[1] The following Entry is in the Hand-writing of Mr. Parris on his
_Church Records_: "It is well known that when these Calamities first
began, which was in my own Family, the Affliction was several Weeks
before such hellish Operations as Witchcraft was suspected; Nay, it
never broke forth to any considerable Light, until diabolical Means
was used, by the making of a Cake by my Indian Man [John], who had his
Directions from this our Sister Mary Sibly. Since which Apparitions
have been plenty, and exceeding much Mischief hath followed. But by
this Means (it seems) the Devil hath been raised amongst us, and his
Rage is vehement and terrible; and when he shall be silenced, the Lord
only knows."--_Hanson's Hist. Danvers_, 289. As will be seen, Mr.
Parris was made Scribe at the Examination.
[2] It is remarkable that this Case should not be noticed in the
_Wonders of the Invisible World_. It is told in Lawon's _Narrative_,
_Page 3_. See also _Records of Salem Witchcraft_, 49, where by Parris's
Deposition, his Age is stated at "Thirty and nine."
[3] None of the Accounts give the Names of the "Physicians." "One or
two of the First that were Afflicted, Complaining of unusual Illness
their Relations used Physic for their _Cure_, but it was altogether in
vain."--_Lawson, Second Edition_, 97-8.
[4] She is said to have been a Slave, formerly in New Spain. When
arrested and searched, the Marks on her Body produced by the Sting of
the Spaniard's Whip, were said to be made by the Devil.--_Hanson_,
_Hist. Danvers_, 273. Her first Examination was on the 1st of March,
1691-2. It occupies four full Pages of Foolscap, and is in the Editor's
possession, and has never been published. There is no copy at Salem,
probably, as it does not appear in Mr. Woodward's Publication.
[5] The two Magistrates were John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin. William
Allen, John Hughes, William Good and Samuel Braybrook were Witnesses
against Sarah Good. Allen swore, that on the 1st of March, in the
Night, he saw a strange and unusual Beast lying on the Ground, which,
when he came up to it, it vanished away; and in the Place thereof,
started up two or three Women, who fled, though not as other Women, and
soon vanished out of Sight. It was about an Hour within Night, and he
took the Women to be Sarah Good, Sarah Osborn, and Tittabe. John Hughes
was with him and swore likewise. See _Records S. W._, i, 38, where much
more of the same Tenor may be seen.
[6] Martha Cory was witnessed against by Edward Putnam and Henry Keney,
at the Commencement; and the Mittimus sets forth that she is the Wife
of Giles Cory, of Salem Farms. At the same Time were committed Rebecka
Nurse, Wife of Francis Nurse, of Salem Village, Husbandman; Dorothy
Good, Daughter of William Good; Sarah Cloyce, the Wife of Peter Cloyce,
of Salem Village; John Proctor, of Salem Farms, and Elizabeth his
Wife. They were charged with afflicting Ann Putnam, Daughter of Thomas
Putnam, Abigail Williams, Elizabeth Hubbard, and others.
[7] Nicholas Noyes was Son of Nicholas Noyes, of Newbury, a Graduate of
H. C., 1667, and died in 1717. He was one of the severest Instigators
of the Proceedings against the accused Persons. He was settled in Salem
in 1683.
[8] Indifferently written in the Records _Bibber_ and _Vibber_. The
true Name appears to be _Bibber_. Sarah Bibber, in her Testimony
against Sarah Good, gives her Age as 36. She gave Evidence against nine
Persons at different Times. Not much has been found about her beyond
her own Testimony. She appears to have had a Husband, who had the
Prefix Goodman. At one Time she and her Husband lived at the House of
Joseph Fowler. Fowler gave her a bad Character; as given to Tattling
and Mischiefmaking; would call her Husband bad Names, was "of a very
turbulent, unruly Spirit." Also Thomas Jacobs and his Wife Mary, said
that "Good Bibbor did for a Time surgine [sojourn] in their House;"
that she "uery often spekeing against one and nother uery obsanely,
and wichshing [wishing] uery bad wichchis, and uery often. She wichs
that when hor chill [child] fell into the Reuer that she had neuer pull
hor child out." That she made ill Wishes against everybody and herself
too. "The nayborhud were she liueued amonkes aftor she bered hor fust
housbon hes tolld us that this John Bibber Wife coud fall into fitts as
she plesed."--_Records S. W._, ii, 204-5.
