North, Susannah

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7059. Susanna NORTH
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ID: I16249 Name: Susanna NORTH Surname: North Given Name: SusannaSex: F Christening: 30 Sep 1621 Olney, Buckinghamshire, England Death:19 Jul 1692 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts _UID:1560CAC25A66D511B4DE99B85F718F392261 Note: ! (1) "Old Families ofSalisbury and Amesbury, Massachusetts," by David W. Hoyt (New EnglandHistory Press, Somersworth, NH, 1981) p.239-240,266,1070.(2) "NotableWomen Ancestors: Susanna North Martin," by Bonnie Johnson(http://www.rpptsweb.com/`nwa/sm.html, 1999). Cites: (a) "The AmericanGenealogist," Apr 1993, "The English Origina of Richard North and HisDaughter, Susanna (North) Martin, Executed for Witchcraft in 1692," byDavid L. Greene. (b) "The American Genealogist," OCt 1982, "Salem Witches111: Susanna Martin," by David L. Greene. (c) "The Devil in the Shape ofa Woman," by Carol F. Karlsen. (d) "The Salem Witchcraft Trials," byKaren Zeinhert. (e) "The Devil Discovered, Salem Witchcraft 1692," byEnders A. Robinson. (f) "Salem Witchcraft," by Charles Upham. (g) "TheHistory of Amesbury," by Merrill (1880). (h) "Witch''s Breed; ThePeirce-Nichols Family of Salem," by Susan Nichols Pulsifer (Cambridge,MA, Chapman & Grimes).(3) "The Salem Witchcraft Papers; Narratives ofthe Witchcraft Cases, 1648-1706," Electronic Text Center, University ofVirginia Library in conjunction with Danvers Archival Center(http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/salem/witchcraft, 1999). "The Tryal ofSusanna Martin, At the Court of Oyer and Terminer, Held by Adjournment atSalem, June 29, 1692." Cites: (a) "Records of Salem Witchcraft,I.193-233. (b) Hutchinson, "History of Massachusetts," II, ch. I, aspublished from an earlier draft, with notes by W.F. Poole, in "NEHGSREGISTER," XXIV.
Birth: (1) d/o Richard NORTH/Ursula. (2) d/o Richard NORTH/JoanBARTRAM.Baptism: (2) 30 Sep 1621, Olney, Buckinghamshire,England.Death: (1,2) 19 Jul 1692, Salem, MA. Executed forwitchcraft.Burial: (2) The bodies of those executed for witchcraft werethrust into a shallow grave in a crevice of felsite.
(2) Her mother died while she was still young.(2) Came to America withher father, stepmother, and at least one sister.(2) 1647/8: Fined 20shillings for an unnamed offense.(1) 1660: If the testimony of WilliamBROWN is conclusive as to date, she was accused of witchcraft as early as1660.(1,2) 1667: Goodwife MARTIN assigned a seat in the meeting house,Amesbury, MA. (2) Her husband George MARTIN objected to her seatplacement.(1) 1669, Apr: Suit of George MARTIN against William SARGENT,for slander, in saying MARTYN''s wife was a witch. The jury found for thedefendant, but the court "concurred not with the jury." George MARTYNgave bond that his wife Susanna should appear at the next court to answerto the charge concerning suspicion of witchcraft. (2) In 1669 Susanna wasrequired to post 100 pounds bond to appear in court on a charge ofwitchcraft, a capital offese. At the same time George MARTIN sued WilliamSARGENT, Jr., for slander for saying that "MARTYN''s wife had a child atCapt. WIGGINS and was wringing its neck in Capt WIGGINS'' stable, when aman entered, and she took him by the collar and told him she would be thedeath of him if he told." He sued William SARGENT "for saying his wifewas a witch and he would call her a witch." George also sued ThomasSARGENT for "saying that his son George MARTIN was a bastard and thatRichard MARTIN was Goodwife MARTIN''s imp," (a witch''s familiar). Chargeswere dropped against Thomas SARGENT, William SARGENT Jr. was found guiltyof accusing Susanna of "fornication and infanticide" and George wasawarded ( in what appears to be a public insult) the amount of "a whitewampam peague (colonial currency) or the eigth part of a penny damage" bymagistrates. William SARGENT (Sr?) was acquitted of witchcraft slander,although "the Court did not agree." The records of Susanna''s first trialfor witchcraft have not survived, but as she was around for another 23years, we might assume that she was acquitted. (3b) In 1669 she was boundover to the Superior Court, but was discharged without trial.(1) 1669,Oct: She was required to acknowledge in open court that she wrongedChristopher BARTLETT in charging him with lying and stealing. (2) GeorgeMARTIN was sued by Christopher BARTLETT because Susanna had called him aliar and a thief. The verdict came against George and Susanna.(2) 1671:George and Susanna MARTIN became involved in lengthy litigation overRichard NORTH''s estate. Her sister Mary JONES would join them later.