Salem City (part 4 of 4)

8. The next day being Sabath day, many flones & flicks & pieces of bricks came downe the chimney: on the munday mr Richardfon & my brother being there, the frame in my cow houfe they faw very firm. I fent my boy out to fkare the fowles from my hogs meat : he went to the bowhoule, & it fell downe my boy crying with the hurt of the fall : in the afternoone, the potts hanging ouer the fire did dam fo vehemently one agr the other, we fett downe one that they might not dam to pieces : I faw the andiron leap into the pott & dance & leap out, & again leap in & dance & leap out againe, & leap on a table & there abide, & my wife faw the andiron on the table : allfo I faw the pott turne itt felfe over and throw downe all the water : againe we faw a tray with wooll leap vp & downe & throw the wooll out, & fo many times & faw no body medle with it : againe a tub his hoop fly off of itfelfe & the tub turne over & nobody neere it : againe the woollen wheele turned vpfide downe & flood vp on its end, & a fpade fett on it : Steph Greenleafe faw it, & myielfe & my wife, againe my rope tooles fell downe vpon the ground before my boy could take them, being fent for them, & the fame thing of nailes tumbled downe from the loft into the ground, & nobody neere. Againe my wife & boy making the bed, the chefl did open and fhutt the bed cloathes could not be made to ly on the bed but fly off againe.

to fee or trouble did promife me 6c my wife that if* we would be willing to lett him keep the boy we mould fee or felves that we (hould be neuer difturbed while he was gone with him, he had the boy & had bin quiet ever fince.

Tho ; Rogers, & George Hardy being at Wm Morfe his houfe affirme that the earth in the chim ney corner moued & fcattered on them that Tho ; Rogers was hitt with fomewhat, Hardy with an Iron ladle as is fuppofed. Somewhat hitt Wnl Morfe a great blow : but it was fo fwift that they could not certainely tell what it was : but looking downe after they heard the noyfe they faw a mooe. The boy was in the corner at the firft, afterwards in the houfe. Mr Richardfon on faturday teftifyeth that a board flew agr his chaire & he heard a noyfe in another roome, wch he fuppofed in all reafon to be diabolicall.

Auth Morfe affirmeth that he faw the bord be fore tackt with nailes to the window, but his evi dence is drawne at large by himfelfe. John Dole faw a pine ftick of candlewood to fall downe, a ftone, a firebrand, & thefe things he faw not what way they came till they fell downe by him.

The fame affirmed by John Tucker the boy was in one corner, whom they faw & obferved all the while & faw no motion in him Elizabeth Titcomb affirmeth that Powell fayd that he could find the witch by his learning if he had another fcholler with him, this fhe fayeth were his expreffions to the beft of her memory Steph. Greenleafe, & Edw

Jo. Emerfon affirmeth that Powell fayd he was brought vp vnder Norwood, and it was gudged by the people there, that Norwood ftudied the black Art.

