_Testimony of William Beale, of Marblehead, against Mr. Philip
English of Salem, Given August_ 2_d_, 1692. Taken from
the Original.
AS Philip English was a Man of a large Estate for those Days, and
carried on an extensive Business, it may be thought singular that Mr.
Calef should make no Mention of his Case in his Work. It may be that
he had not sufficient Data for the Purpose; or, more probably, it
may have been, that for certain Reasons he chose to leave the Matter
in the Hands of the two Ministers of the Old South, who, or one of
whom, had not the Independence to work openly with Mr. Calef, but who,
clandestinely, took the Part of the Accused, and helped him to escape.
However this may have been, so far as Mr. Willard was concerned,
enough will have been seen in Mr. Calef's Work to cause an Agitation
of the Question. And yet, it will appear, from what is to follow, that
Mr. Moody (then with Mr. Willard in the Old South) was the principal
Instrument in the Protection and final Escape of Mr. English and his
Wife from the Jaws of a "blind Ferocity."
The Testimony of William Beale, which follows was probably contrived by
certain Parties to recover Property owned or claimed by Mr. English.
At the Time of his Arrest, he owned a Ship of 170 Tons, named the
Porcupine, which was commanded by Robert Bartel, whose Son, William
Bartel, was living in 1739, at the Age of 45.
Mr. English, it is said, was an Episcopalian. Whether his Sentiments
had anything to do with his being proceeded against, does not appear.
He stated that by the Prosecution he was damaged £1,500. A Petition
of his to the Committee appointed by the General Court to compensate
Sufferers may be seen in Mr. Woodward's _Collections_, ii, 233. It is
curious to see now the Awards made to the Survivors of those whose
Mothers and Fathers had been judicially murdered! A few Pounds seems to
have settled the Account.
What follows, previous to William Beale's Testimony, although once
printed, will be quite new, probably, to the Majority of Readers; and
it is due to the Memory of a persecuted Family to perpetuate it in
Connection with the wicked Attempt at their Ruin.
About the Year 1810, the Rev. Timothy Alden was engaged in preparing
a Catalogue of Books for the Massachusetts Historical Society. While
in this Employment he procured from the Rev. William Bentley, D.D., of
Salem, the ensuing Account of Mr. English. What led to this Result was
Mr. Alden's Endeavors to obtain Information concerning a Portsmouth
Gentleman. Mr. Alden was then much interested in Portsmouth Affairs.
Dr. Bently proceeds: "In the Times of the Witchcraft in Salem Village,
no Person distinguished for Property, and known in the commercial
World, was accused but Philip English.[181] He came young into America,
from the Island of Jersey, lived in the Family of Mr. Hollingworth, a
rich Inhabitant of Salem, and afterwards married his only Daughter and
Child, Susanna. The Wife had received a better Education than is common
even at this Day [1809], as Proofs I hold sufficiently discover.
From some Prejudices, as early as April 21st, 1692, she was accused of
Witchcraft, examined, and committed to Prison in Salem. Her Firmness
is memorable. Six Weeks she was confined; but, being visited by a fond
Husband, her Husband was also accused, and confined in the same Prison.
By the Intercession of Friends, and by a Plea that the Prison was
crowded, they were removed to Arnold's Jail in Boston, till the Time of
Trial.
In Boston, upon giving Bail, they had the Liberty of the Town, only
lodging in Prison. Upon their Arrival, Messrs. Willard and Moodey
visited them, and discovered every Disposition to console them in their
Distress. On the Day before they were to return to Salem for Trial,
Mr. Moodey waited upon them in the Prison, and invited them to publick
Worship. On the Occasion he chose for the Text, IF THEY PERSECUTE YOU
IN ONE CITY, FLEE TO ANOTHER. In the Discourse, with a manly Freedom,
he justified every Attempt to escape from the Forms of Justice, when
Justice was violated in them. After Service Mr. Moodey visited the
Prisoners in the Gaol, and asked Mr. English whether he took Notice of
his Discourse? Mr. English said he did not know whether he had applied
it as he ought, and wished some Conversation upon the Subject. Mr.
