Witches of Massachusetts – F-G
The chilling history of the Salem Witch Trials and the surrounding accusations of witchcraft in late 17th-century Massachusetts continues to captivate and disturb. This era, marked by paranoia, religious fervor, and social anxieties, saw ordinary individuals branded as agents of the devil, leading to imprisonment, torture, and, in many cases, execution. This article delves into the stories of individuals whose names fall within the "F-G" alphabetical range, offering a glimpse into the lives touched by this dark chapter of American history. These are the Witches of Massachusetts – F-G.
These profiles, reconstructed from fragmented historical records, provide a human face to the abstract concept of the witch trials. They remind us that behind the accusations and legal proceedings were real people, caught in a web of fear and suspicion. Let’s explore the stories of Thomas Farrar, Abigail Faulkner, Sarah Good, and others. These are the Witches of Massachusetts – F-G.
Thomas Farrar (1615-1694)
Thomas Farrar, an elderly farmer from Lynn, Massachusetts, found himself ensnared in the witch hunt at the age of 77. Born in Lancaster, England, around 1615, Farrar immigrated to America with his wife, Elizabeth Thomas, in 1640, eventually settling in Lynn. He was a respected, if somewhat eccentric, member of the community, known affectionately as "Old Pharoah" and even allowed to sit in the pulpit at church due to his hearing impairment.
However, this reputation was not enough to shield him from the rising tide of accusations. Ann Putnam, Jr., one of the primary accusers in Salem Village, claimed that Farrar appeared to her in dreams, "pinching her" and urging her to "write in his book" – a clear reference to the devil’s supposed ledger of his followers. Despite his son, Thomas Farrar, Jr., being a selectman in Lynn, the elder Thomas was brought before the court in Salem on May 18, 1692. Ann Putnam, Jr. testified that Farrar "appeared before me in the apparition of an old gray-headed man with a great nose, which tortured me and almost choked me and urged me to write in his book." He was imprisoned for five long months before finally being released on November 2, 1692, after the tide began to turn against the accusers. He died on February 23, 1694, in Lynn, undoubtedly scarred by the ordeal. His story is a sobering reminder that even those with community standing were vulnerable during the height of the hysteria. This is just one of the sad stories of the Witches of Massachusetts – F-G.
Edward Farrington (1662-1745?)
Born in Lynn, Massachusetts, to John and Elizabeth Knight Farrington on July 5, 1662, Edward Farrington’s life took a dark turn when he was accused of witchcraft for afflicting Mary Warren while living in Andover. Witnesses against him included Martha Sprague and the ubiquitous Ann Putnam, Jr. He endured imprisonment, but further details about his case remain elusive. Farrington died in Andover on January 3, 1745/46, leaving behind a life forever marked by the shadow of accusation. The details surrounding his case underscore the pervasive fear and the ease with which accusations could be leveled.
Abigail Dane Faulkner, Sr. (1652-1730)
Abigail Dane Faulkner, Sr., born in Andover, Massachusetts, on October 13, 1652, to Reverend Frances Dane and Elizabeth Ingalls Dane, occupied a position of relative prominence in her community. She married Lieutenant Francis Faulkner in 1675, and they had at least seven children. The Danes and Faulkners were well-established and wealthy families in Andover. However, this social standing did not protect Abigail from the accusations of witchcraft.
After her husband, Francis, fell ill and was unable to manage his affairs, Abigail was granted control of his estate, placing her in a position of power uncommon for women at the time. This, coupled with the existing tensions surrounding her father, the Reverend Frances Dane, made her and her family targets for accusers. The accusations began with her niece, Elizabeth Johnson, Jr., who confessed and implicated others, setting off a chain reaction.
Abigail was arrested on August 11, accused of "afflicting" children. The accusers included the "afflicted girls" of Salem Village, such as Ann Putnam, Jr., and Mary Warren, as well as William Barker, Sr., who accused her of being an "enticer" to witchcraft alongside her sister, Elizabeth Johnson, Sr. In the ensuing frenzy, several of Abigail’s relatives were also accused, including her sister, sister-in-law, two daughters, two nieces, and a nephew.