Neither Felt nor Savage appear to have met with either the Name of
_Bibber_ or _Vibber_.
[9] "It was several Times observed, that when they were discoursed with
about GOD or CHRIST, or the Things of _Salvation_, they were presently
afflicted at a dreadful Rate, and hence were oftentimes _Outragious_,
if they were permitted to be in the Congregation, in the Time of the
Publick Worship."--_Lawson, Second Edit._, 98.
"On Lord's Day, the 20th of _March_ were sundry of the afflicted
Persons at Meeting, as Mrs. _Pope_ [Wife of Mr. Joseph P.], Goodwife
_Bibber_, _Abigail Williams_, _Mary Walcut_, _Mary Lewes_, and Docter
_Grigg's_ Maid. There was also at Meeting Goodwife C. [Cory] (who
was afterward Examined on Suspicion of being a _Witch_:) They had
several sore Fits, in the Time of Publick Worship, which did something
interrupt me in my first Prayer; being so unusual. After Psalm was
Sung, _Abigail Williams_ said to me, _Now stand up_, and _Name your
Text_! And after it was read, she said, _It is a long Text_. In the
beginning of Sermon, Mrs. _Pope_, a Woman afflicted, said to me, _Now
there is enough of that_. And in the Afternoon, _Abigail Williams_,
upon my referring to my _Doctrine_, said to me, _I know no Doctrine
you had, if you did name one, I have forgot it_. In Sermon Time when
Goodwife C. was present _Ab. W._ called out, _Look where Goodwife C.
sits on the Beam suck[l]ing her Yellow Bird betwixt her Fingers_! _Anne
Putman_, another Girle afflicted, _said there was a Yellow Bird sat on
my Hat as it hung on the Pin in the Pulpit_! But those that were by
restrained her from speaking loud about it."--_Lawson, First Edition_,
Pages 3 and 4.
This, as will have been noticed, is the Account of an Eye Witness.
[10] The Warrant for the Apprehension of Rebecca Nurse is dated 23
March, 169½. The Day following, the Marshal, George Herrick, made his
Return, that he had brought her to the house of _Nath. Ingersal_,
where she was in Custody. The Witnesses were Ann Puttnam, Jr., Abigail
Williams, Mary Walcott, and Elizabeth Hubbard. Mary Walcott's Age was
about 17; Elizabeth Hubbard's also about 17. Nothing could be too
abominable for these Miscreants to make up and swear to. Mary Walcott
said, among other things, that besides being "most greviously afflicted
by" being bitten, pinched, and almost choked by the Prisoner, because
she would not write in her Book, Goody N. said she would kill her if
she did not; and on the 3rd of May, in the Evening the Apparition
of the Prisoner told her "she had an Hand in the Deaths of Benjamin
Holton, John Harrod, Rebekah Sheppard and seuerall others."
Abigail Williams's Testimony is much the same. She heard the Accused
confess (by her Apparition) the committing of several Murders, together
with her Sister Cloyse; as upon old Goodm: Hanvood, Benj. Porter and
Rebek: Shepard.... Sarah Vibber, Mr. Sam: Parris, N. Ingersoll and T.
Putnam also testified against the poor aged Woman. Putnam's Age was
about 40; Parris's, as before mentioned, about 39. John Putnam, Sen.
(another Wit.) aged about 63. Edwd. Putnam, another, aged about 30.
