_An Impartial Account of the most Memorable Matters of Fact,
touching the supposed Witchcraft in_ New-England.
[_ Matters of Fact._]
MR. _Parris_[1] had been some years a Minister in _Salem-Village_,
when this sad Calamity (as a deluge) overflowed them, spreading
itself far and near. He was a Gentleman of Liberal Education, and not
meeting with any great Encouragement, or Advantage in Merchandizing,
to which for some time he apply'd himself, betook himself to the work
of the Ministry; this Village being then vacant, he met with so much
Encouragement, as to settle in that Capacity among them.
After he had been there about two years, he obtained a Grant from a
part of the Town, that the House and Land he Occupied, and which had
been Alotted by the whole People to the Ministry, should be and remain
to him, _&c._ as his own Estate in Fee Simple. This occasioned great
_Divisions_ both between the Inhabitants themselves, and between a
considerable part of them and their said Minister, which Divisions were
but as a beginning or _Præludium_ to what immediately followed.
It was the latter end of _February_ 1691,[2] when divers young
Persons belonging to Mr. _Parris's_ Family, and one or more of the
Neighbourhood, began to [91] Act, after a strange & unusual manner,
_viz._ as by getting into Holes, and creeping under Chairs and Stools,
and to use sundry odd Postures and Antick Gestures, uttering foolish,
ridiculous Speeches, which neither they themselves nor any others
could make sense of; the Physicians[3] that were called could assign
no reason for this; but it seems one of them, having recourse to the
old shift, told them he was afraid they were Bewitched; upon such
suggestions, they that were concerned, applied themselves to Fasting
and Prayer, which was attended not only in their own private Families,
but with calling in the help of others.
_March_ the 11_th_. Mr. _Parris_ invited several Neighbouring Ministers
to join with him in keeping a Solemn day of Prayer at his own House;
the time of the exercise those Persons were for the most part silent,
but after any one Prayer was ended, they would Act and Speak strangely
and Ridiculously, yet were such as had been well Educated and of good
Behaviour, the one a Girl of 11 or 12 years old, would sometimes seem
to be in a _Convulsion_ Fit, her Limbs being twisted several ways, and
very stiff, but presently her Fit would be over.
A few days before this Solemn day of Prayer, Mr. _Parris's_ _Indian_
Man and Woman made a Cake of Rye Meal, with the Childrens Water, and
Baked it in the Ashes, and as is said, gave it to the Dog; this was
done as a means to Discover Witchcraft; soon after which those ill
affected or afflicted Persons named several that they said they saw,
when in their Fits, afflicting of them.
The first complain'd of, was the said _Indian_ Woman, named
_Tituba_,[4] she confessed that the _Devil_ urged her to sign a Book,
which he presented to her, and also to work Mischief to the Children,
_&c._ She was afterwards Committed to Prison, and lay there till Sold
for her Fees. The account she since gives of it is, that her Master did
beat her and otherways abuse her, to make her confess and accuse (such
as he call'd) her Sister-Witches, and that whatsoever she said by way
of confessing or accusing others, was the effect of such usage; her
Master refused to pay her Fees, unless she would stand to what she had
said.
The Children complained likewise of two other Women, to be the Authors
of their Hurt, _Viz._ _Sarah Good_, who had long been counted a
_Melancholy_ or _Distracted_ Woman, and one _Osburn_, an Old _Bed-rid_
Women, which two were Persons so ill thought of, that the accusation
was the more readily believed; and after Examination before two _Salem_
Magistrates were committed:[5] _March_ the 19_th_, Mr. _Lawson_ (who
had been formerly a Preacher at the said Village) came thither, and
hath since set forth in Print an account of what then passed, about
which time, as he saith, they complained of Goodwife _Cory_, and
Goodwife _Nurse_, Members of Churches at the Village, and at _Salem_,
many others being by that time Accused.
_March_ the 21_st_, Goodwife _Cory_[6] was examined before the
Magistrates of _Salem_, at the Meeting House in the Village, a throng
of Spectators being present to see the Novelty. Mr. _Noyes_,[7] one of
the Ministers of _Salem_ began with Prayer, after which the Prisoner
being call'd, in order to answer to what [92] should be Alledged
against her, she desired that she might go to Prayer, and was answered
by the Magistrates, that they did not come to hear her pray, but to
examine her.
The number of the Afflicted were at that time about Ten, _Viz._ Mrs.