(1)1674: Called John HOYT and his 2nd wife Frances "brother" and "sister"and their daughter Naomi HOYT "cousin" because her son, was then husbandof their daughter Mary (HOYT) (BARTLETT). These expressions ofrelationship were in Susanna MARTIN''s testimony in court, wherein sherehearsed a spirited conversation between herself and HOYT''s wife anddaughter Naomi about Thomas TUXBURY of Boston and Newbury, who waspresented at court Apr 1673 for living away from his wife.(2) 1674, Oct:Her inheritance was lost when the court found against her in thelitigation over Richard NORTH''s estate.(1,2) 1692, 30 Apr: A warrant wasissued for her arrest as a witch. (2) The warrant, addressed to theMarshall of the County of Essex or to the Constable of Amesbury, read,"You are in their Majests names hereby required forthwith or as soon asmay be to apprehend and bring (before us) Susanna MERTIN of Amesbury inye county of Essex Widdow at ye house of Lt. Nathaniel INGERSALLS inSalem Village in order to her examination Relating to high suspicion ofsundry acts of Witchcraft donne or committed by her upon ye Bodys of MaryWALCOT, Abigail WILLIAMS, Ann PUTNAM and Mercy LEWIS of Salem village orfarmes whereby great hurt and damage hath been donne to ye bodys of saidpersons according to complt of Capt. Jonathan WALCOT & Serg. ThomasPUTNAM in behalf of their Majests this day exhibited before us forthemselves and also for several of their neighbors and here you are notto fail at your peril." Signed John HATHORN, Jonathan CORWIN,Assistants.(2) 1692, 2 May: She was arrested by Orland BAGLEY, Contableof Amesbury. "When she saw Orlando BAGLEY approaching on the morning ofher arrest, little did she dream of his errand. He was a personal friendof long standing, and we can but faintly imagine her surprise when" heread the warrant. During her preliminary examination the same day, shepled not guilty and vigorously answered the charges against her. Theindictment against Susanna MARTIN of Amesbury in the County of Essex,widow, was issued for "witchcrafts and Sorceries wickedly andFeloniously" practiced in Salem upon Mary WALCOTT of Salem Village,singlewoman, who was "Tortured Afflicted Pined wasted and Tormented," andwas signed by Sarah VIBBER, Mary WALCOTT, Mr. Samuel PARRIS, ElizabethHUBBARD and Mercy LEWIS. As soon as she came in, the "afflicted girls"began having fits. When asked, "Do you know this woman?", AbigailWILLIAMS said "It is Goody MARTIN, she hath hurt me often." Eliza HUBBARDsaid she had not been hurt by her. Mercy LEWIS pointed to her and fellinto a fit. Ann PUTNAM threw her glove in a fit at her. Susanna laughedout loud. When the magistrates asked why she laughed, she responded,"Well I may at such folly." She refused to express any thoughts on whatmay have ailed the girls but bluntly stated that she didn''t think theywere bewitched. Her further testimony showed that she realized theseriousness of her situation and she adamantly maintained herinnocence.(2) 1692, 11 May: John PRESSEY of Amesbury, aged 53, deposedat his house in Salisbury that about 24 years ago, he was at AmesburyFerry upon a Saturday in the evening near about the shutting in of thedaylight, which was about three miles from his house. As he was goinghome a little beyond the field of George MARTIN at a hill called Goodal''shill he was bewildered and lost his way. Having wandered a while he cameback again to the same place, and setting out again by the light of themoon which shone bright, he was again lost and came back to the sameplace. A third time he set out and came back, but not so far as before,and he knew where he was, so he set himself his way. In less than half amile he saw a light stand on his left hand about 2 rod out of the way. Itseemed to be about the bigness of a half bushel. Seven or eight rodsfurther is appeared again at the like distance from him as before, and soit did again a third time. In less than 20 rod, another light lay in hisway, and he having a stick in his hand, he endeavorded to stir it out ofthe place and to to give it some small blows. The light seemed to brushup and move from side to side. As he tried to go away, his heels werestruck up and he laid on his back on the ground, and was sliding into adeep place (as it seemed to him), but taking hold of some brush orbrushes and so recovered himself. Having lost his coat which he had uponhis arm, he went back to the light, saw his coat and took it up and wenthome without any more disturbance there. When he had gone about 5 or 6rod he saw Susanna MARTIN then wife of George MARTIN of Amesbury standingon his left hand as the lights had done. When he reached his house, he"over went" his own house, but knowing the ground that he was upon,returned and found his own house. Being then seized with fear, he couldnot speak until his wife spoke to him at the door, and was in suchcondition that his family was afraid of him. The next day in town heheard that Goodwife MARTIN was in such a miserable case and in such painthat they swabbed her body. John PRESSEY and Mary his wife, aged 46 orthereabouts, further testified that some years after that John PRESSEYhad given his evidence against Susanna MARTIN, and she came and "tookthese deponents to do about it and reviled them with many foul wordssaying we had took a false oath and what we should never prosper...,particularly that we should never have but two cows." They furthertestified that from that time to this they have never exceeded thatnumber, but something or other has prevented it, thought they had usedall ordinary means for obtaining it by hiring cows of others for thespace of twenty years.