WITCH TRIALS
and our family
Page 16
 

ELIZABETH (HUTCHINS / HUTCHINSON) HART

Elizabeth Hart was brought before the church" for varied sinfulness
in not harboring travellers that were in danger of their lives, and
for offensive words spoken to them."

Feb. 1655 Elizabeth Hart brought before the church for
"contempt of authority, for evil surmising and falsely accusing some
of the brethren, and for boasting sinfully of that which is evil."
She answered with much haughtiness and hyprocrisy...so she was
referred to a more public hearing,
where it is said, she gave little sign of any true repentance.

 

Therefore on the next lord's day, she was again called forth, but she still
showed little sign of repentance.

So she was again called forth about two weeks later. It is said
that on this occassion, she did give "some" satisfaction.

(orig. source; Church Records of the old town of Reading)

May 13, 1692 Elizabeth Hart who was about 80 years old,
was accused of witchcraft, by Mary Wolcot, who testified; "I saw
the apparition of Goody Hart, who hurt me much by pinching and
choking of me and urged me grievously to set my hand to her book,
and several other times she has tormented me, ready to tear my
body to pieces."

Because of this accusation, 5 days later, on May 18, 1692,
80 year old Elizabeth HART was arraigned and sent to prison
in Boston, where she remained for months.

To: The Keeper of Theire Majest's Goale (Jail) in Boston


You are in theire Majest's names hereby required to take into your
care and safe Custody the Bodys of Roger Toothaker of Bilrica: John
Willard of Salem Village, husbandman Thomas farrar of Lyn husbandman,
and Elizabeth Hart the wife of Isaac Hart of Lyn husbandman, who all
stand charged with Sundry acts of Witchcraft, by them and Every one
of them Committed, on the Bodys of Mary Walcot Abigail Williams Mary
Lewis Ann putnam and others of Salem Village or farmes, whom you are
well to secure in order to theire tryall for the same. and untill
they shall be delivered by due order of Law and hereof you are not
to faile.

Dated Salem May 18th 1692
John Hathorne
Jonathan Corwin
by order of the Goven'r & Councill.16

On Oct 19, 1692, Elizabeths' son, Thomas, petitioned the
court for the release of his mother, citing "her exemplary
behaviour, and her advanced age",
but the judges was unrelenting.

Elizabeth HART was not released until December, after nearly
seven months imprisonment. At the time of her release, the sheriff
of Boston presented her son, Thomas, with a bill for food and care
for Elizabeth, during her months in prison.

"The elderly Elizabeth somehow managed to get through all of this, and
continue living for another eight years, finally dying on Nov. 28, 1700.

No headstone marks her grave.

E MAIL ME

PAGE 1 WITCHTRIALS KATHERINE PALMER	PAGE 2 WITCHTRIALS MARY BRADBURY Part 1	PAGE 3 WITCHTRIALS MARY BRADBURY Part 2	PAGE 4 WITCHTRIALS ELIZABETH KNAPP Part 1	PAGE 5 WITCHTRIALS ELIZABETH KNAPP Part 2	PAGE 6 WITCHTRIALS SUSANNAH (NORTH) MARTIN
PAGE 7 WITCHTRIALS REBECCA (TOWNE) NURSE	PAGE 8 WITCHTRIALS MARY (BLISS) PARSONS Part 1	PAGE 9 WITCHTRIALS MARY PARSONS Part 2	PAGE 10 WITCHTRIALS SARAH WILSON SR. & JR. Part 1	PAGE 11 WITCHTRIALS SARAH WILSON Part 2	PAGE 12 WITCHTRIALS MARY (TOWNE) ESTEY
PAGE 13 WITCHTRIALS INFANT DAUGHTER DEWOLF	PAGE 14 WITCHTRIALS SARAH (TOWNE) CLOYCE Part 1	PAGE 15 WITCHTRIALS SARAH CLOYCE Part 2	PAGE 17 WITCHTRIALS ANNE PUTNAM	PAGE 18 WITCHTRIALS EARLY CT LAWS

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