He pleaded very hard at Execution, for a little respite of time, saying that
he was not fit to Die; but it was not granted.
Old Jacobs being Condemned, the Sheriff and Officers came and seized all
he had, his Wife had her Wedding Ring taken from her, but with great difficulty
obtained it again. She was forced to buy Provisions of the Sheriff, such as he had
taken, towards her own support, which not being sufficient, the Neighbours of
Charity relieved her.[279]
Margaret Jacobs being one that had confessed her own Guilt, and testified
against her Grand-Father Jacobs, Mr. Burroughs, and John Willard, She the day
before Executions, came to Mr. Burroughs, acknowledging that she had belyed
them,[280] and begged Mr. Burroughs Forgiveness, who not only
forgave her, but also Prayed with and for her. She wrote the following Letter to
her Father.
Letter
From the Dungeon,
in
Salem-Prison, August 20,
92.
Honoured
Father,
After my Humble Duty Remembred to you, hoping in the Lord of your
good Health, as Blessed be God I enjoy, tho in abundance of Affliction, being
close confined here in a loathsome Dungeon, the Lord look down in mercy upon
me, not knowing how soon I shall be put to Death, by means of the Afflicted
Persons; my Grand-Father having Suffered already, and all his Estate Seized for
the King. The reason of my Confinement is this, I having, through the
Magistrates Threatnings, and my own Vile and Wretched Heart, confessed several
things contrary to my Conscience and Knowledg, tho to the Wounding of my own
Soul, the Lord pardon me for it; but Oh! the terrors of a wounded Conscience
who can bear. But blessed be the Lord, he would not let me go on in my Sins,
but in mercy I hope so my Soul would not suffer me to keep it in any longer, but
I was forced to confess the truth of all before the Magistrates, who would not
believe me, but tis their pleasure to put me in here, and God knows how soon I
shall be put to death. Dear Father, let me beg your Prayers to the Lord on my
behalf, and send us a Joyful and Happy meeting in Heaven. My Mother poor
Woman is very Crazey, and
remembers her kind Love to you, and to Uncle,
viz.
D. A.
[281] So leaving you to the protection of the Lord, I rest your Dutiful
Daughter,
