The 20 Victims
See below for more information on each of these victims:
Bridget Bishop, George Burroghs, Martha Carrier, Giles Corey Martha Corey, Mary Eastey, Sarah Good, Elizabeth Howe, George Jacobs, Sr., Susannah Martin, Rebecca Nurse, Alice Parker, Mary Parker, John Proctor, Ann Pudeator, Wilmott Redd, Margaret Scott, Samuel Wardwell, Sarah Wildes, John Willard, Bridget Bishop -
Bridget Bishop
Bridget Bishop was the first person to be hanged at the Salem Witch Trials. By all accounts Bridget Bishop of Salem led an active, controversial life. She kept a house for travelers to stay over and offered refreshment and even shuffe board for her guests. She was known for her showy clothing considering the austere Puritan times. Her unwillingness to conform to the conventional manner of behaving and her outspokenness brought her criticism in the general community. She was a spirited lusty woman who ran a public house where drinking and fouting of Puritan morals was happily permitted. She was born in England in 1640. She was married and widowed three times. Her second husband, Thomas Oliver, was a widower with three children by his frst marriage. Together Thomas and Bridget had a daughter. Their marriage had its own diffculties, they fought often. Thomas dies in 1679, and in 1680 Bridget was accused of witchcraft. She was found innocent and in 1687 she married Edward Bishop. Bridget was not yet 60 when on April 19, 1692 she was accused of witchcraft for the
second time. She was hanged on June 10, 1692.
Sarah Good - Salem Village
Sarah Good was the daughter of John Solart, a prosperous innkeeper in Wenham, Massachusetts. Solart committed suicide in 1672, when Sarah was 17. Sarah’s mother remarried and her new husband took control of her inherited estate, so the daughters received little or nothing of what their father had left them. Sarah married and moved to Salem Village. Her husband soon died leaving her only debts. Sarah and her second husband, William Good, were obligated to repay the debts. Some of their land was sold, and they had to sell off the rest. At the time of the Witch Trials they were destitute and left with no recourse but to beg of Salem Village was a homeless woman who survived by begging in the streets and going door-to-door for handouts. Sarah was known to mumble things under her breath when people turned her away empty handed. Many citizens of Salem thought these mumbled utterances were curses aimed at them. Some attributed the death of their livestock to Sarah’s visits. On July 19, 1692, when she was hanged the Reverend Nicholas Noyes asked her to confess to being a witch. Her now famous response was, “I am no more a witch than you are a wizard. If you take away my life God will give you blood to drink." Twenty fve years later Noyes died of a hemorrhage choking on his own blood.
Rebecca Nurse - Salem Village-Salem Village
One of the saddest of all the sad witchcraft stories that of Rebecca Nurse. Mother of eight, she was 71 when accused by John and Edward Putnam. The Putnams had been involved in land disputes with her husband Francis Nurse. Nurse had been Salem’s constable back in the 1670s. Rebecca Nurse was a central character in Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible.
Rebecca was born in Yarmouth, England in 1621. Her parents were William Towne and Joanna Blessing. Rebecca was an invalid when she was arrested on March 23, 1692. Despite a number of disputes she and Francis had with members of the community, Rebecca was respected considered a woman of dignity and good moral character. Nevertheless, when the Putnam’s pointed the fnger at her, she was arrested. She was tried June 29, 1692. In addition to the Putnam men, the four young girls who started the witchcraft hysteria testifed against her as did the Rev. Parris. More than 40 residents of Salem Village testifed on her behalf. Apparently this show of support worked to her beneft, as the jury returned a verdict of “not guilty.”
Upon hearing the verdict, one Goody Hobbs, who had avoided the death penalty by pleading guilty to practicing witchcraft was heard to say, “She is one of us.” The judge then said that the verdict should be reconsidered. When Nurse was asked what Hobbs had meant by her statement, Rebecca didn’t answer. Later she explained that she hadn’t heard the question. The governor granted a reprieve, the accusers raised such an uproar that the court reversed the reprieve. On July 19, 1692, she was taken by cart with four other women to Gallows Hill where she and the other four were hanged. Mary Eastey, Rebecca’s sister, was hanged September 22, 1692. A third sister, Sarah Cloyse, was also accused, but not executed.
