An American Family History

Sarah Viber afirmed upon her oath that she saw Mary the wife of Isaac Esty upon Jno Norton bed when s'd Norton was ill and s'd goody Esty flew out upon her & afflicted her

s'd Vibber and s'd Vibber affirmed that since the time of the last examination of s'd Esty s'd Esty has hurt & afflicted mercy Lewis and mary walcot & Ann Putman she or her Apperition & she s'd Esty has some times hurt & afflicted her s'd Vibber

also since s'd Esty her last examination also s'd Vibber s'd that s'd Esty or her apperition has Afflicted Eliz Hubbard this s'd Vibber owned to be the truth before the Jury of inquest Aug'st 3 1692

Very little is known about Elizabeth (Betty) Hubbard.

Sarah Bibber (Vibber) was about 36 at the time of the trials. She was both accused and an accuser.

In contracts and pleadings usually people and things mentioned before are designated by the term said (sd ) for clarity. Aforesaid (afd, afsd, aforesd ) means it was already mentioned.

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.

Salem is in Essex County, Massachusetts and was a significant seaport in early America. John Endicott obtained a patent from England and arrived there in 1628. Salem originally included much of the North Shore, including Marblehead. Salem Village also included Peabody and parts of Beverly, Middleton, Topsfield, Wenham and Manchester-by-the-Sea.

Deacon Edward Putnam (1654-1747) was about 38 at the time of the trials. His parents were Thomas Putnam and Ann Holyoke. He married Mary Hale. 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. (1627-1710). His parents were John Putnam and Priscilla Gould. He married Rebecca Prince.