Rachel Dyer a North American story |
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HISTORICAL FACTS. |
 | Rachel Dyer |  |
HISTORICAL FACTS.
That the reader may not be led to suppose the book
he has just gone through with, a sheer fabrication,
the author has thought it adviseable to give a few of the
many facts upon which the tale is founded, in the very
language of history.
The true name of Mr. Paris was Samuel, instead of
Matthew, and he spelt it with two r's; that of his child
was Elizabeth and that of her cousin, Abigail Williams.
With these corrections to prepare the reader for what is
to follow, we may now go to the historical records alluded
to.
And first—Of the manner in which the accused were
treated on their examination, and of the methods employed
to make them confess.
John Proctor, who was executed for witchcraft, gives
the following account of the procedure had with his
family, in a letter to Mr. Cotton Mather, Mr. Moody,
Mr. Willard, and others.
“Reverend Gentlemen,—The innocency of our case, with the
enmity of our accusers and our judges and jury, whom nothing
but our innocent blood will serve, having condemned us
already before our trials, being so much incensed and enraged
against us by the devil, makes us bold to beg and implore your
favourable assistance of this our humble petition to his excellency,
that if it be possible our innocent blood may be spared,
which undoubtedly otherwise will be shed, if the Lord doth not
the people in general, being so much enraged and incensed
against us by the delusion of the devil, which we can term no
other, by reason we know in our own consciences we are all
innocent persons. Here are five persons who have lately confessed
themselves to be witches, and do accuse some of us of
being along with them at a sacrament, since we were committed
into close prison, which we know to be lies. Two of the five
are (Carrier's sons) young men, who would not confess any
thing till they tied them neck and heels, till the blood was ready
to come out of their noses; and it is credibly believed and reported
this was the occasion of making them confess what they
never did, by reason they said one had been a witch a month,
and another five weeks, and that their mother had made them
so, who has been confined here this nine weeks. My son
William Proctor, when he was examined, because he would not
confess that he was guilty, when he was innocent, they tied him
neck and heels till the blood gushed out at his nose, and would
have kept him so twenty-four hours, if one, more merciful than
the rest, had not taken pity on him, and caused him to be unbound.
These actions are very like the popish cruelties. They
have already undone us in our estates, and that will not serve
their turns without our innocent blood. If it cannot be granted
that we have our trials at Boston, we humbly beg that you
would endeavor to have these magistrates changed, and others
in their rooms; begging also and beseeching you would be
pleased to be here, if not all, some of you, at our trials, hoping
thereby you may be the means of saving the shedding of innocent
blood. Desiring your prayers to the Lord in our behalf,
we rest your poor afflicted servants,
Jonathan Cary, whose wife was under the charge, but
escaped, has left a very affecting narrative of her trial,
and of the behavior of the judges.
“Being brought before the justices, her chief accusers were
two girls. My wife declared to the justices, that she never had
any knowledge of them before that day. She was forced to
stand with her arms stretched out. I requested that I might
old one of her hands, but it was denied me; then she desired
face, which I did; then she desired that she might lean herself
on me, saying she should faint.
Justice Hathorn replied, she had strength enough to torment
those persons, and she should have strength enough to stand.