Moodey then frankly told him that his Life was in Danger, and he ought
by all means to provide for an Escape. Many, said he, have suffered.
Mr. English then replied, God will not suffer them to hurt me. Upon
this, Mrs. English said to her Husband, Do you not think that they,
who have suffered already, are innocent? He said, Yes. Why then may
not we suffer also? Take Mr. Moody's Advice. Mr. Moody then told Mr.
English, that, if he would not carry his Wife away, he would. He then
informed him, that he had persuaded several worthy Persons in Boston,
to make Provision for their Conveyance out of the Colony; and, that a
Conveyance had been obtained, encouraged by the Governour, Gaoler, &c.,
which would come at Midnight, and that proper Recommendations had been
obtained to Gov. Fletcher of New-York; so that he might give himself no
concern about any one Circumstance of the Journey; that all Things were
amply provided. The Governour also gave Letters to Gov. Fletcher, and,
at the Time appointed, Mr. English, his Wife, and Daughter were taken
and conveyed to New York. He found that, before his Arrival, Mr. Moodey
had dispatched Letters, and the Governour, with many private Gentlemen
came out to meet him; and the Governour entertained him at his own
House, and paid him every Attention, while he remained in the City. On
the next Year he returned.[182]
In all this Business, Mr. Moody openly justified Mr. English, and,
in defiance of all the Prejudices which prevailed, expressed his
Abhorrence of the Measures which had obliged a useful Citizen to flee
from the Executioners. Mr. Moodey was commended by all discerning Men;
but he felt the angry Resentment of the deluded Multitude of his own
Times; among whom, some of high Rank were included. He soon after left
Boston and returned to Portsmouth.
Mrs. English died in 1694, at 42 Years of Age, in Consequence of the
ungenerous Treatment she had received. Her Husband died at 84 Years of
Age, in 1734.
This is the Substance of Communications made to me at different
Times from Madam Susanna Hathorne, his great-grand-Daughter, who
died in Salem, 28 August, 1802, at the Age of 80 Years, who received
the Account from the Descendants of Mr. English, who dwelt upon his
Obligations to Mr. Moodey with great Pleasure."
William Beale[183] of Marbllee Head, aged upward of Sixty Yeares,
testifieth and saith, that last March past was twelve Moenth, towards
the latter end of the Moenth; then myself beeinge in the House of
George Bonfeilds, of Marbllee Head, whither I repaired, that I might
haue helpe to nurse, or Looke after mee, because of a very greate
and wracking Paine had seized upp on my Body, and the Distemper of
the Small Pox then beeing in my House, and my Son Jamis at the same
Time then in my House, lying sick; then towards the latter End of
that Moenth, Aforesayed, in that House, as I lay in my Bed, in the
Morneinge, presently after it was faiere light abroade in the Roome
where I lay in my Bed, which was layed lowe and neere unto the Fire,
towards the norward part of the Roome; I beeing broade Awake, I then
saw upon the south Iaume [Jamb] of that Chimny, A darke Shade which
couered the Iaume of that Chimney aforesayed, from the under Floore to
the upper Flloore, and alsoe A dar[k]ness more then it was beefore,
in the southerne Part of the House, and alsoe in the Middllee of the
Darkness, in the Shade uppon the Iaume of the Chimny aforesayed,
I beeheld somethinge of the Forme or Shape of A Man. I tooke most
notice of his Legs, because they weere of A very greate Statute, or
Bigness. I wondred at the Sighte, and therefore I turned my Head as I
lay in my Bed, and cast my Eyes towards the south Side of the House,
to see if the Sun weere risen, or whether there weere any Person or
anythinge in the House, which by the help of the Sun might cause such A
Shade or Shape, but I saw non, nor any Lighte of the Sun in that Room
then. I then turned my Head uppon the Pillow, where it was before,
I saw in the darkness aforesayed the plaine Shape or els the Person
