|
19John
Proctor was hung in Salem, Ma. as a wizard on August 19, 1692.
8"ELIZABETH,
aged "twenty & upward" 26 Nov. 1661, when she testified in
Court at Salem; d. at Salem, 30 Aug. ,1672; m. at Ipswich in Dec. 1662, JOHN
PROCTOR, b. in England in 1632; executed for witchcraft at Salem, 19 Aug.
1692, son of John & Martha Proctor. He m. (2) 1 Apr 1674 Elizabeth
Bassett, who was one of the first to be tried at Salem for witchcraft and who
would probably have met the fate of her husband had it not been for the
delicate state in which she was at the time."
20John
PROCTOR had three wives: Martha (---), m. 1655, Ipswich, Essex Co MA;
Elizabeth THORNDIKE (dau John THORNDIKE & Elizabeth STRATTON), m. Dec.
1662, Ipswich, Essex Co MA; and Elizabeth BASSETT, m. 1 Apr 1674, Salem,
Essex
("Witchcraft in Salem Village", by Winfield S. Nevins):
Quote:
John Bailey deposed that, "On the 25th of May last myself and wife being
bound to Boston on the road, when I came in sight of the house where John
Proctor did live there was a very hard blow struck on my breast, which caused
great pain in my stomach and amazement in my head, but did see no person near
me only my wife on my horse behind me on the same house; and when I came
against said Proctor's house, according to my understanding, I did see John
Proctor and his wife at said house. Proctor himself looked out of the window,
and his wife did stand just without the door. I told my wife of it; and she
did look that way and see nothing but a little maid at the door.
Afterwards, about a mile from the aforesaid house, I was taken speechless for
some short time. My wife did ask me several questions, and desired me if I
could not speak I should hold up my hand; which I did and immediately I could
speak as well as ever. And when we came to the way where Salem road cometh
into Ipswich road, there I received another blow on my breast which caused me
so much pain I could not sit on my horse. And when I did alight off my horse,
to my understanding, I saw a woman coming towards us about 16 or 20 pole from
us, but did not know who it was. My wife could not see her. When I did get up
on my horse again, to my understanding, there stood a cow where I saw the
woman."
As matter of fact, Proctor and his wife were at this time, in jail in Boston,
and had been there since April 11. Bailey was undoubtedly frightened at the
stories he had heard the previous evening in Salem Village, where he must
have passed the night on his way from his home in Newbury to Boston. His
wife, who perhaps had not heard the stories about Proctor and other
"witches," was not agitated and could plainly see that there was
only a maid standing at the door.
From Diary of Judge Samuel Sewall (1674-1729)
19 AUG 1692 ....George Burroughs, John Willard, John Proctor, Martha Carrier
and George Jacobs were executed at Salem, a very great number of Spectators
being present. Cotton Mather, Simns, Hale, Noyes, and Cheever, etc. All of
them said they were innocent, Carrier and all.
|
"Witchcraft in Salem Village", by Winfield S. Nevins, pp 84, 85, 105, 110, 146, 168-177, 225, 243, 254-6.
The story of the trial of John Procter and his wife Elizabeth is full of interest. The Procters lived originally in Ipswich, but subsequently in Salem Village, at the point now known as Procter's Crossing in Peabody. The house stood near the southerly end of Pleasant Hill. Procter was a respectable and well-to-do farmer. He came into conflict on one or two occasions with Giles Corey, but this does not seem to have had anything to do with the subsequent proceedings on the charge of witchcraft against him or his wife, although the same efforts have been made in this case as in many others to attribute the prosecution to personal animosities. Procter, in 1678, was a referee in a case between Corey and John Gloyd. The decision of Procter, and the other arbitrators was against Corey, but that didi not appear to create any ill-feellings between the two, and they are said to have drumk together after the decision had been announced.* Essex Court Records. A short time after this Procter's hous caught fire and some one was unkind enought to suggest that Corey set the fire, as already mentioned in an earlier chapter. As there stated, he was acquitted when brought to trial.
