Essex in the Province of Massachusetts Bay in New Englandss.} Anno R Rs & Reginee Gulielmi & Mariee Anglice &c Quarto Annoq Domini 1692.
The Iurers for or Sour Lord and Lady King and Queen do present that Abigaill ffalkner Wife of ffrancis ffalkner of Andivor In the County of Essex aforsd Husbandm on or about the beginning of August In the year aforesaid and divers othec dayes and times as well before as after Certaine Detestable Arts called Witchcraft and Sorceries Wickedly Mallistiously and felloniously hath used practised & Exercised at and in the Towne of Boxford in the County of Essex aforesaid in upon and against One Martha Sprague of Boxford aforesaid Single Woman by which said wicked Acts the Said Martha Sprague the day and year aforesaid and divers other dayes and times both before and after was and is Torturd Aflicted Consumed Pined Wafted and Tormented and also for Sundry other Acts of Witchcraft by the said Abigaill ffalkner Comitted and done Before and Since that time against the Peace of Or Sour Lord and Lady the King and Queen theire Crowne and dignity and the forme of the Stattute in that Cafe made and Provided.
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Essex in the province of the Massachusetts Bay in New Englandss} Anno R Rs & Reginee Gulielmi & Marie Anglice &ca Quarto Annoq Domini 1692.
The Jurors for our Sour Lord and Lady the King and Queen doe present That Abigaill ffalkner wife of ffrances falkner of Andivor In the County of Essex Hushandman in and About the begining of August In the Yeare aforesaid and divers and dayes and times as well before as after Certaine detestable arts called Witchcraft and Sorceries Wickedly Mallitiously and felloniouslv hath used practised and Exercised at and in the Towne of Andivor in the County of Essex aforesaid in upon and against one Sarah Phelps daughter of Samuel Phellps of Andi Vor aforesaid hufbandman by which said Wicked Acts the sd Sarah Phellps the day and yeare afore said and divers other days and times both before and after was and is Tortured Aflicted Consumed Pined Wasted and Tormented, and also for sundry other acts of Witchcraft by the said Abigaill ffalkner Comitted and done before and since that time against the peace of our Sour Lord and Lady the King and Queen theire Crowne and Dignity and the forme of ye Stattute In yt case made and Provided.
Abigl ffolkner examined Augst 11 : 1692.
Mr Hauthorne : Mr Corwin : and Cap. [page 130]Higginson pressent when she was brought into ye room : ye afflicted persons fell down. mr Ha : you are heare aprehended for witchcraft : but answd I know nothing of it : with ye cast of her eye Mary Walcot and ye rest of ye afflicted mary waren and others fell down : it was sd to her do you not see. She sd yes but it is ye devill dos it in my shape : mary Walcot sd she had seen her 2 monthes : a good while agoe but was not hurt by her till last night : An Putnam sayd she had seen sd ffalknr buL was not hurt by her till last night and then she pulled me off my hors : mary warin sd she had seen her in company with other witches : but was not hurt by her till lately.
Mary Warin and others of ye afflicted were struck down into fitts and helped up out of their fitts by a touch of Abigl ffolkner hand : She was urged to confes ye truth for ye creddit of hir Town: her Couz. Eliz Ionson urged her with that but she refused to do it saying god would not require her to confess that yt she was not gilty of.
Phelpses daughter complayned her afflicting her: but She denyed that She had any thing to doe with witchcraft : She sd ffalknr had a cloth in her hand, that when She squeezed in her hand ye afflicted fell into grevous fits as was observed : ye aflicted sayd Danll Eames and Capt ffloyd was upon that cloth when it was upon ye table.
She sayd she was sorry they were afflicted : but she was told and it was observd she did not shed a tear: mary warin was pulld undr ye table and was [page 131] helpd out of her fitt by a touch of sd ffaulknr She sd she had looked on some of these afflicted : when they came to Andovr and hurt them not : but she was told it was before she had began to afflicte them she was told that it was reported she used to conjure with a seiv. but she sd it was not so that story was cleared up : and
August 30 : 92. Abigl ffokner before their Majestrs Justices at first denyed witchcraft as She had done before : but afterwards she owned that she was Angry at what folk sd : when her Couz. Eliz. Jonson was taken up and folk laught and sd her sister Jonson would come out next and She did look with an evil eye on ye afflicted persons and did consent that they Should be afflicted becaus they were ye caus of bringing her kindred out and she did wish them ill and her spirit being raised She did pinch her hands together : and she knew not but that ye devil might take that advantage but it was ye devil not she that afflicted them ; this she said she did at Capt Chandlers garison : ye Right after Eliz. Jonson had bin examined before Capt Bradstreet in ye day.