We law allfo a rooler of bread turne over agf me & (truck me not any being neere it, & fo over turned. I faw a chaire ftanding in the houfe & not any body neere it did often bow towards me & fo rife vp againe. My wife allfo being in the cham ber the chamber doore did violently fly together not any body being neere it. My wife going to make a bed the bed did moue to & fro not any body being neere it. J allfo faw an Iron wedge & fpade was flying out of the chamber on my wife & did not ftricke her. My wife going into the Cellar a drum ftanding in the houfe did rowle over the doore of the Cellar & being taken vp againe the door did violently fly downe againe. My barnes doors 4 times vnpinned I know not how. I going to mutt my barne doore looking for the pin the boy being with me. (as I did judge) the pin com ing downe out of the aire & did fall down neere to me, Againe Caleb Powell came in as before fayd & feeing or fpirits very low by ye fenfe of or great affliction began to bemoane or condition & fayd that he was troubled for or afflictions, & fayd that hehad eyed this boy, & drawed neere to vs with great companion, poore old man, poore old woman this boy is the occafion of your griefe, for he hath done thefe things, & hath caufcd his good old grand mother to be counted a Witch, then fayd I how can all thefe things be done by him, fayd he allthough he may not haue done all yett moft of them, for this boy is a young rogue, a vile rogue, I haue watched him & fee him do things as to come up & downe. Caleb Powell allfo faid he had vnderftanding in Aftrology & Aftronomy, & knew the working of fpirits, fome in one country, and fome in another, & looking on the boy fayd you young rogue to begin fo foone, Goodman Morfe of you be willing to lett me haue this boy, I will vndertake you (hall be free from any trouble of this kind while he is with me: I was very unwilling at the firft & my wife, but by often vrging me til he told me whither, & what imploym1 & company he mould goe, I did confent to it and this was before Jo: Bedger came & we haue bin freed from any trouble of this kind euer fince that promife made on munday night laft, to this time bung friday in the afternoone then we heard a great noyfe in the other roome oftentimes, but looking after it, could not fee anything, but afterwards looking into the roome, we faw a board hanged to the preffe then we being by the fire, fitting in a chaire my chaire often would not fland ftill but ready to throw me backward often times : afterward my cap allmoft taken off my head 3 times againe a great blow in my polle & and my catt did leap from me into the chimney corner prefently after this cat was throwne at my wire : we faw the catt to be ours we put her out of the houfe & mutt the doore : prefently the catt was throwed into the houfe : we went to goe to- bed fuddenly my wife being with me in bed the lamp light by or fide my catt againe throwed at vs 5 times jumping away prefently into the floore, & one of thofe times, a red waftcoat throwed on the bed, & the catt wrapped vp in it : againe the Lamp ftanding by vs on the cheft, we fayd it fhould ftand & burn burne out, but prefently was beaten downe, & all the oyle fhed, & we left in the darke : Againe a great noyfe a great while very dreadfull : againe in the morning a great ftone being 6 pound weight did remoue from place to place we faw it : two fpoones throwed off the table, & prefently the table throwed downe & being minded to write my ink home was hid from me, wch I found couered with a rag, & my pen quite gone. I made a new pen & while 1 was writing one eare of corne hit me throwed at me, & my pen brought to me while I was writing with my new pin, my Ink home taken away, and not knowing how to write any more, we looked vnder the table, & there found him, & fo I was able to write againe : againe my wife her hat taken from her head fitting by the fire by me the table allmoft, throwne downe : againe my fpecticles throwne from the table, and throwne allmoft into the fire by me & my wife & the boy: againe my booke of all my accounts throwne into the fire, & had bin burnt prefently if I had not taken it vp : againe boards taken off a tub, and fett upright by themfelves & my paper do what I could hardly keep it while I was writing this relation & things throwne at me while a wrighting prefently before I could dry my writing a mormouth hatt rubbed along it but I held fo fail that it did blott butfome of it : my wife and I being much afraid that I fhould not preferve it for the publike vfe did thinke beft to lay it in the bible, & lay it fafe that night, againe the next I would lay it there againe, but in the morning it was not there to be found the bag hanged downe empty, but after was found in a box alone againe while I was writing this morning, I was forced to forbeare writing any more I was fo difturbed with fo many things conftantly throwne at me. This relation brought in der 8th.

John Badger affirmeth that being at Wm Morfe his houfe and heard Caleb Powell fay, that he thought by Aftrology, & I thinke he fayd by aftronomy to with it he could find out whether or no there were diabolicall means vfed about the fayd Morfe his trouble, & that the fayd Caleb, fayd he thought to try to find it out.

Jofeph Mlrick about 19 who affirme. That John Moores Boatfwaine of the veffell wherein Joieph Dole was Cap1 & Caleb Powell was mate, hath often fayd in their hearing, that if there were any wizards he was fure that Caleb Powell was a wiz ard, wch he affirmed oftentimes in their houfe, Taken on oath Febr 2yth 1679, before me

I Anthony Mores occafionally being at my brothar's Mores hows my brothar fhowid me a pece of a brik which had feuerall tims come down thechimne: I fitting in the cornar J towke the pece of brik in my hand : with in a litell fpas of tiem the pece of brik was gon from me, J knu not by what meaines Quickly aftar the pece of brik came down the Chimny : allfo in the chimny cor nar J faw a hamar on the ground : thar being no parfon near the hamar itt wafs fodenly gone : by what meians J know not : but with in a litell fpas aftar the hamar came down the chimny : and with in a littel fpas of time aftar that came a pece of woud down the chimny about a fute loung. and within a litell while aftar that came down a fiar brand the fiar being out : this was about ten dayes agoe.

Der 3: 1679: Caleb Powell being complained of for fufpicion of working with the Devill to the molefting of Wm Morfe & his family, was by warrant directed to the Conftable brought in by him. The accufation & teftimonyes were read, & the complaint refpited till the munday following.

Der 8th 1679. Caleb Powell appeared accord ing to order, & farther teftimoney produced ag1 him by Wm Morfe, wch being read and considered it was determined that the fayd Wm Morfe fhould profecute the cafe agc fayd Powell at the County Court to be held at Jpfwich the laft tuefday in march enfuing & in order heervnto. Wm Morfe acknowledgeth himfelfe indebted to the treafurer of the County of EfTex, the full fumm of 2O1. The condition of this obligation is that the fayd Wm Morfe fhall profecute his complaint ag* Caleb Pow ell at that Court.