Another, Sarah Holton, relict of Benj. Holton. Another, Ann Putnam,
Wife of Thomas, swore to the choking by the Accused, and to her
declaring she would kill her, and said she had killed Benj. Holton,
John Fuller and Rebekah Shepard; also that she and her Sister Cloyse
and Ed: Bishop had killed young John Putnam's Child.... "Immediately
there did appear to me six Children in Winding-sheets, which called
me Aunt.... Told me they were my Sister Baker's Children of Boston;
and that Gooddy Nurs, and Mistris Cary of Charlestown, and an old deaf
Woman at Boston had murthered them.... Also there appeared to me my
own Sister Bayley and three of her Children in Winding-sheets, and
told me Goody Nurs had murthered them." This was all taken as good and
sufficient Testimony!
[11] This Reference is to the first Edition of Lawson's Work, _A Brief
and True Narrative, &c._ His Account is given in Note 9.
[12] Lawson, _First Edition_, Page 4.
[13] Lawson, Page 8. The Words "_at a House in the Village_," are in
the Original, which shows that the Witch-meeting was in that part of
Salem since Danvers.
[14] This Affair of the 1st of April, is an Abridgement of Lawson, Page
8, but nothing important to the present Purpose is omitted.
[15] The following is the Relation by Lawson, given in his own Words,
that the Reader may judge of his accuracy: "The 3d of _April_, the
Lord's Day, being Sacrament Day, at the Village, _Good. C._, upon Mr.
_Parris's_ naming his Text, _John_, 6, 70. _One of them is a Devil_,
the said Good. _C._ went immediately out of the Meetinghouse, and flung
the door after her violently, to the amazement of the Congregation: She
was afterwards seen by some in their Fits, who said, _O Goodw. C. I did
not think to see you here_! (and being at their _red bread and drink_)
said to her, _Is this a Time to receive the Sacrament. You ran away on
the Lord's Day, and scorned to receive it in the Meetinghouse, and Is
this a Time to receive it? I wonder at you_! This is the Summ of what I
either saw myself, or did receive Information from Persons of undoubted
Reputation and Credit."--_Page_ 8.
[16] "On the 11th of April, 1692, a Council was convened at Salem; at
which there were present DEP. GOV. THOMAS DANFORTH, JAMES RUSSELL, JOHN
HATHORNE, ISAAC ADDINGTON, MAJ. SAMUEL APPLETON, CAPT. SAMUEL SEWALL
and JONATHAN CORWIN. To them Complaint was exhibited by Capt. Jonathan
Wallcott and Lieut. Nathaniell Ingersall, both of Salem Village, on the
behalf of several Neighbors, as well as on their own; against Sarah
Cloyce, wife of Peter Cloyce of Salem Village, and Elizabeth Proctor,
wife of John Proctor of Salem Farms [on the Road towards Boston] for
high suspition of sundry Acts of Witchcraft, committed on the Bodies
of Abigail Williams and John Indian, both of Mr. Samuel Parris his
Famyly, Mary Walcot, Ann Putnam and Mercy Lewis, &c." When the Accused
were brought before the Council, Mr. Parris "was desired and appointed
to wright ye Examination," which he accepted, and the Record is still
extant in his Hand-writing. Accordingly Elizabeth Proctor, and her
Husband, John Proctor, and Sarah Cloyce were all committed to Prison,
"per advise of ye Councill."--_Witchcraft Records_, i. 101-2.
[17] The Testimony and Indictment against Philip English may be seen
in the _Hist. and Antiq's Boston_, 497, printed from the Originals in
the Author's Possession. With the same are the two Indictments (in the
Hand-writing of Edward Rawson), charging him with bewitching Elizabeth
Booth, of Salem, Single-woman, and Mary Wallcott. These Indictments are
both dated May 31st, 1692. The Monsters who carried on the Charges,
were much like a Pack of hungry Wolves. One would set up the Howl of
Witch, and immediately others would follow. So in the Case of Philip
English, a large number of Persons joined those Girls in their "Crying
out on" him. This encouraged them to keep up their Deceptions. Mrs.
English was accused before her Husband. One Mary Warren, Servant to Mr.
