Journal of the Esssex County Natural History. Proceedings of the Essex Institute, vol 1, and parts 1 and 2 of vol. 2. Endicott's Account of Leslie's Retreat. Streeter's Account of the Newspapers and other Periodicals published in Salem. Fowler's Account of the Life, Character, &c., of Rev. Samuel Parris, and of his connection with the Witchcraft Delusion of 1692-are for sale by the Secretary, and at the Bookstore of Henry Whipple & Son. All Communications to be addressed to the Secretary of the Essex Institute. Officers of the Essex Institute, PRESIDENT.-Daniel A. White. ELECTED MAY 9, 1860. VICE PRESIDENTS.-Of Natural History-John L. Russell. Of Horticulture-James Upton. Of History-Henry M. Brooks. SECRETARY AND TREASURER.-Henry Wheatland. LIBRARIAN.-John H. Stone. CABINET KEEPER.-Richard H. Wheatland. FINANCE COMMITTEE. John C. Lee, R. S. Rogers, H. M. Brooks, George D. Phippen, James Chamber lain. LIBRARY COMMITTEE.-Daniel A. White, Samuel P. Fowler, David Roberts. PUBLICATION COMMITTEE.-John L. Russell, Henry Wheatland, George D. Phippen, Ira J. Patch, John H. Stone, George M. Whipple. Comparative Anatomy-Henry WheatHerpetology and Ichthyology-Richard Mollusca and Paleontology-Henry F. King CURATORS OF NATURAL HISTORY.-Botany-John L. Russell. land. Mammalogy-F. Winsor. Ornithology-F. W. Putnam. H. Wheatland. Articulata and Radiata-Caleb Cooke. Mineralogy-David M. Balch. Geology-Henry F. Shepard. CURATORS OF HISTORY.-Ethnology-William S. Messervy, M. A. Stickney, Francis H. Lee. Manuscripts-Henry M. Brooks, Ira J. Patch, Lincoln R. Stone, Gilbert L. Streeter, Samuel B. Buttrick.Fine Arts-Francis Peabody, Joseph G. Waters. CURATORS OF HORTICULTURE.-Fruits and Vegetables-James Upton, John M. Ives. J. Fisk Allen, George B. Loring, Richard S. Rogers, Charles F. Putnam. Flowers-Francis Putnam, Wm Mack, Chas. H. Norris. Gardens-John L. Russell, Benjamin A. West, Joseph S. Cabot, John Bertram. The Prosecution of Philip English and his wife for when Philip English surrendered himself, there Witchcraft. BY GEORGE F. CHEVER. Continued from Vol. II, Page 248. By a bill of particulars, now on file among the records, signed by John King and Annis or Ann King, the latter of whom was her daughter-and which bill or account was intended for the eyes of the committee who distributed the pecuniary relief granted the sufferers of 1692 in 1711-12, it appears that Mrs. H. lay in Salem jail some nine months, and that her daughter and son-in-law paid £9 for her support during that period, and made two journeys to Boston to obtain her reprieve. Mrs. Hoare died before 1711-12, as is evident from this account, and appears to have been barely saved from the gallows. Philip English, (according to tradition) kept himself well out of the way of the Marshal for a while-going to Boston to see what he could do with the authorities there for his wife,-and, when he found that his absence was being used to her prejudice, he voluntarily surrendered himself, preferring to share one fate together. On the 6th of May a second warrant was issued against him, and directed to the Marshal General or his Deputies, though he was not arrested, it would appear, VOL. II. 34 were about a hundred persons imprisoned for Witchcraft. (Page 214.) Sir William Phips arrived on the 14th of May, 1692, with a Commission from their Majesties to be Governor of the Province, and having read his Commission. "the first thing he exerted his power in, was said to be his giving orders that irons should be put upon those in prison [those committed for witchesaft;] for though for sometime after these were committed, the accusers ceased to cry out of them; yet now the cry against them was renewed, which occa sioned such order; and though there was partiality in executing it (some having taken them off almost as soon as put on,) yet the cry of these accusers against such, ceased after this order." (Calef, page 205.) It will be seen by this extract, that the Governor, by this course, aided the accusers, and gave the de lusion new force, and it will be seen, also, how unreliable those accusers were; for the prisoners were ironed to prevent the free motion of their bodies, since those afflicted by them, were compelled, according to their own stories, to imitate every action of their tormentors. Hearing that the Governor had issued his order for putting the prisoners in irons, en not knowing the partiality practised, they ceased their outeries, believing all the prisoners to be in irons accord ing to the order! If the freedom of the prisoners did afflict the accusers, how could it happen (if the witchcraft was true) that the freedom of those prisoners both did, and did not afflict them? Yet it appears that none, even of those who had spectral the tradition concerning his voluntary surren- | Corwin Esqr, the 31st May 1692, to answer der. We append a copy of this second War- to the accusation by me. rant: To the Marshall Generall or his lawful Depu ties: Whereas Complaint hath bin made by Capt. Jonathan Walcott and Thomas Putnam, of Salem Village, vpon the 30th of April last past, in behalf of their Majesties against Philip English, of Salem, Merchant, for high suspition of Divers acts of witchcraft donne or committeed by him vpon the Bodys of Ann Putnam, Marcy Lewis, Susannah Sheldon, &c., of Salem Village or farmes, and whereas warrant hath benne for some time since granted out for the apprehending of the said Phillip English to bring him vpon examination and he not appearing or found since in ye County of Essex. You are therefore, in theire Majesties names hereby required to apprehend the said Phillip English of Salem, merch't, and him convey vnto Salem in ye County of Essex and deliver him into ye Custody of the Marshall of said County of Essex or