..--"12 Dissenting Puritan

knowledge that there are such revelations as do concur with the word but there hath not beert any of this nature.

Dep. Gov. These disturbances that have come among the Germans have been all grounded upon revelations, and so they that have vented them have stirred up their hearers to take up arms against their prince and to cut the throats one of an· other, and these have been the fruits of them, and whether the devil may inspire the same into their hearts here I know not, for I am fully persuaded that Mrs. Hutchinson is deluded by the devil, because the spirit of God speaks truth in all his servants.

Gov. I am persuaded that the revelation she brings forth is delusion. All the court but some two or three ministers cry out, we all beli~ve it-we all

believe it. Mr. Endicot. I suppose all the world may see where the foundation of all these

troubles among us lies. Gov. Seeing the court hath thus declared itself and hearing what hath been

laid to the charge of Mrs. Hutchinson and especially what she by the providence of God hath declared freely without being asked, if therefore it be the mind of the court, looking at her as the principal cause of all our trouble, that they would now consider what is to be done to her.-

Dep. Gov. We shall be all sick with fasting. Mr. Colburn. I dissent from censure of banishment. Gov. The court hath already declared themselves satisfied concerning the

things you hear, and concerning the troublesomeness of her spirit and the danger of her course amongst us, which is not to be suffered. Therefore if it be the mind of the court that Mrs. Hutchinson for these things that appear before us is unfit for our society, and if it be the mind of the court that she shall· be banished out of our liberties and imprisoned till she be sent away, let them hold up their hands.

All but three [did so]. Gov. Mrs. Hutchinson, the sentence of the court you hear is that you are ban-

ished from out of our jurisdiction as being a woman not fit for our society, and are to be imprisoned till the court shall send you away.

Mrs. H I desire to know wherefore I am banished? Gov. Say no more, the court knows wherefore and is satisfied.

f ~ ~ t r

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2 Salem Witchcraft

The Trial of Bridget Bishop 1692

Massachusetts Bay in 1692 was an insecure and unhappy place. The colony was experiencing disaster in King Williams War, stretching from 1689 to 1697. Ref. ugees from the war-including some of the young women who had raised the cry of witchcraft at Salem-streamed in from the frontiers threatened by Indians. Bankrupting the colony, expenses of the war had forced the levy of crushing ·taxes. That Massachusetts Bay's original charter had been voided in 1684 and no new one was provided until 1691 raised questions about who owned what land

. and who had the right to vote. Ministers complained that the old religion was be- ing undermined by luxury and new fashions. It was easy for seventeenth-century New Englanders to see the witchcraft in Salem as but one more bit of evidence that the Devil had launched an assault on New England.

Salem was a vulnerable spot to attack. Church and government were both rent with conflict. Long time residents eyed one another suspiciously as the port town grew richer while parts of the countryside around it stagnated. Young men feared that they might not acquire enough good land to farm. This in turn eroded young women's confidence in finding suitable men to marry. Dreamy young 'women dabbled in magic to pass the dreary days of winter, grew fearful of what they had done, and began making hysterical accusations. In calmer times the whole incident might have ended with a few reprimands or minor punish- ments. Instead the pranks and .accusations reverberated_ terribly through the shaky society as the women's visions of specters attacking them were taken as indications of real capital crimes. / ·

Bridget Bishop was the first (;itch to be tried and executed This woman of independent spirit and bad temper had long been unpopular in Salem. Authori· ties heard complaints over her loud and frequent fights with her first husband, Thomas Oliver. Neighbors objected to the tavern operated out of her home, where, according to one complaint, she "did entertain people in her house at un· seasonable hours in the night to keep drinking and playing at shovel-board whereby discord did arise in other families and young people were in danger to be corrupted. " In 1680 and 1687 she had been accused of witchcraft, but the

SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING: Larry Gragg, The Salem Witch Crisis, New York: Praeger, 1992; Carol F. Karlsen, The Devil in the Shape of a Woman: Witchcraft in Colonial New England, New York: Norton, 1987.

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~~i.f~::-S~m Witchcraft

magistrates released her. In 1692, however, fifteen witnesses deposed that she-or a specter looking like her-had bewitched them, their children, or their livestock. A body search revealed the tell-tale "witch's teat": convincing enough for the court although a later one found her "clear and free ... from any preternatural excrescence. " Two witnesses, a father and son, testified that seven years before while demolishing her cellar wall they had found several puppets with "headless pins in them with the points outward." Eight days after her June 2 trial, Bridget Bishop was hanged. Thirteen other women and five men would soon follow her to the gallows (one man was crushed by stones) until the list of accused began to include prominent people and the authorities ended the prosecution. To the end Bridget Bishop protested "I am innocent of being a witch. ... I am b.s innocent as the child unborn."

One of the many indictments against Bridget Bishop, part of her examina- tion by the magistrates, and an account of the trial by Cotton Mather, an impor- tant minister at the time, are presented here. Full transcripts of the Salem trials have not survived.

Indictment vs. Bridget Bishop

The Jurors for our Sovereign Lord and Lady the King and Queen presents that Bridget Bishop alias Oliver the wife of Edward Bishop of Salem in the County of Essex [on] the nineteenth day of April [1892] and divers other days and times as well before as after, [practiced] certain detestable arts called witchcraft and sor- ceries, wickedly and feloniously hath used, practised and exercised at and within the Towneship of Salem in the County of Essex against one Elizabeth Hubbard of Salem Village in the County aforesaid singlewoman-by which said wick~d arts the said Elizabeth Hubbard ... was and is hurt, tortured, afflicted, pined, consumed, wasted and tormented against the Peace of our Sovereign Lord and Lady the King and Queen and against the form of the statute in that case made and provided.

Witnesses Elizabeth Hubbard. Mr. Samuel Paris. Thomas Putnam. Mary Walcott.

Mercy Lewis. Nathaniel Ingersoll. Ann Putnam Junior Abigail Williams.

Examination of Bridget Bishop

The examination of Bridget Bishop before the Worshipfull John Hathorne and Jonathan Curren esquires.

Bridget Bishop being now coming in to be examined relating to her. accusation of suspicion of sundry acts of witchcrafts, the afflicted persons are now dreadfully afflicted by her as they do say.

