[123] See Volume I, Pages 35, 86.
[124] What the Laws of England were on the Subject of Witchcraft
has been exhibited in the Introduction to the first Volume. Their
Abrogation by Parliament, through the exertions of Lord Talbot, took
place in 1736. See Douglass' _Summary_, i, 451.
[125] I do not find the Court Proceedings at this Period.
[126] The Indictments and Examination of Samuel Wardwell may be seen
in the Records, in the usual Form. He was of Andover, and is styled
Carpenter. His first Indictment was for afflicting one Martha Sprague
of Boxford, in August last (1692). The second charges, that "about
20 Yeares agoe, in the Towne of Andivor, he the said Samuel Wardell,
with the Evill Speritt the Devill [did felloniously make] a Couenant
wherein he promised to honor, worship and belieue the Devill Contrary
to the Stattute." His Examination was before John Higginson, Esq. on
Sept. 1st, 1692. He was then about 46 Years old. His strange Answers
clearly indicate a state of Insanity. Martha Sprague, aged 16, swore
to being bewitched by him. Ephraim Foster of Andover, aged about 34,
swore that he foretold Events by looking in people's Hands; "would cast
his Eyes down upon ye ground allways before he told enything." Thomas
Chandler, aged about 65, often heard said Wardwell tell young Persons
their Fortunes. Joseph Ballard, aged about 41, swore that his Brother
John Ballard told him that Samuel Wardwell told him, that he (Wardwell)
had bewitched his (Joseph Ballard's) Wife. Abigail Martin of Andover,
aged 16, said that some time last Winter S. Wardwell and John _Farnam_
were at her Fathers. W. told F.'s Fortune. He also told Jeams Bridge's
Fortune. See _Records S. W._ ii, 146-153.
[Sara Dasston's _Tryal_.]
At these Tryals some of the Jewry made Inquiry of the Court, what
Account they ought to make of the Spectre Evidence? and received for
Answer [as much as of Chips in Wort][127]
_January_ 31, 169⅔. The Superior Court began at _Charlestown_, for the
County of _Middlesex_, Mr. _Stoughton_, M. _Danforth_, M. _Winthorp_,
and Mr. _Sewall_ Judges, where several had Ignoramus returned upon
their Bills of Indictment, and _Billa Vera_ upon others.[128]
In the time the Court sat, word was brought in, that a Reprieve was
sent to _Salem_, and had prevented the Execution of Seven of those that
were there Condemned, which so moved the chief Judge, that he said
to this effect, _We were in a way to have cleared the Land of these,
&c. who it is obstructs the course of Justice I know not; the Lord
be merciful to the Countrey_, and so went off the Bench, and came no
more that Court:[129] The most remarkable of the Tryals, was of _Sarah
Daston_, she was a Woman of about 70 or 80 Years of Age, To usher in
her Tryal, a report went before, that if there were a Witch in the
World she was one, as having been so accounted of, for 20 or 30 Years;
which drew many People from _Boston, &c._ to hear her Tryal. There
were a multitude of Witnesses produced against her; but what Testimony
they gave in seemed wholly forreign, as of accidents, illness, &_c._
befalling them, or theirs after some Quarrel; what these testified
was much of it of Actions said to be done 20 Years before that time.
The Spectre-Evidence was not made use of in these Tryals, so that the
Jewry soon brought her in not Guilty, her Daughter and Grand-daughter,
and the rest that were then tried, were also acquitted. After she was
cleared Judge _Danforth_ Admonished her in these words, _Woman, Woman,
repent, there are shrewd things come in against you_; she was remanded
to Prison for her Fees, and there in a short time expired.[130] One of
_Boston_ that had been at the Tryal of _Daston_, being the same Evening
in company with one of the Judges [142] in a publick place, acquainted
him that some that had been both at the Tryals at _Salem_ and at this
at _Charlestown_, had asserted that there was more Evidence against
the said _Daston_ than against any at Salem, to which the said Judge
conceeded, saying, _That it was so_. It was replied by that person,
_that he dare give it under his hand, that there was not enough come in
against her to bear a just reproof_.
_April_ 25, 1693. The first Superior Court was held at _Boston_, for
the County of _Suffolk_, the Judges were the Lieutenant Governour, Mr.
_Danforth_, Mr. _Richards_, and Mr. _Sewall_, Esquires.
[Mary Watkins's _Tryal_.]
Where (besides the acquitting Mr. _John Aldin_ by Proclamation) the
most remarkable was, what related to _Mary Watkins_, who had been a
Servant, and lived about Seven Miles from _Boston_, having formerly
Accused her Mistress of Witchcraft, and was supposed to be distracted,
she was threatned if she persisted in such Accusations to be punished,
this with the necessary care to recover her Health, had that good
effect, that she not only had her Health restored, but also wholly
acquitted her Mistress of any such Crimes, and continued in Health till
the return of the Year, and then again falling into Melancholy humours
she was found strangling herself; her Life being hereby prolonged,
she immediately accused herself of being a Witch; was carried before
a Magistrate and committed. At this Court a Bill of Indictment was
brought to the Grand Jury against her, and her confession upon her
Examination given in as Evidence, but these not wholly satisfied
herewith, sent for her, who gave such account of herself, that they
(after they had returned into the Court to ask some Questions) Twelve
of them agreed to find Ignoramus, but the Court was pleased to send
them out again, who again at coming in returned it as before.
She was continued for some time in Prison, _&c._ and at length was sold
to _Virginia_. About this time the Prisoners in all the Prisons were
released.
To omit here the mentioning of several Wenches in _Boston, &c._ who
pretended to be Afflicted, and accused several, the Ministers often
visiting them, and praying with them, concerning whose Affliction
Narratives are in being. In Manuscript not only these, but the
generality of those Accusers may have since convinced the Ministers by
their vicious courses that they might err in extending too much Charity
to them.
The conclusion of the whole in the _Massachusetts_ Colony was Sir
_William Phips_, Governour, being call'd home, before he went he
pardon'd such as had been condemned, for which they gave about 30
Shillings each to the Kings Attorney.[131]
[_Case of_ Mrs. Benom.]
In _August_ 1697. The Superior Court sat at _Hartford_, in the Colony
of _Connecticut_, where one Mistress _Benom_ was tried for Witchcraft,
she [143] had been accused by some Children that pretented to the
Spectral sight; they searched her several times for Tets; they tried
the Experiment of casting her into the Water, and after this she
was Excommunicated by the Minister of _Wallinsford_. Upon her Tryal
nothing material appeared against her, save Spectre Evidence, she was
acquitted, as also her Daughter, a Girl of Twelve or Thirteen Years
old, who had been likewise Accused; but upon renewed Complaints against
them, they both flew into _New-York_ Government.[132]