Mary Eastey – Salem Village
Mary Eastey, like her sister Rebecca Nurse, was born in Yarmouth, England. She was baptized on August 24, 1634. Mary was married to Isaac Eastey and lived on a large prosperous farm. They had seven children. An excerpt from her examination by the court gives some idea of the thinking of the time:
"How far have you complied with Satan?"
"Sir, I never complied with him but pray against him all my days. What would you have Easty do?"
"Confess if you be guilty"
"I will say it, if it was my last time, I am clear of this sin."
During the examination, one of the so-called afficted, Mercy Lewis, clenched her hands and did not release them until Eastey unclenched her hands. When Eastey inclined her head in despair, the afficted girls cried out that Eastey should straighten her neck. They claimed that when Eastey’s neck was inclined, their necks were broken.
After the examination Eastey was put in the Salem Jail. After two months, for some unexplained reason, she was released. Eastey now thought that she was safe from further prosecution, but she was wrong. Apparently the “afficted” girls were not pleased with Eastey’s release. Their fts became more frequent, especially the fts of Mercy Lewis. An offcer woke Eastey from her sleep and took her from her husband and children back t the jail. When Eastey was back in a cell confned with chains Lewis’s fts stopped. She was tried and convicted on September 9 and was hanged September 9, 1692.
The following is a longer excerpt from the court examination of Mary Eastey. Note that the spellings of words including the name Eastey vary within the same record. This was not unusual for written documents of the time:
The examination of Mary Eastie.
At a Court held at Salem village 22.Apr. 1692
By the Hon. John Hathorne & Jonathan Corwin.
At the bringing in of the accused severall fell into fts.
Doth this woman hurt you? [EXAMINERS' NOTE: Many mouths were stopt, & several other fts seized them Abig: Williams said it was Goody Eastie, & she had hurt her, the like said Mary Walcot, & Ann Putman, John indian said her saw her with Goody Hobbs.] What do you say, are you guilty?
EASTY: I can say before Christ Jesus, I am free.
You see these accuse you. There is a God-- Hath she brought the book to you? Their mouths were stopt. What have you done to these children?
E: I know nothing.
How can you say you know nothing, when you see these tormented, & accuse you that you know nothing? Would you have me accuse my self?
E: Yes if you be guilty.
How far have you complyed w'th Satan whereby he takes this advantage ag't you?
E: Sir, I never complyed but prayed against him all my dayes, I have no complyance with Satan in this. What would you have me do?
Confess if you be guilty.
E: I will say it, if it was my last time, I am clear of this sin. Of what sin?
E: Of witchcraft.
Are you certain this is the woman?
[EXAMINERS' NOTE: Never a one could speak for fts. By and by Ann Putman said that was the woman, it was like her, & she told me her name; It is marvailous to me that you should sometimes think they are bewitcht, & sometimes not, when severall confess that I never knew? Her hands were clincht together, & then the hands of Mercy Lewis was clincht. Look now you hands are open, her hands are open. Is this the woman? They made signes but could not speak, but Ann Putman afterwards Betty Hubbard cryed out Oh, Goody Easty, Goody Easty you are the woman, you are the woman Put up her head, for while her head is bowed the necks of these are broken.]
What do you say to this? E: Why God will know. Nay God knows now.
E: I know he dos.
What did you think of the actions of others before your sisters came out, did you think it was Witchcraft?
E: I cannot tell.
Why do you not think it is Witchcraft?
E: It is an evil spirit, but wither it be witchcraft I do not know,
[EXAMINERS' NOTE: Sevrall said she brought them the Book and then they fell into fts.]
Salem Village March 24'th. 1691/2.
Mr Sam'l parris being disired to take in wrighting the Examination of Mary Eastie hath delivered itt as aforesaid
Upon heareing the aforesaid, and seeing what wee then did see, togeather with the Charge: of the persons then present Wee Committed s'd. Mary Easte to theire Majest's Goale
Hathorne }
Taken from the court records
John Jonathan.Corwin
Elizabeth Howe – Ipswich
Elizabeth was married to James Howe of Ipswich.
On Sunday, May 29, 1692, Ephraim Wildes, constable for the Town of Topsfeld went to the home of James Howe in Ipswich and arrested James’s wife Elizabeth. He presented a warrant signed by Judges John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin. The charge was various acts of witchcraft on the persons of Abigail Williams and Mary Walcott of Salem Village. The following Wednesday Howe was examined at the Salem Village house of Nathaniel Ingersoll. Elizabeth pleaded guilty to all charges and maintained that she’d never even heard of her accusers until their names were read off the warrant.