Caleb Powell was delivered as a prisoner to Con ftable till he could find fecurity of 2O1 for the anfwering of the fayd complaint or elfe he was to be carryed to prifon.

She remembreth that Caleb Powell came into her houfe & fayd to this purpofe that he coming to Wm Morfe his houfe & the old man being at prayer, he thought not fitt to goe in but looked in at the window, & he fayd he had broken the inchantmr, for he faw the boy play tricks while he was at prayer, & mentioned fome & and among the reft that he faw him to fling the move at the fayd Morfes head. Taken on oath march 29th 1680 before me.

John Badger afermeth that being at william morie his hous : and heard Calleb powell fay that he thought, by Aftroligie : and I think he faid by aftronmie too with it he could find out whither or no ther wear diabolicoll meanes ufed about the faid mors his trouble and that the faid Caleb faid he thoug to try to find it out.

Vpon the hearing the complaint brought to this court agt Caleb Powell for fufpicion of working by the devill to the molefting of the family of Wm Morfe of Newbery, though this court cannot find any euident ground of proceeding farther agt the fayd Caleb Powell, yett we determine that he hath given fuch fuch ground of fufpicion of his fo deal ing, that we cannot fo acquit him, but that he guflly deferves to bear his owne mame & the cofts of the profecution of the Complaint, refered to mr woodbridge to examine & determrne w£ the charges.

34 There being a complaint made by mr phillip Reade, againft margarett Giffords to the court, vpon fufpicion of witchcraft, and pr (cnting feveral papers & euidences againft her, & affirming feverall other things againft her, which he faith he can produce evidence for this court hearing all that was prclented & read as aforefaid. The Court fees caufe to Injoyne the Margarett Gifford to appeer at the next court at Jpfwich, there to make further anfwer &c : & the faid Read is injoyned then to profecut againft her, & bring in what euidence he has, or can pro cure to make good his complaint, & the whole cafe to be returned to the faid court :

55 mr Phillip Read appeared to prfecute againft mrs Margrt Giffard vpon fufpition of her being a witch, and feverall teftimony vpon oath were then brought But the faid Giffard being orderly called to Anfwere did not appeare.

fay when her father had hur down to Goodwife Burt to be cuered of her fore foote ye firft night fhee was there ye laid Burt put her to bed : and tould ye faid Sarah if fhee would beeleve in her God, fhee would cure her body and foule : But if fhee tould of it, fhee fhould be as a deftracled body as long as fhee lived, and further that her hufband did not * eleue in her God and fhould not be cured and that he maid did beleue in her God and was cuered : this fhee faid being in her right mind fhee being fhee being fome time in good health the faid Burt faid to her Sarah will you Smok it and giueing of her the pipe fhe fmoket it : and ye faid Sarah feall into her fitts againe and faid that Goodwife Burt brought ye diuill to her to tormeante her : further faith not.

The teftymony of Bethiah Carter Aged 23 yeares or therabouts Teflifyeth that fhe herd Sara townfan fay when fhe was a mayd and liued with goodwife Burt that fhe faid goodwife Burt told her if fhe could beliue in her god fhe would cure her body and foul and farther fhe fay d goodwife burt tould her fhe could not cure her owne hufband becaufe he would notbelue in her god : but her mayd did beliue in her god and fhe was curd : this fhe herd Sara townfan fay when ihe was in good helth and feve awhile after this the faid Sara townfan Being forely afflickted with laid fitts, crying out and Rayling agaynft me fay in my father carryed me to bofton But carryed her too Lin too an owld witch) and farther the sd Sarah hath tould to me and others that me hath fen the sd Burt apeare often at her beds feete and at diuers other places in the Day and alfo at Night, this me hath often related as well in helth as in ficknes fFarther faith nott.

Mr Phillip Rede Phyfiftion aged 45 years or thereabouts teftifyeth that he being fent for 3 feuerall times too fe the above sd Sara townfan and her fitter Carter: being both very il but efpeffially me sd Sara townfan being in a more fadder condittion he had noe oppertunyty, too examine her condittion but did playnly perceiue there was noe naturall caus for fuch unnatural fitts but being fent for the 4th time and rinding her in a meat capaffity to give iufomation of her agreuanc and caufe of her former fitts me tould me the abousd Burt had afflicted her and told her if euer me did relate it to any one me would afflict her wors one hower after me had a fadder fit than any euer me had afore : then i afkt her whoe afflict her now and what the matter was me replide with a great fcrich me had tould me alreddy and that me did now fuffer with it much more not related at prfent.

former time forely afflicted and in their greateft extremity they would cry out & roare & fay that they did fee goody Burtt & fay ther me is doe you not fee her kill her ther me is & that they laid feuerall times and I haue a fon now in extrem misery much as the former hath bin and the defter fays he is bewiched to his vnderflanding.