Mr. Hathorne. Bishop what do you say you here stand chargeg with sundry acts of witchcraft by you done or committed upon the bodies of Mercy Lewis and Ann Putnam and others.

The Trial of Bridget Bishop 15

Bishop. I am innocent I know nothing of it. I have done no witchcraft. Hathorne. Look upon this woman and see if this be the woman that you have

seen hurting you. Mercy Lewis and Ann Putnam and others do now charge her to her face with

hurting of them. Hathorne. What do you say now you see they charge you to your face? Bishop. I never did hurt them in my life. I did never see these persons before.

I am as innocent as the child unborn. Hathorne. Is not your coat cut? Bishop answers no, but her garment being looked upon they find it cut or

torn two ways. Jonathan Walcoate saith that the sword that he strucke at Goody Bishop with was not naked but was within the scabbard so that the rent may very probably be the very same that Mary Walcoate did tell that she had in her coat by Jonathan's striking at her appearance.

The afflicted persons charge her with having hurt them many ways and by tempting them to sign the Devil's book at which charge she seemed to be very an- gry and shaking her head at them saying it was false they are all 'greatly tormented (as I conceive) by the shaking of her head.

Hathorne. Goody Bishop what contract have you made with the devil? Bishop. I have made no contract with the devil. I never saw him in my life.

Ann Putnam sayeth that she calls the devil her God. Hathorne. What say you tQ all this that you are charged with? Can you not

find in your heart to tell the truth? Bishop. I do tell the truth. I never hurt these persons in my life. I never saw

them before. Mercy Lewis. Oh goody Bishop did you not come to our house the last night

and did you not tell me that your master made you tell more than you were willing to tell.

Hathorne. Tell us the truth. in this matter. How comes these persons to be thus tormented and to charge you with doing? -

Bishop. I am not come here to say I am a witch to take away my life. Hathorne. Who is it that doth it if you do not? They say it is your likeness

that comes and torments them and tempts them to write in the book, what book is that you tempted them with?

Bishop. I know nothing of it. I am innocent. Hathorne. Do you not see how they are tormented? You are acting witchcraft

before us. What do you say to this? Why have you not an heart to confess the truth?

Bishop. I am innocent. I know nothing of it. I am no witch. I know not what a witch is.

Hathorne. Have you not given consent that some evil spirit should do this in your likeness?

Bishop. No. I am innocent of being a witch. I know no man woman or child here.

~-'~ Salem Witchcratt

Marshall Herrick. How came you into my bed chamber one morning then and asked me whether I had any curtains to sell? She is by some of the afflicted per- sons charged with murder.

Hathorne. What do you say to these murders you are charged with? Bishop. I am innocent. I know nothing of it. Now she lifts up her eyes and they are greatly tormented. Hathorne. What do you say to these things here-horrible acts of witchcraft.? Bishop. I know nothing of it. I do not know whether be any witches or no. Hathorne. No have you not heard that some have confessed? Bishop. No I did not.

Two men told her to her face that they had told her, here she is taken in a plain lie. Now she is going away. They are dreadfully afflicted. Five afflicted per- sons do charge this woman to be the very woman that hurts them.

The Tryal of Bridget Bishop, alias Oliver, At the Court of Oyer and Terminer Held at Salem, June 2, 1692.

I. She was Indicted for Bewitching of several persons in the Neighbourhood, the Indictment being drawn up, according to the Form in such Cases usual. And pleading, Not Guilty, there were brought in several persons, who had long under- gone many kinds of Miseries, which were preternaturally Inflicted, and generally ascribed unto an horrible Witchcraft. There was little Occasion to prove the Witch- craft, it being Evident and Notorious to all Beholders. Now to fix the Witchcraft on the Prisoner at the Bar, the first thing used, was the Testimony of the Bewitched; whereof several Testify'd, That the Shape of the Prisoner did oftentimes very griev- ously pinch them, choak them, Bite them, and Afflict them; urging them to write their Names in a Book, which the said Spectre called, Ours. One of them did fur- ther Testify, that it was the Shape of this Prisoner, with another, which one Day took her from her Wheel, and carrying her to the River side, threatened there to Drown her, if she did not Sign to the Book mentioned: which yet she refused. Others of them did also Testify, that the said Shape did in her Threats brag to them that she had been the Death of sundry persons, then by her Named; that she had Ridden a man then likewise Named. Another Testify'd the Apparition of Ghosts unto the Spectre of Bishop, crying out, You Murdered us! About the Truth whereof, there was in the matter of Fact but too much Suspicion.

II. It was Testify'd, That at the Examination of the Prisoner before the Magis- trates, the Bewitched were extreamly Tortured. If she did but cast her Eyes on them, they were presently struck down; and this in such a manner as there could be no Collusion in the Business. But upon the Touch of her Hand upon them, when they lay in their Swoons, they would immediately Revive; and not upon the Touch of any ones, else. Moreover, upon some Special Actions o( her Body, as the shaking of her Head, or the Turning of her Eyes, they presently and painfully fell into the like postures. And many. of the like Accidents now fell out, while she was

The Trial of Hridget Hishop 17

at the Bar. One at the same time testifying, That she said, She could not be Trou- bled to see the Afflicted thus Tormented.

III. There was Testimony likewise brought in, that a man striking once at the place, where a Bewitched person said, the Shape of this Bishop stood, the Bewitched cried out, that he had Tore her Coat, in the place then particularly specify'd; and the Womans Coat was found to be Torn in that very place.

IV. One Deliverance Hobbs, who had Confessed her being a Witch, was now Tormented by the Spectres, for her Confession. And she now Testify'd, That this Bishop tempted her to Sign the Book again, and to Deny what she had Confess'd. She affirmed, that it was the Shape of this Prisoner, which whipped her with Iron Rods, to compel her thereunto. And she affirmed, that this Bishop was at a General Meeting of the Witches, in a Field at Salem-Village, and there partook of a Diaboli- cal Sacrament in Bread and Wine then Administred!