Complaint was made against Elizabeth Procter on April 4, by Capt Jonathan Walcott and Lieut. Nathaniel Ingersoll, for afflicting Abigail Williams, John Indian, Mary Walcott, and Putnam and Mercy Lewis. She waas arrested on the 11th and taken to Salem for examination, together with Sarah Cloyes, sister of Rebecca Nurse. Danforth, deputy governor, Samuel Appleton, Samuel Sewall and Isaac Addington sat with Hathrone and Corwin on this occasion. Procter himself, like a good husband followed his wife to court, but at the cost of his life. The girls of the accusing circle cried out against him and he was then and there arrested.
During the examination of Elizabeth Procter, Abigail Williams and Ann Putnam both made offer to strike at said Procter but when Abigail's hand came near it opened --(whereas it was made up into a fist before) and came down exceeding lightly, as it drew near to said Procter and at length, with open and extended fingers, touced Procter's hood very lightly. Immediately, abigail cried out, her gingers, her fingers, her fingers were burned.
Procter and his wife were brought to trial about August 5. I find three indictments against him on the files. One charges that he afflicted Mary Walcott on April 11; a second that he afflicted Mercy Lewis on the same day, and the third that he afflicted Mary Warren on March 26. Two indictments against Elizabeth Procter are on file. One charges that she afflicted Mary Walcott, the other that she afflicted Mercy Lewis, the date of the offence alleged in each case being April 11. The testimony offered at these trials differed very little from that used to convict in other cases, and the witnesses were substantially the same. One or two of the depositions are of rather more than ordinary interest, perhaps. Among them, I find this somewhat remarkable production:
Elizabeth Booth testified that on ye 8th of June hugh Joanes apered unto me & told me that Elesebeth Prockter kiled him because he had a poght of sider of her which he had not paid her for. On June 8th Elesebeth Shaw aperred unto me & told me yt Elesebeth Procter & John Willard kiled Her Because she did not use those doctors she Advised her to ... Ye wife of John Fuller Apeared unto me and told me that Elesebeth Procter kiled her because she would not give her aples when she sent for sum... The apparition of Law Shapling and Doc Zerubabel Endicott appeared and said Elizabeth Procter killed them, and the apparition of Robert Stone, sen., told him that John Procter and his wife killed him, and at the same time Robert Stone, jr., appeared and said Procter and his wife killed him because he took his father's part.
John Bailey deposed that, "On the 25th of May last myself and wife being bound to Boston on the road, when I came in sight of the house where John Procter did live there was a very hard blow struck on my breast, which caused great pain in my stomach and amazement in my head, but did see no person near me only my wife on my horse behind me on the same horse; and when I came against said Procter's house, according to my understanding, I did see John Procter and his wife at said house. Procter himself looked out of the window, and his wife did stand just without the door. I told my wife of it; and she did look that way and see nothing but a little maid at the door. Afterwards, about a mile from the aforesaid house, I was taken speechless for some short time. My wife did ask me several questions,and desired me if I could not speak I should hold up my hand; which I did and immediately I could speak as well as ever. And when we came to the way where Salem road cometh into Ipswich road, there I received another blow on my breast which caused me so much pain I could not sit on my horse. And when I did alight off my horse, to my understanding, I saw a woman coming towards us about 16 or 20 pole from us, but did not know who it was. My wife could not see her. When I did et up on my horse again, to my understanding, there stood a cow where I saw the woman."
As matter of fact, Procter and his wife were at this time, in jail in Boston, and had been there since April 11. Bailey was undoubtedly frightened at the stories he had heard the previous evening in Salem Village, where he must have passed the night on his way from his home in Newbury to Boston. His wife, who perhaps had not heard the stories about Procter and other "witches," was not agitated and could plainly see that there was only a maid standing at the door.
Of Procter's family, Benjamin, the oldest, was in prison with his parents; and his sister Sarah, aged sixteen, William, aged eighteen, Samuel aged seven, Abigail between three and four, and one still younger, were about home. William was sent to prison three days later, so it must have been the "little maid," Abigail, whom Bailey saw standing in the door way.
Procter and his wife were convicted, and sentenced to be hanged. Every effort possible was made to save him from suffereing the penalty. John Wise and 31 old neighbors in Ipswich signed a petition in his behalf to the court of assistants. "We whose names are underwritten, having several years known John Procter and his wife do testify that we never heard or understood that they were ever suspected to be guilty of the crime now charged upon them, and several of us, being their near neighbors, do testify, that to our apprehension, they lived Christian like in their family, and were ever ready to help such as stood in need of their help."