The Teftimony of John Pearfon aged about ninetene years and Mary Burnop aged about 26 yeres teftifieth that Goodwif Burt coming into the Roome wheare Sarah Pearfon was afked her how fhee did : fhee faid the worfe for her : the faid Burt feat down, and laughed at ye faid Sarah fhee com ing towards her faid douft thou laugh and knoweth thou heath don me a mifchefe I could find in my heart to bafte thy fids the faid Burt faid doe if thou durft, and I will pay thy fids, ffurther ye aboue faid John Pearfon faith that he heard goodwife Burt aboue faid did fay that the aboue faid Sarah mould fpake as much againfl her friends as eure She did againft her. furthermore that the aboue faid Mary Burnop faith me heard the abouefaid Sarah fpake telling Bethyah Cerrter that her father had her to Boftown ; but carryed me to Lin to an ould witch further faith not.

feaven yeares of age faith he was goinge to fetch fome things for his wife and he faw old goody hurt coming out of a Swamp and fhe was in her fmok fleeves and a blacke hancather and black cap of her head and he looked up and fuddenly fhe was gone out of fight and I looked aboute and could not fee her foe when I cam into the houfe I found her in the fame habit as I faw her and he faid vnto her did I not lee you in the fwamp even now and fhe sd noe I was in the houfe and he told her then fhee was a light headed woman and further faith not.

The teftimonye of Jacob Knight aged about 24 or 25 yeares : I boarded in the houfe of Mr Cobit with my brother wormwood : in which houfe widdow Burt liuen at that tyme, my brother, & fifter being gone to Boftone : there being noe fire in my brothers roome, I went into widdow Burts roome to Lite, my pipe, & tould her I had a paine in my head, & foe went into my Lodging roome : which was through five dores (& ftooping downe to Loofe my fhoee looking vpward there was widdow Burt with a glaffe bottle in her her hand, & fhee tould mee, there was fumething would doe my head good, or cure my head, & gaue mee the botle in my hand, & when I had drunke of it, I was worfe in my head) but Concerning the five doeres I pafled through intorny Roome, I thinke they were all mutt after mee, but however ther is one fflore, yl mud be patted over to come into my Roome, that was foe Loofe yc it would make fuch a noyfe yl might, in an ordinarye waye be heard when any patted over it, but I heard nothing & her fudden being with mee put mee into affright, & foe re mained while the next morneing though (hee prfentlye Left mee, & foe the next morning but one, I being to goe to Salem, intended to tell my fifter wormwood of it, before I went, but widdow Burt coming into my fifter wormwoods Roome, sd I hade a minde to faye fomething to my fifter ag£ her y1 I would not haue her heare, & this was be fore I had faid any thing, & foe went out of the the houfe & then I tould my fifter, and going to Salem, I faw a Catt, which being out of fight againe, I prfentlye faw faw a dogg it being, Likewife prfentlye out of fight, I faw one before mee, Likeunto widdow Burt goeing before mee downe a hill as I was goeing vp it, & foe I loft fight of her, the night following I Lodged at my brother knights at Salem, I Looking out of the chamber, it being a deare moone light night, I faw widdow Burt vppon a graye horfe or mare in my brothers yard, or one in her fhape, & foe I waked my Cozen John knight yl Lodged with mee, & tould him of it, then neither he, nor I, could fee any thing, fo when he was a fleep againe, mee appeared to me in the chamber, &. then I tooke vpp a pie£e of a barrell head & threw it at her, & as I think hit her on the breft : & then could fee her noe more that tyme.

I Afahel Huntington, Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court and of the Superior Court and the Court of County Commiffioners for faid county, do hereby certify, that the foregoing except the words in red ink are true copies of original papers on file in faid office, and that the fame were made by direction of faid County Commiffioners, under the authority of a law of the commonwealth, patted May 1 5, 1851. Atteft,

EfTex fs. Clerk's office October 22, 1859. The words in red ink in the foregoing pages are to be taken as conjectural readings, where, from the lofs, decay or obliteration of the manufcript, the original writing has become illegible. Atteft,

Index

Defendant. Warrant, v. Clerk, oath of, v. Bridget Bifhop, v. Mary Parker, v. Sarah Good, v. Martha Corey, v. Sarah Good, v. Bridget Bifhop, v. Phillip Englifh, v. Elizabeth Hart, v. John Willard, v. Sarah Procter, v. George Burroughs, v. Giles Corey, v. John Procter, v. Giles Corey, v. Mary Eaftey, Warrant, v. v. Abigail Faulkner, v. Samuel Wardwell, v. Bridget Bifhop, for Rebecca Nurfe,