Nathaniel and Rebecca Greensmith – Hartford, Connecticut Witches
Long before the infamous Salem witch trials cast a dark shadow over Massachusetts, the colony of Connecticut experienced its own, albeit lesser-known, period of witch hunts. These persecutions, sporadic in nature, occurred between 1647 and 1697, painting a stark picture of the anxieties and beliefs that gripped early colonial society. The Hartford Witch Panic, which reached its fever pitch in the spring of 1662, stands as a particularly harrowing episode within this history.
The catalyst for the Hartford Witch Panic was the tragic death of eight-year-old Elizabeth Kelly (sometimes spelled Kelley). Her grieving parents, consumed by suspicion and fear, became convinced that their neighbor, Goody Ayres, had used dark magic to cause their child’s demise. This accusation served as the spark that ignited a blaze of paranoia and accusation throughout the Puritan community of Hartford.
In the ensuing year, ten more individuals were accused of witchcraft, further fanning the flames of the Hartford Witch Panic. Of these accused, four were ultimately condemned and executed, their lives tragically cut short by the prevailing hysteria. Among those accused were Nathaniel and Rebecca Greensmith, whose story serves as a poignant example of the human cost of this dark chapter in Connecticut’s history.
The origins of Nathaniel Greensmith remain shrouded in mystery, his birthplace and early life lost to the annals of time. However, records indicate that he married Rebecca around 1655, establishing a life together in the burgeoning colony.
Rebecca’s background, in contrast, is more readily traceable. Born Rebecca Steele in 1629 in Devon, England, to George Steele and Margery Sorrell Steele, she eventually made her way across the Atlantic to the shores of America. Before her marriage to Nathaniel, Rebecca had already experienced the joys and sorrows of matrimony twice. Her first marriage was to Abraham Elson, with whom she had two children. After Elson’s death in 1648, she married Jarvis Mudge, and they had three children. Mudge passed away in 1653, leaving Rebecca a widow once again. Subsequently, she married Nathaniel Greensmith, embarking on a new chapter in her life. Notably, there is no record of Rebecca and Nathaniel having any children together.
The couple established their home south of the Little River in Hartford, Connecticut. Nathaniel owned around 20 acres of land, upon which stood a house and a barn. He also possessed other properties along the road leading to Farmington. Nathaniel’s standing within the community appeared to be less than favorable. Perhaps due to acquiring land from his neighbors or due to jealousy, he was not particularly well-liked. His interactions with the authorities were also less than ideal, with accusations ranging from stealing a hoe and wheat to lying in court and even battery.
Rebecca, too, faced a degree of disapproval. Reverend John Whiting, the local minister, described her as "lewd, ignorant, and considerably aged," suggesting a less-than-flattering perception of her character and standing within the community. These personal qualities, or at least the perception of them, likely contributed to the growing criticism and animosity directed towards the couple, ultimately making them vulnerable targets during the Hartford Witch Panic.
The accusations against the Greensmiths gained momentum following the death of Elizabeth Kelly. A young woman named Ann Cole, described as a woman of great integrity and piety, suddenly began to exhibit strange and unsettling behavior. She became "afflicted," experiencing violent shaking and uttering blasphemous statements.
Tormented by doubts about her spiritual well-being, Ann spoke at length about evil spirits attempting to harm her, sometimes lapsing into unintelligible speech. In the presence of ministers who attempted to assist her, Ann claimed that a group of familiars of the evil one were conspiring to carry out their malevolent plans against her. During these episodes, Ann also began to speak with a distinct Dutch accent. Although a Dutch family had recently moved to the town, the ministers deemed it impossible for someone like Ann, unfamiliar with the Dutch language, to imitate their accent so accurately. Her fits, which manifested both physically and verbally, occurred in both public and private settings, causing considerable alarm and speculation.
Ann Cole attributed her bewitchment to her neighbor, Rebecca Greensmith, directly implicating her in the supposed supernatural torment. This accusation, fueled by the existing anxieties surrounding witchcraft, quickly gained traction within the community.
Soon, other residents of Hartford began to claim that they, too, were possessed. Ann, along with two others, experienced attacks even during church services, further amplifying the fear and paranoia. During a special day of prayer held for the afflicted, Ann Cole publicly denounced Elizabeth Seager, adding further fuel to the Hartford Witch Panic. However, Goodwife Miggat dismissed the accusation as "hodgepodge." Goodwife Miggat also made accusations of her own, claiming that Seager had appeared to her at night, striking her in the face and preventing her from waking her husband before flying away.
Amidst this escalating atmosphere of suspicion, Rebecca Greensmith was arrested and imprisoned on suspicion of witchcraft. While incarcerated, she was interviewed by Reverends Joseph Haynes and John Whiting. During these interrogations, Rebecca confessed to having familiarity with the devil, claiming that he had appeared to her in the form of a deer. She further implicated several other individuals, including Elizabeth Seager, Mary Barnes, Andrew and Mary Sanford, and William and Goody Ayres, stating that they had all danced with the devil in the woods. She also implicated James Wakely, Katherine Palmer, and Judith Varlet, who were of the Dutch family that Ann Cole seemingly imitated.
Rebecca’s confession took an even more disturbing turn when she implicated her own husband, Nathaniel. She claimed that he possessed the ability to lift heavy weights that even two men could not manage and that he was often followed by wild animals. She also stated that she feared him due to the rumors she had heard about him before their marriage. Her accusations against Nathaniel solidified the case against the Greensmiths, further sealing their fate within the Hartford Witch Panic.
Formal complaints were lodged against the Greensmiths on December 30, 1662, and both were indicted for familiarity with the devil. Nathaniel’s indictment read: "Nathaniel Greensmith, thou art here indicted by the name of Nathaniel Greensmith for not having the fear of God before thine eyes, thou hast entertained familiarity with Satan, the grand enemy of God and mankind – and by his help, hast acted things in a preternatural way beyond human abilities in a natural course for which according to the law of God and the established law of this commonwealth thou deservest to die."
Rebecca’s indictment was likely identical, mirroring the charges against her husband and reflecting the gravity of the accusations leveled against them.
In early January 1663, the trial of the Greensmiths was held in Hartford. Rebecca Greensmith confessed to the charges, seemingly confirming the accusations against her. However, Nathaniel maintained his innocence, protesting his involvement in witchcraft. Despite his pleas, the court’s verdict for both Nathaniel and Rebecca was the same: "According to the law of God and the established law of this commonwealth, thou deservest to die."
Around the same time, Mary Barnes of Farmington was also convicted of witchcraft in a separate trial, adding to the growing number of individuals condemned during the Hartford Witch Panic.
On January 25, 1663, Rebecca and Nathaniel Greensmith, along with Mary Barnes, were hanged on Gallows Hill in Hartford. Their executions served as a grim reminder of the power of fear and superstition in shaping the course of justice during this dark period in Connecticut’s history.
After the executions and the departure of other accused individuals, Ann Cole experienced a recovery from her affliction. She later married Andrew Benton, a widower with eight children, and, according to Reverend John Whiting’s account twenty years later, remained devout and free from fits.
The fates of those implicated by Rebecca Greensmith varied greatly. William and Goody Ayres fled the colony, seeking refuge elsewhere. Elizabeth Seager was convicted of witchcraft in 1665, but the governor reversed the verdict the following year. Mary Sanford was found guilty and likely hanged, while Andrew Sanford was acquitted. James Wakely escaped to Rhode Island, avoiding prosecution. Judith Varlett was imprisoned and later released, and Katherine Palmer was exonerated and even sued for slander, highlighting the complex and often unpredictable nature of the accusations and trials during the Hartford Witch Panic.