(2) 1692, 11 May: Bernard PEACH, aged 43 orthereabouts, deposed that about six or seven years past, he was living atthe house of Jacob MORELL in Salisbury. Being in bed ion a Lord''s Daynight, he heard a scrabbling at the window and saw Susanna MARTIN wife ofGeorge MARTIN of Amesbury come in at the window and jump down upon thefloor. She was in her hood and scarf and the same dress that she was inbefore a meeting the same day. She was coming towards his face, butturned back to his feet and took hold of them and drew his body into ahoop and lay upon him about an hour and half or two hours, during whichtime he could not stir or speak. Feeling himself beginning to be loosenedor lightened he strove to put out his hand among the clothes and tookhold of her hand and brought it up to his mouth and but three of thefingers to the breaking of the bones. Then MARTIN went out of the chamberdown the stairs and out of the door. As soon as she went away, he calledto the people of the house and told them what was done. He also followedher but the people did not see her. Outside the door there was a bucketon the left hand side and there was a drop of blood on the handle, moreupon the snow, and her footprints about a foot without the threshold, butno more footing did appear. About three weeks later, Susanna desired himto come and husk corn at her house the nest Lord''s Day night, saying thatif he did not come it were better that he did, but he did not go, beingthen living with N__ OSGOOD of Salisbury. That night he lodged in thebarn upon the hay, and about an hour or two in the night, Susanna MARTINand another came towards him. He having a quarter staff made a blow atthem but the roof of the barn prevented it and they went away. Hefollowed them and as they were going toward the window he made anotherblow at them and struck them both down, but away they went out at theshop window and he saw no more of them. And the rumor was that MARTIN hada broken hand.(2) 1692, 11 May: William BROWN of Salisbury aged 70 yearsor thereabouts deposed that about one or two and thirty years agoElizabeth his wife was a very rational woman and sober and one thatfeared God as was well known to all that knew her and as prudentlycareful in her family. She was going from her own house towards the millin Salisbury and met there with Susanna MARTIN the then wife of GeorgeMARTIN of Amesbury. Just as they came together Susanna MARTIN vanishedaway out of her sight, which put Elizabeth into a great fright. Afterthis time MARTIN appeared many times to her at her house and did muchtrouble her in any of her occasions and this continued till aboutFebruary following. When she did come it was as birds pecking her legs orpricking her with the motion of their wings and then it would rise upinto her stomach with pricking pain as nails and pins of which she didbitterly complain and cry out like a woman in travail. After that itwould rise up to her throat in a bunch like a pullet''s egg, and then shewould turn back her head and say, witch you shan''t choke me. At the timeof this extremity the church appointed a day of humility to seek God onher behalf and thereupon her trouble ceased and she saw Goodwife MARTINno more for a considerable time, for which the church instead of the dayof humiliation gave thanks for her deliverance. She came to meeting andwent about her business as before. This continued till April following atwhich time summonses were sent to Elizabeth BROWN, Goodwife OSGOOD by thecourt to give their evidences concerning MARTIN, and they did before theGrand Jury gave a full account. After which time Elizabeth told herhusband William BROWN that as she was milking of her cow, Susanna MARTINcame behind her and told her that she would make her the miserablestcreature for defaming her name at the court and wept grievously as shetold it. About 2 months after this he came home from Hampton and his wifewould not own him, but said they were divorced and asked him whether hedid not meet with one Mr. BENT of Abbey in England by whom he wasdivorced. From that time to this very dayshe has been under a strangekind of distemper frenzy incapable of any reasonable action throughstrong of body and healthy of body. He further testified that when shecame into that condition he procured Doctor FULLER and CROSBY to come toher for her relief, but they did both say that her distemper wassupernatural and no sickness of body but that some evil person hadbewitched her.