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An American Family History

Abigail Williams and Ann Putnam, Jr.
v. Mary Easty, John Willard, and Mary Witheridge
  Essex County Archives, Salem -- Witchcraft Volume 1, Page 122  

Mercy Lewis was a servant in the Thomas Putnam home. She was born in Maine about 1673 and lost both parents in Indian attacks at a young age.

Abigail Williams was about 11 at the time of the trials. She lived with her uncle, the Reverend Samuel Parris.

Sarah Trask was born on June 14, 1671/72 in Salem. Her parents were William Trask and Ann Putnam. She married John Williams.

John Willard was accused of witchcraft at the end of April 1692, after refusing to arrest people that he believed were innocent. Willard was hanged on August 19, 1692.

Deacon Edward Putnam was about 38 at the time of the trials. He was born on July 4, 1654 in Salem to Thomas Putnam and Ann Holyoke. He married Mary Hale. He died on March 10, 1747 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts.

His brother was Thomas Putnam.

Ann Putnam was 12 years old at the time of the trials. She was the daughter of Thomas and Ann Putnam. Ann died in 1716 and was the only girl to apologize.

Constable John Putnam. Jr. was born March 26, 1627. His parents were John Putnam and Priscilla Gould. He married Rebecca Prince. John died April 7, 1710.

The Deposistion of Abigaill williams and Ann putnam who testifieth and saith that we both goeing along with goodman [Samuel] Abby and Sarah Trask the 20th of may 1692 to the house of Constable Jno putnam to se mercy lewes

as we ware in the way we both saw the Apperishtion of Gooddy Estick the very same woman that was sent whom the other day and also

the Apperishtion of Goody Estick tould us both that now she was afflecting of Mircy lewes because she would not clear hir as others did and w'n came to who laye speachless and in a sad condition we saw there the apperishtions of gooddy Estick and Jno willard and mary [Buckley] witheridge afflecting and choaking mircy lewes in a most dreadfull maner which did most greviously affright us and immediatly gooddy Estick did fall upon us and tortor us allso Redy to choake us to death

Abigail Williams and An putnam Testified to the truth of the
abous'd Evedence

Salem Village May the 23d 1692

Before us
John Hathorne
Jonathan Corwin

Goodman was a courtesy title before the surname of a man not of noble and Goodwife or Goody was the courtesy title for a married woman not of noble birth.

John Hathorne was born August 5, 1641 in Salem. He was distinguished in civil and military life and participated in the Indian wars. He was a magistrate and a cruel and intolerant judge during the witchcraft delusion.

Judge Jonathan Corwin was born 14th of November, 1640. He presided at the Salem court on June 2 and 28, August 3 and September 9 and 17 where nineteen persons were tried, condemned and executed for witchcraft.

Samuel Abbe was the son of John Abbe and was born about 1646. He died in Windham,Connecticut on March, 1697/98.

Mary Buckley Witheridge married Sylvester Witheridge on November 17, 1684 and was a widow at the time of the trials. She and her mother Sarah Buckley were both imprisoned as witches. She married Benjamin Proctor on December 18, 1694.

     

 

     

©Roberta Tuller 2012
tuller.roberta@gmail.com

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