Abigail was convicted and sentenced to death, but her execution was delayed due to her pregnancy. In December 1692, she petitioned Governor Phips for clemency, citing her husband’s illness and the lack of a caretaker for her children. Governor Phips granted her request, and she was released from prison. Abigail Faulkner died in Andover on February 5, 1730, a survivor of the witch trials but undoubtedly deeply affected by the experience. Her story highlights the role of social dynamics, family connections, and personal circumstances in the unfolding of the accusations.
Abigail Faulkner, Jr. (1683-17??) and Dorothy Faulkner (1680-17??)
The daughters of Lieutenant Francis Faulkner and Abigail Dane Faulkner, Abigail, Jr., and Dorothy Faulkner, experienced the terror of the witch trials firsthand. In 1692, nine-year-old Abigail, Jr., and twelve-year-old Dorothy were arrested shortly after their mother, accused of witchcraft. Under intense pressure, they confessed and implicated their mother. With the help of their grandfather, the Reverend Frances Dane, they and their cousins, Stephen and Abigail Johnson, were released from prison on bond. Their story is a poignant example of the devastating impact of the witch trials on families, particularly on children who were coerced into false confessions.
Captain John Floyd (1636?-1701)
Captain John Floyd, a military man with experience in the Indian Wars in Maine, also became a target of the Salem accusers. He married Sarah Doolittle around 1661 and had eight children. Floyd’s involvement in the Indian Wars, particularly his command of a military post on the Saco River, likely made him a target of suspicion. Some of the "afflicted girls" were orphans from an Indian attack in Saco, Maine, in 1690. Floyd’s connections with local Indians, including trading with them, were seen as scandalous by the young accusers. He was charged with witchcraft in late May 1692. Although no examination records survive, he was eventually released. He remained in Rumney Marsh until his death on February 1, 1701 (or 1702). His case highlights the complex interplay between the witch trials, the Indian Wars, and the social tensions of the time.
Dana Michael Foley (16??-1692)
Tragically, little is known about Dana Michael Foley, who was hanged along with eight others accused of witchcraft on September 22, 1692. The lack of information surrounding his case underscores the anonymity and the sheer scale of the tragedy.
Elizabeth Betts Fosdick (1660-1716)
Elizabeth Betts Fosdick, the wife of a carpenter in Malden, was accused of witchcraft on May 30, 1692, by Lieutenant Nathaniel Putnam and Joseph Whipple of Salem Village. She was charged with afflicting Marcy Lewis and Mary Warren. She was imprisoned, but the outcome of her case remains unknown. Her story, though incomplete, contributes to the broader picture of the widespread accusations and the climate of fear that gripped Massachusetts during the witch trials.
Ann Alcock Foster (1617-1692)
Ann Alcock Foster, the mother of Mary Foster Lacey, Sr., and grandmother of Mary Lacey, Jr., represents a tragic example of how accusations could spread through families. Born in 1617, she came to Massachusetts from London in 1635 and married Andrew Foster, settling in Andover. In 1692, when Elizabeth Ballard fell ill, Ann Foster was accused of witchcraft. Ann Putnam, Jr., and Mary Walcott, "afflicted girls" from Salem Village, identified her as the culprit.
Ann, a 72-year-old widow, was arrested in July and subjected to torture. Initially, she resisted confessing, but her resolve broke when her daughter, Mary Foster Lacey, Sr., also accused of witchcraft, implicated her mother to save herself and her child. Ann confessed, claiming that she and Martha Carrier rode on a stick to witch meetings at Salem Village. She was indicted and tried on September 17, 1692, and sentenced to hang. While the executions of several others were carried out on September 22, Ann and her daughter were spared, at least temporarily. However, Ann died in prison on December 3, 1692, before the trials were discredited. Her son, Abraham, later petitioned the authorities to clear her name and seek reimbursement for the expenses associated with her imprisonment and burial. Her story is a heartbreaking illustration of the devastating impact of the witch trials on families, the pressures of coerced confessions, and the tragic loss of innocent lives. The story of Witches of Massachusetts – F-G is a tragedy.