This is ye substance of what sd Abigl ffolkners . examination was taken out of my characters :
Attest, Simon Willard.
The abovesd Examination was before John Hathorne Just peace.
The deposistion of Rose ffoster who testifieth & saith I have ben most greviously afflected and [page 132] tormented by Abigail ffalkner of Andevcour also I have seen Abigail ffalkner or hir Apperance most greviously afflect and torment martha Sprague sarah phelps and Hannah Bigsbe sence the begining Augst and I veryly beleve that Abigail ffalkner is a wicth and that she has often afflected me and the afforesaid person by acts of wicthcraff.
The abovenamed Rose ffoster affirmed beffore ye Grand inquest that ye above written evidence is truth uppon her oath Sept 17 : 1691.
Thc deposistion of mary walcott who testifieth and saith that about the 9th August 1692. I was most dreadfully afflected by a woman that tould me her name was Abigail ffalkner but on the 11th of August being the day of the examination of Abigail ffalkner She did most dreadfully afflict me dureing the time of hir examination I saw Abigail ffalkner or hir Apperance most greviously afflect and torment sarah phelps and Ann putnam and I veryly beleve in my heart that Abigail ffalkner is a wicth and that She has often afflected me and the afforesaid said persons by acts of wicthcraft.
The above named mary Walcott affirmed ye Grand inquest that ye above written Euidences is truth upon her oath 17 Sept. : 1692.
The deposistion of Martha Spreague who testifieth and saith that I have ben most greviously [page 133] afflected and tormented by Abigail ffalkner of Andevor sence the begining of August 1692. also I saw Abigail ffalkner or hir Apperance most greviously torment and afflict Hannah Bigsbe and Rose ffoster and Sarah phelps and I veryly beleve in my heart that Abigaill ffalkner is a wicth and that she has often afflected me and severall others by acts of witchcraft
The above named Martha sprague affirmed before ye grand inquest that ye above written evidence is truth upon her oath 17 Sept 1692.
The deposistion of marry warren who testifieth and saith that Abigail ffalkner of Andevor did most greviously afflict and torment me on 11th August 1692 dureing the time of hir examination for if she did but look upon me she would strick me downe or almost choak me also on the day of her examination I saw Abigail ffalkner or hir Apperance most greviously afflect and torment mary walcott Ann putnam and Sarah phelps and I veryly beleve that Abigail ffalkner is a wicth and that she has often afflected me and severall other by acts of wicthcraft
Mary Waren ownd upon her oath to ye grand Inquest that ye above written evidence is ye truth. Sept 17: 1692.
The deposistion of Sarah phelps who testifieth and saith that about the begining of August 1692 I [page 134] was most greviously afflected and tormented by Abigail ffalkner or hir Apperance : but most dreadfully she did torment on the 11 August being the day of her examination for if she did but loock upon me she would strick me down or almost choake me : also sence the begining of August I have seen Abigaill ffalkner or hir apperance most greviously afflect and torment mary Walcott Ann putnam and Martha sprague and I veryly beleve in my heart that Abigail ffalkner is a wicth and that She has very offten afflected me and the afforesaid persons by acts of wicthcraft.
The above named Sarah Phelps affirmed before ye Grand inquest that ye above written evidence is truth upon her oath ye above written evidence is truth upon her oath ye 17 Sept 1692. Jurat.
dorritye fforkner and Abigale fforknor children to Abigail fforknor of Andover now in prison confarsed befor the honoured majastrats upon theire examination heare in Salam the 16 day of this enstant subtember 1692 that thire mother apared and mayd them witches and also marthy Tyler Johanah Tyler and Sarih willson and Joseph draper all acknowlidge that they ware lead into that dreadfull sin of witchcraft by her meanse the foresd Abigale forknor The above named persons each and every [page 135] one of them did affirm before ye Grand inquest that the above written evidences are truth : 17 sept 1692.
The deposistion of Ann putnam who testifieth and saith that about the 9th of August 1692. I was afflected by a woman which tould me her name was ffalkner : but on the 11th of August being the day of the Examination of Abigail ffalkner She did most dreadfully torment me during the time of hir Examination also on the day of hir Examination I saw Abigaill ffalkner or hir Apperance most greviously afflect and torment mary walcott Sarah phelps and I beleve that Abigal ffalkner is a wicth and that she has often afflected me and several others by acts of witchcraft.
The above named Ann Putnam affirmed before ye Grand inquest that ye above written evidence is the truth upon her oath.
Sworne before ye grand Jury. Sept.17. 1692.