V. To render it further Unquestionable, that the prisoner at the Bar was the Person truly charged in this Witchcraft, there were produced many Evidences of other Witchcrafts, by her perpetrated. For Instance, John Cook testify'd, that about five or six years ago, One morning, about Sun-Rise, he was in his Chamber as- saulted by the Shape of this prisoner: which Look'd on him, grin'd at him, and very much hurt him with a Blow on the side of the Head: and that on the same day, about Noon, the same Shap~ walked in the Room, where he was, and an Ap-

. pie strangely flew out of his Hand, into the Lap of his Mother, six or eight foot from him.

VI. Samuel Gray testify'd, That about fourteen years ago, he wak'd on a Night, and saw the Room where he lay full of Light; and that he then saw plainly a Woman between the Cradle and the Bed-side, which look'd upon him. He Rose, and it vanished; tho' he found the· Doors all fast. Looking out at the Entry-Door, he saw the same Woman, in the same Garb again; and said, In Gods Name, what do you come for? He went to Bed, and had the same Woman again assaulting him. The Child in the Cradle gave a great schreech, and the Woman Disappeared. It was long before the Child could be quieted; and tho' it were a very likely thriving Child, yet from this time it pined away, and after divers months dy'd in a sad Con- dition. He knew not Bishop, nor her Name; but when he saw her after this, he knew by her Countenance, and Apparrel, and all Circumstances, that it was the Ap- parition of this Bishop which had thus troubled him.

VII. John Bly and his Wife testify'd, that he bought a sow of Edward Bishop, the Husband of the prisoner; and was to pay the price agreed, unto another per- son. This Prisoner being Angry that she was thus hindred from fingring the money, Quarrell'd with Bly. Soon after which, the Sow was taken with strange Fits, Jump- ing, Leaping, and knocking her head against the Fence; she seem'd Blind and

r~ /-..- ~o Salem Witchcraft Deaf, and would neither eat nor be suck'd. Whereupon a neighbour said, she be- lieved the Creature was Over-Looked; and sundry other circumstances concurred, which made the Deponents Belive that Bishop had Bewitched it.

VIII. Richard Coman testify'd, that eight years ago, as he lay Awake in his Bed, with a Light Burning in the Room, he was annoy'd with the Apparition of this Bishop, and of two more that were strangers to him, who came and oppressed him so, that he could neither stir himself, nor wake any one else, and that he was the night after molested again in the like manner; the said Bishop taking hirri by the Throat, and pulling him almost out of the Bed. His kinsman offered for this cause to lodge with him; and that Night, as they were Awake, Discoursing to~ther, this Coman was once more visited by the Guests which had formerly been so trouble· some; his kinsman being at the same time strook speechless and unable to move Hand or Foot. He had laid his sword by him, which these unhappy spectres did strive much to wr..est from him; only he held too fast for them. He then grew able to call the People of his house; but altho' they heard him, yet they had not power to speak or stirr; until at last, one of the people crying out, what's the matter? the spectres all vanished.

IX. Samuel Shattock testify'd, That in the Year 1680, this Bridget Bishop often came to his house upon such frivolous and foolish errands, that they suspected she came indeed with a purpose of mischief. Presently whereupon his eldest child, which was of as promising Health and Sense as any child of its Age, began to droop exceedingly; and the oftener that Bishop came to the House, the worse grew the Child. As the Child would be standing at the Door, he would be thrown and bruised against the Stones, by an Invisible Hand, and in like sort knock his Face against the sides of the House, and bruise it after a miserable manner. Afterwards this Bishop would bring him things to Dy, whereof he could not Imagine· any use; and when she paid him a piece of Money, the Purse and Money were unaccount· ably conveyed out of a Lock'd box, and never seen more. The Child was immedi· ately hereupon taken with terrible fits, whereof his Friends thought he would have dyed: indeed he did almost nothing but cry and Sleep for several Months together; and at length his understanding was utterly taken away. Among other Symptoms of an Inchantment upon him, one was, that there was a Board in the Garden, whereon he would walk; and all the invitations in the world could never fetch him off. About Seventeen or Eighteen years after, there came a Stranger to Shattocks House, who seeing the Child, said, "This poor Child is Bewitched; and you have a Neighbour living not far off, who is a Witch." He added, "Your Nei'ghbour. has had a falling out with your Wife; and she said in her Heart, your Wife is a proud Woman, and she would bring down her Pride in this Child." He then Remembred, that Bishop had parted from his Wife in muttering and menacing Terms, a little be· fore the Child was taken Ill. The abovesaid Stranger would needs carry the Be- witched Boy with him to Bishops House, on pretence of buying a pot of Cycler. The Woman Entertained him in furious manner; and flew also upon the Boy, scratching

The Trial of Bridget Bishop 19

his Face till the Blood came; and saying, "Thou Rogue, what, dost thou bring this Fellow here to plague me?" Now it seems the Man had said, before he went, that he would fetch Blood of her. Ever after the Boy was follow' d with grievous Fits, which the Doctors themselves generally ascribed unto Witchcraft; and wherein he would be thrown still into the Fire or the Water, if he were not constantly look'd after; and it was verily believed that Bishop was the cause of it.

X. John Louder testify'd, that upon some little controversy with Bishop about her fowles, going well to Bed, he did awake in the Night by moonlight, and did see clearly the likeness of this woman grievously oppressing him; in which miserable condition she held him, unable to help him self, till near Day. He told Bishop of this; but she deny'd it, and threatned him very much. Quickly after this, being at home on a Lords day, with the doors shut about him, he saw a Black Pig approach him; at which he going to kick, it vanished away. Immediately after, sitting down, he saw a Black thing Jump in at the Window, and come and stand before him. The Body was like that of a Monkey, the Feet like a Cocks, but the Face much like a mans. He being so extreemly affrighted, that he could not speak, this Monster spoke to him, and said, "I am a Messenger sent unto you, for I understand that you are in some Trouble of Mind, and if you will be ruled by me, you shall want for nothing in this world." Whereupon he endeavoured to clap his hands upon it; but he c~uld feel no substan&", and it jumped out of the window again; but imme· diately came in by the Porch, though the Doors were shut, and said, "You had bet· ter take my Counsel!" He then struck at it with a stick, but struck only the Groundsel, and broke the Stick. The Arm with which he struck was presently Dis· enabled, and it vanished away. He presently went out at the Back-Door, and spyed this Bishop, in her Orchard, going toward her House; but he had not power to set one foot forward unto her. Whereupon returning into the House, he was immedi· ately accosted by the Monster he had seen before; which Goblin was now going to Fly at him; whereat he cry'd out, "The whole Armour o( God be between me and you!" So it sprang back, and flew over the Apple Tree, shaking many Apples off the Tree, in its flying over. At its Leap, it flung Dirt with its Feet against the Stomach of the Man; whereon he was then struck Dumb, and so continued for three Days together. Upon the producing of this Testimony, Bishop deny'd that she knew this Deponent: yet their two Orchards joined, and they had often had their Little Quar· rels for some years tof(ether.

