Witchcraft in Early North America - Alison Games [116]
JOHN PROCTER, etc.
Source: Calef, More Wonders, 104–5.
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23. The Examination of Mary Toothaker, July 30, 1692
Mary Toothaker lived in Billerica, Massachusetts. Her husband, Roger, was accused on May 18; ten days later Mary, along with her daughter, Margaret, and her sister, Martha Carrier, was accused. Roger died in prison in Boston in June. Two days after Mary Toothaker confessed, Indians attacked Billerica, killing all of the residents of two homes near her own. Toothaker was acquitted in 1693, along with her nephew Richard; her sister hanged on August 19, 1692. Toothaker never retracted her confession. What does Toothaker’s confession tell you about the conditions in which she lived? How did the proximity of Indians shape her experience and her confession? How does her depiction of the Devil compare with his image in other documents from Salem? Do you think that Toothaker believed that she was a witch?
30 July 92 The Examination and confession of widow Toothaker Taken before Major Gidney Mr Hauthorn Mr Corwin & Cap’n Higginson.
After many questiones and negative answers returned and her Stricking Down of severall of the afflicted persons with her looks, she was Desyred to tell the truth in this matter She then said that this May last she was under great Discontentednes & troubled with feare about the Indians, & used often to dream of fighting with them. Being asked what was the Devils temptation under her discontentment she said she would confess if she could But that there was something at her breast that hindered her. she said she had often prayed but thought she was the worse for praying and knows not but that the Devil has tempted her not to pray, for her breath has been often Stopt as it was just now; Being asked if the Devil did not Desier her to renounce her baptisme, she answered that she had thoughts she was rather the worse for her baptisme and has wished she had not been baptised because she had not improved it as she ought to have done she saith she used to get into a corner alone and Desryed to prey but her mouth would be Stopt but sometymes she had been helped to say Lord be merce full to me a sinner. Being again asked how far she had yeilded to Satan she said the Devil promised her she should not be discovered and if she was discovered & brought down that she should goe home Innocent & cleare but now find he has deluded her. Being again asked how long it is since saten furst wrought with her in this manner she said she could not well tell how long but thinks it is not two years. And confesses that she went In her Spirit [to Timo’ Swans] and did often think of him & her hands would be clinched, and that she would grip the dishclout or anything else and so think of the person; And by this & afflicting of others since She came down she is convinced she is a witch—she saith now, the Devil appeared to her in the shape of a Tawny man and promised to keep her from the Indians and she should have happy dayes with her sone—she was asked if she did not signe the Devills book; answered he brought something which she [took] to bee a piece of burch bark and she made a mark with her finger by rubbing off the whit Scurff. And he promised if she would serve him she should be safe from the Indians (she was then a litle stopt again & believed it was the Devil that did it). Being asked if the Devil did not say she was to serve him Answered Yes, and signed the mark upon that condition and was to praise him with her whole heart, and twas to that appearance she prayed at all tymes for he said he was able to delyver her from the Indians