Anne Regis et Reginee Willm : et Mariee. nunc : Anglice &c. Quarto.
Essex. ss.
The Jurovs for for our Sovereigne Lord and Lady the King and Queen pesents, That John Procter of Salem Husbandman , in the County of Essex. the eleventh day of Aprill in the fourth year of the Reegne of our Sovereigne Lord and Lady, William and Mary by the Grace of God of England Scottland ffrance and Ireland King and Queen defenders of the ffaith &c. And divers other dayes and times as well before as after Certaine detestable acts called witchcraft and sorceries wickedly and ffellon iously hath used Practised and exercised al and within the towneship of Salem in the County of Essex. aforesaid, in upon and agt one Mary Wolcott of Salem Village in ye County of Essex. Singlewoman. by which said wicked arts, the said Mary Wolcott the 11th day Aprill in the year abovesaid and Divers other Dayes and times as well before as after was and is tortured. afflicted Pined Consumed wasted tormented agt the peace of our Sovereigne Lord [page 61] and Lady the King and Queen and agt the form of the Statute in that case made and provided.
Witnesses Mary Wolcott Jurat
Mercy Lewis. Jurat. Ann Putnam
Jurat.
Anno Regis. et Reginee. Willm et Mariee nunc Anglice. &c. Quarto.
Essex ss.
The Jurors for our Sovereigne Lord and Lady the King and Queen pesents, that John Procter of Salem in ye County of Essex, in New England, husbandman the 11th day of Aprill. in the forth year of the Reigne of our Sovereign Lord and Lady William and Mary by the Grace of God of England, Scottland ffrance and Ireland King and Queen defenders of the ffaith &c. and Divers other days and times as well before as after certaine Detestable arts called witchcrafts and sorceries wickedly and ffelloniously hath used practised and Exercised at and within the township of Salem in the County of Essex aforesd, in upon and against one Mercy Lewis of Salem Village in ye County of Essex, aforesd singlewoman by which said wicked arts the said Mercy Lewis, the 11th day of Aprill in the forth year abovesd. and Divers other Days and times as well before as after, was and is tortured afflicted Pined consumed, wasted and tormented, and also for sundry other acts of witchcrafts by said John Proctor committed and done before and since that time agt the Peace of [page 62]
our Sovereigne Lord and Lady the King and Queen and against the form of the Statute in that case made and provided.
Witnesses
Anno Regis et Reginee. Willm et Mariee nunc Anglice &c. Quarto.
Essex. ss.
The Jurors for our Sovereigne Lord and Lady the King and Queen pesents that John Procter of Salem in ye County of Essex, husbandman the 26th Day of March in the fourth Year of the Reigne of our Sovereign Lord and Lady William and Mary by the Grace of God of England, Scottland ffrance and Ireland. King and Queen Defenders of the ffaith &c. and Divers other Days and times as well before as after certaine detestable arts called witchcrafts and sorceries wickedly and ffelloniously hath used Practised and Exercised at and within the township of Salem in the County of Essex. Aforesd in upon and agt one Mary Warren of Salem in ye County of Essex, singlewoman, by wich said wicked arts the said Mary Warren the twenty sixth Day of March in the fourth year abovesaid and Divers other Days and times as well before as after was and is tortured, afflicted pined Consumed, wasted and tormented agt the peacc of our Sovereign Lord [page 63] and Lady the King and Queen and agt the fform of the statute in that case made and provided.
Witnesses Mary Warren Jurat. Mary Wolcott Jurat.
We whose names under written haveing searched ye bodyes of John Procter senr and John Willard now in ye Goale and doe not find anything to farther suspect them.
Dated June 2.1692.
N Roudel apretestis J. Barton Chyrge
John Rogers. John Gyles.
Joshua Rea Junr. William Hyne.
John Cooke. Ezekel Cheever.
The morning after ye examination of Goody Nurse Sam Sibley met John Proctor about Mr Phillips we called to said Sibley as he was going to sd Phillips and askt how ye folks did at the village. He answered he heard they were very bad last night, but he had heard nothing this morning. Proctor replyed he was going to fetch home his jade, he left her there last night and had rather given 40 c than let her come up, sd Tibley askt why he talkt so. Proctor replyed if thay were let alone Sr. we should all be devills and witches quickly they should rather be had to the whipping post, but he would fetch his jade home and thust the Devil out of her and more to the like purpose crying hang them, hang them. And also added that [page 64] when she was first taken with fits he kept her close to the wheile and thrdtend to thresh her, and then she had no more fits till the next day he was gone forth and then she must have her fits again forsooth &C.
1692. Apr. 4. Abig Williams. complained of Goodm. Proctor and cryed out Wt are you come to, are you come to you can pinch as Well as your wife and more to that purpose.
6. At night she complained of Goodm Proctor again, and beat upon her breast and cryed he pinched her.
The like I hear at Tho: Putmans house.