(2) 1692, 13 May: Jarvis RING of Salisbury deposed thatabout seven or eight years ago he had several times been afflicted in thenight time by somebody or something coming up upon him when he was in bedand did sorely afflict by laying upon him and he could neither move norspeak while it was upon him, but sometimes made a kind of noise thatfolks did hear him and come up to him as soon as anybody came, it wouldbe gone. He never did see anybody clearly, but one time in the night itcame upon him and he did see the person of Susanna MARTIN of Amesbury. Hedid perfectly see her and she came to him and took him by the hand andbit him by the finger by force and then came and lay upon him awhile asformerly, and after a while went away. The print of the bite is yet to beseen on the little finger of his right hand for it was hard to heal.(2)1692, 13 May: Joseph RING at Salisbury, aged 27 years, deposed that aboutthe latter end of September last, being in the wood with his brotherJarvis RING hewing of timber, his brother went home with his team andleft him alone to finish the hewing of a piece for him for his brother tocarry when he came again. As soon as his brother was gone, there came tohim the appearance of Thomas HARDY of the great Island at Patascataway,and by some impulse he was forced to follow him to the house of __ TUCKERwhich was deserted and was about half a mile from the place he was atwork in. In that house did appear Susanna MARTIN of Amesbury and HARDYand another female person he did not know. There they had a good fire anddrink, it seemed to be cider, there continued most part of the night,MARTIN then being in her natural shape and talking as she used to do, buttoward the morning MARTIN went from the fire, made a noise and turnedinto the shape of a black hog and went away, and so did the other twopersons. He was strangely carried away also and the first place he knewwas by Samuel WOOD''s house in Amesbury. In a separate deposition, hestates that he had been strangely handled for the space of almost twoyears. In the month of June next after Casco Bay fort was taken, he wascoming between Sandy Beach and Hampton Town when he met with Thomas HARDYof Great Island and a company of several other creatures with him. HARDYdemanded two shillings, and with that dreadful noise and hideous shapesof these creatures and fireball, he was almost frightened out of hiswits. In about a half an hour, or indeed he could not judge the time,they left him and he came to Hampton. About ten days after, as he camefrom Boston, he was overtaken by a company of people on horseback whopassed by him, and after they had passed by him, Thoams HARDY turnedabout his horse and came back to him with his horse in hand and desiredhim to go to Mrs. WHITE''s and drink with him, which being refused heturned away to the company and they all came up together such a weth(i.e. with so many horses) that it seemed impossible to escape being troddown by them, but they all went past and then appeared no more. AboutOctober following coming from Hampton in Salisbury Pine Plain a companyof horses with me and women upon them overtook him, and HARDY being oneof them came to him as before and demaned his 2s. of him and threatenedto tear him to pieces. He made him no answer, and so he and the rest wentaway and left him. After this, he had divers strange appearances whichforced him away with them into unknown places where he saw meetings andfeastings and many strange sights, and from August last he was dumb andcould not speak till this last April. He also related that there did cometo him a man that did present him a book to which he would have him sethis hand with promise of anything that he would have and there werepresented all delectable things, persons and places imaginable, but herefusing it, would usually and with most dreadful shapes, noises andscreeching that almost scared him out of his wits. One time the book wasbrought and a pen offered him, to his apprehension there was blood in theink horn, but he never touched the pen. They never told him what heshould write, nor he could not speak to ask them what he should write. Inseveral of their merry meetings he had seen Susanna MARTIN appear amongthem. The day that his speech came to him again which was about the endof April last as he was in bed she did stand by his bed''s side andpinched him.