XI. William Stacy Testifyed, That receiving Money of this Bishop, for work done by him, he was gone but a matter of Three Rods from her, and looking for his money, found it unaccountably gone from him. Some time after, Bishop asked him, whether his Father would grind her grist for her? He demanded why? she Re- ply'd, {{Because Folks count me a Witch." He answered, "No Question, but he will grind it for you." Being then gone about six Rods from her, with a small Load in his Cart, suddenly the Off-wheel slump't and sunk down into an Hole upon plain ground, so that the Deponent was forced to get help for the Recovering of the

~:- ,\ 20 Salem Witchcraft

wheel. But stepping Back to look for the Hole which might give him this disaster, there was none at all to be found. Some time after, he was waked in the Night; but it seem'd as Light as Day, and he perfectly saw the shape of this Bishop in the Room, Troubling of him; but upon her going out, all was Dark again. He charg'd Bishop afterwards with it, and she denid it not; but was very angry. Quickly after, this Deponent having been threatned by Bishop, as he was in a dark Night going to the Barn, he was very suddenly taken or lifted from the ground, and thrown against a stone wall; After that, he was again hoisted up and thrown down a Bank, at the end of his House. After this again, passing by this Bishop, his Horse with a small load, striving to Draw, all his Gears flew to pieces, and the Cart fell down; and this deponent going then to lift a Bag of corn, of about two Bushels, could not budge it with all his might.

Many other pranks of this Bishops this Deponent was Ready to testify. He also testify'd, that he verily Believed, the said Bishop was the Instrument of his Daugh- ter Priscilla's Death; of which suspicion, pregnant Reasons were assigned.

XII. To Crown all, John Bly and William Bly Testify'd, That being Employ'd by Bridget Bishop, to help take down the Cellar-wall of the old House, wherein she formerly Lived, they did in Holes of the said old Wall find several Poppets, made up of Rags and Hogs Brussels, with Headless Pins in them, the Points being out- ward. Whereof she could give no account unto the Court, that was Reasonable or Tolerable.

XIII. One thing that made against the Prisoner was, her being evidently con- victed of Gross Lying in the Court, several Times, while she was making her Plea. But besides this, a Jury of Women found a preternatural Teat upon her Body; but upon a second search, within Three or four hours, there was no such thing to be seen. There was also an account of other people whom this woman had afflicted. And there might have been many more, if they had been enquired for. But there was no need of them.

XIV. There was one very strange thing more, with which the Court was newly Entertained. As this Woman was, under a Guard, passing by the Great and Spa- cious Meeting-House of Salem, she gave a Look towards the House. And immedi- ately a Dcemon Invisibly Entring the Meeting-house, Tore down a part of it; so that tho' there were no person to be seen there, yet the people at the Noise running in, found a Board, which was strongly fastened with several Nails, transported unto another quarter of the House.

* * * One Whetford particularly ten years ago, challenging of Bridget Bishop (whose

Trial you have had) with Stealing of a Spoon, Bishop threatned her very direfully: presently after this was Whetford in the Night, and in her Bed, visited by Bishop, with one Parker, who making the Room Light at their coming in, there discoursed of several mischiefs they would inflict upon her. At last, th~y pull'd her out, and

The Trial of Bridget Bishop 21

carried her unto the Sea-side, there to drown her; but she calling upon God, they left her, tho' not without Expressions of their Fury. From that very Time, this poor Whetford was utterly spoilt, and grew a Tempted, Froward, Crazed sort of a Woman; a vexation to her self, and all about her; and many ways unreasonable. In this Distraction she lay, till those women were Apprehended, by the Authority; then she began to mend; and upon their Execution, was presently and perfectly Recov- ered, from the ten years madness that had been upon her.

3 Witches on Trial

Hundreds of legal documents have survived from the Salem witch hunt of 1692. These fall into three principal categories: (1) transcripts of pre- liminary examinations conducted by magistrates following the arrest of suspects; (2) depositions both for and against the accused; and (3) formal documents that n1ark the progress of individual cases. The formal docu- ments include complaints against suspected individuals, arrest warrants, mittimus1 warrants that ordered a prison keeper to hold prisoners incus- tody until delivered by due process of law, indictments (formal charges), subpoenas2 summoning witnesses to court, and execution warrants. Many of the examination transcripts and depositions were recorded by individ- uals who were known to sympathize with the accusers, not least Samuel Parris-a sobering reminder that in 1692 our modern commitment to avoiding conflicts of interest had yet to become an established judicial principle. The official transcripts of examinations included not only ques- tions and answers but also the observations and comments of the writer. The trial records themselves do not survive, but we do know from con- temporary accounts that the magistrates and jurymen heard from three groups hostile to the accused: (1) the afflicted girls, who often experi- enced yet more torments in the courtroom; (2) those who had already confessed and who now accused other defendants of belonging to the witch conspiracy; and (3) neighbors who had witnessed incidents that seemed to incriminate the accused (such as arguments and angry curses followed by mysterious ailments or mishaps).

Magistrates John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin began their pre- liminary examinations of witch suspects in Nathaniel Ingersoll's tavern, but they soon shifted them to the village meetinghouse, which would ac- commodate a larger crowd of observers. (Hathorne and Corwin had de- cided to disregard the usual practice of questioning suspects in private.)

1 Latin for "we send." 2 Latin for "under penalty."

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SARAH GOOD 67

The meetinghouse was the largest building in the village, a wooden struc- ture of thirty-four feet by twenty-eight feet, with rows of benches on the ground floor and two galleries above. The magistrates sat behind a large communion table; the accused stood before them. This was the same space in which Samuel Parris continued in his sermons to denounce the servants of Satan who were, he claimed, conspiring against God and his own ministry. The actual trials took place in Salem Town at the court- house there.