I speaking something against their cruel proceedings, they
commanded me to be silent, or else I should be turned out of
the room. The Indian before mentioned was also brought in,
to be one of her accusers: being come in, he now (when before
the justices) fell down and tumbled about like a hog, but
said nothing. The justices asked the girls who afflicted the
Indian; they answered she, (meaning my wife) and that she
now lay upon him; the justices ordered her to touch him, in
order to his cure, but her head must be turned another way,
lest, instead of curing, she should make him worse, by her
looking on him, her hand being guided to take hold of his;
but the Indian took hold of her hand, and pulled her down on
the floor, in a barbarous manner; then his hand was taken off,
and her hand put on his, and the cure was quickly wrought. I,
being extremely troubled at their inhuman dealings, uttered a
hasty speech, That God would take vengeance on them, and
desired that God would deliver us out of the hands of unmerciful
men. Then her mittimus was writ. I did with difficulty
and chagrin obtain the liberty of a room, but no beds in it; if
there had been, could have taken but little rest that night. She
was committed to Boston prison; but I obtained a habeas corpus
to remove her to Cambridge prison, which is in our county
of Middlesex. Having been there one night, next morning
the jailer put irons on her legs (having received such a command;)
the weight of them was about eight pounds; these
irons and her other afflictions soon brought her into convulsion
fits, so that I thought she would have died that night. I
sent to entreat that the irons might be taken off; but all entreaties
were in vain, if it would have saved her life, so that in
this condition she must continue. The trials at Salem coming
on, I went thither, to see how things were managed; and finding
that the spectre evidence was there received, together with
idle, if not malicious stories, against people's lives, I did easily
perceive which way the rest would go; for the same evidence
her with her danger; and that if she were carried to Salem to
be tried, I feared she would never return. I did my utmost
that she might have her trial in our own county, I with several
others petitioning the judge for it, and were put in hopes for
it; but I soon saw so much, that I understood thereby it was
not intended, which put me upon consulting the means of her
escape; which through the goodness of God was effected, and
she got to Rhode-Island, but soon found herself not safe when
there, by reason of the pursuit after her; from thence she
went to New-York, along with some others that had escaped
their cruel hands.
Of the trial of “good-wife Proctor,” the following interpretation
was had.
“About this time, besides the experiment of the afflicted falling
at the sight, &c. they put the accused upon saying the
Lord's prayer, which one among them performed, except in
that petition, deliver us from evil, she expressed it thus, deliver
us from all evil: this was looked upon as if she prayed
against what she was now justly under, and being put upon it
again, and repeating those words, hallowed be thy name, she
expressed it, hollowed be thy name: this was counted a depraving
the words, as signifying to make void, and so a curse
rather than a prayer: upon the whole it was concluded that
she also could not say it, &c. Proceeding in this work of examination
and commitment, many were sent to prison.
“In August, 1697, the superior court sat at Hartford, in the
colony of Connecticut, where one mistress Benom was tried
for witchcraft. She had been accused by some children that
pretended to the spectral sight: they searched her several
times for teats; they tried the experiment of casting her into
the water, and after this she was excommunicated by the minister
of Wallinsford. Upon her trial nothing material appeared
against her, save spectre evidence. She was acquitted, as also
her daughter, a girl of twelve or thirteen years old, who had
been likewise accused; but upon renewed complaints against
them, they both flew into New-York government.
Second—Of the Confessions.—The following is a letter
written by six of the confessing witches, by which it
may be understood in some degree how they came to
accuse themselves.
“We, whose names are under written, inhabitants of Andover,
when as that horrible and tremendous judgment beginning
at Salem Village, in the year 1692, (by some called witchcraft)
first breaking forth at Mr. Parris's house, several young persons
being seemingly afflicted, did accuse several persons for
afflicting them, and many there believing it so to be; we being
informed that if a person were sick, the afflicted person could
tell what or who was the cause of that sickness: Joseph Ballard
of Andover (his wife being sick at the same time) he either
from himself, or by the advice of others, fetched two of the
persons, called the afflicted persons, from Salem Village to
Andover: which was the beginning of that dreadful calamity
that befel us in Andover. And the authority in Andover, believing
the said accusations to be true, sent for the said persons
to come together to the meeting-house in Andover (the afflicted
persons being there.) After Mr. Barnard had been at
prayer, we were blindfolded, and our hands were laid upon the
afflicted persons, they being in their fits, and falling into their
fits at our coming into their presence [as they said] and some
led us and laid our hands upon them, and then they said they
were well, and that we were guilty of afflicting of them
whereupon we were all seized as prisoners, by a warrant from
a justice of the peace, and forthwith carried to Salem. And
by reason of that sudden surprisal, we knowing ourselves altogether
innocent of that crime, we were all exceedingly astonished
and amazed, and affrighted even out of our reason; and
our nearest and dearest relations, seeing us in that dreadful
condition, and knowing our great danger, apprehending that
there was no other way to save our lives, as the case was then
circumstanced, but by our confessing ourselves to be such and
such persons, as the afflicted represented us to be, they out of
tender love and pity persuaded us to confess what we did confess.