(2) 1692, 16 May: John KIMBALL, aged 45 or upwards, deposedthat about 23 years ago he being about to remove from Newbury to Amesburyhad bought a piece of land from George MARTON of Amesbury for which hewas to pay in cash or goods upon a certain day in March next following.When the day of payment came, MARTIN and his wife came for pay andKIMBALL offered them the choice of three cows and other cattle, but didreserve two cows which they were not free to part with, they being thefirst they ever had. MARTIN himself was satisfied with other pay, butSusanna his wife said (you had been as good you had) for she will neverdo you any good (and so it came to pass) for the next April followingthat very cow lay in the fair dry yard with her head to her side (butstark dead) and when she was floaed no impediment did appear in her forshe was a stout lusty cow, and in a little while after another cow diedand then an ox, and then other cattle to the value of 30 pounds thatspring. KIMBALL further deposed that the same year after he was come tolive at Amesbury and was dwelling in the house of Edmund ELLIOT he wasneeded to get a dog. Hearing that the wife of George MARTIN had a bitchthat had whelps, he went to her to get one, but she not letting him havehis choice, he did not absolutely agree for any but said he heard oneBLESDELL had a bitch by which he may supply, but if there was no one elsehe would have heed of her price. Being upon that account at BLESDELL''sand marked the whelp he agreed for, George MARTIN came by and asked himwhether he would not have one of his wife''s whelps, to which KIMBALL madeanswer in the negative. The same day Edmond ELLIOT said he was at theMARTIN''s house and heard MARTIN ask his wife why KIMBALL were not to haveone of her puppies. She said he had got one at Goodman BLESDELL''s, and hesaw him chhose it and mark it, to which his wife said, "If I live I''llgive him puppies enough." Within a few days after this, KIMBALL, comingfrom his intended house in the woods to Edmond ELLIOT''s house where hedwelt about the sunset or presently after, there did arise a little blackcloud in the N.W. and a few drops of rain and the wind blew pretty hard.In going between the house of John WOOD and the meeting house, KIMBALLcame by several stumps of trees by the wayside. He can give no reason ofthat made him tumble over the stumps one after another, though he had hisax upon his shoulder which put him in danger and made him resolved toavoid the next but he could not. When he came a little below the meetinghouse there did appear a little thing like a puppy of a darkish color. Itshot between his legs forwards and backwards as one that were distractthe hay, and KIMBALL being free from all fear used all possible endeavorsto cut it with his ax but could not hurt it, and as he was thusbelaboring with his ax the puppy gave a little jump from him and seemedto go into the ground. In a little further going there did appear a blackpuppy somewhat bigger than the first, but as black as a coal, which cameagainst him with such violence as its quick motions did exceed hismotions of his ax. Do what he could, it flew at his belly and away andthen at his throat and over his shoulder one way, and go off and up at itagain another way and with such quickness seized and violence did itassault him as it it would tear out his throat or his belly. Whe he beingwithout fear, but at least he felt his heart to fail and sink under itthat he thought his life was going out, and he recovered himself and gavea start up and ran to the fence, calling upon God and naming the name ofJesus Christ. Then it invisibly away. He made it not known to anybody forfretting his wife. The next day Edmond ELLIOT said that he was goingtoward the house of MARTIN to look his oxen, went in to light his pipeand MARTIN''s wife asked him where KIMBALL was. ELLIOT said abed with hiswife for aught he knew. She said they say he frightened last night withwhat ELLIOT she said with puppies. ELLIOT replied that he heard nothingof it and asked where she heard of it, and she said about the town whichstory said ELLIOT having told it was all the town over when this deponentcame home at night, for he had been all day alone in the woods at work athis frame work.(2) 1692, 16 May: William BROWN made oath that hisdeposition given 11 May was a true relation according to his wife''scomplaint. He testified that she yet remained a miserable creature, andRobert PIKE signed himself as one witness.(1) 1692, 20 May: Examined bythe court for witchcraft. One charge against her was that she went fromAmesbury to Newbury afoot, in a "dirty season," without getting herclothing wet. Described as "a short, active woman, wearing a hood andscarf, plump and well developed in her figure, of remarkable personalneatness;" one who "scorned to be drabbled;" "a strong minded woman, asher examination shows."(2) 1692, 2 Jun: She underwent the indignity of aphysical examination, intended to discover whether she had any physicalabnormalities, especially anything that could be used to suckle afamiliar or even the devil himself. She was examined twice during thesame day. At neither examination was any abnormality discovered, but atthe first her breasts appeared to be full at at the second slack.