This section contains documents from six cases targeting Sarah Good (Documents 14-27), Tituba (Documents 28-32), John Proctor (Docu- ments 33-41), Bridget Bishop (Documents 42-51), Dorcas Hoar (Docu- ments 52-61), and George Burroughs (Documents 62-75). The cases are arranged in order of arrest; the documents for each case appear in chronological order. Due to limitations of space, some of the more repet- itive depositions have been omitted, along with most of the procedural documents. A sample arrest warrant, indictment, and death warrant are included for Sarah Good; these are almost identical to the procedural documents that survive from other witch prosecutions that year. 3

SARAH GOOD

Sarah Good was one of the first three individuals to be accused, the other two being Sarah Osborne and Tituba. Warrants went out for their arrest on February 29, 1692. After several days of examination, mag- istrates Jonathan Corwin and John Hathorne gave orders for all three women to be committed to the jail in Boston. Osborne, who was ill at the time of her arrest, died of natural causes in prison on May 10 and so never stood trial; she had maintained her innocence throughout the

3 Many of these documents were first published in an 1864 two--volume compilation. A fuller and more accurate version of the surviving legal records emerged from a project undertaken in the late 1930s that was funded by the Works Progress Administration (a New Deal work relief agency). Almost forty years later, historians Paul Boyer and Stephen Nissenbaum prepared a new and improved version of that WPA transcript for publication in a three-volume work, published in 1977. That edition became the authorita- tive source for scholars working on Salem until the publication in 2009 of an ambitious new compilation, edited by Bernard Rosenthal. This latest version contains new docu- ment~ and corrects many errors that crept into previous editions of the transcripts. Instead of organizing the documents case by case, Rosenthal presents the documents chronologically, which helps us to understand the crisis as it unfolded in ways that older editions inadvertently obscured. Yet some historians have pointed out that presenting the documents case by case best enables us to understand the individual stories and tragedies that lie at the center of the witch hunt I share that concern and have accord- ingly organized the documents below as a series of case studies.

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68 WITCHES ON TRIAL

examinations. Sarah Good also denied that she was a witch, but she was brought to trial on June 28, convicted, and hanged on July 19.

Sarah Good's father had been a prosperous innkeeper. At his death he left a substantial estate, but the man whom her mother subsequently married never handed over Sarah's rightful share of that estate. Her first husband, Daniel Poole, was a former indentured servant; he died only a few years after they married, leaving Sarah nothing but his debts. Her sec- ond husband, William Good, was described in the records sometimes as a weaver and sometimes as a laborer. William and Sarah ended up home- less, destitute, and reliant upon local residents for food and shelter.

Sarah Good did not hold back her feelings of bitterness and resent- ment in the face of her declining fortunes. Her reluctance to accept God's will doubtless shocked pious neighbors, and such outspokenness was particularly disturbing when coming from a woman. Good also had a reputation for holding a grudge and for muttering curses against those who crossed her, which would have alarmed her neighbors, not least because many people believed that such curses could work. The deposi- tions against Good illustrate vividly how interpersonal conflicts could accumulate and fester in tiny communities like Salem Village. They also show how easily people could become convinced that hostile neighbors were wielding occult forces against them. Personal animosity, inexpli- cable misfortunes, and belief in witchcraft combined in a lethal cocktail to bring about Sarah Good's death.

14

Arrest Warrant for Sarah Good February 29, 1692

To Constable George Locker Whereas Masters joseph Hutcheson, Thomas Putnam, Edward

Putnam, and Thomas Preston, yeomen4 of Salem Village in the county

4 A yeoman owned and cultivated a small piece of land; he w&s of respectable standing but not affluent

Essex County Court Archives, vol. 1, no. 4, from the Records of the Court of Oyer and Terminer, 1692, Property of the Supreme Judicial Court, Division of Archives and Records Preservation, on deposit at the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts.

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EXAMINATION OF SARAH GOOD (AS RECORDED BY EZEKIEL CHEEVER) 69

of Essex, personally appeared before us and made complaint on behalf of their Majesties against Sarah Good, the wife of William Good of Salem Village abovesaid, for suspicion of witchcraft by her committed, and thereby much injury done to Elizabeth Parris, Abigail Williams, Ann Putnam, and Elizabeth Hubbard, all of Salem Village aforesaid, sundry times within this two months and lately also done at Salem Village, con- trary to the peace of our Sovereign Lord and Lady, William and Mary, King and Queen of England, etc., you are therefore in their Majesties' names hereby required to apprehend and bring before us the said Sarah Good, tomorrow about ten of the clock in the forenoon at the house of lieutenant Nathaniel Ingersoll in Salem Village, or as soon as may be, then and there to be examined relating to the abovesaid premises. And hereof you are not to fail at your peril.

15

John Hathorne Jonathan Corwin

Examination of Sarah Good (as Recorded by Ezekiel Cheever)

March 1, 1692

Hathorne: Sarah Good, what evil spirit have you familiarity with? Good: None. Hathorne: Have you made no contract with the Devil? Good: No. Hathorne: Why do you hurt these children? Good: I do not hurt them. I scorn it. Hathorne: Who do you employ, then, to do it? Good: I employ nobody. Hathorne: What creature do you employ, then? Good: No creature, but I am falsely accused. Hathorne: Why did you go away muttering from Mr. Parris's house? Good: I did not mutter, but I thanked him for what he gave my child.

Essex County Court Archives, vol. 1, no. 11, from the Records of the Court of Oyer and Terminer, 1692, Property of the Supreme judicial Court, Division of Archives and Records Preservation, on deposit at the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts.

70 WITCHES ON TRIAL

Hathorne: Have you made no contract with the Devil? Good: No.

Mr. Hathorne desired the children, all of them, to look upon her and see if this were the person that had hurt them and so they all did look upon her and said this was one of the persons that did torment them. Pres- ently they were all tormented.

Hathorne: Sarah Good, do you not see now what you have done? Why do you not tell us the truth? Why do you thus torment these poor children?