The following testimony is from the Witch Trial Records:
At the Preliminary Examination Mercy Lewis and Mary Walcott fell in a ft quickly after the examinant came in. Mary Walcott said that this woman the examinant had pincht her & Choakt this month. Ann Putnam said she had hurt her three times.
Question: What say you to this charge? Here are them that charge you with witchcraft. Answer: If it was the last moment I was to live God knows I am innocent of anything of
this nature.
Question: Did not you take notice that now when you lookt upon Mercy Lewis she was struck down?
Answer: I cannot help it.
Question: You are charged here what do you say?
Answer: I am innocent of anything of this nature.
Question: Is this the frst time that ever you were accused? Answer: Yes Sr.
Question: Do not you know that one at Ipswich hath accused you? Answer: This is the frst time that ever I heard of it?
Question: You say that you never heard of these folks before?
Mercy Lewis at length spake & charged this woman with hurting & pinching her.
And then Abigail Williams cryed she hath hurt me a great many times, a great while and she hath brought me the book. Ann Putnam had a pin stuck in her hand.
Question: What do you say to this?
Answer: I cannot help it.
Question: What consent have you given?
Abig Williams cryed out that she was pincht & great prints were seen in her arm.
Mary Warren cryed out she was prickt
Question: Have you not seen some apparition?
Answer: No never in all my life.
Question: Those that have confessed they tell us they used images and pins now tell us
what have you used?
Answer: You would not have me confess that which I know not.
She looked upon Mary Warren & said Warren violently fell down. Look upon this maid,
viz.: Mary Walcott her back being towards the examinant. Mary Warren & Ann Putnam
said they saw this woman upon her. Susan Sheldon saith this was the woman that carryd
her yesterday to the Pond. Sus. Sheldon carried to the examinant in a ft & was well upon
grasping her arm.
Question: You said you never heard before of these people.
Answer: Not before the warrant was served me last Sabbath day.
John Indian cryed out Oh she bites & fell into a grevious ft & so carried to her in his ft & was well upon her grasping him.
Question: What do you say these things---they cannot come to you.
Answer: Sr I am unable to give account of it.
Question: Cannot you tell what keeps them off from your body?
Answer: I cannot tell I know not what it is.
This is a true account of the examination of Eliz: How taken from my characters written at the time thereof.
Witness my hand
[Signed] Sam Parris
Susannah Martin - Amesbury
Susannah Martin was baptized in Olney, Buckinghamshire, England September 30, 1621, the same year Rebecca Nurse was born. Her parents were Richard and Joan North. Her mother died when Susannah was quite young, and she came to New England with her father, stepmother and sister. She married George Martin, a blacksmith August 11, 1646. They had eight children. In 1647 she was fned 20 shillings for an unnamed offense. Twenty years later her husband objected to her placement in the public meeting house and this complaint went into the public records. In 1669 Susannah had to post a 100- pound bond guaranteeing that she would appear in court on a charge of witchcraft. While she maintained her innocence to the end, she was hanged on July 19, 1692 at the age of 71.
Martha Carrier – Andover
Cotton Mather described Martha Carrier as a “rampant hag.” Carrier was born Martha Allen, daughter of one of the founders of the town of Andover. In 1674 she married a young Welsh servant, Thomas Carrier. Martha was a headstrong woman who often failed to show proper respect to important people in Andover, and for this attitude she became
alienated from many in the community. With fve children and little income she and her husband were barely able to get by. When a smallpox epidemic broke out in Andover in 1690, her alienation from the community and lack of proper respect for her “betters” led some in the community to suspect her of being a witch. Two years later, when the witchcraft hysteria erupted in Salem, it was not surprising that she was accused of witchcraft. Her reputation and the gossip about her reputation had reached Salem. When Joseph Holton and John Walcott complained about her witchcraft, she was arrested and confned to the Salem Jail. Four of her children were jailed with her. Her ffth child, eight-year-old Sarah, admitted to being a witch since she was six. Susan Sheldon, Mary Walcott, Elizabeth Hubbard and Ann Putnam screamed in the Court of Oyer and Terminer in Salem that they could see the 13 ghosts of Andover. (Thirteen people had died in Andover from smallpox.. Seven of them were relatives of Carrier.). Her neighbors accused her of witchcraft saying that after Carrier uttered sharp words evil things happened. Cattle died and illnesses took hold of people. In court Martha admonished the judges, “It is a shameful thing that you should mind these folks that are out of their wits.” Martha Carrier was hanged August 19, 1692.
