Witchcraft in Early North America - Alison Games [118]
Mary Warin & others of the afflicted: were struck down into: fitts & Helped up out of their fitts by a touch of Abig’l folkn’rs hand: she was urged to confes the truth:for the creddit of hir Town: her CouzEliz Jonson urged her: with that: but: she refused to do it saying god would not: require her to confess that: that she was not gilty of Phelpses daughter complayned her afflicting her: but: she denyed: that she had any thing to doe with witchcraft she said falkn’r had a cloth in her hand: that when she squeezed in her hand the afflicted; fell into greevous fits: as was observed: the afflicted sayd Dan’ll Eames & Capt floyd was upon that cloth when it was upon the table
She sayd she was sorry they were afflicted: but she was told & it was observd she did not shed a tear: mary waren was pulld und’r the table & was helpd out of her fitt by a touch of said faulkn’r she said she had looked on some of these afflicted: when they came to Andov’r & hurt them not: but she was told it was before she had began to afflict them: she was told that it was reported she used to Conjure with a seiv: but she said it was not so that story:was cleared up:
August 30: 92: Abig’l Fokner: before: their Majestt’s Justices at first denyed witchcraft as she had done before: but afterward: she owned: that: she was Angry at what folk s:d when her Couz Eliz. Jonson was taken up: & folk laught & said her sister Jonson would come out next: & she did look with an evil eye on the afflicted persons & did consent that they should be afflicted: becaus they were the caus of bringing her kindred out: and she did wish them ill & her spirit being raised she did:pinch her hands together: & she knew not but that the devil might take that advantage but it was the devil not she that afflicted them: this she said she did at Capt Chandlers garison: the Night after: Eliz Jonson had bin examined before Capt Bradstreet in the day.
Source: Salem Witchcraft Papers, v. 1, 327–28.
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25. Thomas Brattle’s Skepticism, 1692
Born in Boston in 1658, Thomas Brattle was educated at Harvard College and traveled and studied abroad before becoming the treasurer of Harvard in 1693. He wrote this letter to an unknown minister about the legal procedures that were followed in Salem and the phenomenon of the confessing women. His letter conveys considerable skepticism about the course of events in Salem. What was the basis of his skepticism? Was he more troubled by violations of legal procedure or by the belief system exposed in the trials? How did he explain confession? How does his explanation for confession compare with your own, based on your analysis of documents 19, 21, 23, and 24?
October 8, 1692.
. . . whether you expect such freedome from me, yea or no, yet shall you find, that I am very open to communicate my thoughts unto you, and in plain terms to tell you what my opinion is of the Salem proceedings.
First, as to the method which the Salem Justices do take in their examinations, it is truly this: A warrant being issued out to apprehend the persons that are charged and complained of by the afflicted children, (as they are called); said persons are brought before the Justices, (the afflicted being present.) The Justices ask the apprehended why they afflict those poor children; to which the apprehended answer, they do not afflict them. The Justices order the apprehended to look upon the said children, which accordingly they do; and at the time of that look, (I dare not say by that look, as the Salem Gentlemen do) the afflicted are cast into a fitt. The apprehended are then blinded, and ordered to touch the afflicted; and at that touch, tho’ not by the touch, (as above) the