_Pope_, Mrs. _Putman_, goodwife _Bibber_,[8] and Goodwife _Goodall_,
_Mary Wolcott_, _Mercy Lewes_ (at _Thomas Putmans_) and Dr. _Griggs_
Maid, and three Girls, _Viz._ _Elizabeth Parris_, Daughter to the
Minister, _Abigail Williams_ his Neice, and _Ann Putman_, which
last three, were not only the beginners, but were also the chief in
these Accusations.[9] These Ten were most of them present at the
Examination, and did vehemently accuse her of Afflicting them, by
Biting, Pinching, Strangling, &c. And they said, they did in their Fits
see her likeness coming to them, and bringing a Book for them to Sign;
Mr. _Hathorn_, a Magistrate of _Salem_, asked her, why she Afflicted
those Children? she said, she did not Afflict them, he asked her who
did then? she said, I do not know, how should I know? she said, they
were Poor Distracted Creatures, and no heed to be given to what they
said; Mr. _Hathorn_ and Mr. _Noyes_ replied that it was the Judgment
of all that were there present, that they were bewitched, and only
she (the Accused) said they were Distracted: She was Accused by them,
that the _Black Man_ Whispered to her in her Ear now (while she was
upon Examination) and that she had a Yellow Bird, that did use to
Suck between her Fingers, and that the said Bird did Suck now in the
Assembly; order being given to look in that place to see if there were
any sign, the Girl that pretended to see it said, that it was too late
now, for she had removed a Pin, and put it on her Head, it was upon
search found, that a Pin was there sticking upright. When the Accused
had any motion of their Body, Hands or Mouth, the Accusers would cry
out, as when she bit a Lip, they would cry out of being bitten, if she
grasped one hand with the other, they would cry out of being Pinched by
her, and would produce marks, so of the other motions of her Body, as
complaining of being Prest, when she lean'd to the seat next her, if
she stirred her Feet, they would stamp and cry out of Pain there. After
the hearing the said _Cory_ was committed to _Salem_ Prison, and then
their crying out of her abated.
_March_ the 24_th_, Goodwife _Nurse_ was brought before Mr. _Hathorn_
and Mr. _Curwin_ (Magistrates) in the Meeting House, Mr. _Hale_
Minister of _Beverly_, began with Prayer, after which she being Accus'd
of much the same Crimes made the like answers, asserting her own
Innocence with earnestness. The Accusers were mostly the same, _Tho
Putmans_ Wife, _&c._ complaining much. The dreadful Shreiking from her
and others, was very amazing, which was heard at a great distance; she
was also Committed to Prison.[10]
A Child of _Sarah Goods_, was likewise apprehended, being between 4 and
5 years Old, the Accusers said this Child bit them, and would shew such
like marks, as those of a small Sett of Teeth upon their Arms, as many
of the Afflicted as the Child cast its Eye upon, would complain they
were in Torment; which Child they also Committed.
Concerning these that had been hitherto Examined and Committed, it
is [93] among other things observed, by Mr. _Lawson_ (in Print[11])
that they were by the Accusers charged, to belong to a Company that
did muster in Arms, and were reported by them to keep Days of Fast,
Thanksgiving and Sacraments; and that those Afflicted (or Accusers)
did in the Assembly, Cure each other, even with a touch of their hand,
when strangled and otherways tortured, and would endeavour to get to
the Afflicted to relieve them thereby (for hitherto they had not used
the Experiment of bringing the Accused to touch the Afflicted, in order
to their Cure) and could foretell one anothers Fits to be coming, and
would say, look to such a one, she will have a Fit presently and so
it happened, and that at the same time when the Accused person was
present, the Afflicted said they saw her _Spectre_ or likeness in other
places of the Meeting House Sucking [suckling] their Familiars.
The said Mr. _Lawson_ being to Preach at the Village, after the Psalm
was Sung, _Abigail Williams_ said, _Now Stand up and name your Text_;
after it was read, she said, _It is a long Text_. Mrs. Pope in the
beginning of Sermon said to him, _Now there is enough of that_. In
Sermon, he referring to his Doctrine, _Abigail Williams_ said to him,
_I know no Doctrine you had, if you did name one I have forgot it_.
