Salem Witch Trials - Family History & Genealogy Message Board

Re: Excellent website -U of VA - Salem trials documents

crazycows8233 — 2013-05-18 05:05:39Z

Can you give me that web site again about the Salem Witch Trial records as that one says Tibetian Library or something like that?

Re: Salem Witches

ronrtaylor1 — 2013-05-10 16:02:08Z

I have an aunt and an uncle (by marriage)who's mothers family (Everitt) is supposed to be connect to Rebecca Nurse, one of the 'Witches' who was hung at Salem. I'm not sure if this is just family lore or if there was any proof. If there was it does not exist now and I've not had time to try to follow it back yet. If anyone has any knowledge of this I'd be happy to hear from you.

Re: Questions??

ronrtaylor1 — 2013-05-10 15:47:34Z

Actually none of the "Witches" at Salem were burned. They were all hung except for one who was pressed to death.

http://salemwitchmuseum.com/education/faq.php

Re: Susannah (NORTH) MARTIN "Witch"

vegcousin — 2013-05-03 14:37:56Z

I have been researching my Cole ancestry and have taken it back to a Phillip Cole and Mary Hadley of Amesbury, Massachusetts who raised six children there in the years 1698 to 1712. Mary's parents were Samuel Hadley and Jane Martin also of Amesbury. Jane's parents were George Martin and Susannah North "the witch". There is an 18 year gap in the Amesbury Vital Records from 1668 to 1686 and that appears to be the reason why the births of the older children of Samuel and Jane Hadley do not appear. I have searched far and wide for mention of a daughter of Samuel and Jane named Mary but only recently came across a deed from December 17, 1714 that involves a transaction between Philip Cole of "Almsbury" and his wife Mary selling 1/3 of a 40 acre parcel to Ephraim Davis of Haverhill for the sum of 50 pounds. In the transaction, Philip refers to the land as being the same land he purchased from his "honored father, Samuel Hadly" on March 26, 1707. I know father was sometimes used to describe a father-in-law relationship so I am making the assumption Mary's maiden name was Hadly. The Amesbury VR's show Elisabeth, b. Oct 10, 1688 as being the 4th daughter of Samuel and Jane. Who then were the three older ones? Most historical records name Esther (Hester) and Hannah but no third possibility. My theory is that Mary was probably born about 1678 and was roughly 18 when she married. Perhaps the most frustrating thing about this whole thing is that I cannot locate a marriage record for Philip Cole and Mary Hadley anywhere.
Can anyone shed more light on this family? Was it even a possibility in those times that the two were never married but rather were in a common-law relationship?

Re: SALEM WITCHES

40987957 — 2013-04-15 20:43:32Z

Hello Joanne I am reading your post and I wounderd if you had any information you could share with me. I am a decendent of Thomas Hardy. As I understand it Thomas Hardy of Piscatacqu whas accused of being a spector during one of the trials. I would like to more about this Thomas Hardy and who he is. Is he my ancestor Thomas Hardy from Ispwich?

Re: Thomas Hardy

40987957 — 2013-04-15 08:46:29Z

I'm sorry I didn't mean to leave anyone out of the loop. I’m going to blog about this at mainegenealogy.net please come and join in you will see the post and be able to join in.. I would like to here what you have to say on the subject. But the complete verdict is not in yet. Lets exchange info there and IM‘s are available there as well. it’s a free site. The invite is open to everyone. I am a Hardy from this clan. I was born to Eugene and Mary Hardy of Deer Isle, Maine See you all there just look for http://network.mainegenealogy.net/profile/umfoster
Thomas Hardy from Piscataqua Hope to see you there.

Re: Thomas Hardy

ldahling — 2013-04-15 05:44:10Z

I wouldn't mind seeing your exchange here online or at least a later summary. I am very much interested in knowing definitively if they are one and the same.