12. Day. when the marshall was sent up to enquire of John Proctor and the others, and I was writing some what thereof as above I met with nothing but interruptions by reason of fits upon John Indian and Abigail, and Mary Wolcott happenning to come in just before, they one and another cryed out there is Goodm: Proctor very often, and Abigail said there is Goodm: Proctor in the magistrates lap. at the same time Mary Wolcott was fitting by a knitting, we askt her if she saw Goodm: Proctor, [for Abigail was immediately seized with a fit] but she was deaf and dumb, yet still a knitting. then Mary recovered herselfe and [page 65] confirmed what Abigail had said that Goodm Proctor she saw in the magistrates lap, Then John cryed out to the Dog under the table to come away for Goodm Proctor was upon his back; then he cryed out of Goody Cloyce, O you old witch, and fell immediately into a violent fitt that 3 men and the marshall could not without exceeding difficulty hold him. In which fit Mary Walcot that was knitting and well composed, said there was Goodm. Proctor and his wife and Goody Cloyse helping of him, but so great were the interruptions of John and Abigail by fits while we were observing these things to notify them, that we were fain to send them both away that I might have liberty to write this without disturbance, Mary Walcot abiding composed and knitting whilst I was writing and the two other sent away, yet by and by Whilest I was writing Mary Walcot said there Goody Cloyse has pincht me now
Note Mary Walcot never saw Proctor nor his wife till last night coming from the examination at Salem and then she saw Goody Proctor behind her brother Jonathan all the way from the Widow Gidneys to Phillips, where Jonathan made a little stay, But this day and time I have been writing this, she saw them many times.
Note Just now as soon as I had made an end of reading this to the Marshall, Mary W***** immediately cryed O yonder is Good: Proctor and his wife and Goody Nurse and Goody Korey and G**** Cloyse and Goods child and then said O [page 66] Goodm: Proctor is going to choake me and immediately she was choaket.
Munday 11th III ditto. Lut. Nath: Ingersoll declared yt John Proctor tould Joseph Pope, yt if hee hade John Indian in his Custody hee would suone beat ye devell out of him, and so said severall others.
The deposition of Sarah Vibber agged about 36 years who testifieth and saith, that on the 3 June 1692. Jno: Proctor: senr: came to me and did most greviously. torment me by pinching pricking and almost pressing me to death urging me to drink drink as red as blood, which I refusing he did tortor me with variety of tortors and immediately he vanished away also on the same day I saw Jno Proctor most grieviously tortor Susanna Sheldon by claping his hands on her throat and almost choaking hir, also severall times sence Jno Proctor senr has most grevioufly tortored me a grat many times with a variety of tortors,
Sara Vibber owned this har testimony to be the truth on har oath before the Juriars of Inquest this 30: of June. 1692.
Mary Warrens Confession agt Jo: Proctor & up Charges them personally to cause her to signe or make a mark in there book and both of them [page 67] committing acts of Witchcraft. & being so & personally threatened the exmt with torteres if she would not signe & since con***** have of times afflicted & tormented her. large in her confessions vide.
The deposition of Elizabeth Hubbard agged about 17 years, who testifieth and saith that I never saw the Apperishtion of Jno: Prochtor senr before the day of his examination Which was the I1th April. 1692. but sence that the Apperishtion of Jno Procktor senr. has most greviously afflected me, a grat many times by pinching pricking and beating me almost choaking me to death urging me vehemently to writ in his book.
Eliz mark Hubbard
The deposistion of Ann Putnam Junr who testifieth and saith I have often seen the Apperishtion of Jno Procktor senr. Amongst the Witches but he did not doe me much hurt tell a little before his examination which was on the 11th of April 1692. And then he set upon me most greviously and did tortor me most dreadfully, also in the time of his examination he afflected me very much, and severall times sence the Apperishtion of John Procktor sevr, has most greviously tortored me by pinching and almost choaking me urging me vehemently to writ [page 68] in his book. also on the day of his examination I saw the apperishtion of Jno : Procktor senr. goe and afflect and most greviously tortor the bodys of Mistris Pope. Mary Walcott Mercy Lewis. Abgaill Williams and Jno Indian and he and his wife and Sarah Cloys kept Elizabeth Hubbard speachless all the time of their axamination.
Ann mark Putnam
Ann Putnam owned what is above written upon oath before and unto ye Grand inquest on the 30th Day of June 1692.
The depofition of Sam : Parris. aged about 39 years and Nathanael Ingersoll. aged about fifty and eight years and also. Thomas Putman aged about fourty years all of Salem.
testifieth
and saith that divers of the afflicted by witchcraft were much tortured at the examination of John Proctor of Salem. Farmer. before the honoured Magistrates the 11th April 1692. And particularly when Mr Joseph Popes wife was severall times afflicted Ann Putman junr. and Abgail Williams testified that it was by John Proctor aforesaid and his wife Elizabeth and also when Mercy Lewes was much afflicted at the same examination, said Ann witnessed that it was by said Proctor and his wife and Goody Cloyse also when Goody Bibber was [page 69] much afflicted Abig : Williams just before cryed out there is Goodman Proctor going to hurt Goody Bibber, and also said Abigail cryed out there is Goodman Proctor going to hurt Mary Walcot and imediatly Mary Walcot was seised with a violent fit
The deposition of Mary Warrin aged 20 years he testifieth I have seen the apparition of John Proctor senr. among the wiches and he hath often tortured me by penching me and biting me and choakeing me, and pressing me one my Stomack tell the blood came out of my mouth and also I saw him tortor Mis Poap and Marcey lues and John Indian a pon the day of his examination and he hath also tempted me to right in his book. and to eat braid which he brought to me, which I refuseing to doe, Jno Proctor did most greviously tortor me with variety of tortures, allmost Redy to kill me.
