He pleaded very hard at Execution, for a little respite of time, saying
that he was not fit to die; but it was not granted.
Old _Jacobs_ being Condemned, the Sheriff and Officers came and seized
all he had, his Wife had her Wedding Ring taken from her, but with
great difficulty obtained it again. She was forced to buy Provisions of
the Sheriff, such as he had taken, towards her own support, which not
being sufficient, the Neighbours of Charity relieved her.
_Margaret Jacobs_ being one that had confessed her own Guilt, and
testified against her Grand-Father _Jacobs_, Mr. _Burroughs_, and _John
Willard_. She the day before Executions, came to Mr. _Burroughs_,
acknowledging that she had belyed them, and begged Mr. _Burroughs_
Forgiveness, who not only forgave her, but also Prayed with and for
her. She wrote the following Letter to her Father.
From the Dungeon in _Salem_ Prison,
_August_ 20, 1692.
Honoured Father,
AFTER _my Humble Duty Remembered to you, hoping in the Lord of your
good Health, as Blessed be God I enjoy, tho in abundance of Affliction,
being close confined here in a loathsome Dungeon, the Lord look down in
mercy upon me, not knowing how soon I shall be put to Death, by means
of the Afflicted Persons; my Grand-Father having Suffered already,
and all his Estate Seized for the King. The reason of my Confinement
is this, I having, through the Magistrates Threatnings, and my own
Vile and Wretched_ [106] _heart, confessed several things contrary to
my Conscience and Knowledge, tho to the Wounding of my own Soul, the
Lord pardon me for it; but Oh! the terrors of a wounded Conscience
who can bear. But blessed be the Lord, he would not let me go on in
my Sins, but in mercy I hope so my Soul would not suffer me to keep
it in any longer, but I was forced to confess the truth of all before
the Magistrates, who would not believe me, but 'tis their pleasure
to put me in here, and God knows how soon I shall be put to death.
Dear Fathers, let me beg your Prayers to the Lord on my behalf, and
send us a Joyful and Happy Meeting in Heaven. My Mother poor Woman is
very Crazy, and remembers her kind Love to you, and to Uncle,_ viz.
_D. A.[41] So leaving you to the protection of the Lord, I rest your
Dutiful Daughter_,
Margaret Jacobs.
At the time appointed for her Tryal, she had an Imposthume in her head,
which was her Escape.
_September_ 9. Six more were tried, and received Sentance of Death,
viz. _Martha Cory_ of _Salem_-Village, _Mary Easty_ of Topsfield,
_Alice Parker_ and _Ann Pudeater_ of _Salem_, _Dorcas Hoar_ of
_Beverly_, and _Mary Bradberry_ of _Salisbury_. September 16, _Giles
Cory_ was prest to Death.[42]
_September_ 17. Nine more received Sentance of Death, viz. _Margaret
Scot_ of _Rowley_, Goodwife _Redd_ of _Marblehead, Samuel Wardwell,_
and _Mary Parker_ of _Andover,_ also _Abigail Falkner_ of _Andover,_
who pleaded Pregnancy, _Rebecca Eames_ of _Boxford, Mary Lacy,_ and
_Ann Foster_ of _Andover,_ and _Abigail Hobbs_ of _Topsfield._ Of
these Eight were Executed, _September_ 22, viz. _Martha Cory, Mary
Easty, Alice Parker, Ann Pudeater, Margaret Scot, Willmet Redd, Samuel
Wardwell,_ and _Mary Parker_.[43]
_Giles Cory_ pleaded not Guilty to his Indictment, but would not put
himself upon Tryal by the Jury (they having cleared none upon Tryal)
and knowing there would be the same Witnesses against him, rather chose
to undergo what Death they would put him to. In pressing his Tongue
being prest out of his Mouth, the Sheriff with his Cane forced it in
again, when he was dying. He was the first in _New-England_ that was
ever prest to Death.
The Cart going to the Hill with these Eight to Execution, was for some
time at a sett; the afflicted and others said, that the Devil hindered
it,[44] _&c._
_Martha Cory_, Wife to _Giles Cory_, protesting her Innocency,
concluded her Life with an Eminent Prayer upon the Ladder.
_Wardwell_ having formerly confessed himself Guilty, and after denied
it, was soon brought upon his Tryal; his former Confession and Spectre
Testimony was all that appeared against him. At Execution while he
was speaking to the People, protesting his Innocency, the Executioner
being at the same time smoaking Tobacco, the smoak coming in his Face,
interrupted his Discourse, those Accusers said, the Devil hindered him
with smoak.