Good: I do not torment them. Hathorne: Who do you employ, then? Good: I employ nobody. I scorn it. Hathorne: How came they thus tormented? Good: What do I know? You bring others here and now you charge me

with it. Hathorne: Why, who was it? Good: I do not know, but it was some you brought into the meeting

house with you. Hathorne: We brought you into the meeting house. Good: But you brought in two more. Hathorne: Who was it, then, that tormented the children? Good: It was Osborne. Hathorne: What is it that you say when you go muttering away from

persons' houses? Good: If I must tell, I will tell. Hathorne: Do tell us, then. Good: If I must tell, I will tell: it is the commandments. I may say my

commandments, I hope. Hathorne: What commandment is it? Good: If I must tell you, I will tell: it is a psalm. Hathorne: What psalm?

After a long time she muttered over some part of a psalm.

Hathorne: Who do you serve? Good: I serve God. Hathorne: What God do you serve? Good: The God that made heaven and earth (though she was not willing

to mention the word God).

Her answers were in a very wicked, spiteful manner, reflecting and re- torting against the authority with base and abusive words, and many

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ELIZABfl.TH HUBBARD AGAINST SARAH GOOD 71

lies she was taken in. It was here said that her husband had said that he was afraid that she either was a witch or would be one very quickly the worse. Mr. Hathorne asked him his reason why he said so of her, whether he had ever seen anything by her. 5 He answered no, not in this nature, but it was her bad carriage to him. "And indeed," said he, "I may say with tears that she is an enemy to all good."

5 In other words, had he seen her do anything that might lead him to believe that she was a witch?

16

Elizabeth Hubbard against Sarah Good March 1, 1692

The deposition of Elizabeth Hubbard, aged about seventeen years, who testifieth and saith that on February 26, 1692 I saw the apparition of Sarah Good who did most grievously afflict me by pinching and pricking me and so she continued hurting of me till March 1, being the day of her examination, and then she did also most grievously afflict and torture me also during the time of her examination. And also several times since she hath afflicted me and urged me to write in her book. Also on the day of her examination, I saw the apparition of Sarah Good go and hurt and afflict the bodies of Elizabeth Parris, Abigail Williams, and Ann Putnam, Jr., and also I have seen the apparition of Sarah Good afflicting the body of Sarah Bibber.

Also in the night after Sarah Good's examination, Sarah Good came to me bare foot and bare legged6 and did most grievously torment me by pricking and pinching me; and I verily believe that Sarah Good hath bewitched me. Also that night, Samuel Sibley that was then attending me struck Sarah Good on her arm.

6 Many Puritans would have considered such a state of undress to be indecent. According to Document 26, Elizabeth Hubbard claimed that Good's breasts were also uncovered and called her "nasty slut."

Essex County Court Archives, vol. 1, no. 20, from the Records of the Court of Oyer and Terminer, 1692, Property of the Supreme Judicial Court, Division of Archives and Records Preservation, on deposit at the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusdts.

17

Ann Putnam ]r. against Sarah Good March 1, 1692

The deposition of Ann Putnam, Jr., who testifieth and saith that on Feb- ruary 25, 1692 I saw the apparition of Sarah Good which did torture me most grievously, but I did not know her name till February 27, and then she told me her name was Sarah Good and then she did prick me and pinch me most grievously, and also since several times, urging me vehemently to write in her book. And also on March 1, being the day of her examination, Sarah Good did most grievously torture me and also several times since. And also on March 1, 1692 I saw the apparition of Sarah Good go and afflict and torture the bodies of Elizabeth Parris, Abigail Williams, and Elizabeth Hubbard. Also I have seen the appari- tion of Sarah Good afflicting the body of Sarah Bibber.

Essex County Court Archives, vol. 1, no. 19, from the Records of the Court of Oyer and Terminer, 1692, Property of the Supreme Judicial Court, Division of Archives and Records Preservation, on deposit at the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts.

18

William Allen, john Hughes, William Good, and Samuel Braybrook against Sarah Good,

Sarah Osborne, and Tituba March 5, 1692

William Allen saith that on March 1 at night he heard a strange noise not usually heard, and so [it] continued for many times so that he was affrighted, and coming nearer to it he there saw a strange and unusual beast lying on the ground, so that going up to it the said beast vanished

Essex County Court Archives, vol 1, no. 29, from the Records of the Court of Oyer and Terminer, 1692, Property of the Supreme Judicial Court, Division of Archives and Records Preservation, on deposit at the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts.

72

WILLIAM ALLEN, JOHN HUGHES, WILLIAM GOOD, AND SAMUEL BRAYBROOK 73

away and in the said place started up two or three women and flew from me, not after the manner of other women, but swiftly vanished away out of our sight, which women we took to be Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne, and Tituba. The time was about an hour within night and I, John Hughes, saith the same, being in company then with said Allen, as witness our hands.

William Allen further saith that on March 2 the said Sarah Good vis- ibly appeared to him in his chamber, said Allen being in bed, and [she] brought an unusual light in with her. The said Sarah came and sat upon his foot; the said Allen went to kick at her, upon which she vanished and the light with her.

William Good saith that the night before his said wife was examined, he saw a wart or teat a little below her right shoulder which he never saw before and asked Goodwife Ingersoll whether she did not see it when she searched her.

John Hughes further saith that on March 2, coming from Goodman Sibley's about eight of the clock in the night, he saw a great white dog whom he came up to, but he [the dog] would not stir, but when he [Hughes] was past, he, the said dog, followed him about four or five poles7 and so disappeared. The same night, the said John Hughes being in bed in a closed room and the door being fast so that no cat nor dog could come in, the said John saw a great light appear in the said cham- ber, and rising up in his bed he saw a large grey cat at his bed's foot.

[On] March 2 Samuel Braybrook saith that, carrying Sarah Good to Ipswich, the said Sarah leapt off her horse three times, which was between twelve and three of the clock of the same day [on] which the daughter of Thomas Putnam declared the same at her father's house. The said Braybrook further saith that said Sarah Good told him that she would not own herself to be a witch unless she is proved one; she saith that there is but one evidence, and that's an Indian, and therefore she fears not, and so continued railing against the magistrates and she endeavored to kill herself.