Giles Corey – Salem Farms
Giles Corey was a prosperous, selfsh man. Corey was married three times. He married his frst wife, Margaret, in England. His second wife was Mary Bright, and his third was to Martha Peno;yer on April 27, 1690. He was not the best of neighbors. Once John Proctor accused him of setting fre to his house, though he couldn’t prove it. Corey’s record included stealing food and tobacco. And his quick temper did not endear him to his neighbors either. He was known to be argumentative and unfriendly, so it was not diffcult for the people of the times to suspect him of witchcraft. Corey and his wife lived in the part of Salem Village that is now Peabody. He was 80 years old when he was accused of witchcraft. His wife Martha had already been accused, and his testimony did not help her in that he had told the court that he had seen his wife reading strange books.
The Witch Trial Records quoted Giles as follows:
"The evidence of Giles Choree testifeth & saith that Last satturday in the Evening. sitting by the fre my wife asked me to go to bed. I told I would go to prayr. & when I went to prayer I could nott utter my desires w'th any sense, not open my mouth to speake My wife did perceive itt & came towards. me & said she was coming to me. After this in a little space I did according to my measure attend the duty. Sometime last weake I fetcht an ox well out the woods, about noone, & he laying down in the yard I went to raise him to yoake him butt he could not rise butt dragd his hinder parts as if he had been hiptshott, butt after did rise. I had a Catt somtimes last weeke strangly taken on the suddain & did make me think she would have died presently, #[butt] my wife bid me knock her in the head. butt I did not. & since she is well. Another time going to duties I was interrupted for aspace, butt affterward I was helpt according to my poore measure. My wife hath ben wont to sitt up after I went to bed, & I have perceived her to kneel down to the harth. as if she were at prayr, but heard nothing. March: 24'th 1692"
This says as much about Giles Corey as it does about his wife.
The following records of the Court of Oyer and Terminer, September 9, 1692 include the following deposition against Giles:
Mercy Lewis v. Giles Corey: The Deposition of Mercy lewes agged about 19 years woh testifeth and saith that on the 14th April 1692 I saw the Apperishtion of Giles Corey com and afect me urging me to writ in his book and so he contineued most dreadfullly to hurt me by times beating me & almost braking my back tell the day of his examination being the 19th April and then allso during the time of his examination he did affect and tortor me most greviously: and also several times sense urging me vehemently to writ in his book and I veryly believe in my heart that Giles Corey is a dreadfull wizzard for sense he had ben in prison he or his appearance has com and most greviously tormented me. Mercy Lewis affrmed to the jury of Inquest. that the above written evidence:
is the truth upon the oath: she has formerly taken in court of Oyer & Terminer: Septr 9: 1692
Corey refused to plead innocent or guilty to the charges. As a result, he was subject to the legal process of dealing with such evasion. The process was called peine forte et dure, which means that a prisoner is laid on his back in the jail naked. Heavy weights are placed on him. In Corey’s case the weights were large stones. The law stipulated,
that there be placed upon his body as great a weight as he could bear, and more, that he hath no sustenance, save only on the frst day, three morsels of the worst bread, and the second day three droughts of standing water, that should be alternately his daily diet till he died, or, till he answered.
After two days of steady increases in weight Corey was asked three times to plead innocent or guilty to witchcraft. Each time he replied “more weight.” Sheriff Corwin ordered his assistants to add more weight.Corwin occasionally stood on the rocks and stared down at Corey. When Corey’s tongue protruded from his mouth, the sheriff would take his cane and force it back in.Finally Corey screamed, “Damn you. I curse you and Salem!” He died shortly afterward.
Some of the above material has been excerpted from Wikipedia.