Procter, outwent all others, except perhaps Elizabeth Booth, in the
Invention of Stories. Rebutting Testimony was brought against her, but
it had no Effect with the Court. Edward Bishop, aged 44; Sarah, 41, and
Mary Estey, 56; all said that they heard Mary Warren say, when in Jail
together in Salem, that the Magistrates might as well examine Keysar's
Daughter that had been distracted many Years, and believe what she
said, as well as what any of the Afflicted said. Mary English, aged 39,
said, being at Salem about a Month before, she heard Mary Warren speak
the same Words.
[18] Dr. Mather affirms that "the _Old Government_ was _Reassumed_,
and the _Old Charter_ too was _Reassumed_, as far as it was possible
to be done; Every thing in the World was done, but only declaring
that the _Judgment_ passed in the King's Court of Chancery (however
it might be thought a Grievance) did the _Charter_ no _Damage_; which
if some were wiser then to say, who can help it? Well, did I oppose
this _Reassumption_! They that were acquainted with me, I am sure,
did not think so; and they that sent their _Tory Pamphlets_ about
the Countrey against me, as an _Impudent Youth_ [then aged 26] for
my assisting the _Reassumed Government_, I am sure did not think
so. Let the things Published for the supporting of the Reassumed
Government; and particularly the very first _Passage_ in the _First
Sermon_, at the _Anniversary Election_, which the Deputies of the
_General-Court_ called me to _Preach_ and _Print_, (which by the way,
would they have done, if the _Young Man_ had been such an one as this
Man would render him?) be my Everlasting Apology; and let _Calves_
never Bleat, nor _Bulls_ (of _Bashan_) Roar against me, on that
Point any more."--_Remarks upon a Scandalous Book_, &c., Pages 46-7.
The "Passage" he refers to in his Election Sermon is too long to be
extracted here.
[19] Our Author is not the only one who thought Dr. I. Mather had some
selfish Ends to answer in his Management of Affairs in England. See
Quincy, _Hist. H. Col._, i, 60. But Quincy is entirely too one-sided,
ardent and dogmatical to be implicitly relied upon.
[20] That is the Disputes respecting the Form of Government.
[21] It appears that some Irons had been prepared before the Arrival
of Gov. Phips, though he may have ordered a further Supply, as
Prisoners greatly increased about that Time. Mr. Felt, the Annalist
of Salem, furnished Mr. J. W. Hanson with a Copy of an Account of the
Prison-keeper (John Arnold), of Boston, for various Items used in the
Prison. Said Account begins about the 7th of March, 1691-2. On "May
9th, To Chains for Sarah Good and Sarah Osborn, 14 _s._ May 23d, To
Shackles for 10 Prisoners. May 29th, to 1 pr. Irons for Mary Cox," &c.
See _Hist. Danvers_, 290. For other Items of this Sort, see _Records of
S. W._, ii, 212, _et seq._
[22] This was _Tituba_, of whom Mention has been before made. See
_Note_ 4. Her first Examination is a surprising Document, not only for
its Length, but for its Matter; and the Editor cannot but candidly
confess that the Questions were more ridiculous than the Answers of
the simple Indian Woman, if possible. Her Husband was known as _John
Indian_. The original Minutes are in the Editor's Possession.
[23] This application of Irons was of course after the Arrival of the
Governor. The Name of the Jailor has already been given.
[24] It would seem from the _Records_, (as published by Mr. Woodward)
that Cary's name was _Nathaniel_. In Savage, we find that _Jonathan_
Cary of Charlestown had Wife Hannah Winsor; that _Nathaniel_ was
Brother to Jonathan, and that they were Sons to James Cary, who came
to Charlestown in or before 1639. Complaint was made against Mrs.
Cary by Mr. Thomas Putnam and Benjamin Hatchinson, both of Salem
Village. The Complaint was that she had bewitched the miscreant Girls
before-mentioned, Mary Walcott, Abigall Willyams and Mercy Lewis.
Mrs. Cary's Husband is styled "Capt. Nathaniell Cary of Charls Towne,
Marener."--_Records_, ii., 196.