7 One pole equaled 51h yards.

19

Abigail Williams against Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne, and Tituba

May23, 1692

Abigail Williams testifieth and saith that several times last February she hath been much afflicted with pains in her head and other parts and often pinched by the apparition of Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne, and Tituba Indian, all of Salem Village, and also excessively afflicted by the said apparition of said Good, Osborne, and Tituba at their examination before authority [on] March 1, 1692. Further the said Abigail Williams testifieth that she saw the apparition of said Sarah Good at her examina- tion pinch Elizabeth Hubbard and set her into fits and also Elizabeth Parris and Ann Putnam.

Essex County Court Archives, voJ. 1, no. 31, from the Records of the Court of Oyer and Terminer, 1692, Property of the Supreme Judicial Court, Division of Archives and Records Preservation, on deposit at the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts.

20

Indictment against Sarah Good for Afflicting Sarah Bibber8

june 28, 1692

Anno [Regni] Regis et Reginae Willm et Mariae nunc Angliae etc. Quarto [in the fourth year of the reign of William and Mary, King and Queen of England, etc.]

[In] Essex [County 1

s Almost identical indictments accused Sarah Good of using witchcraft to afflict Elizabeth Hubbard and Ann Putnam Jr.

Essex County Court Archives, vol. 1, no. 3, from the Records of the Court of Oyer and Terminer, 1692, Property of the Supreme judicial Court, Division of Archives and Records Preservation, on deposit at the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts.

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SARAH BIBBERAGAINST SARAH GOOD 75

The Jurors for our Sovereign Lord and Lady, the King and Queen, pre- sent that Sarah Good, wife of William Good of Salem Village in the county of Essex, husbandman,9 [on] May 2 in the fourth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord and Lady, William and Mary, by the grace of God of En- gland, Scotland, France, and Ireland King and Queen, Defenders of the Faith, etc., and [on] diverse other days and times as well before as after, certain detestable arts called witchcrafts and sorceries wickedly and felo- niously hath used, practiced, and exercised at and within the township of Salem in the county of Essex aforesaid, in, upon, and against one Sarah Bibber, wife of John Bibber of Salem aforesaid, husbandman, by which said wicked arts she, the said Sarah Bib her, [on] the said May 2 in the fourth year abovesaid and diverse other days and times as well before as after, was and is tortured, afflicted, pined, consumed, wasted, and tor- mented, and also for sundry other acts of witchcraft by said Sarah Good committed and done before and since that time against the peace of our Sovereign Lord and Lady, the King and Queen, their crown and dignity, and against the form of the Statute in that case made and provided.

9Farmer.

21

Sarah Bibber against Sarah Good june 28, 1692

The deposition of Sarah Bibber, aged about thirty-six years, who testifieth and saith that since I have been afflicted I have often seen the apparition of Sarah Good, but she did not hurt me till May 2, 1692, though I saw her apparition most grievously torture Mercy Lewis and John Indian at Salem on Aprilll, 1692. But on May 2, 1692 the apparition of Sarah Good did most grievously torment me by pressing my breath almost out of my body; and also she did immediately afflict my child by pinching of it [so] that I could hardly hold it, and my husband seeing of it took hold

Essex County Court Archives, vol. 1, no. 26, from the Records of the Court of Oyer and Terminer, 1692, Property of the Supreme judicial Court, Division of Archives and Records Preservation, on deposit at the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts.

76 WITCHF-'i ON TRIAL

of the child, but it cried out and twisted so dreadfully by reason of the torture that the apparition of Sarah Good did afflict it withal that it got out of its father's arms too. Also several times since, the apparition of Sarah Good has most grievously tormented me by beating and pinching me, and almost choking me to death, and pricking me with pins after a most dreadful manner.

22

Sarah Cadge and Thomas Cadge against Sarah Good

june 28, 1692

The deposition of Sarah Gadge, the wife of Thomas Gadge, aged about forty years: this deponent testifieth and saith that about two years and a half ago Sarah Good came to her house and would have come into the house, but said Sarah Gadge told her she should not come in for she was afraid she had been with them that had the smallpox, and with that she [Good] fell to muttering and scolding extremely, and so told said Gadge [that] if she would not let her in she should give her something; and she answered she would not have anything to do with her; and the next morning after, to said deponent's best remembrance, one of said Gadge's cows died in a sudden, terrible, and strange, unusual manner, so that some of the neighbors and said deponent did think it to be done by witchcraft, and [she] farther saith not

And Thomas Gadge, husband of said Sarah, testifieth that he had a cow so died about the time above mentioned, and though he and some neighbors opened the cow, yet they could find no natural cause of said cow's death, and [he] farther saith not

Essex County Court Archives, vol. 1, no. 15, from the Records of the Court of Oyer

I and Terminer, 1692, Property of the Supreme Judicial Court, Division of Archives and Records Preservation, on deposit at the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts.

. . . . l

23

joseph Herrick Sr. and Mary Herrick against Sarah Good

june 28, 1692

The deposition of Joseph Herrick, Sr., who testifieth and saith that on March 1, 1692, I being then Constable for Salem, there was delivered to me by warrant from the worshipful John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin, Esquires, Sarah Good for me to carry to their Majesties' jail at Ipswich. And that night I set a guard to watch her at my own house, namely Samuel Braybrook, Michael Dunell, [and] Jonathan Baker. And the aforenamed persons informed me in the morning that that night Sarah Good was gone for some time from them, both bare foot and bare legged. And I was also informed that that night Elizabeth Hubbard, one of the afflicted persons, complained that Sarah Good came and afflicted her, being bare foot and bare legged, and Samuel Sibley, that was one that was attending of Elizabeth Hubbard, struck Good on the arm, as Elizabeth Hubbard said, and Mary Herrick, wife of the above said Joseph Herrick, testifieth that on March 2, 1692 in the morning, I took notice of Sarah Good in the morning and one of her arms was bloody from a little below the elbow to the wrist, and I also took notice of her arms on the night before and there was no sign of blood on them.

Essex County Court Archives, vol 1, no. 16, from the Records of the Court of Oyer and Terminer, 1692, Property of the Supreme Judicial Court, Division of Archives and Records Preservation, on deposit at the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts.