of Phillip English of Salem, the which, Reports say, married with
William Hollingworths[184] Daughter of Salem, ackcordinge to my best
Iudgement, Knoledg and Understandinge of him, as I had formerly Knoledg
and Ackyuaintance with him, my Coniecktures of him and these Passages
aforesayed were as followeth: what is this Mans buisness heere now? I
remember not that euer I bought or sold with him, either more or less,
or which way came hee hither, so soone this Morneinge, by Land or by
Water; or hath he been at Marbllee Head all Nighte? And then laboreing
to correckt my [Thoughts] not to thinke that hee was A Wich, and
flyinge to our Omnipotent Jehouah for his Blessing and Protecktion, by
secret Eiaculations, instantly the Roome, aforesayed, became cleare,
and the Shape, Shade, or Person vanished; and this was about the Time
News was brought to mee in the Morning, that my Son James was very
like to recover of the Small Pox, which I left at Home sick; and the
same Day, in the After noone, came News that hee was suddenly strooke
with A Paine on his Side, and did not expect to liue three Houres; and
according to my Iudgment, before three Houres weere ended, Newes came
that he was departed this Life, at which Docktor Iackson, which was
his Docktor, and William Dagget, which was his Nurse, both of Marbllee
Head, told mee that they Admired and Wondred; and it was not many
Moenths before, that my Son George Beale, departed this Life in the
same House, and complained of A stoping in his Throate, after he was
recouered of the Small Pox. Hee deceased Ianuary the 23 before my Son
Eames decease aforesayde.
Marbllee Head Attested to this Truth by
Agust the 2_cond_ mee WILLIAM BEALE.
1692
Far[ther] this Deponent testifieth that in the Springe of the Yeare
before the New England Forces went for Cannady, Phillip English
aforesayed, came into a Neighbors House where this Deponent then was
present, and then in a fawning and flattering Manner, sayed to me: You
are him which can give mee A good Evidence in shewing mee the Bounds
of my Land. This Deponent replyed, and sayed, I know not of any you
have; Phillip English replyed yes you doe, and If you will I[le pay]
you well. I have a Peice of eighte in my Pocket for you, and named
A Peice of Land ly[ing] a certaine Distance from my House, which I
think Mr. Richard Reede[185] of Marblle [Head] was then and is now
in Possession of it; this Deponent replyed, doe not tell mee of your
Peice of eight, for If I bee called, I must give Evidence against
you, and told him what I must say; at which hee seemed to bee moued,
and told me that I lyed, with more Discourse aboute [it,] and so then
wee departed. Then the next [Feb?] ensuing, which was about the Time
that the Forces began to com from Cannady, I then haueing heard that
Phillip English aforesayd, had arrested Mr. Reade aforesayde, about
the Land aforesayde, I then, as I thought it my Duty in Concience,
ackquainted Mr. Reeds Son with what I could say concerninge the Titllee
of the Lande aforesayed, and withall told him of Witness, as namely
Thomas Farrar Senr,[186] of Linn; then afterward uppon their Request I
rode to Lin and at Lin Mill there I found Thomas Farare, aforesayed,
and as wee rode alonge Lin Commons there beetwixt the Reuerende Mr.
Sheapards House and Mr. Leytons, then beinge in discourse aboute the
Titllee of the Lande aforesayed, my Nose gushed out bleedeinge in
a most extrordinary manner; so that I bllodyed a Hankershiff of an
considerablle biggness, and allsoe ran downe uppon my Cloaths and uppon
my Horse Mane. I lighted of my Hors thinking the iodginge [jogging] of
my Horse mighte cause it; but it kept on, Allthough not alltog[eth]er
so bad, till I came to Mr. Reades at Marbllee head, and it hath not
blead as I can remember neuer since I was a Boy, exept about that time,
nor since that time, exept by Ackcident that it was hurt.
Thiese Things that are set downe last were before the former Euidence.
WILLIAM
BEALE
Owned the aboue written before the Grand Iury vpon the Oath hee had
taken in Covrt
Jenʳʸ 12th, 1692.
Robert Payne
Foreman.