Witches of Massachusetts – K-N
The chilling history of the Salem Witch Trials continues to resonate through the centuries, a stark reminder of the dangers of mass hysteria, religious extremism, and the fragility of justice. Within the annals of this dark chapter of American history, numerous individuals were accused, tried, and in some cases, executed for the crime of witchcraft. This article delves into the stories of several accused Witches of Massachusetts – K-N, offering a glimpse into their lives, the accusations they faced, and the tragic circumstances that befell them during the tumultuous years of the late 17th century.
Mary Foster Lacey, Sr. (1652-1707)
Born in Andover, Massachusetts, on July 9, 1652, to Andrew Foster and Ann Alcock Foster, Mary Foster Lacey’s life became irrevocably entangled with the witchcraft accusations that swept through the region in 1692. She married Lawrence Lacey on August 5, 1673, and together they had two children. The catalyst for Mary’s ordeal began when Elizabeth Ballard, a woman from Andover, fell ill with a mysterious fever that defied medical explanation. Suspicion quickly turned to witchcraft, and the search for the supposed perpetrator commenced.
The infamous "afflicted girls" from Salem Village, Ann Putnam Jr. and Mary Walcott, were brought to Andover to identify the witch responsible for Ballard’s affliction. Upon seeing Ann Alcock Foster, Mary’s mother, the girls purportedly fell into fits, prompting the immediate arrest of Ann. It wasn’t long before suspicion extended to Mary Lacey and her 18-year-old daughter, Mary Lacey, Jr.
Joseph Ballard of Andover filed a formal complaint on July 19, 1692, accusing both Mary Foster Lacey and her daughter of afflicting his wife, Elizabeth. During her examination, Mary made a startling confession, admitting to being a witch and implicating her own mother. She claimed that they had both journeyed on a pole to a witches’ gathering in Salem Village. Further, she alleged that she had witnessed Mary Perkins Bradbury, Elizabeth Jackson Howe, and Rebecca Towne Nurse being baptized by the "old Serpent" at Newbury Falls years prior. Mary also implicated Richard and Andrew Carrier, confessing that she herself had afflicted Timothy Swan and Elizabeth Ballard.
Ironically, while her mother, Ann Alcock Foster, attempted to shoulder all the blame to protect her daughter and granddaughter, those who confessed to witchcraft often escaped execution, while many who vehemently denied any involvement with the Devil were hanged. Mary Foster Lacey and Ann Alcock Foster were tried on September 17, 1692, found guilty, and sentenced to death. However, they were spared the execution that claimed the lives of others on September 22, 1692. Instead, they were imprisoned. Mary Lacey, Jr. was released on bond in October 1692 and later acquitted. Mary Foster Lacey, Sr. was released in 1693 after the trials were discredited and brought to an end. Sadly, Ann Alcock Foster succumbed to the harsh conditions of prison and died on December 3, 1692, after spending 21 weeks incarcerated. Mary Foster Lacey, Sr. lived out the remainder of her life in Andover, passing away on June 18, 1707. The tragic case of the Lacey women highlights the complex dynamics of the Salem Witch Trials and the devastating impact on families.
Mary Lacey, Jr. (1674-17??)
Born on May 24, 1674, in Andover to Lawrence and Mary Foster Lacey, Mary Lacey, Jr. found herself caught in the web of accusations at the young age of 18. Her mother and grandmother were also accused, further illustrating the familial nature of many of the witchcraft accusations. While her elders were initially found guilty and sentenced to execution, they ultimately escaped that fate. Her mother was released in 1693 after the hysteria subsided. Her grandmother, however, perished in prison in December 1692. Mary Lacey, Jr. was released on bond in October 1692 and later found not guilty. She married Zerubbabel Kemp on January 27, 1703/04, in Groton, Massachusetts, and hopefully found some measure of peace after the trauma she endured.
Jane Lilly
Jane Lilly, hailing from Reading, Massachusetts, faced examination for witchcraft alongside Mary Colson on September 5, 1692. Fortunately for Jane, her accusation occurred relatively late in the witch hunt, as doubts about the validity of the trials began to surface. In February 1693, she underwent further examination in Charleston, Massachusetts. She was accused of afflicting Mary Marshall, wife of Edward Marshall of Malden, Massachusetts, as well as several of the "afflicted girls," including Mary Warren and Elizabeth Booth, who reportedly exhibited fits in her presence. Susanna Post was also among those claiming to be afflicted by Jane.
During her examination, Jane professed ignorance of the reasons behind the accusations. She acknowledged visiting the Proctor’s house but denied any inappropriate interactions with John Proctor or his wife, Elizabeth. She was also accused of involvement in the burning of William Hooper’s home, resulting in his death. Despite these serious accusations, Jane Lilly was indicted, imprisoned, and ultimately cleared by proclamation, narrowly escaping the fate suffered by many others.
Susanna North Martin (1621-1692)
Susanna North Martin, a 71-year-old widow from Amesbury, Massachusetts, stands as one of the most tragic figures of the Salem Witch Trials. She was one of twenty individuals executed during the height of the hysteria in 1692. Born to Richard North and Joan Bartram North in Olney, Buckinghamshire, England, on September 30, 1621, Susanna’s early life was marked by the loss of her mother and her father’s subsequent remarriage. The family emigrated to the United States around 1639, settling in Salisbury, Massachusetts.
Susanna married widower George Martin, a blacksmith, on August 11, 1646, in Salisbury. Together, they had eight children. In 1654, the family relocated to nearby Amesbury, where most of their children were born. Like many accused witches, Susanna had a reputation as a "troublemaker," known for her outspokenness, defiance, and disregard for authority. In approximately 1647, she was fined 20 shillings for an unspecified offense.