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24

Samuel Abbey and Mary Abbey against Sarah Good june 29, 1692

Samuel Abbey of Salem Village, aged forty-five years or thereabouts, and Mary Abbey, his wife, aged thirty-eight years or thereabouts, deposeth and saith that about this time three years past, William Good and his wife Sarah Good, being destitute of a house to dwell in, these deponents, out of charity, they being poor, let them live in theirs some time, until that the said Sarah Good was of so turbulent a spirit, spiteful, and so maliciously bent that these deponents could not suffer her to live in their house any longer and was forced for quietness sake to turn she, the said Sarah, with her husband, out of their house. Ever since, which is about two years and an half ago, the said Sarah Good hath carried it very spitefully and maliciously towards them. The winter following after the said Sarah was gone from our house, we began to lose cattle and lost several after an unusual manner, in a drooping condition, and yet they would eat, and your deponents have lost after that manner seventeen head of cattle within two years, besides sheep and hogs, and both do believe they died by witchcraft. The said William Good on the last of May, [that] was twelve months [ago], went home to his wife the said Sarah Good, and told her what a sad accident had fallen out She asked what. He answered that his neighbor Abbey had lost two cows, both dying within half an hour of one another. The said Sarah Good said she did not care if he, the said Abbey, had lost all the cattle he had, as the said John Good told us. Just that very day that the said Sarah Good was taken up, 10 we, your deponents, had a cow that could not rise alone, but since presently after she [Good] was taken up, the said cow was well and could rise so well as if she had ailed nothing. She, the said Sarah Good, ever since these deponents turned her out of their house, hath behaved herself very crossly and maliciously to them and their children, calling their children vile names and hath threatened them often.

to Arrested.

Essex County Court Archives, vol. 1, no. 18, from the Records of the Court of Oyer and Terminer, 1692, Property of the Supreme judicial Court, Division of Archives and Records Preservation, on deposit at the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts.

78

25

Henry Herrick and jonathan Batchelor against Sarah Good

june 29, 1692

The deposition of Henry Herrick, aged about twenty-one years: this deponent testifieth and saith that in last March, [that] was two years [ago], Sarah Good came to his father's house and desired to lodge there, and his father forbid it, and she went away grumbling and my father bid us follow her and see that she went away clear, lest she should lie in the barn and by smoking of her pipe should fire the barn. And said depo- nent with Jonathan Batchelor seeing her make a stop near the barn, bid her be gone, or he would set her further off, to which she replied that then it should cost his father Zachariah Herrick one or two of the best cows which he had.

And Jonathan Batchelor, aged fourteen years, testifieth the same above written, and doth farther testify that about a week after, two of his grandfather's master cattle were removed from their places and other younger cattle put in their rooms and since that several of their cattle have been set loose in a strange manner.

Essex County Court Archives, vol. 1, no. 21, from the Records of the Court of Oyer and Terminer, 1692, Property of the Supreme Judicial Court, Division of Archives and Records Preservation, on deposit at the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts.

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26

Samuel Sibley against Sarah Good june 29, 1692

Samuel Sibley, aged about thirty-four years, testifieth and saith that I being at the house of Doctor Griggs that night after that Sarah Good was examined, and Elizabeth Hubbard said, 'There stands Sarah Good upon the table by you with all her naked breast and bare footed [and] bare legged," and said, "0 nasty slut! If I had something I would kill her!" Then I struck with my staff where she, said Sarah Good, stood and Elizabeth Hubbard cried out, "You have hit her right across the back, you have almost killed her." If anybody was there they may see it.

Essex Institute Collection, vol. 1, no. 30, from the Records of the Court of Oyer and Terminer, 1692, Property of the Supreme Judicial Court, Division of Archives and Records Preservation, on deposit at the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts.

27

Death Warrant for Sarah Good, Rebecca Nurse, Susannah Martin, Elizabeth How, and

Sarah Wilds and Officer's Return july 12, 1692, and july 19, 1692

To George Corwin, Gentleman, High Sheriff of the County of Essex Greeting:

Whereas Sarah Good, wife of William Good of Salem Village, Rebecca Nurse, wife of Francis Nurse of Salem Village, Susannah Martin of Amesbury, widow, Elizabeth How, wife of James How of Ipswich, [and] Sarah Wilds, wife of John Wilds of Topsfield, all of the county of Essex in their Majesties' province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, at a Court of Oyer and Terminer held by adjournment for our Sovereign

Ms.Am.48, Rare Books and Manuscripts, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts, Courtesy of the Trustees of the Boston Public Library.

80

DEATII WARRANT AND OFFICER'S RETIJRN 81

Lord and Lady, King William and Queen Mary, for the said county of Essex at Salem in the said county on June 29 were severally arraigned on several indictments for the horrible crime of witchcraft by them prac- ticed and committed on several persons, and pleading not guilty did for their trial put themselves on God and their country, whereupon they were each of them found and brought in guilty by the jury that passed on them according to their respective indictments and sentence of death did then pass upon them as the law directs execution, whereof yet re- mains to be done.

These are therefore in their Majesties' names, William and Mary, now King and Queen over England, etc., to will and command you that upon Tuesday next, being July 19, between the hours of eight and twelve in the forenoon [of] the same day, you safely conduct the said Sarah Good, Rebecca Nurse, Susannah Martin, Elizabeth How, and Sarah Wilds from their Majesties' jail in Salem aforesaid to the place of execution, and there cause them and every of them to be hanged by the necks until they be dead, and of the doings herein make return to the clerk of the said court and this precept And hereof you are not to fail at your peril. And this shall be your sufficient warrant, given under my hand and seal at Boston July 12 in the fourth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord and Lady, William and Mary, King and Queen, etc.

William Stoughton

July 19, 1692

I caused the within mentioned persons to be executed according to the tenor of the within warrant

George Corwin, Sheriff

TITUBA

Tituba, described in the seventeenth-century records as an "Indian woman," was a slave in the household of Salem Village's minister, Sam- uel Parris. Parris had purchased Tituba, along with her husband John (also characterized in the records as an "Indian"), during his residence in Barbados during the 1670s. Almost no information survives regard- ing Tituba's personal or family history, either before or after the Salem crisis, though she would become a central figure in the popular mythol- ogy surrounding 1692. We do know that she had a reputation for super- natural knowledge and in early 1692 was commissioned by the aunt of one of the afflicted girls to bake a urine-cake, the purpose of which was