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An American Family History

Elizabeth Hubbard
v. Mary Easty, John Willard, and Mary Witheridge
  Essex County Archives, Salem -- Witchcraft Volume 1, Page 122  

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.

Very little is known about Elizabeth (Betty) Hubbard.

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.

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

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 Elizabeth Hubburt who testifieth and saith

I being caryed up to Constable Jno putnams house on the 20th of may 1692 to se Mircy lewes who laid speachless and in a sad condition

I saw there the apperishtions of gooddy estick the very
same woman that was sent whom the other day and Jno. willard
and mary [Buckley] witherridge Afflecting and tortoring of Mircy lewes in a most dreadfull maner which did affright me most greviously and immediatly gooddy Estick did sett upon me most dreadfully and tortored me almost Ready to choak me to death and urged me vehemently to writ in hir book


Sworne Salem Village May the 23d: 1692.
Before us
John Hathorne
Jonathan Corwin

we whose names are under writen heaving been along with Elizabeth Huburd this time above mentioned herd hir declare what is above writen and we read it to hir when we came away and she said it was all true this 21 may 1692

Thomas putnam
John putnam Jun
Jurat in Curia Sept'r. 9th. 1692

Eliz Hubburd further testifieth that on the 23 may 1692 being
the last day of the examination of mary Estick she did most greviously afflect and torment me dureing the time of hir Examination

allso dureing the time of her examination I saw mary Estick most greviously aflect and torment mary walcott mercy lewes Abigail williams and ann putnam by twisting and all most choaking them to death and I verily beleve in my heart that mary estick is a most dreadfull wicth and that she hath very often afflected and tormented me and parsons above named by hir acts of wicthcraft

Eliz. Hubbard declared the two above written evidences: in this
paper before the Jury of Inquest to be the truth upon oath

August 4 1692

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.

Mary Walcott was about 17 at the time of the trials. She was the daughter of Captain Jonathan Walcott. She married Isaac Farrar and David Harwood. Her step-mother was Deliverance Putnam.

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.

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.
     

 

     

©Roberta Tuller 2012
tuller.roberta@gmail.com

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