lawfull authority there, that he may be Examined Relating to ye abousd premises, Either by such as shall be appointed therevnto or to the Majestrates in said place, and hereof you are not to faile. Dated at Boston, May 6, 1692. JOHN HATHORNE, JONATHAN CORWIN, Ass'te. In obedience to the within written warrt the within remanded Phillip English was arrested and committed by the Marshall Generall to the Marshall of Essex on the 30th of May instant, and in pursuance of the sd warrant the sd phillipp English was brought before the within mentioned John Hathorne and Jonathan sight, were able to discern the fact of the unloosing of these prisoners! Such are some of the reflections p mee JACOB MANNING, marsell depuy. [Vol. Salem Witchcraft, pp. 207, 208.] According to the Return of the Deputy Marshall, Mr. English was brought before the Magistrates on the 31st May, most probably at the Village, and was doubtless examined, as he was committed to prison. He would have been called (if tried) to answer among others, the following Complaint, which is still on file: [Complaint.] Susannah Sheldon v. Phillip English. The complaint of Susanna Sheldon against. Phillip English, the sd Susannah Sheldon being at meeting on the Sabbath-day being the 24th of Aprill shee being aflicted in a very sad manner she saw Phillip english step over his pew and pinched her and a woman which came from boston wich saith her name is Good nd when shee were coming home against William Shaw's house their mother, Phillip English and a black man with a hy crowned hatt on his head and a book in his hand houlding the book to her and Phillip english told her that Black man were her God and it shee would touch that boock hec would not pinch her no more nor nobody els should. on the next day phillip English came again and pinched her and told her that if shee would not toutch the book hee would kill her. on the second day at night apeared to her two women and a man and brought their books and bid her touch them shee told them she would not shee did not know wher they lived on of them told her they lived at the village and heald the book to her again and bid her touch it. shee told her shee did not know their names on of them told her shee was old Goodman buch lyes [Bucklys] wife and the other woman was her daughter Mary and bid her touch the book, shee told no she had not told her how and conclusions naturally forced upon thinking men, if Calef's account be true, and we have never seen it contradicted. Hutchinson says that Calef's state-long she had been a witch then shee told her ment of facts is a fair one, though it occasioned great offence, when published. shee had been a witch ten years and then she opened her brest and the black man gave her two little things like yong cats and she pit them to her brest and suckled them they had no hair on them and had ears like a man then they ofered her their books and shee refused them then they pinch her and the man. struck her on the head and went away. on the third day they apeared a woman without the door sat lafeing at her and came into the house and hopted up and down and proffered her the book and told her if she would touch it shee would not pinch her shee told her (wud not she did not kno her lived) told her she lived at Boston, she held her book to her again shee told her shee did not know her name shee told her name was Goodwife White. the same day came Goody Buckli and her daughter and brought books with them and told her if shee would touch their book they would not pinch her, but shee rcfused then they pinched her and went away, then i was sitting on the inside of the doorsil and Goody Buckly came and stoped my mouth and carried me a wai i know not how and near a mile and told mee that now shee had mee at her command if i would not set my hand to her booke shee would kill mee then. william show [Shaw] being plowing in his fathers field heard a fearfull cry in a thicket of yong wod went to it and found her (?) in a terrible manner screaming and breacking of sticks and fighting in a violent manner.[Vol. Salem Witchcraft, pp. 209-10.] This Susannah Sheldon appears against him in two other depositions; which testimony we shall now append, and in which will be seen the manner in which those accused of witchcraft were entangled with each other in these accusations. The first deposition is in the case of John Willard. Susanna Sheldon v. John Willard. May 17th in the year 1692. glish and his wife Remaines afflicting of hur both night and day. George Jacobs and his wife afflicting of hur the last lord's day and tempting the said Shelton to sete hur hand to the booke they both appering yesterday againe And would haue hur sete her hand to the booke, the said Shelton said she would not, then she said she would stabb hur then sudenly she Reseaued A sore wound on hur lith [left?] side, then Elizabeth Colson stabbing at hur on the back Right against the other wounds soe that she speate blood, then goody prochter Appearing to hur and Afflicting of hur and tempting hur to sete hur hand to the book And last night goody prochter Appearing againe and would haue hur sete hur hand to the booke and tould hur that she had sete hur hand to the booke a great while agoe. also sd Shelden has scueral times seen John Proctor afflict Mary Waria senc they sd Prockter & his wife were in prison. NOTE [Vol. Salem Witchcraft, page 296.1 Susannah Sheldon was afflicted mainly by the appearances [spectres] of the parties above charged The "spectres" in 1692 appear to have performed about all the witchcrafts then practised. It is a noticeable fact in Deliverance Hobbs's important confession in regard to the Witch meeting in the pasture of Rev. Mr. Parris, that every one of the parties accused of attending it (excepting Rev. Mr. Burroughs) were already in prison, and therefore could only have been present by their spectres, who, however, resembled their owners, the witches, as one's likeness in a glass resembles himself. These sp etres were spiritual, of course, and only visible to those having the spectral sight; that is, the power of seeing them—that is, the afflicted themselves the spectre could be hit by a rapier, or cane, the Yet, if body of the witch it belonged to would also suffer by a close, inseparable sympathy. (See “Glanvil of Witches," passim.) In Deliverance Hobb's Examination, (in note,) Benjamin Hutchinson is reported as having struck at the spectre of Goody Hobbs,- that is, where Abthe complainte of Susanah Shellton saith Elizabeth Colson Remaynes in afflicting of the standing, and in the house of Deacon Ingers lls the igail Williams and Mary Walcott told him it was aid Shellton night & day. And allso Mrs. day before, &c, and we find Goody Hobbs reported White also John Willard Remaynes in Afflictas acknowledging herself to be hurt in her side, &c. ing of hur both day and night also Mr. In- !-hat is, as having been wounded through her spre tre, &c. As Goody Hobbs was prepared to admit anything and everything asked of her, in order to save her own life, her assent to the spectral marvels of that day is accounted for without great difficulty.] We have given a sketch of Willard's fate, and shall therefore pass to the next. should tell of it tomorah then inglesh told me that he would go kill the governor if he could he would go try he was the gretest innemy he had then he sayd that he would kil 10 folck in boston before next six day if he was tacken up [arrested] the greter weemen aflict me stil not. Vol. Salem Witchcraft, pages 348-9. Blockula by the Devil, were sometimes similarly befriended by a white angel. Was the idea got from them? See Scott, page 190. It must be borne in mind, in reading such com plaints, and in fact throughout this witchcraft mat Susanah Sheldon v. Sarah Proctor. the complaint of Susanah Sheldon of Mr. andras and Sarah Procter 20 of this may they both afflicted me the next day Sarah Procter brought the book to me and Sarah Procter and andres and [illegible] thay mad me def and dum and blind al night and the next day till 10 of clock then came inges [English] and ter, that these afflicted persons considered themselves, brought his book and drod his knife and said and were considered to be, the suffering martyrs of if I would not touch it he would cut my throt, the New England church—undergoing infernal torthen there Apeared to me A ded man he told ments from the witches and wizards of 1692, for reme his name was Joseph rabson then he looked fusing to join the Devil's church, and sign his laws, or to conceal the guilt of the accused when known upon ingles and told him that he murdered to them, and were upheld sometimes by a Divine him and drounded him in the se. thar was strength in consequence, and the visit even of minanother man in the boot A long with me [Rab-istering angels! The witches and wizards, who torson] and the boot tossed up and down and turend over and my handes ware clenched that I could not lay hold, the other man layd hold and was saued. then he [Rabson's ghost] told me [Sheldon] that I must tell mastr hatheren [the magistrate] and told me that I should not rest tel I had told it then inglish told me that if I did he would cut my leges of then ther apeared to me a shinging and told me I *Shining Man, or Angel, is here meant-one of those who were sometimes sent to uphold the afflicted, when on the point of despair. These angelic visi tations are suggestive of the religious causes of the witchcraft persecutions. Thus "Mercy Lewis (ag carly as April 1st, 1692) affirmed (see Calef, pages 200-1) that she saw a man in white, with whom she went into a glorious place, viz: in her fits, where was no light of the sun, much less of candles, yet was full of light and brightness, with a great multitude in white glittering robes, who sang the song in Rev, v. 9, and the CX and CXLIX Psalms; and was given that she might tarry no longer in this place. This white man is said to have appeared several times to others of them, and to have given them notice how long it should be before they should have another fit mented them, were, on the other hand, members in full communion of the Devil's church, had subscribed to its Covenant of Hell (therefore called "COVENANT" witches) and were resolutely bent on compelling the tormented, by their witchcrafts and persecutions, to join that church also, or to silence them by any and all means from revealing the persecutions and crimes of those tormentors from the magistrates. Thus in this deposition of Susannah Sheldon's, Mr. Andras (or Andrews?) and Sarah Procter tormented her for not signing the Devil's laws, as did Mr. English himself, who drew his knife and threatened to eat her throat if she did not touch his book (sign the Devil's book or laws.) and then also threatened to cut her legs off if she told Mr. Hathorn (the magistrate) that he (English) murdered Joseph Rabson, which fact had been revealed to her by the dead man himself. This Susannah S. seems to have been then a veritable necromancer, and as such, under the Jewish Dispensation, would assuredly have been put to death. During the illusion of 1692, however, she was considered the martyr and saint, and those whom she accused as the real witches and wizards. The very Bible itself was thus turned upside down, and perverted during that illusion. Those who committed the veritable biblical sin of witchcraft in 1692, were considered as the sufferers by it, and So the Swedish children, who were carried to those who suffered by it were considered to be the |