Martha Corey – Salem Farms
Martha Corey was accused by the afflicted girls in March of 1692. A number of the people accused had less than perfect reputations in the community. For one reason or other each of them lived on the fringe of society in the tight Puritan community. Sarah Good, for example, had become destitute and resorted to begging to survive. Sarah Wildes was known to be gruff and resort to lewd behavior. Martha Carrier was outspoken and failed to show proper respect to her “betters.” Martha Corey was different in that she was a respected member of the Puritan congregation and attended church regularly. She didn’t believe in witches and accused the young girl accusers of lying. Corey asked the magistrates not to believe the rantings of hysterical children. Her undoing probably resulted from her giving a sarcastic comment when representatives of the court came to her house in March to look into the accusation that she was witch. If she had been more respectful, it is possible that her reputation as a church-going woman would have saved her. Martha Corey was hanged September 22, 1692.
Sarah Wildes – Topsfield
When Sarah Wildes was younger she had a reputation for being somewhat wild. No pun intended. She was arrested at least once for lewd behavior. The offense: wearing a
brightly colored scarf. Her husband, John Wild had eight children by his previous wife. He had one with Sarah. A boy named Ephraim, who, while serving as a constable, was ordered the local marshal to arrest Deliverance Hobbs. While in jail, or gaol as it was called then, Deliverance confessed to witchcraft and said that Sarah, too, was a witch. She also accused several of John’s children of witchcraft. It’s more than likely that Deliverance did this to get even with Ephraim for arresting her. The trial, by modern standards, was a joke, as the accused were not allowed legal representation, and for all intents and purposes, the accused were considered guilty until proven innocent. The prime witness was Ann Putnam, a witness against a number of the accused “witches.” Sarah, like a number of the accused, was described at the time as “a gruff woman.” Her unfriendly personality no doubt worked against her.
July 19, 1692 Sarah Good, Susanna Martin, Rebecca Nurse and Sarah Wildes were taken by cart up the rutted road to Gallows Hill in Salem.
George Burroughs -- Wells, Maine
George Burroughs was graduated from Harvard College in 1670. He became a minister in Casco, Maine. In 1676 the Casco settlement was attacked by Indians, and Burroughs escaped. He moved to Salem Village in Massachusetts and served as a minister there for two years. Burroughs left that position when he and the leaders of the church could not agree on his salary. It is believed that he had serious disagreements about money with John Putnam, the uncle of Ann Putnam, who later became one of Burroughs’s accusers. When he left Salem he returned to Casco. In 1683 he was again forced out by Indians. He went from Casco to Wells, Maine, where he served as minister for nine years.
In May of 1692 was arrested for witchcraft and taken to Salem to stand trial. Burroughs
was tried August 5th. Many testifed against him. Some claimed he was not just a witch, but the leader of the witches who had taken hold in Salem. Nineteen-year-old Mercy Lewis said that Burroughs had "carried me up to an exceeding high mountain and shewed me all the kingdoms of the earth and tould me that he would give them all to me if I would writ in his book." Other “confessed witches” accused him of being Satan’s personal representative at Salem witch Sabbaths, where Burroughs personally organized these proceedings. Others claimed he mistreated his wives. He was also accused of having superhuman abilities in spite of his short slight stature. It was claimed he could lift objects so heavy that no normal man could lift and some claimed he could go from place to place faster than humanly possible. When Burroughs explained that he knew an Indian who could lift as much as he could, the witnesses said that the Indian had to be the Devil. During his trial the witnesses exhibited such symptoms of suffering that the magistrate ordered their removal from the courtroom for their own safety.
Despite the great amount of testimony leveled against Burroughs at his trial, there is great evidence, too, that he was generous, humbler, sincere, public spirited, self-denying and hard working. Records in Maine attest to his respected by his neighbors and considered a friend and counselor. At least 30 people signed a petition supporting the innocence of Burroughs. One accuser even recanted her testimony, saying she had made her accusation because of fear. Nevertheless, Burroughs was hanged August 19 with one woman and three other men.
John Proctor – Salem Village
John Proctor was born in Ipswich, Massachusetts, where his father ran a prosperous farm. John moved to Salem Village in 1666. He worked on a farm until he was able to buy a partial interest in it. Proctor was a huge man with great strength and energy. Though he was honest and respectable, he was outspoken and known to speak bluntly. When his wife Elizabeth was accused of witchcraft he called the witchcraft proceedings a sham and claimed that the afficted girl accusers were a scam. Unlike Giles Corey, he stood by his wife throughout her trial proclaiming her innocence.