And indeed that confession, that it is said we made, was
they telling us, that we were witches, and they knew it, and we
knew it, and they knew that we knew it, which made us think
that it was so; and our understanding, our reason and our
faculties almost gone, we were not capable of judging our condition;
as also the hard measures they used with us rendered
us uncapable of making our defence; but said anything which
they desired: and most of what we said was but in effect a consenting
to what they said. Sometime after, when we were
better composed, they telling of us what we had confessed, we
did profess that we were innocent, and ignorant of such things.
And we hearing that Samuel Wardwell had renounced his confession,
and quickly after was condemned and executed, some
of us were told that we were going after Wardwell.
Mary Tiler,
Deliv. Dane,
Abigail Barker,
Sarah Wilson,
Hannah Tiler.”
“It may here be further added, concerning those that did
confess, that besides that powerful argument, of life (and freedom
from hardships, not only promised, but also performed to
all that owned their guilt) there are numerous instances, too
many to be here inserted, of the tedious examinations before
private persons, many hours together; they all that time urging
them to confess (and taking turns to persuade them) till
the accused were wearied out by being forced to stand so long
or for want of sleep, &c. and so brought to give an assent to
what they said; they then asking them, Were you at such a
witch meeting? or, Have you signed the devil's book? &c.
Upon their replying, Yes, the whole was drawn into form, as
their confession.
“But that which did mightily further such confessions was,
their nearest relations urging them to it. These, seeing no
other way of escape for them, thought it the best advice that
could be given; hence it was that the husbands of some, by
counsel often urging, and utmost earnestness, and children
upon their knees intreating, have at length prevailed with them
to say they were guilty.
Third—Of the character of Burroughs;—about which
there has been from that day to this, a great difference
of opinion. His readiness to forgive.
“Margaret Jacobs being one that had confessed her own
guilt, and testified against her grandfather Jacobs, Mr. Burroughs
and John Willard, she the day before execution came
to Mr. Burroughs, acknowledging that she had belied them, and
begged Mr. Burroughs's forgiveness; who not only forgave
her, but also prayed with and for her.
Apparitions at the trial.—
“Accordingly several of the bewitched had given in their testimony,
that they had been troubled with the apparitions of two
women, who said they were G. B's two wives; and that he had
been the death of them; and that the magistrates must be told
of it, before whom, if B. upon his trial denied it, they did not
know but that they should appear again in the court. Now G.
B. had been infamous, for the barbarous usage of his two successive
wives, all the country over. Moreover, it was testified
the spectre of G. B. threatening the sufferers, told them he had
killed [besides others] Mrs. Lawson and her daughter Ann.
And it was noted, that these were the virtuous wife and daughter
of one, at whom this G. B. might have a prejudice, for
being serviceable at Salem Village, from whence himself had
in ill terms removed some years before; and that when they
died, which was long since, there were some odd circumstances
about them, which made some of the attendants there suspect
something of witchcraft, though none imagined from what
quarter it should come.
“Well, G. B. being now upon his trial, one of the bewitched
persons was cast into horror at the ghosts of B's two deceased
wives, then appearing before him, and crying for vengeance
against him. Hereupon several of the bewitched persons were
successively called in, who all, not knowing what the former
had seen and said, concurred in their horror of the apparition,
which they affirmed that he had before. But he, though much
appalled, utterly denied that he discerned any thing of it, nor
was it any part of his conviction.
His bodily strength.—
“A famous divine recites this among the convictions of a
witch; the testimony of the party bewitched, whether pining
or dying; together with the joint oaths of sufficient persons,
that have seen certain prodigious pranks, or feats, wrought by
the party accused. Now God had been pleased so to leave G.
B. that he had ensnared himself, by several instances, which
he had formerly given, of a preternatural strength; and which
were now produced against him. He was a very puny man
yet he had often done things beyond the strength of a giant.