[25] He was the Son of the Pilgrim John of the Mayflower. See an
Account of him and his Persecution in _Hist. and Antiqs. Boston_,
499. Also _Records S. W._, ii., 196. His Accusers were the same
Wretches--Mary Lewis, Abigail Williams, Elizabeth Booth, Mary Walcott,
Elizabeth Hubbard, Ann Putnam and Mary Warren. The Warrant for his
Commitment was dated May 31st, 1692, as will be seen immediately onward.
[26] The same, probably, mentioned before. See Vol. ii, Page 75.
[27] The original Mittimus does not appear among the Records preserved
at Salem. If preserved, it has not been discovered.
[28] Their Names may, probably, nearly all be collected from the
Records. Interest should prompt some one to make the Attempt.
[29] Their Names have already appeared. Capt. Sewall was the well known
Judge Sewall.
[30] See the long and tedious Testimonies against her in Vol. I, Pages
163-174, and of the same ridiculous Character as others; yet not so
ridiculous there as in the original _Records_, which see. Ezekiel
Cheever took down the Examination.
[31] Of this Abstract Dr. Mather says: "His first and main Design is
to render me odious unto the Countrey, as being one chief _Abettor_
of that Opinion, That the Devils cannot afflict in the Shape of an
Innocent Person; and as being an _Inciter_ of the Judges, to the
Conviction of _Witchcrafts_ upon that Opinion. It is very certain that
his Conscience must needs tell him, this is a most _Lying Accusation_.
For in my Book of _Memorable Providences_, which I writ before the
Troubles at _Salem_, and even _before I was so fully acquainted with
the Wiles of Satan_, (for my saying of which, on a certain Occasion, he
flouts at me) I have a whole Paragraph to caution against _accounting
a bewitched Persons pretending to see an Apparition of such or such
an one, an Argument of their being Naughty People_. And some of the
Chief Ministers in this Land favoured that Book with their Attestation,
however my Friend Calef now Derides it." This was the Work recommended
by Mr. Baxter.
[32] The Trial of Susanna Martin is given in the _Wonders_ (Vol. i.)
Pages 175-187; that of Elizabeth How, Pages 188-194; that of Rebecca
Nurse in _Records of S. W._ i. 76-99; Vol. ii. 215; of Sarah Wilds of
Topsfield, _Ibid_, ii, 180-182, 215; Sarah Good; _Ibid_, 11-24; ii,
214-15. The Partiality in the Wonders is elsewhere noticed.
[33] The Trial of Sarah Good was one of a singularly revolting
Character. Her own Daughter, named Dorothy, was one of the Witnesses
against her. Said her Mother "had three Birds, one black, one
yellow, and that these Birds hurt the Children and afflicted
Persons."--_Records S. W._ i, 23. Her own Husband gave her a very bad
Character, but said he knew nothing of her being a Witch. The Story of
the broken Knife, I do not remember seeing in the _Records_. It was
probably suppressed. Samuel Abbey and Mary his Wife, aged about 45 and
38, respectively, testified that William Good and his Wife Sarah, being
destitute of a House to dwell in, they took them in out of Charity;
but about two years and a half before, were obliged to turn them out
"for quietness sake, the said Sarah was of so turbulant a Sperritt,
spitefull and mallitiously bent." Whereupon the said Abbey in about two
years lost 17 head of Cattle, besides Sheep and "Hoggs."--_Records_,
_ib._ 24-5. See also Mr. Upham's _Lectures on Witchcraft_.
[34] The Names of the Jurors are not recorded. John Ruck was the
Foreman, Brother-in-law, I suppose of Mr. Burroughs.
[35] It is much to be regretted that the Author found it necessary to
exclude such Documents. The Paper referred is of special regret.
[36] What has been preserved of the Trials of these Persons, will be
found in Vol. i, and in the _Records_ before cited.
[37] "I was present when these things were testified against him,
and observed that he could not make any Plea for himself (_in these
Things_) that had any Weight: He had the Liberty of Challenging his
_Jurors_, before empannelling, according to the _Statue_ in that Case,
and used his Liberty in Challenging many; yet the Jury that were
_Sworn_ brought him in Guilty."--Lawson, _Second Edition_, 115.