_Ann Putman_ an afflicted Girl, said, _There was a Yellow Bird sate on
his Hat as it hung on the Pin in the Pulpit_.[12]
_March_ 31, 1692. Was set apart as a day of Solem Humiliation at
_Salem_, upon the Account of this Business, on which day _Abigail
Williams_ said, _That she saw a great number of Persons in the Village
at the Administration of a Mock Sacrament, where they had Bread as read
as raw Flesh, and red Drink_.[13]
_April_ 1. _Mercy Lewis_ affirmed, _That she saw a man in White, with
whom she went into a Glorious Place_, viz. in her fits, _where was
no Light of the Sun, much less of Candles, yet was full of Light and
Brightness, with a great Multitude in White Glittering Robes, who Sang
the Song in_ Rev. v. 9. _and the_ cx. _and_ cxlix. Psalms; _And was
given that she mighty tarry no longer in this place_. This White Man
is said to have appeared several times to others of them, and to have
given them notice how long it should be before they should have another
Fit.[14]
_April_ the 3_d_. Being Sacrament Day at the Village, _Sarah Cloys_,
Sister to Goodwife _Nurse_, a Member of one of the Churches, was (tho'
it seems with difficulty prevailed with to be) present; but being
entred the place, and Mr. _Parris_ naming his Text, _John_ vi. 70.
_Have not I chosen you Twelve, and one of you is a Devil_ (for what
cause may rest as a doubt whether upon the account of her Sisters being
committed, or because of the choice of that Text) she rose up and went
out, the wind shutting the Door forcibly, gave occasion to some to
suppose she went out in Anger, and might occasion a suspicion of her;
However she was soon after complain'd of, examin'd and committed.[15]
_April_ the 11_th_. By this time the number of the Accused and
Accusers being much increased, was a Public Examination at _Salem_,
Six of the Magistrates with several Ministers being present, there
appeared several who complain'd against others with hidious clamors and
Screechings. Goodwife _Proctor_[16] was brought thither, being Accused
or cryed out against; her Hus[94]band coming to attend and assist her,
as there might be need, the Accusers cryed out of him also, and that
with so much earnestness, that he was Committed with his Wife. About
this time besides the Experiment of the Afflicted falling at the sight,
_&c._ they put the Accused upon saying the Lord's Prayer, which one
among them performed, except in that petition [_Deliver us from Evil_]
she exprest it thus (_Deliver us from all Evil_) this was lookt upon
as if she Prayed against what she was now justly under, and being put
upon it again, and repeating those words [_Hallowed be thy name_] she
exprest it [_Hollowed be thy Name_] this was counted a depraving the
words, as signifying to make void, and so a Curse rather than a Prayer,
upon the whole it was concluded that she also could not say it, _&c._
Proceeding in this work of examination and Commitment many were sent
to Prison. As an Instance, see the following Mittimus:
To their Majesties Goal-keeper in _Salem_.
YOU _are in Their Majesties Names hereby required to take into your
care, and safe custody, the Bodies of_ William Hobs _and_ Deborah _his
Wife,_ Mary Easty, _the Wife of_ Isaac Easty, _and_ Sarah Wild, _the
Wife of_ John Wild, _all of_ Topsfield; _and_ Edward Bishop, _of_
Salem-Village; _Husbandman, and_ Sarah _his Wife, and_ Mary Black, _a_
negro _of Lieutenant_ Nathaniel Putmans, _of_ Salem-Village; _also_
Mary English _the Wife of_ Philip English,[17] _Merchant in_ Salem;
_who stand charged with High Suspicion of Sundry Acts of Witchcraft,
done or committed by them lately upon the Bodies of_ Ann Putman,
Mary Lewis _and_ Abigail Williams, _of_ Salem-Village; _whereby great
Hurt and Damage hath been done to the Bodies of the said Persons,
according to the complaint of_ Thomas Putnam _and_ John Buxton _of_
Salem-Village, _Exhibited_. Salem, Apr 21, 1692, _appears, whom you are
to secure in order to their further Examination. Fail not._
John Hathorn, } _Assistants_.
Jona. Curwin, }
_Dated_ Salem, April 22, 1692.
_To Marshall_ George Herrick }
_of Salem Essex._ }
_YOU are in their Majesties Names hereby required to convey the
above-named to the Goal at_ Salem. _Fail not._
John Hathorn, } _Assistants_,
Jona. Curwin, }
_Dated_ Salem, Apr 22, 1692.