During his wife’s examination in court someone said that he, too, was a witch. Proctor was the frst male to be accused of witchcraft at the Salem Witchcraft Trials. On July
23rd, Proctor wrote a letter to clergymen in Boston. These men were known to be uncomfortable with the witch trials. In his letter Proctor asked them to do what they could to put an end to the trials. Proctor maintained that if a person with as good a reputation as that of Rebecca Nurse could be brought to trial, what chance did others accused of witchcraft. In his letter, Proctor outlined certain forms of torture that were used to get confessions. Increase Mather and seven other ministers concluded that Satan could take the form of innocent people. Their conclusions had no impact on the fate of Proctor. He was hanged along with several others on August 19, 1692.
John Willard – Salem Village
John Willard moved from Lancaster, Massachusetts to Groton, Massachusetts, where he married Margaret Wilkins of Salem Village. When the Witch Trials began, Willard was a deputy constable who helped arrest people accused of witchcraft. It wasn’t long before he had reservations about the trials and started speaking out against them. Toward the end of April 1692 Ann Putnam accused him of tormenting her and beating her young sister, Sarah, to death. Willard’s wife’s grandfather, Bray Wilkins claimed that Willard“lookt after such a sort upon me as I never before discerned in any. I did but step into the next room, & I was presently taken in a strange condition, so that I could not dine, nor eat any thing, I cannot express the misery I was in for my water was sodainly stopt, & I had no beneft of nature, but was like a man on a Rack, & I told my wife immediately that I was afraid tha Willard had done me wrong, my pain continuing & fnding no relief my jealousi continued: Mr. Lawson, & others there, were all amazed, & knew not what to do for me.”
When Wilkens returned to his home he found his grandson Daniel seriously ill. Daniel had at one point said that he wished Willard would be hanged for his witchcraft. Willard
was arrested on May 17th. When he was examined in court he protested his innocence, saying, “I am as innocent as the child unborn.” He was hanged August 19, the same day as John Proctor, George Jacobs, Sr., George Burroughs and Martha Carrier.
George Jacobs, Sr. – Salem Village
George Jacobs, Sr. was born between 1612 and 1620. Jacobs had three children from his frst marriage—George, Jr., Mary, and Ann. He married his second wife, Mary in 1673. A servant in his home, Sarah Churchill, was his main accuser. Sarah has been accused of witchcraft, but had confessed. While confessing she accused her master, George Jacobs.
But she was not the only one to point a fnger at Jacobs. Other accusers included Ann Putnam, Abigail Williams, Elizabeth Hubbard, Mercy Lewis, Mary Walcott, Mary Warren, Joseph Flint and Thomas Putnam.
Part of Sarah Churchill’s testimony follows:
Jacobs: I am as innocent as the child born tonight. I have lived thirty-three years here in Salem.
Court: What then?
Jacobs: If you can prove that I am guilty I will lie under it.
Sarah: Last night I was afficted at Deacon Ingersoll's, and Mary Walcott said it was a man with two staves. It was my master . . .
Jacobs: Pray do not accuse me. I am as clear as your worships. You must do right judgments.
Court: What book did he bring you, Sarah ?
Sarah: The same book that the other woman brought.
Jacobs: The devil can go in any shape.
Court: Did he not appear on the other side of the river and hurt you? Did not you see him?
Sarah: Yes, he did.
Court: Look there, she accuseth you to your face, she chargeth you that you hurt her
twice. Is it not true?
Jacobs: What would you have me say? I never wronged no man in word or deed.
Court: Here are three evidences.
Jacobs: You tax me for a wizard. You may as well tax me for a buzzard. I have done no harm.
Court: Is it not harm to affict these?
Jacobs: I never did it.
Court: But how comes it to be in your appearance?
Jacobs: The devil can take any license.
Court: Not without their consent.
Jacobs: Please your worships, it is untrue, I never showed the book. I am silly about these things as the child born last night.
Court: That is your saying. You argue you have lived so long, but what then, Cain might live so long before he killed Abel and you might live long before the devil had so prevailed on you.
Jacobs: Christ hath suffered three times for me. . .
Court: What three times ? He suffered the cross and gal . . .
Sarah: You had as good confess if you are guilty. Jacobs: Have you heard that I have any witchcraft? Sarah: I know that you lead a wicked life.
Jacobs: Let her make it out.
Court: Doth he ever pray in his family? Jacobs: Not unless by himself.
Court: Why do you not pray in your family? Jacobs: I cannot read.
Court: Well you may pray for all that. Can you say the Lord's prayer? Let us hear you. Record: (He might [missed] in several parts of it and could not repeat it right after
many trials.