A gun of about seven feet barrel, and so heavy that strong men
could not steadily hold it out, with both hands; there were
several testimonies given in by persons of credit and honour,
that he made nothing of taking up such a gun behind the lock
with but one hand, and holding it out, like a pistol, at arm's
end. G. B. in his vindication was so foolish as to say, that an
Indian was there, and held it out, at the same time; whereas,
none of the spectators ever saw any such Indian; but they
supposed the black man (as the witches call the devil, and they
generally say he resembles an Indian) might give him that assistance.
There was evidence likewise brought in, that he
made nothing of taking up whole barrels filled with molasses,
or cider, in very disadvantageous postures, and carrying them
off, through the most difficult places, out of a canoe to the
shore.
“Yea, there were two testimonies, that G. B. with only putting
the fore-finger of his right hand into the muzzle of a heavy
gun, a fowling piece of about six or seven feet barrel, lifted up
the gun, and held it out at arm's end; a gun which the depoents,
though strong men, could not with both hands lift up, and
hold out at the butt-end, as is usual. Indeed one of these witnesses
was over-persuaded by some persons to be out of the
way upon G. B.'s trial; but he came afterwards, with sorrow
for his withdrawing, and gave in his testimony.
His death.—
“Mr. Burroughs was carried in a cart with the others, through
the streets of Salem to execution, When he was upon the
with such solemn and serious expressions, as were to the admiration
of all present: his prayer [which he concluded by
repeating the Lord's prayer] was so well worded, and uttered
with such composedness, and such [at least seeming] fervency
of spirit, as was very affecting, and drew tears from many, so
that it seemed to some that the spectators would hinder the
execution. The accusers said the Black Man stood and dictated
to him. As soon as he was turned off, Mr. Cotton Mather,
being mounted upon a horse, addressed himself to the people,
partly to declare that he [Burroughs] was no ordained minister,
and partly to possess the people of his guilt, saying that
the devil has often been transformed into an angel of light;
and this somewhat appeased the people, and the executions
went on.
Fourth—A trial at length. Indictment of Elizabeth
How.
ESSEX ss.
Anno Regni Regis & Reginæ Willielmi & Mariæ, nunc
Angliæ, &c. quarto —
The jurors for our sovereign lord and lady the king and queen present, that
Elizabeth How, wife of James How, of Ipswich, in the county of Essex, the
thirty-first day of May, in the fourth year of the reign of our sovereign lord and
lady William and Mary, by the grace of God, of England, Scotland, France and
Ireland, king and queen, defenders of the faith, &c. and divers other days and
times, as well before as after, certain destestable arts, called witchcrafts and
sorceries, wickedly and feloniously hath used, practised and exercised, at and
within the township of Salem, in, upon and against one Mary Wolcott, of Salem
Village, in the county aforesaid, single woman; by which said wicked arts the
said Mary Wolcott, the said thirty-first day of May, in the fourth year above-said,
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 Elizabeth How committed and done before and
since that time, against the peace of our sovereign lord and lady, the king and
queen, and against the form of the statute in that case made and provided.
Witnesses—Mary Wolcott, Ann Putman, Abigail Williams, Samuel Pearly,
and his wife Ruth, Joseph Andrews, and wife Sarah, John Sherrin, Joseph Safford,
Francis Lane, Lydia Foster, Isaac Cummins, jr.
Fifth—Recantation of the chief judge and the jurors.—
A general fast was appointed by the following proclamation,
after the accusers had become so bold as to
accuse even the wife of Gov. Phips.—
By the honourable the lieutenant governor, council and assembly
of his majesty's province of the Masachusetts-Bay, in
general court assembled.