The occasion of _Bishops_ being cry'd out of, was he being at an
Examination in _Salem_, when at the Inn an afflicted _Indian_ was
very unruly, whom he undertook, and so managed him, that he was very
orderly, after which in riding home, in company of him and other
Accusers, the _Indian_ fell into a fit, and clapping hold with his
Teeth on the back of the Man that rode before him, thereby held
himself upon the Horse, but said, _Bishop_ striking him with his stick,
the _Indian_ soon recovered, and promised he would do so no more; to
which _Bishop_ replied, that he [95] doubted not, but he could cure
them all, with more to the same effect; immediately after he was parted
from them, he was cried out of, _&c._
_May_ 14, 1692. Sir _William Phips_ arrived with Commission from
their Majesties to be Governor, pursuant to the New Charter; which
he now brought with him; the Ancient Charter having been vacated
by King _Charles_, and King James (by which they had a power not
only to make their own Laws; but also to chuse their own Governor
and Officers;) and the Countrey for some years was put under an
absolute Commission-Government, till the Revolution, at which time,
tho more than two thirds of the People were for reassuming their
ancient Government, (to which they had encouragement by his then
Royal Highness's Proclamation) yet some that might have been better
imployed[18] (in another Station) made it their business (by printing,
as well as speaking) to their utmost to divert them from such a
settlement; and so far prevailed, that for about seven Weeks after
the Revolution, here was not so much as a face of any Government; but
some few Men upon their own Nomination would be called a Committee
of Safety; but at length the Assembly prevailed with those that had
been of the Government, to promise that they would reassume; and
accordingly a Proclamation was drawn, but before publishing it, it
was underwritten, that they would not have it understood that they
did reassume Charter-Government; so that between Government and no
Government, this Countrey remained till Sir _William_ arrived: Agents
being in this time impowered in _England_, which no doubt did not all
of them act according to the Minds or Interests of those that impowered
them, which is manifest by their not acting jointly in what was done;
so that this place is perhaps a single Instance (even in the best of
Reigns) of a Charter not restored after so happy a Revolution.[19]
This settlement by Sir _William Phips_ his being come Governour put an
end to all disputes of these things,[20] and being arrived, and having
read his Commission, the first thing he exerted his Power in, was said
to be his giving Orders that Irons should be put upon those in Prison;
for tho for sometime after these were Committed, the Accusers ceased
to cry out of them; yet now the cry against them was renewed, which
occasioned such Order; and tho there was partiality in the executing it
(some having taken them off almost as soon as put on) yet the cry of
these Accusers against such ceased after this Order.[21]
_May_ 24. Mrs. _Cary_ of _Charlestown_, was Examined and Committed. Her
Husband Mr. _Nathaniel Cary_ has given account thereof, as also of her
Escape, to this Effect,
_I having heard some days, that my Wife was accused of Witchcraft,
being much disturbed at it, by advice, we went to_ Salem-Village,
_to see if the af[96]flicted knew her; we arrived there, 24. May,
it happened to be a day appointed for Examination; accordingly
soon after our arrival,_ Mr. Hathorn _and_ Mr. Curwin, &c. _went to
the Meeting-house, which was the place appointed for that Work, the
Minister began with Prayer, and having taken care to get a convenient
place, I observed, that the afflicted were two Girls of about Ten
Tears old, and about two or three other, of about eighteen, one of the
girls talked most, and could discern more than the rest. The Prisoners
were called in one by one, and as they came in were cried out of, &c.
The Prisoner was placed about 7 or 8 foot from the Justices, and the
Accusers between the Justices and them; the Prisoner was ordered to
stand right before the Justices, with an Officer appointed to hold each
hand, least they should therewith afflict them, and the Prisoner's
Eyes must be constantly on the Justices; for if they look'd on the
afflicted, they would either fall into their Fits, or cry out of being
hurt by them; after Examination of the Prisoners, who it was afflicted
these Girls, &c. they were put upon saying the Lord's Prayer, as a
tryal of their guilt; after the afflicted seem'd to be out of their
Fits, they would look steadfastly on some one person, and frequently
not speak; and then the Justices said they were struck dumb, and
after a little time would speak again; then the Justices said to the
Accusers, which of you will go and touch the Prisoner at the Bar? then
the most courageous would adventure, but before they had made three
steps would ordinarily fall down as in a Fit; the Justices ordered
that they should be taken up and carried to the Prisoner, that she
might touch them; and as soon as they were touched by the accused,
the Justices would say, they are well, before I could discern any
alteration; by which I observed that the Justices understood the manner
of it. Thus far I was only as a Spectator, my Wife also was there part
of the time, but no notice taken of her by the afflicted, except once