Court: Sarah Churchill, when you wrote in the book you was showed your master's name you said.
Sarah: Yes sir.
Jacobs: Well, burn me or hang me I will stand in the truth of Christ. I know nothing of
it.
Text excerpted from The History of Salem, Massachusetts Vol. III, by Sidney Perley, 1924
Margaret Scott —Rowley, Massachusetts
Margaret Scott was born in England circa 1620. She married Benjamin Scott circa 1639. It is believed that she and Benjamin had 10 children. Very little else is known about her.
The following testimony helped to convict Margaret.
The deposistion of frances wycum who testifyeth and saith that quickly after the frst court at [Salem] about wicthcraft margerit Scott whom I very well knew: or hir Apperance came to me and did most greviously torment me by choaking and almost presing me to death: and so she did continue affeting me by times tell the 5'th August 1692 being the day of hir examination allso during the time of hir examination margerit scott did most greviously affect me: and also severall times sence: and I beleve in my heart that margerit Scott is a wicth and that she has often affected me by acts of wicthcraft
frances Wycum owned: to the grand Inquest: that the above written evidence: is the truth upon oath: Sept'r 15: 1692: Jurat in Curia.
(Reverse) frances Wycomb ags't Margaret Scott
( Essex County Archives, Salem -- Witchcraft Vol. 2, Page 45 )
phillip Nellson and Sarah his wife doe testife and say that for Two or three years be fore #[the said] Robert Shilleto dyed we have often hard him complaining of margerit Scott
for hurting of him and often said that she was a wicth and so he continewed complaining of Margarit Scott saying he should never be well so long as margerit Scott lived & so he Complayned of Margret Scott: att times untill he dyed
Phillip Nelson and Sarah his wife affrmed: upon their oath to the grand Inquest that the above written evidence: is the truth
Sept'r 15: 1692 Jurat in Curia
Essex County Archives, Salem -- Witchcraft Vol. 2 Page 45
Margaret Scott was hanged September 22, 1692 and buried in a common mass grave.
Wilmott Redd – Marblehead, Massachusetts
Wilmott Redd was the only Marblehead resident executed for witchcraft. Redd was a gruff woman married to Samuel Redd, a local fsherman. She was arrested on May 31, 1692 and taken to Salem for examination and then put in the Salem jail. At her trial in September, she was allowed no legal defense. She was convicted and taken to Gallows Hill on September 22 and hanged. A pond in Marblehead bears her name.
Alice Parker – Salem Town
Alice Parker was married to John Parker, a Salem fsherman. Very little other information survives about the background or life of Alice Parker. There does survive, however. Verbatim records of her examination and trial:
A portion of the Examination of Alice Parker on May 12, 1692 follows:
Q Mary Warren Charges you with Several acts off witchcraft; what Say you to it Guilty or not Guilty: A. I am not Guilty. You told her this day you cast away Thomas Westgate -- A. -- I know nothing of it -- You told her John [Lapthons] was [lost] in [] A. I never spoke a word to her in my Life. You told her also you bewitched her Sister, because her father would not mow your grass. I never saw her -- Warren desiring to go to strike her, was permitted, but Could not Come near so much as to touch her, but fel backward immediately into a dreadful ftt. Margaret Jacobs Charged her also to her face with seeing her in the North feild on fryday night last about #[nine oClock] an hour within Night in apparition -- Marshal Herrick also affrmed to her face that she told him this day after he had apprehended her and was bringing her to Examination, that there were threscore Witches of the Company, which he denyed not, But said she did not Remember, how many she said there was. But John Londer being by attested the same the Marshal had before. Mary Warren was grieviously afficted dureing the whole time of her Examination. But being asked who told her there were threescore Witches, she answered she Could not tell. Mary Warren affrmd that Her Father having promised to mow the grass for her if he had time, which he not doeing she came to the house, and told him he had better he had done it, presently after that Her Sister fell ill and shortly after Her Mother was taken ill, and dyed. Mary Warren affrms that when Alice Parker
