Mary Martin (F)
b. 1748, #218505
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=4th great-grandaunt of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     Mary Martin was born in 1748 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of Joshua Martin and Sarah Story.

John Heywood (M)
b. 20 February 1760, d. 30 April 1825, #218507
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=4th great-grandfather of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     John Heywood was also known as John Hayward. He was also known as John Haywood. John Heywood was born in 1760 at Winchendon, Worcester County, Massachusetts. John Heywood was born on 20 February 1760 at Holden, Worcester County, Massachusetts. He was the son of Charles Heywood and Abigail Hubbard. John Heywood served in Col. Wait's batallion. He married Hannah Poore, daughter of David Poore and Jane Martin, on 5 March 1787 at Winchendon, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
John Heywood appeared on the census of 1790 at Mendon, Worcester County, Massachusetts; 2 white
2 white
3 white. He died on 30 April 1825 at Springfield, Windsor County, Vermont, at age 65.

Hannah Poore (F)
b. 28 April 1766, d. 24 October 1860, #218508
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=4th great-grandmother of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     Hannah Poore was born on 28 April 1766 at Winchendon, Worcester County, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of David Poore and Jane Martin. Hannah Poore married John Heywood, son of Charles Heywood and Abigail Hubbard, on 5 March 1787 at Winchendon, Worcester County, Massachusetts. Hannah Poore died on 24 October 1860 at Chester, Windsor County, Vermont, at age 94.

Solomon Burnham (M)
b. circa 1709, d. 15 April 1784, #218509
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=5th great-grandfather of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     Solomon Burnham was born circa 1709 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. He was the son of Jacob Burnham and Mehetible Perkins. Solomon Burnham married Mehitable Emerson, daughter of Thomas Emerson and Phillipa Perkins, on 13 November 1729 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. Solomon Burnham died on 15 April 1784 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts.

Mehitable Emerson (F)
b. circa 1708, d. 13 August 1792, #218510
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=5th great-grandmother of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     Mehitable Emerson was born circa 1708 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of Thomas Emerson and Phillipa Perkins. Mehitable Emerson married Solomon Burnham, son of Jacob Burnham and Mehetible Perkins, on 13 November 1729 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. Mehitable Emerson died on 13 August 1792 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts.

Jacob Burnham (M)
b. 1 March 1681/82, d. 26 March 1773, #218511
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=6th great-grandfather of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     Jacob Burnham was born on 1 March 1681/82 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. He was the son of John Burnham Sr. and Elizabeth Wells. Jacob Burnham married Mehetible Perkins, daughter of Jacob Perkins and Sarah Wainwright, on 12 September 1704 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. Jacob Burnham died on 26 March 1773 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts, at age 91.

Mehetible Perkins (F)
b. 12 July 1681, d. 6 September 1769, #218512
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=6th great-grandmother of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     Mehetible Perkins was born on 12 July 1681 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of Jacob Perkins and Sarah Wainwright. Mehetible Perkins married Jacob Burnham, son of John Burnham Sr. and Elizabeth Wells, on 12 September 1704 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. Mehetible Perkins died on 6 September 1769 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts, at age 88.

John Burnham Sr. (M)
b. 1648, d. 12 January 1703/4, #218513
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=7th great-grandfather of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     John Burnham Sr. was born in 1648 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. He was the son of Lt. Thomas Burnham and Mary Lawrence. John Burnham Sr. married Elizabeth Wells, daughter of Deacon Thomas Wells and Abigail Warner, on 9 June 1669 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. John Burnham Sr. was became the proprietor of the gist mill at the head of Whittridge Creek and afterwards at the falls in 1689 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. He died on 12 January 1703/4 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts.

Jacob Perkins (M)
b. circa 1646, d. 26 November 1719, #218514
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=7th great-grandfather of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     Jacob Perkins was born circa 1646 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. He was the son of John Perkins and Elizabeth (Unknown). Jacob Perkins married Sarah Wainwright, daughter of Francis Wainwright and Phillippa Sewell, in 1667 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. Jacob Perkins was maltster. He married Sarah Kinsman circa 1688 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. Jacob Perkins died on 26 November 1719. His estate was proved on 14 December 1719.

Sarah Wainwright (F)
b. before 1649, d. 3 February 1687/88, #218515
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=7th great-grandmother of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     Sarah Wainwright was born before 1649 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of Francis Wainwright and Phillippa Sewell. Sarah Wainwright married Jacob Perkins, son of John Perkins and Elizabeth (Unknown), in 1667 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. Sarah Wainwright died on 3 February 1687/88 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts.

John Perkins (M)
b. 14 September 1609, d. 14 December 1686, #218516
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=8th great-grandfather of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     John Perkins was baptized on 14 September 1609 at Hillmorton, Warwick, England. He was the son of John Perkins and Judith Gater. John Perkins was born on 8 November 1609 at Hillmorton, Warwick, England. He married Elizabeth (Unknown) before 1636. John Perkins died on 14 December 1686 at age 77.

Elizabeth (Unknown) (F)
d. 27 September 1684, #218517
Relationship=8th great-grandmother of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     Elizabeth (Unknown) was also known as Elizabeth? Westly. She married John Perkins, son of John Perkins and Judith Gater, before 1636. Elizabeth (Unknown) died on 27 September 1684.

John Perkins (M)
b. 23 December 1583, #218518
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=9th great-grandfather of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     John Perkins was baptized on 23 December 1583 at Hillmorton, Warwick, England. He was the son of Henry Perkins and Elizabeth Sawbridge. John Perkins married Judith Gater, daughter of Michael Gater and Isabel Elizabeth Bailey, on 9 October 1608 at Hillmorton, Warwick, England. John Perkins emigrated on 1 December 1630 from Bristol, Somerset, England; aboard the ship "Lyon." He immigrated on 5 February 1631. On 18 May 1631 John Perkins was listed as a freeman. He held the position of commitiee member to set the bounds of Roxbury and Dorchester on 7 November 1632. He was granted forty acres in 1634 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. He was granted three acres of upland; ten acres of meadow; an island at More's Point; ten acres where "he hath built a house"; six acres of meadow; six acres of upland in 1635 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. He was granted forty acres in 1636 at Chebacco-Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. He held the position of Deputy to the General Court for Ipswich on 25 May 1636. He was granted six acres of plowland in 1639. He served on the Essex grand jury on 24 December 1641. He served on the Essex grand jury on 26 September 1648. On 26 March 1650 Being above sixty years old, is freed from ordinary training.
He served on the Essex grand jury on 28 September 1652. He left a will on 28 March 1654 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts.

     "John Perkines the Elder of Ipswich being at this time sick and weak in body" bequeathed to "my eldest son John Perkines a foal...also...to my son John's two sons John and Abraham to each of them one of my yearling heifers"; to "my son Thomas Perkines one cow and one heifer also...to his son John Perkines one ewe"; to my daughter Elizabeth Sargeant one cow and a heifer to be to her and here children after her decease"; to "my daughter Mary Bradley one cow and one heifer or a young steer...to her & to her children"; to "my daughter Lidia Bennitt one cow and one heifer or steer...to her children"; to "my grandchild Thomas Bradley one ewe"; to "my son Jacob Perkines my dwelling house together with all the outhousing and all my lands...according to a former covenant, after the decease of my wifte"; residue "to my dear wife Judith Perkines" sole executrix, "as also to dispose of some of the increase to children of my son Thomas and of my three daughters" at here direction.

His estate was proved on 26 September 1654. The Inventory of his estate totalled £250 5s, including real estate valued at £132: "the dwelling house and the barn with outhousing," £40 60s "land about the house about 80 acres "more land unbroke up about 14 acres," £21; "a parcel of marsh about 6 acres," £12; "a parcel of upland and marsh being much broken about twenty acres," £20; "twelve acres of improved land," £24.

Judith Gater (F)
b. 19 March 1588/89, d. after 26 September 1654, #218519
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=9th great-grandmother of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     Judith Gater was also known as Judith Gator. She was baptized on 19 March 1588/89 at Hillmorton, Warwick, England. She was the daughter of Michael Gater and Isabel Elizabeth Bailey. Judith Gater married John Perkins, son of Henry Perkins and Elizabeth Sawbridge, on 9 October 1608 at Hillmorton, Warwick, England. Judith Gater died after 26 September 1654. She died in 1684 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts.

Sarah Kinsman (F)
b. 19 March 1658/59, #218520

     Sarah Kinsman was born on 19 March 1658/59. She married Jacob Perkins, son of John Perkins and Elizabeth (Unknown), circa 1688 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts.

Thomas Emerson (M)
b. circa 1670, d. 14 April 1738, #218521
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=6th great-grandfather of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     Thomas Emerson was born circa 1670 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. He was the son of Nathaniel Emerson and Sarah (Unknown). Thomas Emerson married Phillipa Perkins, daughter of Jacob Perkins and Sarah Wainwright, on 20 November 1685 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. Thomas Emerson died on 14 April 1738 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts.

Ephriam Story (M)
b. 22 October 1692, d. before 1727, #218522
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=6th great-grandfather of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     Ephriam Story was born on 22 October 1692 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. He was the son of Samuel Story and Elizabeth (Unknown). Ephriam Story published marriage intentions on 17 December 1715 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. Ephriam Story died before 1727.

Elizabeth Emerson (F)
b. 16 July 1693, d. 7 April 1780, #218523
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=6th great-grandmother of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     Elizabeth Emerson was born on 16 July 1693 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of Thomas Emerson and Phillipa Perkins. Elizabeth Emerson published marriage intentions on 17 December 1715 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. Elizabeth Emerson married Jonathan Smith on 25 January 1732. Elizabeth Emerson died on 7 April 1780 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts, at age 86.

William Durkee (M)
b. circa 1632, d. 23 September 1711, #218524
Relationship=7th great-grandfather of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     William Durkee was also known as William Durgy. William Durkee was born circa 1632 at Meath County, Ireland. He immigrated on 9 November 1663; as the indentured servant of Thomas Bishop, having been in the Barbadoes, probably as a slave of Cromwells. He married Martha Cross, daughter of Robert Cross and Hannah Jordan, on 20 December 1664 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. William Durkee died on 23 September 1711 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts.

Martha Cross (F)
b. 15 March 1642/43, d. 11 January 1726/27, #218525
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=7th great-grandmother of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     Martha Cross was born on 15 March 1642/43 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of Robert Cross and Hannah Jordan. Martha Cross married William Durkee on 20 December 1664 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. Martha Cross died on 11 January 1726/27 at Windham, Windham County, Connecticut, at age 83. She was buried at Old Litchfield Cemetery, Windham, Windham County, Connecticut.

Robert Cross (M)
b. 26 June 1613, d. 8 February 1669/70, #218526
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=8th great-grandfather of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     Robert Cross was born on 26 June 1613 at England. He was the son of Thomas Cross and Rachel Dising. Robert Cross married Hannah Jordan, daughter of Stephen Jordan and Susannah Wilterton, on 20 August 1635 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. Robert Cross died on 8 February 1669/70 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts, at age 56.

Hannah Jordan (F)
b. 1615, d. 29 October 1677, #218527
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=8th great-grandmother of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     Hannah Jordan was also known as Anna Jordan. Hannah Jordan was born in 1615. She was the daughter of Stephen Jordan and Susannah Wilterton. Hannah Jordan married Robert Cross, son of Thomas Cross and Rachel Dising, on 20 August 1635 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. Hannah Jordan died on 29 October 1677 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts.

Thomas Cross (M)
b. 25 July 1580, #218528
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=9th great-grandfather of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     Thomas Cross was born on 25 July 1580 at England. He was the son of Thomas Cross. Thomas Cross married Rachel Dising on 29 June 1603 at Durham, Durham, England.

Rachel Dising (F)
#218529
Relationship=9th great-grandmother of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     Rachel Dising married Thomas Cross, son of Thomas Cross, on 29 June 1603 at Durham, Durham, England.

Stephen Jordan (M)
#218530
Relationship=9th great-grandfather of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     Stephen Jordan married Susannah Wilterton.

Susannah Wilterton (F)
#218531
Relationship=9th great-grandmother of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     Susannah Wilterton married Stephen Jordan.

Thomas Cross (M)
#218532
Relationship=10th great-grandfather of David Kipp Conover Jr..

Mercy Lincoln (F)
#218533

     Mercy Lincoln married George Martin, son of George Martin and Hannah (Unknown), after 1730.

Damaris Story (F)
b. 24 January 1696/97, #218534
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=1st cousin 8 times removed of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     Damaris Story was born on 24 January 1696/97. She was the daughter of Deacon Seth Story and Elizabeth (Unknown). Damaris Story married Joseph Martin, son of George Martin and Hannah (Unknown), on 17 March 1721/22 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. Damaris Story married Samuel Choate.

Mary Willard (F)
d. 1 October 1728, #218535

     Mary Willard married Ebenezer Martin, son of George Martin and Hannah (Unknown), on 4 October 1721 at Windham, Windham County, Connecticut. Mary Willard died on 1 October 1728 at Windham, Windham County, Connecticut.

Jerusha Durkee (F)
b. 12 August 1710, #218536
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=1st cousin 7 times removed of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     Jerusha Durkee was also known as Jerusha Durge. Jerusha Durkee was born on 10 April 1710 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. Jerusha Durkee was born on 12 August 1710 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of William Durkee and Rebecca Gould. Jerusha Durkee married Ebenezer Martin, son of George Martin and Hannah (Unknown), on 1 April 1729 at Windham, Windham County, Connecticut.

Hannah (Unknown) (F)
d. between 1697 and 1712, #218538
Relationship=7th great-grandmother of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     Hannah (Unknown) married George Martin, son of George Martyn and Susannah North, before 1680. Hannah (Unknown) died between 1697 and 1712.

George Martin (M)
b. 17 September 1680, d. 15 August 1755, #218539
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=6th great-granduncle of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     George Martin was born on 17 September 1680 at Chebacco, Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. He was the son of George Martin and Hannah (Unknown). George Martin married Anna Choate on 29 November 1706. George Martin married Mercy Durkee, daughter of William Durkee and Martha Cross, on 4 June 1709 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. George Martin married Mercy Lincoln after 1730. George Martin died on 15 August 1755 at Windham, Windham County, Connecticut, at age 74.

Elizabeth Martin (F)
b. 12 September 1682, d. before 1700, #218540
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=6th great-grandaunt of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     Elizabeth Martin was born on 12 September 1682 at Chebacco, Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of George Martin and Hannah (Unknown). Elizabeth Martin died before 1700.

Mary Martin (F)
b. 7 August 1692, #218541
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=6th great-grandaunt of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     Mary Martin was born on 10 September 1684 or 7 August 1692 at Chebacco, Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. Mary Martin was born on 7 August 1692 at Chebacco, Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of George Martin and Hannah (Unknown). Mary Martin published marriage intentions on 22 February 1712 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts.

Joseph Martin (M)
b. 26 December 1694, #218542
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=6th great-granduncle of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     Joseph Martin was born on 26 December 1694 at Chebacco, Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. He was the son of George Martin and Hannah (Unknown). Joseph Martin married Mary (Unknown). Joseph Martin married Damaris Story, daughter of Deacon Seth Story and Elizabeth (Unknown), on 17 March 1721/22 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts.

Ebenezer Martin (M)
b. 20 April 1697, d. 13 July 1775, #218543
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=6th great-granduncle of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     Ebenezer Martin was born on 20 April 1697 at Chebacco, Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. He was the son of George Martin and Hannah (Unknown). Ebenezer Martin married Mary Willard on 4 October 1721 at Windham, Windham County, Connecticut. Ebenezer Martin married Jerusha Durkee, daughter of William Durkee and Rebecca Gould, on 1 April 1729 at Windham, Windham County, Connecticut. Ebenezer Martin died on 13 July 1775 at age 78.

Anna Choate (F)
b. 1687, d. 1708/9, #218544

     Anna Choate was born in 1687. She married George Martin, son of George Martin and Hannah (Unknown), on 29 November 1706. Anna Choate died in 1708/9.

John Howard (M)
#218545

     John Howard published marriage intentions on 22 February 1712 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts.

George Martin (M)
b. 21 October 1648, d. 14 April 1734, #218546
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=7th great-grandfather of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     George Martin was born on 21 October 1648 at Salisbury, Essex County, Massachusetts. He was the son of George Martyn and Susannah North. George Martin married Hannah (Unknown) before 1680. George Martin published marriage intentions on 21 February 1712 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. George Martin died on 14 April 1734 at Chebacco Parrish, Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts, at age 85.

Elizabeth Durkee (F)
b. 1670, #218547
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=6th great-grandaunt of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     Elizabeth Durkee was born in 1670 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of William Durkee and Martha Cross. Elizabeth Durkee published marriage intentions on 21 February 1712 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts.

Mercy Durkee (F)
b. circa 1684, d. 1 August 1730, #218548
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=6th great-grandaunt of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     Mercy Durkee was born circa 1684 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of William Durkee and Martha Cross. Mercy Durkee married George Martin, son of George Martin and Hannah (Unknown), on 4 June 1709 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. Mercy Durkee died on 1 August 1730 at Windham, Windham County, Connecticut.

George Martyn (M)
b. circa 1618, d. before 23 November 1686, #218549
Relationship=8th great-grandfather of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     George Martyn was also known as George Martin. George Martyn was born circa 1618 at near, Colchester, England. He emigrated from Wales. He immigrated circa 1639 to Salisbury, Essex County, Massachusetts, He came as a servant to Samuel Winsely. He was a proprietor between 1642 and 1664. He married Hannah (Unknown) before 1643. George Martyn purchased Job Cole's land rights in East Salisbury circa 1643. He took the oath of fidelity in 1646. He married Susannah North, daughter of Richard North and Joan Bertram, on 11 August 1646 at Salisbury, Essex County, Massachusetts. On 1650 He was on the list of commoners in Salisbury.
George Martyn was a blacksmith. On between 1667 and 1668 George was on the list of Commoners who drew land in Amesbury. Amesbury was derived from the Northwestern part of Salisbury in 1654.
He left a will on 19 January 1683/84

In ye name of God Amen
I George Martin of ye town of Amsbury in ye County of Essex being through Gods goodness of prfect memory & understanding, doe make this my last will & testament in mannr as followeth
Imprimis I commend my spirit to God whoe gave it, & and my body to ye dust decently to be buried (at ye chardges of my executr, whome I shall hereafter name and appoynt) in hopes of a [joy]full resurrection at ye last day unto life eternall
2dly I give & bequeath unto my natural [i.e. legitimate] Children viz: my Sonns Richrd Martin, & John Martin, & my Daughters, Hanna Wathen: Hester Gimson, Jane Hadley & Abigail Hadlock unto each & every of them five shillings apiece to be payd in good and merchantable pay within one twelvemonth next aftr my decease
3dly I give & bequeath unto my Grandchild John Hadlock five pounds in good & merchantable pay in case yt ye sd John live wth me or my wife or my son
Will: untill yt he come unto ye full & compleat age of twenty one years.
4thly I give & bequeath all ye rest of my housing, lands stock & estate both moveable & Immoveable unto my wife Susanna during her Widowhood, & after her marriage, or decease (in case she marry not againe) unto my youngest son William.
ffinally: I Doe appoint, Constitute & ordaine my Wife Susanna, to be exectutrix and my youngest son Will: martin to be executr in conjunction wth her unto this my last Will & testament. A[nd in] confirmat[ion] of ye promisees I have hereunto subscribed my hand & seale Dated the nineteenth day of January An: Dom: one thousand six hundred eighty & three or foure.

Source: Probate Records of Essex County, Massachusetts.

He died before 23 November 1686 at Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts. His estate was proved on 23 November 1686. Doug Norman dmn4211@canada.com 2000-10-07 17:47:34
You may be interested in the following that I received. I have changed my George Martin b. 1648 to reflect it. And I so enjoyed having a witch for an ancestor. Darn!
Source: Kathleen Martin (tomandkatmartin@ctel.net)

Your line of Martins is believed to derive from the immigrant George Martin and wife who arrived on the Hannah and Elizabeth in 1679. All his 6 children were by this first wife, name unknown. Their last child was born 1697. He later married Elizabeth Durkee in 1712-13. His birth date, judging from his stone in 1734, was 1648 - the same year as the son of George and Susanna (North) Martin, though they were a few months apart. For that sole reason Elliot Burnham Watson and Alven Martyn Smith developed a MS genealogy which erroneously linked the George Martin of Ipswich family with that of George Martin of Amesbury.

Edith Harrison of Ontario, Canada and her brother in Amesbury spent many years in the 1990's studying this line. She came to the conclusion that it was far more likely that George of Ipswich was the son of Joseph and Mary Martin of Preshute, Wiltshire, England, christened in 1648. This was a clan of Flemish weavers who had immigrated there from Belgium; and as you may know, George of Ipswich was a weaver. Also, George of Ipswich named two of his children Joseph and Mary.

This is not Geroge Martin of Salisbury.

Susannah North (F)
b. 30 September 1621, d. 19 July 1692, #218550
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=8th great-grandmother of David Kipp Conover Jr..

     Susannah North was also known as Susanna North. She was baptized on 30 September 1621 at Olney, Buckinghamshire, England. She was the daughter of Richard North and Joan Bertram. Susannah North married George Martyn on 11 August 1646 at Salisbury, Essex County, Massachusetts. Susannah North died on 19 July 1692 at Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts, at age 70; hung as a witch. The Salem Witch Trials of 1692 resulted in nearly 200 people imprisoned, 20 executed and a further 8 dying in prison. Most of the participants knew each other. Either blood or marriage tied some together. This was true of my ancestors, some were victims, others prosecutors and still others the afflicted.

The trials came about because of the action of a small group of teenage girls who had spent the winter of 1691-92 at the home of their friends, Elizabeth and Abigail Paris. There the girls became fascinated with the tales of the slave Tituba who told of black magic and of spells being placed on people. The 9 girls were Elizabeth Paris, Abigail Paris, Ann Putnam, Elizabeth Hubbard, Mary Warren, Mercy Lewis, Mary Wolcott, Elizabeth Booth and Susan Sheldon. Of these nine girls, only one is related to me, Ann Putnam. Her grandmother was Priscilla Gould, the sister of Zaccheus Gould. Ann was born in 1680 to Thomas Putnam and Ann.

At first only Ann Putnam, Abigail Williams and Betty Parris started to act strangely. "They contorted themselves into odd postures and made strange gestures. They uttered foolish and ridiculous speech of which neither they nor anyone else could make sense. At first it seemed like a game, but soon it became clear it was something more. The three girls were sometimes dumb as if choked. They complained of pains, like those from pins being thrust into their bodies."

Their parents became concerned and their doctor was called in who declared that the girls were bewitched. The girls and their story were brought to the attention of Magistrate John Hawthorne (One of the magistrate’s descendants was the author Nathaniel Hawthorne). Because witchcraft was a crime Magistrate Hawthorne organized an inquiry and grand jury to investigate these "witches". During the course of the investigation Mary Lewis and Mary Walcott also became afflicted thus leading to the trials and executions.

When the accused were brought into the courtroom during the examinations the following is typical of what occurred;

"The circle of afflicted girls were brought into the room. When the accused person glanced at them, they instantly succumbed to their afflictions, fits in which they writhed on the floor in strange agonies and grievous torments. Captain Alden, a sea captain who was accused, described the girls as ‘those wenches who played their juggling tricks, falling down, crying out, and staring in other people’s faces." However when the accused person touched an arm or another part of their bodies, they immediately revived and came to themselves. The afflicted girls swore that the accused person caused their fits. They swore that they had seen a specter come out of the accused person’s body and physically attack them, causing them great pain and torment. This testimony became the decisive evidence used by the court to establish that the accused person was not a rich."

One of the accused was Susannah North Martin. Susannah was born in 1625 in England. She was the widow of George Martin, a blacksmith. At the time of her trial, Susanna was 67 years old and a widow for 6 years. Descriptions of Susanna say that she was short, slightly plump, active, and "of remarkable personal neatness." She was also said to be very outspoken, contemptuous of authority, and defiant in the face of slander, which had followed her for years.

This was the second time she had charged with witchcraft. In 1669 she had posted bond of 100 pounds when she was charged with witchcraft. While the court records of this case do not exist it is obvious that she was not found guilty since witchcraft was a capitol offense. At he same time her husband sued William Sargent Jr. for slandering his wife by calling her a witch. The Martins won the case but were publicly insulted when the court awarded them the amount of "a white wampum peague (colonial currency) or the eighth part of a penny damage."

In 1671, George, Susanna and her sister Mary Jones became involved in lengthy litigation over their father’s (Richard North) estate. In October 1674, they lost their inheritance when the court found against them. Some scholars feel that the lengthy litigation over this estate caused much bitterness and accusations and was a factor in Susanna being charged as a witch 21 years later.

A complaint was filed against her on April 30, 1692. On May 2 she was arrested. Her warrant reads as follows;

To: To The Marshall of the County of Essex or his Lawfull deputie or to the Constable
of Amesburry.

You are in their Majests names hereby required forthwith or as soon as may be to apprehend and bring (before us) Susanna Martin of Amesbury in the County of Essex Widdow at the house of Lt Nathaniell Ingersalls in Salem Village, in order to her Examination Relateing to high Suspition of Sundry acts of Witchcraft donne or Committed by her upon the Bodys of Mary Walcot Abigail Williams Ann putnam and Marcy Lewis of Salem Village or farmes

Where by great hurt and dammage hath benne donne to the bodys of Said persons according to Compl't of Capt Jonathan Walcot & Serg't Thomas putnam in behalfe of their Majests this day Exhibited before us for themselfes and also for Severall of theire Neighbours and here of You are not to faile at your perills. Dated Salem Aprile 30th 1692

*John. Hathorne

*Jonathan Corwin

(Reverse) according this warrant I have apprehended susanna Martin widdow of Amsbery and have brought or caused hir to be brought to the place appointed for his examination

p me *Orlando Bagly: Constable of Amsbery

salem village this 2:th may 1692

(Reverse) Susanna Martin Warrant


(Mittimus for Susannah Martin, Lydia Dustin, Dorcas Hoar, and Sarah Morey)


To: To. the Keeper of theire Majests Goale
in Boston

You are in theire Majests names hereby required to take into, your care and safe Custody the Bodys of Susanah Martin of Amesbury Widdow, Lydia Dastin of Reding Wi[ddow], Dorcas Hoare of Beverly widdow and Sarah Murrill also of Beverly who all stand Charged with high Suspition of Sundry acts of Witchcraft donne or Committed by them upon the Bos of Mary Walcot Marcy Lewis Abigail Williams Ann putnam Elizabeth Hubbert and Susannah Sheldon and Goody Viber of Salem Village or farmes whereby great hurt and dammage hath beene donne to the bodys [of] said persons according to Complaint of Capt Jonathan Walcot and Serj't Thomas putnam of Salem Village Yeoman Exhibited Salem April the 30th. 1692: Whome you are to secure in order to theire further Examination or Tryall and hereof you are not to faile


Dated Salem Village May 2d. 1692
*John Hathorne

*Jonathan. Corwin


During her trial Susannah was pointed out as a witch by a number of the afflicted girls. Abigail Williams said that it was Goody Martin who "hath hurt me often" and that she "had been afflicted by the apparition of Susannah Martin", Mary Lewis pointed towards her and fell into a little fit.

Besides the testimony of these afflicted girls, a number of Susannah Martin's own neighbors testified against her. A few of the stories are as follows;

William Brown, a 70 year old resident of Salisbury, stated that 30 years ago Susannah Martin had put a spell on his wife Elizabeth causing her much mental and physical anguish. According to Brown, his wife was walking from their house to the mill in Salisbury when she came upon Susanna Martin. Just as they approached each other, Susanna disappeared causing Elizabeth great fright. Susanna also appeared at the Brown house on a number of occasions and each time Elizabeth suffered from a physical ailment such as " birds pecking her legs or pricking her with the motion of their wings and then it would rise up into her stomach with pricking pain as nails and pins of which she did bitterly complain and cry out like a woman in travail and after that it would rise up to her throat in a bunch like a pullet's egg and then she would turn back her head and say, witch you shan't choke me. "

John Pressey stated that about 24 years previously (around 1668) he had been walking home from the Amesbury ferry. The distance was about 3 miles and the ground well known by Mr. Pressey. He claimed that he became confused and lost. While trying to find his way home he saw a light on his left. He kept going leaving the light behind. A short time later the light was again on his left. He then took his walking stick and struck the light at least 40 times. He then tried to leave but something grabbed his heels and he was flung to the ground. He felt himself sliding into a deep place but was able to grab a bush and prevent himself from sliding into the hole. He then got up and fled. A short distance away he saw Susanna Martin standing to his left just as the light had previously done. She said nothing and Mr. Pressey continued on to his house. He was in such fear that he could not speak until his wife spoke to him. Mr. Pressey added that he later heard that the next day Susanna Martin was in extreme pain, pain he believed was caused by him striking the light.

Both Mr. Pressey and his wife, Mary, both testified that a few years after the above incident, Susanna Martin came to their house and cursed them. She told them that no matter what they did, they would never prosper and that they would never have more then two cows. They added that even though they both tried to increase their herd in the past twenty years they had never managed to have more then two cows at a time.

Bernard Peach in his deposition stated;

"That about six or seven years past this deponent living at the house of Jacob Morell in Salisbury being in bed on a Lord's Day night he heard a scrabbling at the window, he this deponent saw Susanna Martin wife of George Martin of Amesbury come in at the window and jumped down upon the floor. She was in her hood and scarf and the same dress that she was in before at meeting the same day. Being come in she was coming up towards this deponent's face, but turned back to his feet and took hold of them and drew up his body into a hoop and lay upon him about an hour and half or 2 hours in all which time this deponent could not stir nor speak, but feeling himself beginning to be loosened or lightened he beginning to strive he put out his hand among the clothes and took hold of her hand and brought it up to his mouth and bit three of the fingers (as he judge) to the breaking of the bones. Which done the said Martin went out of the chamber down the stairs and out of the door.

And as soon as she went away this deponent called to the people of the house and told them what was done and that said Martin was now gone out of the door this deponent did also follow her but the people did not see her (as they said) but without the door there was a bucket of ___ on the left hand side and there was a drop of blood on the handle too, more upon the snow for there was a little flight of snow and there were the print of her two feet about a foot without the threshold, but no more footing did appear. "

Jarvis Ring stated that on a number of occasions he had been asleep in bed when something came upon him and lay on him so that he could neither move nor speak. He was unable to see what had been doing this until on one occasion he recognized Susanna Martin. She then took him by the hand and bit his finger to the bone leaving a scar.

Joseph Ring stated that he had been out cutting timber when he was strangely drawn to a deserted house. There he met three persons, two females and a Mr. Thomas Hardy. One of the females was Susanna Martin. There was a fire going and they had plenty of cider. The night passed and just before dawn Susanna Martin turned into the shape of a black hog and ran off, as did the other two persons. Mr. Ring was carried off and found himself by Samuel Wood’s house in Amesbury. He further stated that Mr. Hardy has troubled him on a number of occasions since this first incident and that Susanna Martin was present during many of these meetings.

John Kimball testified that he had bought some land from the Martins in the year 1667 and that he offered them the choice of three cows from his herd. The only condition was that he reserved several cows that he (Kimball) wished to keep. He said that George Martin was satisfied with this arrangement but that Susanna was upset and told him that he would never get anything good from those reserved cows. True enough one of the cows died, for no apparent reason, a short time later, The other two cows died soon after the first.

John Allen stated that he had had a similar problem concerning Susanna Martin and his oxen. In this case Susanna had asked him if he could use his oxen to help her cart some staves. He refused, they had an argument, and she escaped by flying over a brook. In a short time a number of his oxen had sickened while others had gotten lost. He blamed this on Susanna.

Joseph Knight testified that in 1686 he was walking in the woods with Nathaniel Clark when they saw Susanna Martin approaching them. A small dog was running at her side. They then saw her pick up the dog and hold it at her side. They were much surprised as the three passed each other for Susanna Martin was not holding a dog but a keg. When the two got their horses, which had been picketed nearby, the horses would not approach the path Susanna Martin had been walking on. Elizabeth Clark, the wife of Nathaniel, testified that her husband had told her of this incident that night in 1686 and that it had occurred as Joseph Knight had stated.

Robert Downer stated that when Susanna Martin had been accused of being a witch in 1669 he had told her that he believed that she was a witch. She replied that a she-devil would fetch him away. That "night as he lay in his bed in his own house alone there came at his window the likeness of a cat and by and by come up to his bed took fast hold of his throat and lay hard upon him a considerable while, and was like to throttle him. At length he minded what Susanna Martin had threatened him with the day before. He strove what he could and said avoid thou she devil in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost and then it let him go and slumped down upon the floor and went out at window again."

Sarah Atkinson stated that about eighteen years earlier Susanna Martin had walked to her house during some very wet weather. The distance between the houses was about a mile but when Susanna entered the Atkinson house Sarah noticed that her feet were dry and not even muddy.

Other neighbors that testified against her were Mary Andrews, Moses Pike, Thomas Putnam, Sam Parris, Nathaniel Ingersoll, Abigail Williams, Ann Putnam, Elizabeth Hubbard, Mercy Lewis, Sarah Vibber,and John Atkinson. Most of them described various pains, aliments and troubles as coming from Susanna. (For a full version of her neighbor's testimony against her click here).

Susannah Martin did not help her cause with her independence and sharp tongue. Her testimony reads;

Magistrate; Pray, what ails these People?


Martin; I don't know.


Magistrate; But what do you think ails them?


Martin; I don't desire to spend my Judgment upon it.


Magistrate; Don't you think they are Bewitch'd?


Martin; No, I do not think they are.


Magistrate; Tell us your thoughts about them then.


Martin; No, my thoughts are my own when they are in, but when they are out, they are anothers. Their Master --


Magistrate; Their Master? who do you think is their Master?


Martin. If they be dealing in the Black Art, you may know as well as I.


Magistrate; Well, what have you done towards this?


Martin; Nothing at all.


Magistrate. Why, tis you or your Appearance.


Martin; I cannot help it.


Magistrate. Is it not Your Master? How comes your Appearance to hurt these?


Martin; How do I know? He that appeared in the shape of Samuel, a Glorify'd Saint, may Appear in any ones shape.

It was then also noted in her, as in others like her, that if the Afflicted went to approach her, they were flung down to the Ground. And, when she was asked the Reason of it, she said, "I cannot tell; it may be, the Devil bears me more Malice than another."

Another version of her testimony which took place on May 2, 1692 reads as follows;

As soon as she came into the meeting-house many fell into fits

Hath this Woman hurt you?

Abig: Williams said it is Goody Martin, she hath hurt me often Others by fits were hindered from speaking.

Eliz: Hubbard said she had not hurt her. John Indian said he never saw her Mercy Lewes pointed at her & fell into a fit. Ann Putman threw her Glove in a fit at her

What do you laught at it?

Well I may at such folly.

Is this folly, to see these so hurt?

I never hurt man, woman or child.

Mercy Lewes cryed out, she hath hurt me a great many times & plucks me down.

Then Martin laught againe

Mary Walcot said this woman hath hurt her a great many times

Susannah Sheldon also accused her of hurting her

What do you say to this?

I have no hand in Witchcraft.

What did you do? Did you consent these should be hurt?

No never in my life.

What ails these people?

I do not know.

But what do you think ails them?

I do not desire to spend my judgment upon it

Do you think they are Bewitcht?

No I do not think they are.

Well tell us your thoughts about them?

My thoughts are mine own when they are in, but when they are out they are an others

You said their Master -- Who do you think is their Master?

If they be dealing in the black art, you may know as well as I.

What have you done towards the hurt of these?

I have done nothing

Why it is you, or your appearance

I cannot help it

That may be your Master that hurt them

I desire to lead my life according to the word of God

Is this according to the word of God?

If I were such a person I would tell you the Truth

How comes your appearance just now to hurt these?

How do I know?

Are you not willing to tell the Truth?

I cannot tell: He that appeared in sams::shape can appear in any ones shape.

Do you beleive these afflicted persons do not say true?

they may lye for ought I know.

May not you lye?

I dare not tell a lye if it would save my life

Then you will not speak the truth will you?

I have spoken nothing else. I would do them any good.

I do not think that you have such affections for these whom just now you insinuated had the Devil for their Master

The marshall said she pincht her hands & Eliz: Hubbard was immediately afflicted.

Severall of the afflicted cryed out they saw her upon the Beam.

Pray God discover you if you be guilty.

Amen, Amen. A false tongue will never make a guilty person.

You have been a long time coming to day said Mercy Lewes, you can come fast enough in the night

No sweet heart --

And then said Mercy, & all the afflicted beside almost were afflicted

John Indian fell into a fit, & cryed it was that woman, she bites, she bites. And then said Martin was biting her lips.

Have not you compassion on these afflicted --

No I have none

They cryed out there was the black man along with her, & Goody Bibber confirmed it

Abig: Williams went towards her, but could not come near her. nor Goody Bibber tho she had not accused her before: also Mary Walcot could not come near her. John Indian said he would kill her, if he came near her, but he fell down before he could touch her

What is the reason these cannot come near you?

I cannot tell it may be the Devil bears me more malice than an other.

Do you not see God evidently discovering you?

No, not a bit for that.

All the congregation besides think so.

Let them think what they will.

What is the reason these cannot come to you?

I do not know but they can if they will or else if you please

I will come to them.

What was that the black man whisperd to you?

There was none whispered to me.

She insisted that she was not guilty and at the trial stated that she had "no hand in witchcraft." She also stated that she felt that the afflicted were not bewitched and added that she had no compassion for the afflicted girls. Her attitude and actions probably contributed much towards her final fate. It certainly made the famous and influential, Reverend Cotton Mather upset. He declared that Susannah Martin "was one of the most impudent, scurrilous, wicked creatures in the whole world."Her indictment reads as follows;

(Indictment v. Susannah Martin, No. 1)
Anno Regis et Reginae Willm et Mariae . nunc Angliae &c Quarto Essex ss.

The Jurors for our Sovereigne Lord & Lady the King and Queen prsents That Susanna Martin of Amsbury in the County of Essex widdow the Second Day of may in the forth year of the Reigne of our Sovereigne Lord and Lady William and Mary by the Grace of God of England Scottland: France and Ireland King and Queen: Defenders of the faith &. divers other Dayes and Times as well before as after certaine Detestable arts, called witchcrafts & Sorceries wickedly and feloniously hath used Practised & Exercised at and within the Townership of Salem in the County of Essex aforesaid in upon and ag't one Mary Wallcott of Salem Village Single woman, by which Said wicked arts the s'd. Mary walcott the Second day of May in the forth year afores'd: and at Divers other Dayes & times as well before as after was, and is Tortored Afflicted Pined wasted and Tormented as also for Sundry other acts of witchcraft by Said Susanah Martin committed and Done before and Since that time ag't the Peace of our Sovereigne Lord & Lady william and Mary King and Queen of England theire Crowne and Dignity and ag't: the forme of the Statute in that case made & Provided.

Sarah Vibber Sworn

Mary Wolcutt Sworn

The Salem Witch Trials of 1692 resulted in nearly 200 people imprisoned, 20 executed and a further 8 dying in prison. Most of the participants knew each other. Either blood or marriage tied some together. This was true of my ancestors, some were victims, others prosecutors and still others the afflicted. The trials came about because of the action of a small group of teenage girls who had spent the winter of 1691-92 at the home of their friends, Elizabeth and Abigail Paris. There the girls became fascinated with the tales of the slave Tituba who told of black magic and of spells being placed on people. The 9 girls were Elizabeth Paris, Abigail Paris, Ann Putnam, Elizabeth Hubbard, Mary Warren, Mercy Lewis, Mary Wolcott, Elizabeth Booth and Susan Sheldon. Of these nine girls, only one is related to me, Ann Putnam. Her grandmother was Priscilla Gould, the sister of Zaccheus Gould. Ann was born in 1680 to Thomas Putnam and Ann. At first only Ann Putnam, Abigail Williams and Betty Parris started to act strangely. "They contorted themselves into odd postures and made strange gestures. They uttered foolish and ridiculous speech of which neither they nor anyone else could make sense. At first it seemed like a game, but soon it became clear it was something more. The three girls were sometimes dumb as if choked. They complained of pains, like those from pins being thrust into their bodies." Their parents became concerned and their doctor was called in who declared that the girls were bewitched. The girls and their story were brought to the attention of Magistrate John Hawthorne (One of the magistrate’s descendants was the author Nathaniel Hawthorne). Because witchcraft was a crime Magistrate Hawthorne organized an inquiry and grand jury to investigate these "witches". During the course of the investigation Mary Lewis and Mary Walcott also became afflicted thus leading to the trials and executions. When the accused were brought into the courtroom during the examinations the following is typical of what occurred; "The circle of afflicted girls were brought into the room. When the accused person glanced at them, they instantly succumbed to their afflictions, fits in which they writhed on the floor in strange agonies and grievous torments. Captain Alden, a sea captain who was accused, described the girls as ‘those wenches who played their juggling tricks, falling down, crying out, and staring in other people’s faces." However when the accused person touched an arm or another part of their bodies, they immediately revived and came to themselves. The afflicted girls swore that the accused person caused their fits. They swore that they had seen a specter come out of the accused person’s body and physically attack them, causing them great pain and torment. This testimony became the decisive evidence used by the court to establish that the accused person was not a rich." One of the accused was Susannah North Martin. Susannah was born in 1625 in England. She was the widow of George Martin, a blacksmith. At the time of her trial, Susanna was 67 years old and a widow for 6 years. Descriptions of Susanna say that she was short, slightly plump, active, and "of remarkable personal neatness." She was also said to be very outspoken, contemptuous of authority, and defiant in the face of slander, which had followed her for years. This was the second time she had charged with witchcraft. In 1669 she had posted bond of 100 pounds when she was charged with witchcraft. While the court records of this case do not exist it is obvious that she was not found guilty since witchcraft was a capitol offense. At he same time her husband sued William Sargent Jr. for slandering his wife by calling her a witch. The Martins won the case but were publicly insulted when the court awarded them the amount of "a white wampum peague (colonial currency) or the eighth part of a penny damage." In 1671, George, Susanna and her sister Mary Jones became involved in lengthy litigation over their father’s (Richard North) estate. In October 1674, they lost their inheritance when the court found against them. Some scholars feel that the lengthy litigation over this estate caused much bitterness and accusations and was a factor in Susanna being charged as a witch 21 years later. A complaint was filed against her on April 30, 1692. On May 2 she was arrested. Her warrant reads as follows; To: To The Marshall of the County of Essex or his Lawfull deputie or to the Constable of Amesburry. You are in their Majests names hereby required forthwith or as soon as may be to apprehend and bring (before us) Susanna Martin of Amesbury in the County of Essex Widdow at the house of Lt Nathaniell Ingersalls in Salem Village, in order to her Examination Relateing to high Suspition of Sundry acts of Witchcraft donne or Committed by her upon the Bodys of Mary Walcot Abigail Williams Ann putnam and Marcy Lewis of Salem Village or farmes Where by great hurt and dammage hath benne donne to the bodys of Said persons according to Compl't of Capt Jonathan Walcot & Serg't Thomas putnam in behalfe of their Majests this day Exhibited before us for themselfes and also for Severall of theire Neighbours and here of You are not to faile at your perills. Dated Salem Aprile 30th 1692 *John. Hathorne *Jonathan Corwin (Reverse) according this warrant I have apprehended susanna Martin widdow of Amsbery and have brought or caused hir to be brought to the place appointed for his examination p me *Orlando Bagly: Constable of Amsbery salem village this 2:th may 1692 (Reverse) Susanna Martin Warrant (Mittimus for Susannah Martin, Lydia Dustin, Dorcas Hoar, and Sarah Morey) To: To. the Keeper of theire Majests Goale in Boston You are in theire Majests names hereby required to take into, your care and safe Custody the Bodys of Susanah Martin of Amesbury Widdow, Lydia Dastin of Reding Wi[ddow], Dorcas Hoare of Beverly widdow and Sarah Murrill also of Beverly who all stand Charged with high Suspition of Sundry acts of Witchcraft donne or Committed by them upon the Bos of Mary Walcot Marcy Lewis Abigail Williams Ann putnam Elizabeth Hubbert and Susannah Sheldon and Goody Viber of Salem Village or farmes whereby great hurt and dammage hath beene donne to the bodys [of] said persons according to Complaint of Capt Jonathan Walcot and Serj't Thomas putnam of Salem Village Yeoman Exhibited Salem April the 30th. 1692: Whome you are to secure in order to theire further Examination or Tryall and hereof you are not to faile Dated Salem Village May 2d. 1692 *John Hathorne *Jonathan. Corwin During her trial Susannah was pointed out as a witch by a number of the afflicted girls. Abigail Williams said that it was Goody Martin who "hath hurt me often" and that she "had been afflicted by the apparition of Susannah Martin", Mary Lewis pointed towards her and fell into a little fit. Besides the testimony of these afflicted girls, a number of Susannah Martin's own neighbors testified against her. A few of the stories are as follows; William Brown, a 70 year old resident of Salisbury, stated that 30 years ago Susannah Martin had put a spell on his wife Elizabeth causing her much mental and physical anguish. According to Brown, his wife was walking from their house to the mill in Salisbury when she came upon Susanna Martin. Just as they approached each other, Susanna disappeared causing Elizabeth great fright. Susanna also appeared at the Brown house on a number of occasions and each time Elizabeth suffered from a physical ailment such as " birds pecking her legs or pricking her with the motion of their wings and then it would rise up into her stomach with pricking pain as nails and pins of which she did bitterly complain and cry out like a woman in travail and after that it would rise up to her throat in a bunch like a pullet's egg and then she would turn back her head and say, witch you shan't choke me. " John Pressey stated that about 24 years previously (around 1668) he had been walking home from the Amesbury ferry. The distance was about 3 miles and the ground well known by Mr. Pressey. He claimed that he became confused and lost. While trying to find his way home he saw a light on his left. He kept going leaving the light behind. A short time later the light was again on his left. He then took his walking stick and struck the light at least 40 times. He then tried to leave but something grabbed his heels and he was flung to the ground. He felt himself sliding into a deep place but was able to grab a bush and prevent himself from sliding into the hole. He then got up and fled. A short distance away he saw Susanna Martin standing to his left just as the light had previously done. She said nothing and Mr. Pressey continued on to his house. He was in such fear that he could not speak until his wife spoke to him. Mr. Pressey added that he later heard that the next day Susanna Martin was in extreme pain, pain he believed was caused by him striking the light. Both Mr. Pressey and his wife, Mary, both testified that a few years after the above incident, Susanna Martin came to their house and cursed them. She told them that no matter what they did, they would never prosper and that they would never have more then two cows. They added that even though they both tried to increase their herd in the past twenty years they had never managed to have more then two cows at a time. Bernard Peach in his deposition stated; "That about six or seven years past this deponent living at the house of Jacob Morell in Salisbury being in bed on a Lord's Day night he heard a scrabbling at the window, he this deponent saw Susanna Martin wife of George Martin of Amesbury come in at the window and jumped down upon the floor. She was in her hood and scarf and the same dress that she was in before at meeting the same day. Being come in she was coming up towards this deponent's face, but turned back to his feet and took hold of them and drew up his body into a hoop and lay upon him about an hour and half or 2 hours in all which time this deponent could not stir nor speak, but feeling himself beginning to be loosened or lightened he beginning to strive he put out his hand among the clothes and took hold of her hand and brought it up to his mouth and bit three of the fingers (as he judge) to the breaking of the bones. Which done the said Martin went out of the chamber down the stairs and out of the door. And as soon as she went away this deponent called to the people of the house and told them what was done and that said Martin was now gone out of the door this deponent did also follow her but the people did not see her (as they said) but without the door there was a bucket of ___ on the left hand side and there was a drop of blood on the handle too, more upon the snow for there was a little flight of snow and there were the print of her two feet about a foot without the threshold, but no more footing did appear. " Jarvis Ring stated that on a number of occasions he had been asleep in bed when something came upon him and lay on him so that he could neither move nor speak. He was unable to see what had been doing this until on one occasion he recognized Susanna Martin. She then took him by the hand and bit his finger to the bone leaving a scar. Joseph Ring stated that he had been out cutting timber when he was strangely drawn to a deserted house. There he met three persons, two females and a Mr. Thomas Hardy. One of the females was Susanna Martin. There was a fire going and they had plenty of cider. The night passed and just before dawn Susanna Martin turned into the shape of a black hog and ran off, as did the other two persons. Mr. Ring was carried off and found himself by Samuel Wood’s house in Amesbury. He further stated that Mr. Hardy has troubled him on a number of occasions since this first incident and that Susanna Martin was present during many of these meetings. John Kimball testified that he had bought some land from the Martins in the year 1667 and that he offered them the choice of three cows from his herd. The only condition was that he reserved several cows that he (Kimball) wished to keep. He said that George Martin was satisfied with this arrangement but that Susanna was upset and told him that he would never get anything good from those reserved cows. True enough one of the cows died, for no apparent reason, a short time later, The other two cows died soon after the first. John Allen stated that he had had a similar problem concerning Susanna Martin and his oxen. In this case Susanna had asked him if he could use his oxen to help her cart some staves. He refused, they had an argument, and she escaped by flying over a brook. In a short time a number of his oxen had sickened while others had gotten lost. He blamed this on Susanna. Joseph Knight testified that in 1686 he was walking in the woods with Nathaniel Clark when they saw Susanna Martin approaching them. A small dog was running at her side. They then saw her pick up the dog and hold it at her side. They were much surprised as the three passed each other for Susanna Martin was not holding a dog but a keg. When the two got their horses, which had been picketed nearby, the horses would not approach the path Susanna Martin had been walking on. Elizabeth Clark, the wife of Nathaniel, testified that her husband had told her of this incident that night in 1686 and that it had occurred as Joseph Knight had stated. Robert Downer stated that when Susanna Martin had been accused of being a witch in 1669 he had told her that he believed that she was a witch. She replied that a she-devil would fetch him away. That "night as he lay in his bed in his own house alone there came at his window the likeness of a cat and by and by come up to his bed took fast hold of his throat and lay hard upon him a considerable while, and was like to throttle him. At length he minded what Susanna Martin had threatened him with the day before. He strove what he could and said avoid thou she devil in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost and then it let him go and slumped down upon the floor and went out at window again." Sarah Atkinson stated that about eighteen years earlier Susanna Martin had walked to her house during some very wet weather. The distance between the houses was about a mile but when Susanna entered the Atkinson house Sarah noticed that her feet were dry and not even muddy. Other neighbors that testified against her were Mary Andrews, Moses Pike, Thomas Putnam, Sam Parris, Nathaniel Ingersoll, Abigail Williams, Ann Putnam, Elizabeth Hubbard, Mercy Lewis, Sarah Vibber,and John Atkinson. Most of them described various pains, aliments and troubles as coming from Susanna. (For a full version of her neighbor's testimony against her click here). Susannah Martin did not help her cause with her independence and sharp tongue. Her testimony reads; Magistrate; Pray, what ails these People? Martin; I don't know. Magistrate; But what do you think ails them? Martin; I don't desire to spend my Judgment upon it. Magistrate; Don't you think they are Bewitch'd? Martin; No, I do not think they are. Magistrate; Tell us your thoughts about them then. Martin; No, my thoughts are my own when they are in, but when they are out, they are anothers. Their Master -- Magistrate; Their Master? who do you think is their Master? Martin. If they be dealing in the Black Art, you may know as well as I. Magistrate; Well, what have you done towards this? Martin; Nothing at all. Magistrate. Why, tis you or your Appearance. Martin; I cannot help it. Magistrate. Is it not Your Master? How comes your Appearance to hurt these? Martin; How do I know? He that appeared in the shape of Samuel, a Glorify'd Saint, may Appear in any ones shape. It was then also noted in her, as in others like her, that if the Afflicted went to approach her, they were flung down to the Ground. And, when she was asked the Reason of it, she said, "I cannot tell; it may be, the Devil bears me more Malice than another." Another version of her testimony which took place on May 2, 1692 reads as follows; As soon as she came into the meeting-house many fell into fits Hath this Woman hurt you? Abig: Williams said it is Goody Martin, she hath hurt me often Others by fits were hindered from speaking. Eliz: Hubbard said she had not hurt her. John Indian said he never saw her Mercy Lewes pointed at her & fell into a fit. Ann Putman threw her Glove in a fit at her What do you laught at it? Well I may at such folly. Is this folly, to see these so hurt? I never hurt man, woman or child. Mercy Lewes cryed out, she hath hurt me a great many times & plucks me down. Then Martin laught againe Mary Walcot said this woman hath hurt her a great many times Susannah Sheldon also accused her of hurting her What do you say to this? I have no hand in Witchcraft. What did you do? Did you consent these should be hurt? No never in my life. What ails these people? I do not know. But what do you think ails them? I do not desire to spend my judgment upon it Do you think they are Bewitcht? No I do not think they are. Well tell us your thoughts about them? My thoughts are mine own when they are in, but when they are out they are an others You said their Master -- Who do you think is their Master? If they be dealing in the black art, you may know as well as I. What have you done towards the hurt of these? I have done nothing Why it is you, or your appearance I cannot help it That may be your Master that hurt them I desire to lead my life according to the word of God Is this according to the word of God? If I were such a person I would tell you the Truth How comes your appearance just now to hurt these? How do I know? Are you not willing to tell the Truth? I cannot tell: He that appeared in sams::shape can appear in any ones shape. Do you beleive these afflicted persons do not say true? they may lye for ought I know. May not you lye? I dare not tell a lye if it would save my life Then you will not speak the truth will you? I have spoken nothing else. I would do them any good. I do not think that you have such affections for these whom just now you insinuated had the Devil for their Master The marshall said she pincht her hands & Eliz: Hubbard was immediately afflicted. Severall of the afflicted cryed out they saw her upon the Beam. Pray God discover you if you be guilty. Amen, Amen. A false tongue will never make a guilty person. You have been a long time coming to day said Mercy Lewes, you can come fast enough in the night No sweet heart -- And then said Mercy, & all the afflicted beside almost were afflicted John Indian fell into a fit, & cryed it was that woman, she bites, she bites. And then said Martin was biting her lips. Have not you compassion on these afflicted -- No I have none They cryed out there was the black man along with her, & Goody Bibber confirmed it Abig: Williams went towards her, but could not come near her. nor Goody Bibber tho she had not accused her before: also Mary Walcot could not come near her. John Indian said he would kill her, if he came near her, but he fell down before he could touch her What is the reason these cannot come near you? I cannot tell it may be the Devil bears me more malice than an other. Do you not see God evidently discovering you? No, not a bit for that. All the congregation besides think so. Let them think what they will. What is the reason these cannot come to you? I do not know but they can if they will or else if you please I will come to them. What was that the black man whisperd to you? There was none whispered to me. She insisted that she was not guilty and at the trial stated that she had "no hand in witchcraft." She also stated that she felt that the afflicted were not bewitched and added that she had no compassion for the afflicted girls. Her attitude and actions probably contributed much towards her final fate. It certainly made the famous and influential, Reverend Cotton Mather upset. He declared that Susannah Martin "was one of the most impudent, scurrilous, wicked creatures in the whole world."Her indictment reads as follows; (Indictment v. Susannah Martin, No. 1) Anno Regis et Reginae Willm et Mariae . nunc Angliae &c Quarto Essex ss. The Jurors for our Sovereigne Lord & Lady the King and Queen prsents That Susanna Martin of Amsbury in the County of Essex widdow the Second Day of may in the forth year of the Reigne of our Sovereigne Lord and Lady William and Mary by the Grace of God of England Scottland: France and Ireland King and Queen: Defenders of the faith &. divers other Dayes and Times as well before as after certaine Detestable arts, called witchcrafts & Sorceries wickedly and feloniously hath used Practised & Exercised at and within the Townership of Salem in the County of Essex aforesaid in upon and ag't one Mary Wallcott of Salem Village Single woman, by which Said wicked arts the s'd. Mary walcott the Second day of May in the forth year afores'd: and at Divers other Dayes & times as well before as after was, and is Tortored Afflicted Pined wasted and Tormented as also for Sundry other acts of witchcraft by Said Susanah Martin committed and Done before and Since that time ag't the Peace of our Sovereigne Lord & Lady william and Mary King and Queen of England theire Crowne and Dignity and ag't: the forme of the Statute in that case made & Provided. Sarah Vibber Sworn Mary Wolcutt Sworn [M]r Sam'll Parris. Sworn Elizabeth Hubbard Marcy Lewis (Reverse) Bil a Vera ( Essex County Archives, Salem -- Witchcraft Vol. 1 Page 58 ) (Indictment v. Susannah Martin, No. 2.) Anno Regis et Reginae Willm et Mariae : nunc Angliae &c Quarto Essex ss The Jurors for our Sovereigne Lord & Lady the King and Queen: prsents That Susanah Martin of Amsbury in the County of Essex widdow the Second day of may in the forth Year of the Reigne of our Sovereigne Lord & Lady william and Mary by the Grace of God of England Scottland France & Ireland King and Queen Defenders of the faith &c: and divers other Dayes & times as well before as after. certaine Detestable Arts called witchcrafts and Sorceries wickedly: and felloniously hath used Practised & Exercised at and within the Towneship of Salem in the County of Essex aforesd: in and upon and ag't: one Marcy Lewis: of Salem Villiage Singlewoman by which said wicked arts the: Said Marcy Lewis. the said second day of may in the forth year aforesaid and at Divers other dayes and times as well before as after was and is Tortured: Afflicted Pined wasted and Torminted as also for Sundrey other acts of witchcraft by said Suzanah Martin Committed and done before and since that time ag't the Peace of our Sovereigne Lord. and Lady William & Mary King & Queen of England there Crowne and Dignity. and ag't the forme of the Statute in that case made and Provided. Witnesses Marcy Lewis Mr. Samll: Parris Sworn Anne Puttman Sworn Sarah Biber Sworne Elizabeth Hubbard Mary Wallcott Sworne in Court June 2d. 92. ( Essex County Archives, Salem -- Witchcraft Vol. 1 Page 58 ) On July 19, 1692, Susanna Martin was taken to Gallows Hill. Accompanying her were 4 other condemned 'witches', Sarah Good, Elizabeth Howe, Rebecca Nurse, and Sarah Wilder. While at the gallows awaiting her fate, Susannah was asked by Rev. Noyes to confess. He told her that he knew she was a witch and that she should repent. "She replied that he lied, and that she was no more a witch then he was a wizard, and if he took away her life, God would give him blood to drink." (Tradition has it that Rev. Noyes later died of internal bleeding, some blood observed coming from his mouth. Another source I read attributes this question being asked to Sarah Good rather then Susanna Martin. The sentence was then carried out. Their bodies were later taken down and flung into a nearby ravine, because they could not be buried in consecrated ground. It is unknown as to the eventual fate of Susannah's body but it is likely that family members secretly removed it for burial in an unknown gravesite. More then just the actions of the afflicted and a general belief in witches spurred on these trials and accusations. A number of the accused confessed to being a witch. An example is the case of Mary Lacy who gave the following answers to questions at her examination; Q:"Do you acknowledge now you are a witch?" A: "Yes." Q: Did the devil appear to you?" A:" Yes." Q: "In what shape?" A: "In the shape of a horse." Q: Did he bid you worship him?" A: Yes, he bid me also to affect persons." Q: "Did you use at any time to ride upon, a stick or a pole?" A: "Yes." Q:" How high." A: "Sometimes above the trees." These confessions served to inflame the people and strengthen their beliefs that there were witches and that a number of them were in their community. They encouraged even more accusation, trials and executions. Besides Susannah Martin, a number of other people connected with the trials have ties to my family tree. Most are cousins. Issac Cummings was the son of the Issac Cummings who was the first in the line to came to America. The Gould family was well represented at the trials. John Gould testified at a grand jury inquest. Sarah Wildes was the wife of John Wildes whose first wife, and mother of his children, was Priscilla Gould a granddaughter of Zaccheus Gould. Two of John Wildes children, Sarah and Phoebe were also arrested during the trials. Benjamin Gould testified against Giles Corey who refused to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. Giles knew that without such a plea he could not be tried, found guilty and as a result lose his property. In doing this, Giles knew that he would die, but with the knowledge that his property pass on to his children. To obtain a plea, Giles was taken out and large rocks placed on his prone body to induce him to cooperate. He refused and died of the pressing. Benjamin also testified against John Proctor who was hanged on August 19, 1692. Elizabeth Howe and her husband, who had been blind since 1685, lived in Topsfield, Massachusetts. She was accused and charged with being a witch on May 28, 1692. On May 31, 1692 Ephraim Wildes, the Topsfield constable, arrested her. When examined by the court Elizabeth refused to confess even though she knew that this could result in her death. She told the court that "If it was the last moment I was to live, God knows I am innocent of anything in this nature." There were a number of people who testified against Elizabeth Howe other then the afflicted young girls. Samuel Perley and his wife Ruth claimed that Elizabeth bewitched their young daughter Hannah in 1682. They stated that Hannah was afflicted with pain day and night and complained of being pinched with pins and also suffered from fits. They added that Hannah herself blamed Elizabeth for these problems. Reverend Samuel Philips and Reverend Edward Payson testified in support of the Perley’s statement. Also testifying against Elizabeth was her brother-in-law John Howe who blamed her for the mysterious death of one of his sows. Issac Cummings, his wife Mary and their son Issac Jr., testified that she was responsible for the distemper suffered by one of their horses. Elizabeth was condemned and was hung along with four others, including Susanna Martin. The Putnam family, who were descended from Priscilla Gould the wife of John Putnam, were heavily involved. They were involved in many of the arrests, as John, John Jr., Jonathan, Nathaniel, Edward and Thomas Putnam were all constables at the time. The author of the book "The Devil Discovered" feels that the Putnam’s were also deeply involved in persuading the afflicted girls to accuse certain persons, persons whose death would benefit the Putnam’s. Kendall Soames was the granddaughter of John Kendall and Elizabeth Sacherell. In 1692 she was staying with a friend, Samuel Gaskill of Salem. Though she was bedridden at the time of her accusation, she was arrested anyway. She was imprisoned but later released. The trials stopped in 1693 through the efforts of Governor Phipps who in May of 1693 ordered the release of all those imprisoned for being suspected of being witches. Of all those involved in the trials and executions, only Judge Samuel Sewall recanted and asked the people to pardon him for his actions. There are a number of theories as to the cause of the girls afflictions. One was that the girls were living in an uncertain time and that the recent threat of Indian raids combined with the stories of witchcraft told over the long lonely winter led to mass hysteria. The general belief in and fear of witches then fed this hysteria. One author suggested that the afflicted girls were steered into certain accusations by persons who would benefit by the arrests and convictions of these people. Governor Hutchinson was of the opinion that it was "wholly the result of fraud and deception on the part of the affected children." Linda Caporael put another theory forth in "Science" magazine on April 2, 1976. She felt that the girl’s affliction could have been caused by "Convulsive Ergotism" a disorder resulting from the ingestion of contaminated rye grain. Rye was a staple in New England at the time of the trials. According to Caporael the weather conditions were ripe for the fungus that causes this disorder. The symptoms for the disorder are similar to that suffered by the young girls. Interestingly the disorder mainly affects young females. The symptoms are "hallucinations, violent fits, choking, pinching, itching, a crawling sensation in the skin and muscular contractions." Unfortunately at this time no one can be sure of the causes of the Salem Witch Trials. John Greenleaf Whittier was a major American poet during the 19th century. He was a direct descendant of Susanna Martin, and in 1857 published the poem "The Witches Daughter" in The National Era. This poem was about the daughter of Susanna Martin. Sources; "The Devil Discovered" by Enders Robinson, Hippocrene Books,NY 1991, "The Witchcraft Delusion of 1692" by Gov. Hutchinson, NEHG Register Vol. 24, Oct 1870, "The Witches at Salem 1692" by Dick Eastman, Compuserve Genealogy Forum, "Records of Salem Witchcraft" W. Woodward, Roxbury,Mass. 1864, "Priscilla, Wife of John Putnam" R. Putnam, NEHG Register, vol.119,July 1865.r Sam'll Parris. Sworn

Elizabeth Hubbard

Marcy Lewis

(Reverse) Bil a Vera

( Essex County Archives, Salem -- Witchcraft Vol. 1 Page 58 )


(Indictment v. Susannah Martin, No. 2.)
Anno Regis et Reginae Willm et Mariae : nunc Angliae &c Quarto Essex ss

The Jurors for our Sovereigne Lord & Lady the King and Queen: prsents That Susanah Martin of Amsbury in the County of Essex widdow the Second day of may in the forth Year of the Reigne of our Sovereigne Lord & Lady william and Mary by the Grace of God of England Scottland France & Ireland King and Queen Defenders of the faith &c: and divers other Dayes & times as well before as after. certaine Detestable Arts called witchcrafts and Sorceries wickedly: and felloniously hath used Practised & Exercised at and within the Towneship of Salem in the County of Essex aforesd: in and upon and ag't: one Marcy Lewis: of Salem Villiage Singlewoman by which said wicked arts the: Said Marcy Lewis. the said second day of may in the forth year aforesaid and at Divers other dayes and times as well before as after was and is Tortured: Afflicted Pined wasted and Torminted as also for Sundrey other acts of witchcraft by said Suzanah Martin Committed and done before and since that time ag't the Peace of our Sovereigne Lord. and Lady William & Mary King & Queen of England there Crowne and Dignity. and ag't the forme of the Statute in that case made and Provided.

Witnesses

Marcy Lewis

Mr. Samll: Parris Sworn

Anne Puttman Sworn

Sarah Biber Sworne

Elizabeth Hubbard

Mary Wallcott Sworne in Court June 2d. 92.

( Essex County Archives, Salem -- Witchcraft Vol. 1 Page 58 )

On July 19, 1692, Susanna Martin was taken to Gallows Hill. Accompanying her were 4 other condemned 'witches', Sarah Good, Elizabeth Howe, Rebecca Nurse, and Sarah Wilder. While at the gallows awaiting her fate, Susannah was asked by Rev. Noyes to confess. He told her that he knew she was a witch and that she should repent. "She replied that he lied, and that she was no more a witch then he was a wizard, and if he took away her life, God would give him blood to drink." (Tradition has it that Rev. Noyes later died of internal bleeding, some blood observed coming from his mouth. Another source I read attributes this question being asked to Sarah Good rather then Susanna Martin. The sentence was then carried out. Their bodies were later taken down and flung into a nearby ravine, because they could not be buried in consecrated ground. It is unknown as to the eventual fate of Susannah's body but it is likely that family members secretly removed it for burial in an unknown gravesite.

More then just the actions of the afflicted and a general belief in witches spurred on these trials and accusations. A number of the accused confessed to being a witch. An example is the case of Mary Lacy who gave the following answers to questions at her examination;

Q:"Do you acknowledge now you are a witch?"

A: "Yes."

Q: Did the devil appear to you?"

A:" Yes."

Q: "In what shape?"

A: "In the shape of a horse."

Q: Did he bid you worship him?"

A: Yes, he bid me also to affect persons."

Q: "Did you use at any time to ride upon, a stick or a pole?"

A: "Yes."

Q:" How high."

A: "Sometimes above the trees."

These confessions served to inflame the people and strengthen their beliefs that there were witches and that a number of them were in their community. They encouraged even more accusation, trials and executions.

Besides Susannah Martin, a number of other people connected with the trials have ties to my family tree. Most are cousins. Issac Cummings was the son of the Issac Cummings who was the first in the line to came to America. The Gould family was well represented at the trials. John Gould testified at a grand jury inquest. Sarah Wildes was the wife of John Wildes whose first wife, and mother of his children, was Priscilla Gould a granddaughter of Zaccheus Gould. Two of John Wildes children, Sarah and Phoebe were also arrested during the trials. Benjamin Gould testified against Giles Corey who refused to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. Giles knew that without such a plea he could not be tried, found guilty and as a result lose his property. In doing this, Giles knew that he would die, but with the knowledge that his property pass on to his children. To obtain a plea, Giles was taken out and large rocks placed on his prone body to induce him to cooperate. He refused and died of the pressing. Benjamin also testified against John Proctor who was hanged on August 19, 1692. Elizabeth Howe and her husband, who had been blind since 1685, lived in Topsfield, Massachusetts. She was accused and charged with being a witch on May 28, 1692. On May 31, 1692 Ephraim Wildes, the Topsfield constable, arrested her. When examined by the court Elizabeth refused to confess even though she knew that this could result in her death. She told the court that "If it was the last moment I was to live, God knows I am innocent of anything in this nature."

There were a number of people who testified against Elizabeth Howe other then the afflicted young girls. Samuel Perley and his wife Ruth claimed that Elizabeth bewitched their young daughter Hannah in 1682. They stated that Hannah was afflicted with pain day and night and complained of being pinched with pins and also suffered from fits. They added that Hannah herself blamed Elizabeth for these problems. Reverend Samuel Philips and Reverend Edward Payson testified in support of the Perley’s statement. Also testifying against Elizabeth was her brother-in-law John Howe who blamed her for the mysterious death of one of his sows. Issac Cummings, his wife Mary and their son Issac Jr., testified that she was responsible for the distemper suffered by one of their horses. Elizabeth was condemned and was hung along with four others, including Susanna Martin.

The Putnam family, who were descended from Priscilla Gould the wife of John Putnam, were heavily involved. They were involved in many of the arrests, as John, John Jr., Jonathan, Nathaniel, Edward and Thomas Putnam were all constables at the time. The author of the book "The Devil Discovered" feels that the Putnam’s were also deeply involved in persuading the afflicted girls to accuse certain persons, persons whose death would benefit the Putnam’s.

Kendall Soames was the granddaughter of John Kendall and Elizabeth Sacherell. In 1692 she was staying with a friend, Samuel Gaskill of Salem. Though she was bedridden at the time of her accusation, she was arrested anyway. She was imprisoned but later released.

The trials stopped in 1693 through the efforts of Governor Phipps who in May of 1693 ordered the release of all those imprisoned for being suspected of being witches. Of all those involved in the trials and executions, only Judge Samuel Sewall recanted and asked the people to pardon him for his actions.

There are a number of theories as to the cause of the girls afflictions. One was that the girls were living in an uncertain time and that the recent threat of Indian raids combined with the stories of witchcraft told over the long lonely winter led to mass hysteria. The general belief in and fear of witches then fed this hysteria. One author suggested that the afflicted girls were steered into certain accusations by persons who would benefit by the arrests and convictions of these people. Governor Hutchinson was of the opinion that it was "wholly the result of fraud and deception on the part of the affected children."

Linda Caporael put another theory forth in "Science" magazine on April 2, 1976. She felt that the girl’s affliction could have been caused by "Convulsive Ergotism" a disorder resulting from the ingestion of contaminated rye grain. Rye was a staple in New England at the time of the trials. According to Caporael the weather conditions were ripe for the fungus that causes this disorder. The symptoms for the disorder are similar to that suffered by the young girls. Interestingly the disorder mainly affects young females. The symptoms are "hallucinations, violent fits, choking, pinching, itching, a crawling sensation in the skin and muscular contractions." Unfortunately at this time no one can be sure of the causes of the Salem Witch Trials.

John Greenleaf Whittier was a major American poet during the 19th century. He was a direct descendant of Susanna Martin, and in 1857 published the poem "The Witches Daughter" in The National Era. This poem was about the daughter of Susanna Martin.

Sources; "The Devil Discovered" by Enders Robinson, Hippocrene Books,NY 1991, "The Witchcraft Delusion of 1692" by Gov. Hutchinson, NEHG Register Vol. 24, Oct 1870, "The Witches at Salem 1692" by Dick Eastman, Compuserve Genealogy Forum, "Records of Salem Witchcraft" W. Woodward, Roxbury,Mass. 1864, "Priscilla, Wife of John Putnam" R. Putnam, NEHG Register, vol.119,July 1865. Legislature exonerates last Salem 'witches'


BOSTON -- Gov. Jane M. Swift righted a 300-plus-year wrong yesterday, exonerating five women who went to their deaths in the Salem witch trials.

One of the women whose name was cleared is Susannah Martin of Amesbury, who was tried, convicted and hanged for witchcraft in 1692. The other women are Bridget Bishop, Alice Parker, Margaret Scott and Wilmott Redd.

The pardon is the culmination of more than three years of letter writing and e-mailing to state lawmakers by the women's descendants.

The bill granting the pardons was gaveled through the House Tuesday by state Rep. Paul E. Tirone, D-Amesbury, whose wife, Sharron, is related to Sarah Wildes of Topsfield, who was executed as a witch but exonerated in the 1700s.

To Tirone the law not only rights a past wrong, but it also teaches an important lesson about tolerance in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"It's a powerful thing, hysteria. Once people get whipped up, reason goes out the window," Tirone said. "That is what we have to be vigilant about today. We have to make sure we are directing our actions in the right place, and making people who did the crime pay the penalty."

Juliet H. Mofford, the author of "Cry 'Witch: The Salem Witch Trials 1692'' and the director of education and research at the Andover Historical Society, agrees.

"It's really about fanaticism and intolerance. It's too easy to say it was just about a bunch of excited Puritans in a crazy time. It happened then and it is still happening," Mofford said.

Twenty men and women were hanged or crushed to death during the witchcraft hysteria, which was fueled by the isolation of colonial Massachusetts, a deep belief in the supernatural and political feuds. Almost as quickly as they began, the executions stopped, just four months after the first hanging. By the end of 1692, 200 people were jailed under charges of witchcraft.

In 1711, prodded in part by convicted witch Abigail Dane Faulkner of Andover, the Legislature exonerated and paid damages to the survivors of those who were executed.

Faulkner was the daughter of Andover senior minister, the Rev. Francis Dane, and was sparred from execution because she was expecting her seventh child.

Those who were convicted of witchcraft, but were later released remained "under Attainer," which meant they had no legal rights and could not reclaim any property, Mofford said.

The five women pardoned this week were ignored in 1711 when none of their family members appeared in court.

Another attempt to absolve the women was made in 1957, but the law was poorly written and only cleared Ann Pudeator. In 1998, Paula Gauthier Keene of Salem, Mass., discovered the error and asked state Rep. Michael Ruane, D-Salem, to file a bill to correct it.

Amesbury's Martin was like several women who were accused of witchcraft, a strong-willed, outspoken elderly widow who owned a sizable piece of land. She had run afoul of her neighbors before.

In 1669, she was accused of witchcraft, but the charges were dropped, and her husband sued successfully for slander.

But when the witchcraft hysteria broke in 1692 in Salem Village, now Danvers, some of her old enemies resurfaced and provided damaging testimony against her. Martin boldly ridiculed much of the evidence against her, and laughed out loud when the girls making the accusations writhed on the floor and screamed -- a sight that judges considered credible evidence of witchcraft.

Her constant denials that she was not a witch did not help, and on June 26 she was sentenced to death. Ten days later, Martin was hanged on Gallows Hill in Salem.

The witchcraft hysteria began when four young girls, including the daughter of the Salem Village minister, the Rev. Samuel Parris, began dabbling in fortune-telling games with Tituba, a female slave belonging to Parris.

When the girls started showing mysterious physical symptoms, the town doctor concluded they were "bewitched."

Then the girls began naming people they suspected of inflicting of symptoms. Those who were named initially -- including Tituba -- lived on the edges of society.

In time, however, the accusations spread to more prominent citizens, including Salem Village's former minister, George Burroughs, who was named by the girls as the master of all Massachusetts witches and the leader of the Salem Coven. A key to the trials was so-called spectral evidence, reports of ghostly presences inflicting torment under the command of suspected witches.

Eventually, the thirst for prosecutions waned and the use of spectral evidence was rejected. The trials ended in May 1693, when Gov. William Phips pardoned all remaining witchcraft suspects.

By Nancy C. Rodriguez
Eagle-Tribune Writer.