As early as 1660, Susanna faced her first accusation of witchcraft by William Browne of Salisbury, who claimed she had tormented his wife, Elizabeth, with her spirit. While the outcome of this initial accusation remains unclear, William Browne would later testify during the 1692 trials that Susanna had driven his wife insane through witchcraft some 30 years prior.
In 1667, records indicate that George Martin objected to Susanna’s seating arrangement in the meeting house, reflecting the negative perception many locals held of her. On April 13, 1669, William Sargent Jr. filed an official complaint of witchcraft against Susanna, alleging that he had witnessed her give birth to and kill an illegitimate child. George Martin responded by filing a slander suit against William Sargent Jr. for accusing his wife of fornication and infanticide. He also sued William’s brother, Thomas Sargent, for claiming that his son George Martin was a bastard and that his son Richard Martin was Goodwife Martin’s imp.
George Martin posted a bond of £100 to secure Susannah’s release from jail, and the charges were eventually dropped. Although the slander charges against Thomas Sargent were also dropped, and William Sargent Jr. was found guilty of slander, the damage to Susanna’s reputation had already been done.
In October 1669, Christopher Bartlett sued George Martin because Susanna had called him a liar and a thief. The verdict went against George and Susanna. At the same court session, their son Richard was "presented by the grand jury at the Salisbury Court, 1669, for abusing his father and throwing him down, taking away his clothes and holding up an ax against him." The court found him guilty and sentenced Richard to be "whipped ten stripes."
In 1671, George and Susanna, along with her sister Mary Jones, became embroiled in a protracted legal battle over Susanna’s father’s estate. Susanna and Mary expected to inherit a significant portion of the estate. However, their stepmother presented what they believed to be a fraudulent will, which left almost the entire estate to her. In October 1674, their inheritance was lost when the court ruled against them.
After her husband, George Martin, died in 1686, Susanna was left a poor widow. Poverty often made individuals more vulnerable to accusations. Her reputation as a troublemaker, her previous witchcraft accusation, and her litigious nature further compounded her vulnerability. In 1692, Susanna was arrested in Amesbury on May 2, accused of afflicting Mary Walcott, Abigail Williams, Ann Putnam, Jr., and Mercy Lewis of Salem Village. She was brought to Salem Towne to be questioned by Judge Hathorne and Judge Corwin. During her questioning, the "afflicted" girls exhibited fits, cried out, and claimed that she had attempted to recruit them into witchcraft.
Numerous individuals testified against her, including William Brown, John Pressey, Bernard Peach, and Thomas Putnam, Jr. She was subjected to humiliating physical examinations in an attempt to locate a witch’s teat. Throughout the ordeal, Susanna quoted the Bible freely, something witches were believed to be incapable of doing. Despite her defense, Susanna North Martin was found guilty and hanged on July 19, 1692, in Salem Towne. Reverend Cotton Mather described her as "one of the most impudent, scurrilous, wicked creatures of this world."
In 1711, the General Court granted compensation to many of the victims or their heirs, but Susanna’s children did not apply for compensation, and her attainder was never lifted. Susanna North Martin’s story is a poignant reminder of the injustice and cruelty that characterized the Salem Witch Trials. The case of Witches of Massachusetts – K-N like Susanna is a good example for this.
Mary Osgood Marston (1665-1700)
Mary Osgood Marston, born to Christopher and Hannah Belknap Osgood on July 5, 1665, in Andover, married John Marston on May 28, 1689. Just three years later, she became one of many Andover residents accused of witchcraft. On August 25, 1692, Samuel Martin of Andover and Moses Tyler of Boxford filed a complaint against her for allegedly afflicting Abigail Martin and Rose Foster of Andover and Martha Sprague of Boxford.
During her examination, Mary confessed, admitting to seeing the "black man" and signing the Devil’s book. She was imprisoned. Her husband petitioned for her release on October 12, 1692, but his efforts were unsuccessful. After spending approximately 20 weeks in jail, her case was finally brought to trial in early 1693. She was found not guilty and released after her husband paid all associated prison fees. Mary died of unknown causes at the age of 34 on April 5, 1700.
Sarah Murrell (1678-??)
Sarah Murrell, a 14-year-old girl from Beverly, Massachusetts, was charged with witchcraft alongside several others on April 30, 1692. Jonathan Walcott and Thomas Putnam, Jr. filed the complaint, alleging that she had afflicted Mary Walcott, Mercy Lewis, Abigail Williams, Ann Putnam, Jr., Elizabeth Hubbard, and Susanna Sheldon. She was examined on May 2, 1692, and taken to Boston’s jail the following day. Beyond her imprisonment, little else is known about her fate. The story of Sarah, another example of Witches of Massachusetts – K-N, highlights the vulnerability of children during the witch hunt.
Rebecca Towne Nurse (1621–1692)
Rebecca Towne Nurse is perhaps the most well-known of the Salem "witches." One of three sisters accused and imprisoned for witchcraft. Her sisters, Sarah Towne Cloyce, survived. However, Rebecca and her sister, Mary Towne Easty, were hanged during the Salem witch trials. She is one of the most famous Witches of Massachusetts – K-N, even though her name starts with an "N."
The stories of these accused Witches of Massachusetts – K-N offer a chilling glimpse into the lives and fates of those caught in the grip of the Salem Witch Trials. Their experiences serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of mass hysteria, religious intolerance, and the importance of upholding justice and due process. They serve as a reminder to question authority, to challenge injustice, and to stand up for those who are unjustly accused. The history of the Salem Witch Trials, and the individuals who suffered during that time, continues to be studied and debated, ensuring that the lessons of this dark chapter in American history are not forgotten.