brought the Poppet to her, she said if she would not Run the needle in, she would Run itt, into her heart. Mary Warren affrmd it to her face, but upon the Glance of Parkers Ey she immediately struck her down into a ftt. being Examined upon these things, she wished God would open the Earth and Swallow her up presently, if one word of this was true and make her an Example to Others -- Tho att the same times she practised her Witchcrafts before upon the Body of Mary Warren, dreadfully tormenting her. Moreover Warren affrmed that she told her this day that she was att the Bloody Sacrament in Mr Parris's Pasture, and [that] they were about thirty of them. Mary Warren also affrms that She told her this day also that she Ran after John Londer in the Common. Mary Warren affrms that the Spectrum came direct from her Body and afficted her dureing the whole time off her Examination. Mr Noise in Time of Examination affrmed to her face, that he being with her in a Time of sicknes, discoursing with about her witchcrafts whether she were not Guilty, she answered If she was as free from other sins as from Witchcrafts she would not ask the Lord mercy. Mary. Warren being taken with a dreadful ft at the same time, w'rby her tongue hung out of her mouth until it was black, Parker being present said warrens tongue would be blacker befor she dyed. Parker being asked why she did thus affict and torm't her, answered If I do, the Lord forgive mee --
Alice Parker was hanged September 22, 1692. Above excerpt from the Massachusetts Historical Society
Ann Pudeator – Salem Town
Ann Pudeator was in her 70s when she was hanged for witchcraft in Salem. Ann’s frst husband was Thomas Greenslit, with whom she had fve children. After Thomas died she married Jacob Pudeator. Pudeator died ten years before the witch trials. He left Ann a sizeable estate and she was probably better off fnancially than any of the other victims. Her inheritance was enhanced by her work as nurse and midwife.
Mary Warren accused Ann Pudeator of presenting the Devil’s Book to a girl and forcing her to sign it, having witchcraft materials in her home, torturing people with pins, killing her second husband and his frst wife and turning herself into a bird and fying. Others testifed against her, too, including Sarah Churchill. The following is a quote from the trial proceedings:
(Sarah Churchill v. Ann Pudeator)
Sarah Churchel: affrmd: to: the Jury of inquest: that Ann Puddeatee: has: greatly afficted her s'd Churchel by: choaking her pinching her & sticking pinse into her: & by pressing of her: &: making her sett her hand to: the book upon: the oath she hath: taken Sept: 6: 1692
It is known that Ann’s son Thomas testifed against George Burroughs at his trial. Ann was hanged September 22, 1692 on Gallows Hill in Salem.
Source for some of the above material is an article in Wikipedia. Other material from original court records.
Samuel Wardwell -- Andover, Massachusetts
Samuel Wardwell was a carpenter, who lived with his wife and several children.
He was known as an eccentric, but harmless man. He occasionally told fortunes and did magic tricks. The heightened sensitivities of the witch trials made his eccentricities suspect, and he was soon accused of witchcraft. He was frst accused by Martha Sprague of Boxford, Massachusetts. He was accused of practicing upon her witchcraft and sorceries. It was further claimed that 20 years earlier Wardwell had made a covenant with the “devil.” The Salem girls became witnesses against him, as did three well- thought-of citizens of Andover. At one point Wardwell confessed to being a witch. He later recanted his confession. He regretted ever confessing and said that even though “t might cost him his life, he would stick to the truth.” No one intervened on his behalf. When the noose was around his neck he again proclaimed his innocence. Samuel Wardwell was hanged on Gallows Hill September 22, 1692.
Mary Parker — Andover, Massachusetts
Mary Ayer Parker was asked during her examination “How long have ye been in the snare of the devil?” She answered, “I know nothing of it.” At one point in proclaiming her innocence she said, “There is another woman of the same name in Andover.”
Little is known of Mary Parker other than that she was married to Nathan Parker. Mary was the daughter of John and Hannah Ayer. Legal records show no arrests or other problems prior to her arrest as an accused witch. Nathan and Mary’s frst son John was born in 1653. Since 1650 Nathan had served as a constable in Andover. The Parkers owned well over 200 acres and were among the most prosperous families in Andover. Mary and Nathan had more children over the next 20 years. Nathan died in 1685. Since the Parkers were a respectable family in the town it is hard to understand why Mary would have been accused of witchcraft, but she was. Martha Sprague, who had accused Samuel Wardwell of witchcraft, accused Mary during the same time period. Mary Parker’s convicted rested primarily on the testimony of two teen-age girls. Much was made about the other Mary Parker being the witch, but the court remained unconvinced. Mary was hanged on Gallows Hill, Salem, September 22, 1692.