(2)1692, 7 Jun: Lt. John ALLEN of Salisbury, aged 45 years, deposed that inor about the year ___ he was hauling timber for Mr. George CARR forbuilding a vessel at Amesbury at Mr. GOODWIN''s building place and havingdone and bout to go home, Susanna MARTIN the wife of George MARTINdesired him to cart staves for them, which he refused to do because ofhis oxen which were weak and need now to get flesh. She seemed to bediscontent, and James FREEZE and others then present told him that shesaid he had been as good as he had, for his oxen should never do him muchmore service. ALLEN said, dost threaten me thouold witch or words to thateffect, resolving to throw her into a brook that was fast by, which toavoid she flew over the bridge and so escaped. But as he was going homeone of his oxen tired that he was forced to unyoke him to get him home.After they were come home, put the oxen to Sailsbury Beach where severalother oxen and cattle usually are put where they had long range of meadowto feed on and where cattle did use to get flesh, but in a few days allthe oxen upon the beach we found by their tracks were gone to the mouthof the River Merrimack but not returned from whence we thought they wererun into the river. The next day sending to Plum Island found theirtracks there to be come ashore, which tracks they followed to the otherend of the island and a considerable way back again, and then satdown,which being apprised by those that sought them they did use allImaginable Gentleness to them to some acquaintance which some of themseemed to attend. All of a sudden away they all ran with such violence asif they their motionhad been diobolical till they came near the mouth ofMerrimack River, and then one of them came back again with such swiftnessas was amazing to the beholders who stood ready to __ him and help histired carcass up, but letting him loose away he ran up into the Islandand from there through the marshes up into Newbury town and so up intotheir woods and there was after a while found about Hartechok river overagainst Amesbury. So that of 14 good oxen only that was saved, the restwere all cast up some at Cape Ann, some in one place and some in other ofthey only had their hides. He abserved James FREEZE did often mover theprosecuting of Susanna MARTIN in the case being confident that she was awitch.(1,2,3) 1692, 29 Jun: (1) Tried for witchcraft at Salem, MA. Foundguilty. (2) Susannah pleaded not guilty, but in the end she was foundguilty and condemned to death. (3) Susanna MARTIN, pleading Not Guilty tothe Indictment of Witchcraft brought in against her, there were producedthe evidences of many persons very sensibly and grievously bewitched; whoall complaned of the prisoner at the Bar, as the person whom theybelieved the cause of their miseries. And now, as well as in the otherTrials, there was an extraordinary endeavour by Witchcrafts, with Crueland Frequent Fits, to hinder the poor sufferers from giving in theircomplaints; which the Court was forced with much patience to obtain, bymuch waiting and watching for it. [NOTE: Souce 3 gives transcripts oftestimonies given by source 2, with slightly different wording. Itappears that source 2 transcribed the depositions, and source 3transcribed a trial record at which the depositions were read.] (2)Joseph KNIGHT, aged about 40 years, testified that on the 20th day ofOctober or thereabouts in the year of our Lord 1686 Nathaniel CLARKJunior of Newbury together with himself going out into the woods togetherto fetch up horses there met with Susanna MARTIN of Amesbury with alittle dog running by her side. In his sight she took up the dog underher arm, but coming up near to her she had a keg or a half firkin underthe same arm. KNIGHT then looked her in the face and told her that thatkeg was a little dog, but now Nathaniel CLARK said so it was. Passingfrom her they found their horses and brought them to a small causeway butcould not get them over, but there being a small knoll of land near theirhorses ran round about it the greatest part of that day, they oftenbringing them up to the causeway. Then they turned to that knoll and ranabout it the same way, but at length there came a young man with a yokeof oxen to go over the causeway who with some difficulty got them overfor although the causeway was very good yet one of the oxen hung back asthough he were frightened, but at length was forced over and then we gotover with our horses. Elizabeth CLARK who was then the wife of NathanielCLARK testified that her husband came home and told her the mattermentioned in Joseph KNIGHT''s testimony and related to her the whole ofthe matter and all the circumstances related in the testimony exceptingthat he told Joseph KNIGHT that the keg under Goodwife MARTIN''s arm wasor had been a dog. She further testified that Goodwife MARTIN came totheir house the same day mentioned in Joseph KNIGHT''s testimony beforeher husband came home, and coming into the house, their dog bit her bythe leg, as she said whereupon she being angry said that he was a churllike his master.