or twice they came to her and asked her name._
_But I having an opportunity to Discourse_ Mr. Hale _(with whom I had
formerly acquaintance)_ I _took his advice, what I had best to do, and
desired of him that I might have an opportunity to speak with her that
accused my Wife; which he promised should be, I acquainting him that I
reposed my trust in him._
_Accordingly he came to me after the Examination was over, and told me
I had now an opportunity to speak with the said Accuser,_ viz. Abigail
Williams, _a Girl of_ 11 _or_ 12 _Years old; but that we could not be
in private at Mr._ Parris's _House, as he had promised me; we went
therefore into the Alehouse, where an Indian man attended us, who it
seems was one of the afflicted: to him we gave some Cyder, he shewed
several Scars, that seemed as if they had been long there, and shewed
them as done by Witchcraft, and acquainted us that his Wife, who also
was a Slave, was imprison'd for Witchcraft.[22] And now instead of one
Accuser, they all came in, who began to tumble down like Swine, and
then three Women were called in to attend them. We in the Room were
all at a stand, to see who they would cry out of; but in a short time
they cried_ [97] _out,_ Cary: _and immediately after a Warrant was sent
from the Justices to bring my Wife before them, who were sitting in a
Chamber near by, waiting for this._
_Being brought before the Justices, her chief accusers were two Girls:
my Wife declared to the Justices, that she never had any knowledge of
them before that day; she was forced to stand with her Arms stretched
out. I did request that I might hold one of her hands, but it was
denied me; then she desired me to wipe the Tears from her Eyes, and
the Sweat from her Face, which I did; then she desired she might lean
herself on me, saying, she should faint._
Justice Hathorn _replied, she had strength enough to torment those
persons, and she should have strength enough to stand. I speaking
something against their cruel proceedings, they commanded me to be
silent, or else I should be turned out of the Room. The Indian before
mentioned, was also brought in to be one of her Accusers: being come
in, he now (when before the Justices) fell down and tumbled about like
a Hog, but said nothing. The Justices asked the Girls, who afflicted
the Indian? they answered she (meaning my wife) and now lay upon him;
the Justices ordered her to touch him, in order to his cure, but her
head must be turned another way, least instead of curing, she should
make him worse, by her looking on him, her hand being guided to take
hold of his; but the Indian took hold on her hand, and pulled her down
on the Floor, in a barbarous manner; then his hand was taken off,
and her hand put on his, and the cure was quickly wrought. I being
extreamly troubled at their Inhumane dealings, uttered a hasty Speech_
[That God would take vengeance on them, and desired that God would
deliver us out of the hands of unmerciful men.] _Then her Mittimus was
writ; I did with difficulty and charge obtain the liberty of a Room,
but no beds in it; if there had, could have taken but little rest that
Night, she was committed to Boston Prison; but I obtained a Habeas
Corpus to remove her to Cambridge Prison, which is in our County of
Middlesex. Having been there one Night, next Morning the Jaylor[23]
put Irons on her legs (having received such a command) the weight of
them was about eight pounds; these with her other Afflictions, soon
brought her into Convulsion Fits, so that I thought she would have
died that Night, I sent to intreat that the Irons might be taken off,
but all intreaties were in vain, if it would have saved her Life, so
that in this condition she must continue. The Tryals at Salem coming
on, I went thither, to see how things were managed; and finding that
the Spectre-Evidence was there received, together with Idle, if not
Malicious stories, against Peoples Lives, I did easily see which way
it would go; for the same Evidence that served for one, would serve
for all the rest; I acquainted her with her danger; and that if she
were carried to Salem to be tried, I feared she would never return. I
did my utmost that she might have her Tryal in our own County, I with
several others Petitioning the Judge for it, and were put in hopes of
it;_ [98] _but I soon saw so much, that I understood thereby it was not
intended, which put me upon consulting the means of her escape; which
thro the goodness of God was effected, and she got to Road Island, but
soon found herself not safe when there, by reason of the pursuit after
her; from thence she went to New-York, along with some others that had
escaped their cruel hands; where we found his Excellency_ Benjamin
Fletcher, _Esq: Governour, who was very courteous to us. After this
some of my Goods were seized in a Friends hands, with whom I had left
them, and myself imprisoned by the Sheriff, and kept in Custody half a
day, and then dismist; but to speak of their usage of the Prisoners,
and their Inhumanity shewn to them, at the time of their Execution, no
sober Christian could bear; they had also tryals of cruel mockings;
which is the more, considering what a People for Religion, I mean the
profession of it, we have been; those that suffered being many of them
Church-Members, and most of them unspotted in their Conversation, till
their Adversary the Devil took up this Method for accusing them._