Eunice Potter Frye (1641-1708)
Eunice Potter Frye, of Andover, was born on February 2, 1641. A church member and wife of a deacon, Eunice was arrested for witchcraft around September 1692. Mary Osgood, another Andover woman, confessed under pressure and named Eunice Potter Frye, Abigail Barker, and Mary Lovett Tyler as having been baptized by the devil. Eunice spent about 15 weeks in prison. The Reverend Francis Dane gathered signatures on petitions pleading for the release of the accused, attesting to their good character and innocent lives. Eunice Frye was released on bond and never tried. She died on November 24, 1708, in Andover. Her story demonstrates the resilience of some individuals and the community support that occasionally emerged to challenge the accusations.
Dorcas Good (1678-17??)
Dorcas Good, the four-year-old daughter of Sarah Solart Poole Good, represents one of the most disturbing aspects of the Salem witch trials: the accusation of children. Dorcas was accused of practicing witchcraft based on the claims of the "afflicted girls." She was arrested on March 24, 1692, and examined, during which Mercy Lewis, Ann Putnam, Jr., and Mary Walcott testified that she had afflicted them. After days of interrogation, the young girl broke down and confessed, incriminating her mother. She was imprisoned with her mother at the Ipswich Jail. While imprisoned, Sarah Good gave birth to a daughter named Mercy, who died shortly after. Dorcas remained in custody for over eight months until she was released on bond on December 10, 1692. She was never indicted or tried. After her release, she was reportedly psychologically damaged for the rest of her life. Her story is a stark reminder of the cruelty and injustice of the witch trials and the lasting trauma inflicted on innocent children. These are the stories of the Witches of Massachusetts – F-G.
Sarah Solart Poole Good (1653-1692)
Sarah Solart Poole Good was one of the first three women accused of witchcraft in the Salem witch trials of 1692. Born on July 11, 1653, she experienced financial hardship after her father’s estate became entangled in litigation. Her first marriage was to a poor indentured servant named Daniel Poole, who died in debt. After his death, Sarah married William Good. Living a life of poverty and begging, Sarah developed a reputation as an unsavory and ill-tempered person. She was accused of witchcraft on February 25, 1692, when Abigail Williams and Elizabeth Parris claimed to be bewitched by her. The "afflicted girls" claimed she had bitten, pinched, and abused them, and they would have fits, convulsing and shouting her name.
On March 1, 1692, Sarah was tried for witchcraft. She denied the charges, blaming Tituba and Sarah Osborne. Her four-year-old daughter, Dorcas Good, was forced to testify against her, claiming that she was a witch and had seen her mother consorting with the devil. While jailed, Sarah Good was pregnant and gave birth to Mercy Good in her cell, who died shortly after birth.
On July 19, 1692, Sarah Good was hanged along with four other women convicted of witchcraft: Elizabeth Jackson Howe, Susannah North Martin, Rebecca Towne Nurse, and Sarah Wildes. She proclaimed her innocence until the very end. Her daughter, Dorcas, was imprisoned for over eight months and suffered psychological damage. Sarah Good’s story exemplifies the vulnerability of marginalized individuals to accusations of witchcraft and the devastating consequences of the trials.
Mary Green (1658-??)
Mary Green, living in Haverhill with her husband Peter, was accused of witchcraft on July 28, 1692, for afflicting Timothy Swan of Andover and Mary Walcott and Ann Putnam, Jr., of Salem Village. She was imprisoned until December 16, 1692, when she was released on bond. Her case, like many others, highlights the arbitrary nature of the accusations and the widespread fear that fueled the witch trials.
These individual stories, from Thomas Farrar to Mary Green, offer a chilling glimpse into the lives touched by the Salem Witch Trials and the surrounding accusations. They remind us of the fragility of justice, the power of fear, and the enduring importance of protecting individual rights. The story of the Witches of Massachusetts – F-G is an important reminder of a dark chapter in American history.