(2) 1602, 30 Jun: Robert DOWNER of Salisbury, aged 52years, testified that several years ago Susanna MARTIN the then wife ofGeorge MARTIN, being brought to court for a witch, the said DOWNER havingsome words with her, she at the time attending Mrs. LIGHT at Salisbury.He among other things told her he believed that she was a witch by whatwas said or witnessed against her at which she seemed not well affected,said that a she devil would fetch him away shortly, at which DOWNER wasnot much moved, but at night as he lay in his bed in his own house alonethere came at his window the likeness of a cat and by and by come up tohis bed took fast hold of his throat and lay hard upon him a considerablewhile, and was like to throttle him. At length he minded what SusannaMARTIN had threatened him with the day before. He strove what he couldand said avoid thou she devil in the name of the Father and the Son andthe Holy Ghost and then it let him go and slumped down upon the floor andwent out at window again. Mrs. Mary ANDREWS aged 40 years testified thatshe did hear Susanna MARTIN threaten or tell Robert DOWNER that a shedevil would fetch him away shortly. She further said that from some ofher father''s family she did hear that what Susanna MARTIN told them howDOWNER was served that night what he was afflicted as abovesaid. MosesPIKE aged 26 years or more testified that he did hear Susanna MARTIN tellhow Robert DOWNER was handled and as he remembers it was the next dayafter it was done at night. An undated deposition of Tho. PUTNAM, aged 40years and __ aged 38 years testified that they had been conversant withthe afflicted persons or most of them, namely Mary WALCOTT, Mercy LEWIS,Eliz. HUBBARD, Abigail WILLIAMS and Sarah VIBBER, Ann PUTNAM Jun. and hadoften heard the aforementioned persons complain of Susanna MARTIN ofAmesbury torturing them. They have seen the marks of several bites andpinch which they said Susanna MARTIN did hurt them. On the 2 day of May1692 being the day of the examination of Susanna MARTIN the forenamedpersons were most grievously tortured during the time of her examinationfor upon the glance of her eyes they were stricken down or almost chokeand upon the motion of her finger we took notice they were afflicted, andif she did but clench her hands or hold her head aside the afflictedpersons aforementioned were most grievously tortured in like mannerseveral times. Sam PARRIS aged about 39 years and Nathaniel INGERSOLLaged about 58 years and also Tho. PUTNAM aged about 40 years all of Salemtestified that Abigail WILLIAMS, Mercy LEWIS, Mary WALCOTT, SusannaSHELDON, and John INDIAN were much afflicted at the examination ofSusanna MARTIN of Amesbury, Widow, before the honored Magistrates the 2May 1692, and that Goody VIBBER, who before had not accused her, and someothers of the afflicted, then and there testified that there was a blackman whispering in her ear and also that the said VIBBER, Abigail WILLIAMSand Mary WALCOTT and John INDIAN could not come near MARTIN, whereupon inall they were ordered by the magistrates to attempt it and their agoniesand tortures they charged said MARTIN as the cause of and also theyfurther saw that when MARTIN bit her lips they were bitten and whem theafflicted were ordered to go towards her they were knocked down. AbigailWILLIAMS testified that she had several times seen and been afflicted bythe apparition of Susanna MARTIN, Amesbury, widow, at and before 2 May1692. Ann PUTNAM Junr. testified taht some time in April 1692 thereappeared to her the apparition of an old short woman that told her hername was MARTIN and that she came from Amesbury who did immediatelyafflict her, urging her to write in her book, but on 2 May 1692 being theday of her examination Susanna MARTIN did most grievously afflict herduring the time of her examination for when she did but look personallyupon she would strike her down or almost choke and several times sincethe apparition of Susanna MARTIN has most grievously afflicted her bypinching her and almost choking me, urging her vehemently to write in herbook. Also on the day of her examination she saw the apparition ofSusanna MARTIN go and afflict the bodies of Mary WALCOTT, Mercy LEWIS,Elizabeth HUBBARD and Abigail WILLIAMS. Elizabeth HUBBARD aged about 17years testified that she had often seen the apparition of Susanna MARTINamong the witches, but she did not hurt her until 2 May during the day ofher examination, but then she did afflict her most grievously, for if shedid but look personally upon her she would strike her down