Witchcraft in Early North America - Alison Games [121]
I am very sensible, that it is irksome and disagreeable to go back, when a man’s doing so is an implication that he has been walking in a wrong path: however, nothing is more honourable than, upon due conviction, to retract and undo, (so far as may be,) what has been amiss and irregular. . . .
There are two or three other things that I have observed in and by these afflicted persons, which make me strongly suspect that the Devill imposes upon their brains, and deludes their fancye and imagination; and that the Devill’s book (which they say has been offered them) is a mere fancye of theirs, and no reality: That the witches’ meeting, the Devill’s Baptism, and mock sacraments, which they oft speak of, are nothing else but the effect of their fancye, depraved and deluded by the Devill, and not a Reality to be regarded or minded by any wise man. And whereas the Confessours have owned and asserted the said meetings, the said Baptism, and mock Sacrament, (which the S. G. and some others, make much account of) I am very apt to think, that, did you know the circumstances of the said Confessours, you would not be swayed thereby, any otherwise than to be confirmed, that all is perfect Devilism, and an Hellish design to ruine and destroy this poor land: For whereas there are of the said Confessours 55 in number, some of them are known to be distracted, crazed women, something of which you may see by a petition lately offered to the chief Judge, a copy whereof I may now send you; others of them denyed their guilt, and maintained their innocency for above eighteen hours, after most violent, distracting, and draggooning methods had been used with them, to make them confesse. Such methods they were, that more than one of the said confessours did since tell many, with teares in their eyes, that they thought their very lives would have gone out of their bodyes; and wished that they might have been cast into the lowest dungeon, rather than be tortured with such repeated buzzings and chuckings and unreasonable urgings as they were treated withal.
They soon recanted their confessions, acknowledging, with sorrow and grief, that it was an hour of great temptation with them. . . .
What will be the issue of these troubles, God only knows; I am afraid that ages will not wear off that reproach and those stains which these things will leave behind them upon our land. I pray God pity us, Humble us, Forgive us, and appear mercifully for us in this our mount of distress: Herewith I conclude, and subscribe myself,
Reverend Sir, your real friend and humble servant,
T. B.
Note
1. John Alden was examined at Salem on May 28, 1692, arrested on May 31, and incarcerated in the Boston jail, from which he escaped.
Source: Burr, ed., Narratives, 170, 171–72, 173–76, 186, 188–89, 190.
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26. Ann Putnam’s Confession, 1706
Ann Putnam was a thirteen-year-old possessed accuser in Salem in 1692 whose testimony was central to the conviction and executions of most of the people accused and hanged in that year (see documents 21 and 24). Fourteen years later, she stood before the church at Salem Village and made the following confession before she joined the church. What exactly did she confess to?
1706. Aug 25. Received Ann Putnam to full communion.
The confession of Anne Putnam when she was received to communion: 1706
I desire to be humbled before God for that sad and humbling providence that befell my fathers family in the year about 92; that I then being in my childhood should by such a providence of God be made an instrument for that accuseing of severall persons of a grievous crime, wherby their lives were taken away from them, whom now I have just grounds and good reason to believe they were innocent persons; and that it was a great delusion of Satan that deceived me in that sad time, whereby I justly fear I have been instrumental with others tho’ ignorantly and unwittingly to bring