Mary Warrin owned the above written upon her oath before and unto ye Grand Inquest on ye 30 Day of June 1692
The deposition of Eliz: Booth agge 18 years who testifieth and saith that sence I have been afflected I have been most greviously tormented by my neighbor John Proctor senr or his appearance also I have seen John Proctor senr or his appearance most greviously torment and afflect Mary [page 70] Walcott Mercey lewes and Ann Putnam Junr by pinching twisting and almost choaking them.
The deposition of Thomas Putnam agged about 40 years and John Putnam aged 36 yeares who testifieth and saith that we haveing ben conversant with divrs of the afflected parsons as Mary Lewes Abigail Williams and Ann Putnam and Elizabeth Hubbert, and have seen them most greviously tormented and often complaining of John Proctor for hurting them, also on the 11th of April 1692. being the day of John Proctors examination the afforenamed parfons were much afflected dureing the time of his examination also severall times sence we have seen the afforesaid parsons most dreadfully afflected and complaining of John Proctor for hurting them and we veryly beleive that John Proctor the prisoner att the barr has many times afflected and tormented the affore said parsons by acts of witchcraft.
The testimony of Abigail Williams witnesseth and saith that divers times in the month of April. last past. And particularly on the 4: 6: eleven & 13: [page 71]
days of the same month she the said Abigail hath been much vexed with the apparition of John Proctor senior of Salem Husbandman, by which apparition she the said Abigail hath been often pincht and otherwise tortured.
May 31. 1692. Attested before.
The deposition of Mary Walcutt and Elizabeth Hubbard, sd that on the 29th of May 1692. we came to see James Holton, how lay grevesely tormented and we then saw John Proctor, and his wife his son Wm Proctor, Sarah Proctor, and all of them a presing of him to there hands one his stomach and tormenting of him most grevesely and then quckly after they fell upon us, and afflected vs. most dredfully for a considerable time.
James Holton testifieth and sd. that as soon as Mary Walcutt and Elizabeth Hubbard was afflected that at that same time I had ease of my pains.
The Humble & Sincere Declaration of us Subscribers Inhabitants in Ipswich on ye behalf of Or Neighbrs Jno Proctor and his wife now in Trouble and undr Suspition of Witchcraft.
[page 72] Too the Honrable Court of Assistants now sitting In Boston.
Honred & Right Worshipfull
The foresd John Proctor. may have great reason to Justifie the Divine Sovereigntie of God under those severe Remarqs of Providence upon his Piecce and Honr undr a due reflection upon his lefe past And so the best of us have reason to Adoar the Great Pittie and Indulgence of Gods Providence that we are not exposed to the utmost shame yt the Divell can Invent undr the pemissions of Sovereigntie tho not for yt fin fore named yt for our many Transgretions for we do at present suppose it may be A Method wth in the Seveerer But Just Transactions of the Infinite Majestic of God Yt he sometimes may permitt Sathan to prsonate, Dissemble and thereby abuse innocents, and such as Do in the fear of God Defie the Dcvill and all his works. The Great Rage he is prmitted to attempt holy Job wth The abuse he does the famous Samuel in Desquieting his silent Dust by Shaddowing his venerable prson in answer to the charms of Witchcraft. and other instances from Good hands may be Argd Besides, the unsearchable foot stepps of God's Judgments, yt are brught to Light every morning yt Astonish or weaker Reasons, To teach us Adoration Trembling and Dependance &c But.
We must not Trouble your Honrs by Being Tedious, Therefore we being smitten with the Notice of what hath happened, we Recon it wth in the Duties of or Charitie, that Teacheth us to do [page 73] as we would be done by ; to offer thus much for the Clearing of 0r Neighbrs Inocencie : viz : That we never had the least knowledge of such a Nefarious wickedness, in or said Neighbours, since they have been wthin or acquaintance. Neither do we remember any such thoughts in us concerning them, or any action by them. or either of them. Directly tending that way no more than might be in the lives of any other prsons, of the Clearest Reputation as to any such Evills. What God may have left them to, we cannot go into Gods pavilions Cloathed wthe Cloudes of Darkness, Round About.
But as to what we have ever seen or heard of them upon or consciences we Judge them Innocent of the crime objected.
His Breading hath been amongst us and was of Religious Parents in or place, and by reason of Relations and Properties wthin or Towne hath had constant intercourse wth us.
We Speak upon or prsonall acquaintance and observations : and so leave our neighbours and this our Testimonie on their behalfe to the wise thoughts of yr Honours. &c.
Subscribe &c.
William Story Senr.