or almostchoke her, and several times since the apparition of Susanna MARTIN hadmost grievously afflicted her. Also on the day of her examination she sawthe apparition of Susanna MARTIN go and afflict and almost choke MaryWALCOTT, Mercy LEWIS, Abigail WILLIAMS and Ann PUTNAM Junr. Mercy LEWISaged about 19 years testified that in the latter end of April 1692 thereappeared to her the apparition of a short old woman which told her hername was Goody MARTIN and that she came from Amesbury, who did grievouslytorment her by biting and pinching her, urging her vehemently to write inher book. On 2 May 1692 being the day of her examination, Susanna MARTINdid torment and afflict her most grievously, etc. [NOTE: Her testimonywas the same as that of the other girls.] Sarah VIBBER aged about 36years testified that on 2 May 1692 the apparition of Susanna MARTIN ofAmesbury did most grievously torment her, etc., and that she believedMARTIN was a witch and that she was bewitched by her. John ATKINSON aged56 or thereabouts testified that some time about five years since, one ofthe sons of Susanna MARTIN Senr. of Amesbury exchanged a cow of his withhim for a cow which he had bought of Mr. WELLS the minister, which cow hetook from Mr. WELLS his house. Anout a week after he went to the house ofSusanna MARTIN to receive the cow from her son. When he came to bring thecow home notwithstanding hamstringing of her and halting her she was somad that they could scarce get her along, but she broke all ropesfastened to her. They put the halter two or three times round a treewhich she broke, and ran away, and when she came down to the Ferry wewere forced to run up to our waists in water. She was so fierce but aftermuch ado we got her into the boat, she was so tame as any creaturewhatsoever. Susanna MARTIN muttered and was unwilling he should have thecow. Sarah ATKINSON aged 48 years or thereabouts testified that some timein the spring of the year about 18 years since, Susanna MARTIN came totheir house at Newbury from Amesbury in an extraordinary dirty seasonwhen it was not fit for any person to travel. She then came on foot. Whenshe came into their house, she asked her whether she came from Amesbury afoot, she said she did. She asked her how she could come in this time afoot and bid her children make way for her to come to the fire to dryherself. "She replied she was as dry as I was and turned her coats onside, and I could not perceive that the sole of her shoes were wet. I wasstartled at it that she should come so dry and told her that I shouldhave been wet up to my knees if I should have come so far on foot. Shereplied that she scorned to have a drabbled tail."(2) 1692, 19 Jul: OnTuesday, Susanna MARTIN, Sarah GOOD, Rebecca NURSE, Sarah WILDE andElizabeth HOWE were taken from their cells, put into a cart and driven upthe rocky road to Gallows Hill.(2) Descriptions of her say she wasshort, slightly plump, active, and "of remarkable personal neatness." Shewas also said to be very outspoken, contemptuous of authority, anddefiant in the face of slander which had followed her for years. The Rev.Cotton MATHER said of her, "This woman was one of the most impudent,scurrilous, wicked creatures of this world; and she did now throughouther whole trial discover herself to be such a one. Yet when she was askedwhat she had to say for herself, her chief plea was that she had led amost virtuous and holy life." Mr. MERRILL, in his "History of Amesbury,"said, "The idea of snatching this hardworking, honest woman from her hometo be tried for her life by those who never knew her, and witnesses whowere prejudiced against her... is almost too much for belief... Allowedno counsel, she was her own lawyer, and her answers are remarkable forindependence and clearness. She showed herself to be a woman of more thanordinary talent and resolution."(1) She is the subject of WHITTIER''spoem, "The Witch''s Daughter." (2) "Let Goody MARTIN rest in peace, Inever knew her harm a fly, - And witch or not - God knows - not I? - Iknow who swore her life away; - And as God lives, I''d not condemn - AnIndian dog on word of them."Change Date: 4 Jan 2000 at 00:00:00
Father: Richard NORTH Mother: Joan BARTRAM
Marriage 1 George (Martyn) MARTINMarried: 11 Aug 1646 in Salisbury,Essex Co., MassachusettsChildrenRichard MARTIN b: 29 Jun 1647 inSalisbury, Essex Co., MassachusettsGeorge MARTIN b: 21 Oct 1648 inSalisbury, Essex Co., MassachusettsJohn MARTIN b: 26 Jan 1650/1651 inSalisbury, Essex Co., MassachusettsEsther MARTIN b: 7 Apr 1653 inSalisbury, Essex Co., MassachusettsJane MARTIN b: 2 Nov 1656 inSalisbury, Essex Co., MassachusettsAbigail MARTIN b: 10 Sep 1659 inSalisbury, Essex Co., MassachusettsWilliam MARTIN b: 11 Dec 1662 inSalisbury, Essex Co., MassachusettsSamuel MARTIN b: 29 Sep 1667 inSalisbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts