Witches of Massachusetts – O-P

The spectral whispers of the Salem Witch Trials continue to echo through the annals of American history, a chilling testament to the dangers of mass hysteria and the fragility of justice. Within the shadow of this dark chapter, numerous individuals were swept up in the accusations, trials, and executions that defined the year 1692 in Massachusetts. This article delves into the stories of several individuals whose names begin with the letters "O" and "P," each a unique narrative woven into the broader tapestry of the Witches of Massachusetts.

Sarah Warren Prince Osborne (1643?-1692): Sarah Osborne, often referred to as "Goody Osborne" – Goody being a common address for older women of lower social standing – holds a prominent place in the grim saga of the Salem Witch Trials. Born Sarah Warren in Watertown, Massachusetts, around 1643, her life took a fateful turn when she married Robert Prince, a respected man from Salem Village. They settled in Salem Village in 1662, where Robert possessed a 150-acre farm adjacent to his brother-in-law, Captain John Putnam. The couple raised three children on this land, building a life of relative comfort and stability.

However, Robert’s untimely death in 1674 left Sarah a widow and placed her in a precarious position. Robert’s will stipulated that the land be entrusted to Sarah, to be passed on to their sons, James and Joseph, upon their coming of age. However, the boys were only six and two years old, respectively. Soon after her husband’s passing, Sarah hired Alexander Osborne, an indentured Irish immigrant, as a farmhand. She eventually paid off his indenture, and rumors began to circulate that Sarah and Alexander were "living together." These whispers soon led to marriage.

Following her marriage to Alexander, Sarah attempted to seize control of the estate, potentially depriving her sons of their inheritance. This act ignited a fierce legal battle with the powerful Putnam family, who staunchly defended the rights of her sons. This ongoing conflict formed the backdrop against which Sarah Osborne became one of the first three women accused of witchcraft in February 1692.

The accusations against Sarah Osborne were leveled by prominent figures, including Thomas Putnam Jr., Edward Putnam, Joseph Hutchinson, and Thomas Preston, who claimed she afflicted Ann Putnam Jr., Elizabeth Parris, Abigail Williams, and Elizabeth Hubbard. Unlike her co-accused, Tituba and Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne never confessed to witchcraft nor attempted to implicate others. She steadfastly maintained her innocence. A warrant for her arrest was issued on March 1, 1692, making her the second of the original three to be examined.

During her examination, Sarah presented a theological argument that would later gain traction and contribute to the eventual cessation of the trials. She asserted that the Devil could assume the shape of another person without their consent. However, the words of Sarah Good’s examination were twisted to bolster the accusations of the "afflicted girls" against her. Furthermore, Tituba would later claim that the three women, Sarah Osborne, Sarah Good, and herself, were working with the Devil.

Following her examination, Sarah was imprisoned in a Boston jail to await her trial. However, already weakened by illness before her arrest, Sarah Osborne never faced trial. She died in shackles on May 10, 1692, at the age of 49, a victim of the escalating hysteria. The tragic case of Sarah Osborne remains a stark reminder of the social and legal complexities that fueled the Witches of Massachusetts panic.

Mary Clements Osgood (1637?-1710): Born in England in 1637, Mary Clements’ early life was marked by separation from her father, Robert Clements, who immigrated to America in 1642. Five-year-old Mary remained with relatives until she later joined her father, who was serving as a magistrate in Haverhill, Massachusetts. It was her father who officiated her marriage to John Osgood Jr. in November 1653.

John Osgood Jr., of Andover, was a man of significant standing in the community. He served in the military for thirty years, achieving the rank of captain. He was among the first settlers of Andover, a founder of the local church, and the town’s first representative to the General Court. He also possessed a considerable amount of land. The couple had one daughter, Constance.

Despite Mary’s reputation as a pious and virtuous woman, she, too, fell under suspicion and was accused of witchcraft. At the time of her examination, she was 68 years old. While the details of her imprisonment are scarce, it is known that she spent time in jail before being released, likely on bond. Her husband, John, passed away on August 21, 1693. Mary lived until October 27, 1710, surviving the peak of the witch hunt, but forever marked by the accusation. The story of Mary Clements Osgood illustrates how even individuals held in high regard within their communities were not immune to the Witches of Massachusetts accusations.

Elizabeth Carrington Paine (1636?-1711): Elizabeth Carrington Paine, a resident of Malden, Massachusetts, and wife of Stephen Paine, faced accusations of witchcraft in the spring of 1692. On May 30, a complaint was filed against her by Lieutenant Nathaniel Putnam and Joseph Whipple of Salem Village, alleging that she afflicted Mercy Lewis and Mary Warren.

A warrant was issued for her arrest on June 2, and Elizabeth was brought in for examination the following day. While it is known that she was imprisoned, the subsequent disposition of the complaint remains unknown. The lack of further information surrounding Elizabeth Carrington Paine’s case highlights the incomplete records and lingering mysteries surrounding many of the Witches of Massachusetts accusations.

Alice Parker (??-1692): Alice Parker, a resident of Salem Towne, was executed on September 22, 1692, during the height of the Salem Witch Trials. Married to a fisherman named John Parker, Alice was known as a simple housewife of good faith and good deeds. However, this reputation was shattered when Mary Warren accused her of witchcraft.

Alice was first examined on May 12, 1692, after Mary Warren claimed that Alice Parker had murdered her mother. Mary stated that shortly after Alice’s visit, her sister and mother fell ill, and her mother died. She further alleged that Alice Parker had given her a poppet, threatening to stick a needle into its heart, thereby afflicting Mary Warren.

Warren further testified that Alice Parker confessed to attending a "Bloody Sacrament" meeting with approximately 30 other witches. Throughout Mary Warren’s testimony, she was prone to periodic fits. Alice Parker consistently proclaimed her innocence, maintaining this stance until her death. However, numerous individuals testified against her, claiming she had sent animals to attack people. Martha Dutch, Sarah Bibber, Mary Walcott, Abigail Hobbs, Elizabeth Hubbard, and Ann Putnam Jr. all provided depositions against her.

At her trial in September, Mary Warren accused Alice Parker of causing several other deaths in the area. Alice Parker was found guilty on September 9, 1692, and condemned to die. She was hanged on September 22, 1692. The tragic story of Alice Parker exemplifies how accusations, fueled by fear and paranoia, could lead to the execution of innocent individuals during the Witches of Massachusetts hysteria.

Mary Ayer Parker (mid-1600s-1692): Mary Ayer Parker, a 55-year-old widow from Andover, Massachusetts, was executed on September 22, 1692, along with several others, for witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials. Born to John and Hannah Ayer, the family emigrated from England to America, eventually settling in Haverhill around 1646. Mary married Nathan Parker, and they had at least eight children.

Over the years, Nathan Parker expanded his land holdings from a small house lot to over 200 acres. When Nathan died on June 25, 1685, he left his wife and children a substantial estate. Mary inherited one-third of the house and land.

Despite the absence of documented conflicts with neighbors or prior accusations of wrongdoing, Mary Ayer Parker was accused of afflicting Sarah Phelps, Hannah Bigsby, and Martha Sprague with witchcraft. William Barker Jr. named her in his September 1, 1692, confession, claiming that he and Goody Parker had afflicted Martha Sprague, ridden upon a pole, and been baptized in Five Mile Pond.

Mary Parker was examined on September 2, 1692, during which several "afflicted girls" from Andover and Salem Village, including Mary Warren, Sarah Churchill, Hannah Post, Sara Bridges, and Mercy Wardwell, fell into fits. During the "touch test," the girls were reportedly "cured." Mercy Wardwell and William Barker Jr. also claimed that she had tortured Timothy Swan with iron spindles, pins, and other instruments. Mary Ayer Parker was found guilty of witchcraft on September 16, 1692, and executed six days later.

The case of Mary Ayer Parker raises questions about why she was targeted, particularly given her lack of documented conflicts. Adding to the mystery, another woman named Mary Parker lived in the area at the time. This other Mary Parker had a history of legal troubles, including convictions for fornication. This has led to speculation as to whether the wrong woman was accused or if the similarity in name and the presence of another "disreputable" Mary Parker fueled the accusations. Furthermore, the presiding officer, Thomas Chandler, was once a friend of the Parkers but had apparently fallen out of favor with them. Little evidence was presented to convict Mary Parker, and her testimony was seemingly ignored. The story of Mary Ayer Parker underscores the arbitrary and often unjust nature of the Witches of Massachusetts accusations.

Sarah Parker (1670-??): Sarah Parker, the daughter of Nathan and Mary Ayer Parker, was born in Andover in 1670. At the age of 22, she was implicated in the confessions of Elizabeth Dane Johnson Sr. and Susannah Post in August 1692. Although her mother was accused, tried, and executed within a month, Sarah Parker was never formally indicted. Little else is known about her fate.

Margaret Skillings Prince (1625-1706): Margaret Skillings, born in England in 1625, immigrated to America and married Thomas Prince in Gloucester in 1649. The couple had six children. After her husband’s death in 1690, Margaret Prince, as a widow, was accused of witchcraft along with Elizabeth Dicer, also of Gloucester. Ebenezer Babson, acting on behalf of his mother, Eleanor Babson, made the accusations on September 3, 1692.

Weeks before the accusations, Babson had reported paranormal activity, claiming to be haunted by spectral soldiers. Whether he connected this incident to the two women is unknown. Margaret Prince was indicted and accused of afflicting Elizabeth Booth of Salem Village. Her daughter, Mary Prince Rowe, and granddaughter, Abigail Rowe, were also accused. Margaret was released from Ipswich on a £200 bond on December 15, 1692, and appears to have never been tried. She died on February 24, 1706, in Gloucester.

The Proctor Family: The Proctor family endured immense suffering during the Salem Witch Trials, with multiple members accused of witchcraft.

• Benjamin Proctor (1659-1720): The only surviving child of John Proctor and his first wife, Martha Giddons, Benjamin Proctor was accused of witchcraft in May 1692.
• Elizabeth Bassett Proctor (c.1651-17??): Married to John Proctor, both she and her husband were accused of witchcraft and condemned to death. John was hanged on August 19, 1692, but Elizabeth received a reprieve because she was pregnant. After giving birth, the hysteria subsided, and she was released. She remarried in 1699.
• John Proctor (1631-1692): Husband of Elizabeth Bassett Proctor, John Proctor was convicted of witchcraft and hanged on August 19, 1692.
• Sarah Proctor (1676-17??): The daughter of John and Elizabeth Bassett Proctor, Sarah was accused of witchcraft in May 1692 and imprisoned.
• William Proctor (1692-??): The oldest son of John and Elizabeth Bassett Proctor, William was accused of witchcraft in May 1692 and imprisoned.

Ann Greenslit Pudeator (16??-1692): Ann Greenslit Pudeator, in her 70s, was a well-to-do widow when she was accused and executed for witchcraft. After the death of her first husband, Thomas Greenslit, she worked as a midwife and nurse. She later married Jacob Pudeator, a blacksmith, who was younger than her. When Jacob died in 1682, he left his property to Ann and her children.

In 1692, Ann became a target of the witch hunt. It has been suggested that her occupation and her status as a woman of property made her vulnerable. A warrant for her arrest was issued on May 12, 1692. Sarah Churchill testified that Ann presented her with the Devil’s Book and tortured her with poppets. Other "afflicted girls" accused her of pinching, pressing, and choking them. Constable Joseph Neal found "curious containers of various ointments" in her possession.

Despite denying the accusations, Ann Pudeator was indicted and brought to trial on July 2, 1692. Mary Warren claimed that Ann caused John Turner to fall from a tree and killed her husband, Jacob, and his first wife, Isabel. John Best Sr. accused Ann of murdering his wife, whom Ann had nursed. Additional testimony claimed that she could turn into a bird to bewitch people and caused the death of Joseph Neal’s wife. None of her children defended her during the trial.

Ann Greenslit Pudeator was found guilty and sentenced to hang. She wrote a petition denouncing her accusers, but it was to no avail. She was hanged on Gallows Hill on September 22, 1692, in the final set of executions resulting from the Salem Witch Trials. In 1710, the General Court reversed the convictions of some, but Ann Pudeator was not among them.

The individuals whose stories are chronicled here offer a glimpse into the complex and often tragic reality of the Witches of Massachusetts. Their experiences serve as a reminder of the dangers of unchecked power, the corrosive effects of fear, and the enduring importance of due process and justice.