[107] _Mary Easty_, Sister also to _Rebecca Nurse_, when she took her
last farewell of her Husband, Children and Friends, was, as is reported
by them present, as Serious, Religious, Distinct, and Affectionate
as could well be exprest, drawing Tears from the Eyes of almost all
present. It seems besides the Testimony of the Accusers and Confessors,
another proof, as it was counted, appeared against her, it having been
usual to search the Accused for Tets; upon some parts of her Body, not
here to be named, was found an Excrescence, which they called a Tet.
Before her Death she put up the following Petition:
_To the Honorable Judge and Bench now sitting in Judicature in_ Salem
_and the Reverend Ministers, humbly sheweth, That whereas your humble
poor Petitioner being Condemned to die, doth humbly beg of you, to take
it into your Judicious and Pious Consideration, that your poor and
humble Petitioner knowing my own Innocency (blessed be the Lord for it)
and seeing plainly the Wiles and Subtilty of my Accusers, by myself,
cannot but judge charitably of others, that are going the same way with
myself, if the Lord step not mightily in. I was confined a whole Month
on the same account that I am now condemned for, an then cleared by the
Afflicted persons, as some of your Honour know, and in two days time I
was cried out upon by them, and have been confined and now am condemned
to die. The Lord above knows my Innocency then, and likewise doth now,
as at the great day will be known to Men and Angels. I Petition to your
Honours not for my own Life, for I know I must die, and my appointed
time is set; but the Lord he knows it is, if it be possible, that no
more Innocent Blood be shed, which undoubtedly cannot be avoided in
the way and course you go in. I question not, but your Honours do the
utmost of your powers, in the discovery and detection of Witchcraft
and Witches, and would not be guilty of Innocent Blood for the World;
but by my own Innocency I know you are in the wrong way, the Lord in
his infinite Mercy direct you in this great work, if it be his blessed
will, that Innocent Blood be not shed; I would humbly beg of you, that
your Honours would be pleased to Examine some of those confessing
Witches, I being confident there are several of them have belyed
themselves and others, as will appear, if not in this World, I am sure
in the World to come, whither I am going; and I question not, but
yourselves will see an alteration in these things: They say, myself and
others have made a league with the Devil, we cannot confess, I know
and the Lord he knows (as will shortly appear) they belye me, and so I
question not but they do others; the Lord alone, who is the searcher of
all hearts, knows that as I shall answer it at the Tribunal Seat, that
I know not the least thing of Witchcraft, therefore I cannot, I durst
not belye my own Soul. I beg your Honours not to deny this my humble
Petition, from a poor dying Innocent person, and I question not but the
Lord will give a blessing to your Endeavours._
Mary Esty.
[108] After Execution Mr. _Noyes_ turning him to the Bodies, said, what
a sad thing it is to see Eight Firebrands of Hell hanging there.[45]
In _October_ 1692, One of _Wenham_ complained of Mrs. _Hale_,
whose Husband, the Minister of _Beverly_, had been very forward in
these Prosecutions, but being fully satisfied of his Wifes sincere
Christianity, caused him to alter his Judgment; for it was come to
a stated Controversie, among the _New-England_ Divines, whether the
Devil could Afflict in a good Mans shape; it seems nothing else
could convince him: yet when it came so near to himself, he was
soon convinc'd that the Devil might so Afflict. Which same reason
did afterwards prevail with many others; and much influenced to the
succeeding change at Tryals.[46]
_October_ 7. (_Edward Bishop_ and his Wife having made their Escape
out of Prison) this day Mr. _Corwin_ the Sheriff, came and Seiz'd his
Goods, and Cattle, and had it not been for his second Son (who borrowed
Ten Pound and gave it him) they had been wholly lost, the Receipt
follows; but it seems they must be content with such a Receipt as he
would give them.
_Received this_ 7_th day of_ October 1692, _of_ Samuel Bishop _of
the Town of_ Salem, _of the County of_ Essex, _in_ New-England,
_Cordwainer, in full satisfaction, a valuable Sum of Money, for the
Goods and Chattels of_ Edward Bishop, _Senior, of the Town and County
aforesaid, Husbandman; which Goods and Chattels being seized, for
that the said_ Edward Bishop, _and_ Sarah _his Wife, having been
committed for Witchcraft and Felony, have made their Escape; and their
Goods and Chattels were forfeited unto their Magesties, and now being
in Possession of the said_ Samuel Bishop; _and in behalf of their
Majesties, I do hereby discharge the said Goods and Chattles the day
and year above written, as witness my hand,_