Procter wrote a letter to Rev. Messrs. Increase Mather, Allen, Moody, Willard and Bailey, which was signed by himself and several of his fellow prisoners, in which he said: "here are five persons who have lately confessed themselves to be witches, and do accuse some of us of being along with them at a sacrament, since we were committed into close prison, which we know to be lies, two of the fiver are (Carrier's children) young men, who would not confess anything till they tied them neck and heels, till the blood was ready to come out of their noses. My son Willian Procter, because he would not confess that he was guilty when he was innocent, they tied him neck and heels till the blood gushed out of his nose." This letter was written after the preliminary examinations, and while the prisoners were lying in jail awaiting trial. They asked that they might be tried in Boston, and if not, that they have other magistrates, -- requests which show in the strongest manner that the trials were notoriously unfair, for no accused persons would take the risk of offending the magistrates before whom they might be tried unless the emergency was a most extraordinary one, because failure to attain the object sought was sure to be prejudicial to thei cause. They also begged that some of the ministers be present at the trials, "hoping thereby you may be the means of saving the shedding of our innocent blood." No attention was paid to this appeal for fairness in trial, nor to the appeals for life subsequent to Procter's conviction and sentence. He was executed on August 19. His body, it is believed by his descendants, was recovered afterwards and buried on his farm. where it has since reposed.
Elizabeth Procter escaped by pleading pregnancy. Some months after the death of her husband she gave birth to a child *(Savage's Genealogical Dictionary of New England gives the date Jan 27 1692-3, but the correctness of this date is questioned.) Her home had been desolated. Not only had her husband been hanged, three of her children imprisoned, and she herself brought within the very shadow of the gallows, but the officers of the law had stripped that home of all its worldly possessions. Her execution was again ordered early in 1693, but Gov. Phips granted a reprieve. Many of her relatives in Lynn were accused and some brought to trial. All in all, the severe treatment of this family has led to the charge of special persecution. The reason for this, it is believed, was Procter's intense opposition to the sitchcraft prosecutions from the very beginning and particularly when he said he could "whip the devil out of them." *(Lieut. Ingersoll declared- yt John Proctor tould Joseph Pope yt if h - hade John Indian in his custody he would soon beat ye devill out of him, and so said severall others." Court Records, Salem). Possibly if he could have applied his remedy to the accusing girls, in the beginning, we should never have had any "Salem Village Witchcraft."
The third sitting of court was about August 2, Tuesday, when Rev. George Burroughs, John Procter, Elizabeth Proctor, George Jacobs sen., John Willard and Martha Carrier were tried and convicted. With the exception of Elizabeth Procter, they were executed on Friday, August 19, Another session was held early in September, beginning on Tuesday, the 6th, and terminating of Saturday the 17th. Martha Corey, Mary Easty, Alice Parker, Ann Pudeator, Dorcas Hoar and Mary Bradbury were tried, found guilty and sentenced the first week. All save the two last named were hanged on the 22d.
Mary Warren said Giles Corey was hostile to her and afflicted her because he thought she caused John Procter to ask more for a piece of meadow than he was willing to give......Giles Corey was also before the court in 1678 in suspicion of having set fire to John Procter's house. His innocence was clearly proved, and he turned on Procter and other of his defamers and sued them, recovering from all of them. He had had a lawsuit with Procter previous to this ("John Prokter against Giles Corye, defendant in an action of appeal from a judgement of Jah. Hathorne in August last, the jury found for the defendant, the confirmation of the former judgement." * Essex County Court Records, Salem.) In other ways he was mixed up unpleasantly in neighborhood afairs.
Judge Sewall wrote under date of August 19; "This day George Burroughs, John Willard, John Procter, Martha Carrier and George Jacobs were executed at Salem, a very great number of spectators being present, Mr. Cotton Mather was ther, Mr. Sims, Hale, Noyes, Cheever &c. All of them said they were innocent, Carrier and all. Mr. Mather says they all died by a Righteous Sentence. Mr. Burrough by his speech, prayer, presentation of his innocence did much move unthinking persons, which occasions their speaking hardly concerning his being executed." Sewall Papers, p. 369. |