should e d J es 273 INDEX .

a n 169 . n r n 14 15 16 . W lcott , Joh , Wi th op , Joh , , , - - ar 61 65 1 31 2 236 . M y , , , , ,

13 1 1 0 16 1 a 72 87 . 9 , 49 , 5 , 0 , 69 , W it , , 1 0-2 1 9 200 202 am A a 46 51 57 7 , 7 , , , Willi s , big il , , , , 2 11 119-21 6 , 6 , , ard ll M 1 25 1 3 150 169-70 W w e a 198 6 . 4 , y , , , , , am l 8 190 194 202 221 S ue , 7 , , , , ,

20 9 2 2 223 236 244 . 5 , 54 , 56 , ,

ara 8 254 . H nr 154 . S h , 7 e y ,

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