George Darling of Marblehead, Lynn and Salem Massachusetts     George Darling was born between the years of 1615 and 1620 most likely in the Midlothian region of Scotland. Some researchers have attempted to attach his parentage to George Darling and Isabell Muckle, however I have not been able to find any evidence of that as of yet. George was captured at the Battle of Dunbar Scotland by Oliver Cromwells troops in September of 1650. After the battle George and tens of thousands of other Scots were taken to Durham Castle and then sent to London, England for trial. Many of the Scots did not survive the conditions at Durham Castle nor the march to London. Even fewer survived the trip to the new colonies. After being pronounced guilty at his ’trial’, George was indentured to John Bex(Beax) and Company and sent as an indentured servant to the Lynn Ironworks in Lynn Mass for an 8 year term of servitude. The Iron Works is now largely referred to as the Saugus Iron Works and is presently located in Saugus Massachusetts. Historically it was also referred to as the Iron Works at Hammersmith. On November 11, 1650 George Darling and some 150 other Scotsmen sailed across the Atlantic ocean aboard the ship Unity to the new Colonies. They arrived in Boston in December of 1650. 62 of these men went to work as woodcuters in the forests near the Iron Works. Others stayed in Boston, some went to Maine and others sent south. One wonders, given his age at the time of between 30 and 35 if George didn't leave an entire family back in Scotland? Did he have a wife and children in the Midlothians? We'll probably never know for sure, we do know the families of the captured Scots never knew exactly what happened to them. They were not informed if their sons and husbands had been captured, died at Durham Castle or on the march back to London. Never told their loved ones had been shipped an entire world away. Some time around 1657 George married a woman by the given name of Katherine and they were married until his death in 1693. The exact date of his death is uncertain. We know his estate was inventories on September 13, 1693 and the will probated October 9, 1693. It is believed his " Good Wife" Katherine died some time after 1703. George took The Freeman Oath. In 1672 George purchased two plots of land refered to as the Coy Pond property in Lynn/Salem/Essex/Ma and became the owner of a tavern and inn on that property. Before this time, or possibly during, he was also a farmer and a yeoman. George also fished and cut wood. One of their sons, James Darling, gave testimony against Mary Towne Esty during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Mary Towne's brother Jacob Towne is my direct ancestor. You can download James Darling's original written testimony here two .JPG parts. Testimony Signature. James Darling was married to Hannah Lewis Maine. She was the aunt of Mercy Lewis, one of the 'afflicted girls' of the Witch Hysteria. It is believed but not proven that after her death James married Sarah Proctor, daughter of John and Elizabeth Proctor. John Proctor was hung during the trials. His wife, Elizabeth, escaped hanging because she was pregnant, by the time she delivered the hysteria was over. You may download .JPG images from "Witchcraft in Salem Village in 1692" by Winfield S. Nevins published in 1892 as pertains to the surname PROCTOR here. They are not listed in any particular order part one part two part four part five   George was involved in several court cases the following are excerpts from the "Ipswich Quarterly Court" vol. 1 1636-1659 This is after the death of John Bex and appears to be taken from his will. "....to Daniell Salmon for diett of George Darling forty weekes beeing from ye 20 of December until ye 26 of September amounteinge to ye summ of 10li" *******not sure yet but I'm assuming "li" referrs to English Pounds (currency)*** From Iswitch Quarterly Court Vol II 1656-1662 "Oliver Purchis and George Darline, both at the Ironworks, deposed that in February last, 1656, in the moonlight they went to Linne town to the ordinary to see some persons from the Ironworks who had been there the whole afternoon before. They found a great store in the house drinking, some being full of drunk, particularly Sergeant Eldridge of Maldin, who had been there the greater part of the day before. Darline having occasion to be in the house all night, deposed that Eldridge slept by the fire all night, and if deponent had not been there, his clothes and perhaps himself would have been burned so full of drink was the Sergeant. In one room was Muzzy and his wife, she sitting on one side of the table between two men and her husband on the other side of the table merrily singing to the rest. Katherine Lary, who lived in the house testified to the same. Allester Munduggle also testified." From the same: "George Darline and his wife, Kate, deposed that last winter all one Sabbath ay there were several persons sitting and drinking at Mr. John Hawthorn's house. That they were there from after morning exercise until people came from the evening exercise. They saw John Divan of the Irwonworks and Ralph Russell in the house overgone with drink. mr. Bridgwater also had been seen drunk in the house sometimes. Sworn before Thomas Marshall, commissioner of Lynn. 1657 From the Salem Quarterly Court Vol 4 1667-1671 "George Darlin aged fifty years and John Farbish aged about forty years, deposed concerning the agreement, and that the fish was to be delivered "at weighing time" Sworn March 3, 1670 before William Hathorne." "George Darling, aged about sixty years and Engrome Moodie aged about sixteen years, deposed that being neighbors of Mr. John Blano that they never hear him or the children complain of not having food and raiment and said Blano provided as well for them as any other man thereabouts. He had several time bought quarters of mutton, butter, cheese and milk for them. Sworn in court." From Ipswich Quarterly Court vol 7 1680-1683 "George Darling of Salem aged about sixty-six years, testified that he carried away a frame of a house of Jon. Coder and a frame of a house for William Poet, etc. Sworn in court September 26, 1681 before Bartholomew Gedney. From Ipswitch Quarterly Court Vol 8 1680-1683 "George Darling, aged sixty-six years, testified that Blood's lot in Lynn adjoining Fillawayes lot next the great bridge by Capt. Marshall's, etc. He further testified to the ownership from 1653-1661, when he left the Iron works. Sword Sept. 26, 1681" From Salem Quarterly Court Vol 9 1683-1686 "Warrant dated July 5, 1684 for the appearance of Walter Philips and wife Ruth, William Beale, Jr and his wife Sarah Paul and John Darlin son of George Darlin of Salem, Nathll Carrell, Jr and Prissillah Downing for fornication' From The Great Migration Begins On 1 May 1667 John Peach Sr. and others purchased fifty acres in Marblehead from Solomon Stoddard of Boston, gentleman, "fellow of the College of Cambridge in the County of Middlesex" [ELR 3:26]. On 24 February 1671[/2] John Peach of Marblehead, gentleman, sold to George Darling of Marblehead, farmer, "all that his quarter part of land called by the name of the Coye Pond land formerly purchased of Mr. Samuel Stoddard ... & one quarter part of all that land was purchased of Nathaniel Pitnam" [ELR 3:171].   You will want to search through this database for more information on these lines. I welcome additions, corrections and further information. E-Mail me. 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