Whereas the anger of God is not yet turned away, but his
hand is still stretched out against his people in manifold judgments,
of Europe, by a perplexing war; and more especially respecting
ourselves in this province, in that God is pleased still to
go on in diminishing our substance, cutting short our harvest,
blasting our most promising undertakings more ways than
one, unsettling us, and by his more immediate hand snatching
away many out of our embraces by sudden and violent deaths
even at this time when the sword is devouring so many both
at home and abroad, and that after many days of public and
solemn addressing him: and although, considering the many
sins prevailing in the midst of us, we cannot but wonder at
the patience and mercy moderating these rebukes, yet we cannot
but also fear that there is something still wanting to accompany
our supplications; and doubtless there are some
particular sins, which God is angry with our Israel for, that
have not been duly seen and repented by us, about which God
expects to be sought, if ever he turn again our captivity:
Wherefore it is commanded and appointed, that Thursday,
he fourteenth of January next, be observed as a day of prayer,
with fasting, throughout this province; strictly forbidding all
servile labour thereon; that so all God's people may offer up
fervent supplications unto him, for the preservation and prosperity
of his majesty's royal person and government, and success
to attend his affairs both at home and abroad; that all iniquity
may be put away, which hath stirred God's holy jealousy
against this land; that he would shew us what we know not,
and help us wherein we have done amiss to do so no more;
and especially that whatever mistakes on either hand have been
fallen into, either by the body of this people, or any orders of
men, refering to the late tragedy, raised among us by Satan
and his instruments, through the awful judgment of God, he
would humble us therefor, and pardon all the errors of his servants
and people, that desire to love his name; that he would
remove the rod of the wicked from off the lot of the righteous;
that he would bring in the American heathen, and cause them
to hear and obey his voice.
Given at Boston, December 12, 1696, in the eighth year
of his Majesty's reign.
“Upon the day of the fast, in the full assembly at the south
meeting-house in Boston, one of the honorable judges, [the
chief justice Sewall] who had sat in judicature in Salem, delivered
in a paper, and while it was in reading stood up; but
the copy being not to be obtained at present, it can only be
reported by memory to this effect, viz. It was to desire the
prayers of God's people for him and his; and that God having
visited his family, &c, he was apprehensive that he might have
fallen into some errors in the matters at Salem, and pray that
the guilt of such miscarriages may not be imputed either to the
country in general, or to him or his family in particular.
“Some, that had been of several juries, have given forth a
paper, signed with their own hands, in these words:
“We, whose names are under written, being in the year
1692 called to serve as jurors in court at Salem on trial of
many, who were by some suspected guilty of doing acts of
witchcraft upon the bodies of sundry persons:
“We confess that we ourselves were not capable to understand,
nor able to withstand, the mysterious delusions of the
powers of darkness, and prince of the air; but were, for want
of knowledge in ourselves, and better information from others,
prevailed with to take up with such evidence against the
accused, as, on further consideration and better information,
we justly fear was insufficient for the touching the lives of any,
(Deut. xvii. 8) whereby we fear we have been instrumental
with others, though ignorantly and unwittingly, to bring upon
ourselves and this people of the Lord the guilt of innocent
blood; which sin the Lord saith, in scripture, he would not
pardon, (2 Kings, xxiv. 4) that is, we suppose, in regard of his
temporal judgments. We do therefore hereby signify to all
in general (and to the surviving sufferers in special) our deep
sense of, and sorrow for, our errors, in acting on such evidence
to the condemning of any person; and do hereby declare,
that we justly fear that we were sadly deluded and mistaken;
for which we are much disquieted and distressed in
our minds; and do therefore humbly beg forgiveness, first of
God for Christ's sake, for this our error; and pray that God
would not impute the guilt of it to ourselves, nor others;
by the living sufferers, as being then under the power of
a strong and general delusion, utterly unacquainted with, and
not experienced in matters of that nature.
“We do heartily ask forgiveness of you all, whom we have
justly offended; and do declare, according to our present
minds, we would none of us do such things again on such
grounds for the whole world; praying you to accept of this
in way of satisfaction for our offence, and that you would bles
the inheritance of the Lord, that he may be entreated for the
land.
William Fisk,
John Bacheler,
Thomas Fisk, jr.
John Dane.
Joseph Evelith,
Th. Pearly, sen.
John Peabody,
Thomas Perkins,
Samuel Sayer,
Andrew Eliot,
H. Herrick, sen.”
| Rachel Dyer | |