Mr. Burroughs' Trial is fully given in Vol. i, 152-63. It is not among
the Records, for the Reason, probably, that it had been given to Mr.
Mather to use, and was never returned. His Examination was before
Stoughton, Hathorne, Sewall and Corwin. The following are the Names of
the Men appointed to search him for Teats: Edward Welch, William Gill,
Zeb. Hill, Thomas Flint, Thomas West, Samuel Morgan and John Bare, as
Printed in the _Records_, ii, 112. They reported no "Tetts" upon Mr.
Burroughs.
Ann Putnam's Testimony was ingenious, and as damning as any _Infernal
Spirit_ could have desired. See _Records_, _ib._ 113-116. Mather does
not give it, but says such things were evidenced; as that he had
murdered sundry People. See Remarks of Mr. Upham, _Lectures_, 55.
[38] A misprint, probably, for _Nashaway_.
[39] Dr. Increase Mather, Mr. James Allen of the Old South, Mr. Joshua
Moody, Mr. Samuel Willard of the Old South, and Mr. John Bailey of the
First Church, Boston.
[40] My friend Savage calls this an "Infernal Business." I hope he will
never get further out of the Way. It would seem that the Officials of
that Day must have taken lessons of Roman Inquisitors.
[41] Daniel Andrew of Salem, as I conjecture.
[42] Nineteen Years after these Executions, the General Court of the
Province passed an Act declaring null and void all the Attainders
and Judgments against those who had suffered for Witchcraft. This
Act was passed "upon the Humble Petition of the said Persons and of
the Children of others of them whose Parents were Executed." The
General Assembly also appointed a Committee "to consider of ye Damages
sustained by sundry Persons prosecuted for Witchcraft in ye Year 1692."
The Committee computed the Damage to those above named as follows: Mr.
and Mrs. Cory £21; Mary Easty £20; Alice Parker got nothing, but Mary
Parker got £8; Nothing appears for Ann Pudeater; Dorcas Hoar £21; Mary
Bradberry £20; some that suffered had no Representative to receive the
Award.
[43] Allowances were made to the most of those or their Children, as
may be seen in the Records before cited.
[44] "The Hill" has ever since been pointed out as _Witch Hill_, or
more generally _Gallows Hill_; whence is had a fine view of the City of
Salem. Some Account of this noted Hill might reasonably be expected in
a History of Salem. The _Institute_ should look to the Matter.
[45] Surely Cotton Mather never uttered anything more inhuman. Mr.
Noyes has already been noticed.
[46] Mr. John Hale had testified against some of the Accused; but I do
not find that when his own Wife was accused any Record was made of it.
[47] The Case of Mr. English has been before referred to. See Note 17.
[48] Ballard's Testimony against Samuel Wardwell may be seen in the
_Records of S. W._, ii, 152. Ballard gave his Age as about 41 Years,
and mentions his Brother John. See onward.
[49] This was not the First of the Troubles by supposed Witchcraft at
Andover, as appears by the following Record, the Original of which
is in the Editor's Collection: "The Deposition of Job Tylar, aged
about 40 Yeares, Mary his Wife and Moses Tylʳ his Son aged betwixt 17
and 18 Years, and Mary Tyler aboue 15 Yeares olde.--These Deponents
witnesse that they saw a thing like a Bird to come in at the Dore of
there House with John Godfery in the Night about the bignes of a Black
Bird or rather bigger, to wit, as big as a Pigion, and did fly about;
John Godfery labouring to catch it, and the Bird vanished, as they
conceived, through the Chinck of a joynted Bord; and being asked by the
Man of the House wherefore it came, he answered, It came to suck your
Wife. This was (as they remember) about 5 or 6 Yeares since.--Taken
vpon Oath of the 4 above menconed Pties, this 27. 4. 59. Before mee
"SIMON BRADSTREETE.
Ouned in Court Mʳh, 65, by Job Tylar and Moses Tylar.