Re: Thomas Hardy

fmartin748 — 2013-04-13 23:28:08Z

I am pleased to see that others are interested in the life of Thomas Hardy, and I hope we can share our information to find more answers about him. I may be incorrect, as you say, but my assertions do not come out of thin air. About nine or ten years ago I spent more than a year researching the life of Joseph Ring and the motley crew of characters that passed through his brief and unhappy life. Thomas Hardy was one of those folks. My notes from that research are long since packed away, and as I write this I am referring to no more than memory, but here is what I recall. I began looking for Thomas Hardy among the Bradford family of Hardys whom you describe. At first I was sure that was our man. But then I began to find other references to a Thomas Hardy, who seemed to be quite different from what I would expect of the Bradford Hardys. This man lived mostly along the coast of Maine and was often in some kind of trouble or disrepute. There was also, as I recall, some conflict of age or date that convinced me we were dealing with two distinct men with the same name. Sorry that I cannot be more detailed here but, as I said, this is all from memory already many years along. I am aware of the Hardy family you reference and for some reason convincing to me at the time (although I don't at the moment hold it in my memory), I rejected that theory in favor of the hard-drinking socially marginalized Hardy of the Maine frontier. That latter description, by the way, fits closely the type of life lived by, and the type of people who often surrounded, Joseph Ring. My information came from primary source documents such as the "York Deeds", documentary historical collections from Maine and NH, and very early genealogical work such as can be found in the Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and NH, old town histories from Maine, NH and Massachusetts, and so on. I would be very pleased to hear more from you, your sources, and why you are sure that "your" Thomas Hardy is the same man who figures in the narrative of Joseph Ring and the witch trials. It may be more convenient to continue this exchange off the rootsweb page. If so, feel free to contact me at franzm@flash.net

Re: Thomas Hardy

40987957 — 2013-04-12 23:17:18Z

Yes this is true. Great Island New Castle NH or perhaps Kittery Mine. But he was a person and known to the people of Salem Village, they, I believe were residents, of Ipswich which is just up the road. This Thomas Hardy was the Son of Thomas Hardy that came with the Winthrop group in 1832. I am a decedent of this clan and One of these Hardy's married a Putnam girl. I am trying to find more information about this, but only 6o years had passed between Thomas Hardy coming to the new world and this incident so this Thomas Hardy had to be the son of the first Thomas Hardy. I don’t believe there are many Thomas Hardy’s here at this time 60 years after the first arrived.

Link may be helpful
http://www.family2remember.com/bios/witch.htm

“SAMUEL CURRIER, m.1670, Mary, daughter of Thomas Hardy. He may have been son of the preced.Martha {CARRIER}, of Andover, was one of the victims of the baneful superstition. a. witchcraft, execut. 19 Aug. 1692, at the same time with Rev. George Burrows, suffer. by the same horrid delus. Yet her punishm. was, to some extent, less than his, as the greater culprit met the maledict. of Cotton Mather, the ch. inquisit. "

Re: Thomas Hardy

eGENEee — 2013-04-12 17:39:33Z

From what I can tell by looking around online, this Thomas Hardy was only in Joseph Ring's visions and never physically present at the trials....?

The actual Thomas Hardy lived on Great Island in Piscataqa and Joseph Ring owed him money, but, again, he was not at the trials himself.

Google Thomas Hardy and Salem witch trials.

Re: Thomas Hardy

40987957 — 2013-04-12 07:32:20Z

Where did you get this information? You tell with conviction, however, I believe u r incorrect.

Re: Salem Witches

joedasilva1967 — 2013-04-03 13:19:15Z

I was wondering were your source of information is for the "burned at the stake in The Salem Witch Trials" comment? As far as I have found people's convicted of witchcraft in Salem were not burned but were hung, with one exception and he was crushed until it caused suffocation. In England and in the Channel Islands people were burned for conviction of witchcraft. I'm sure in many other places and for many other crimes.

Re: Yes...Try the ADEAW organization

sidniern — 2013-03-22 18:11:04Z

unfortunately that link doesn't exist anymore. bummer

Re: Ann Foster

kmarymuthig — 2013-02-12 15:00:49Z

My ancestor is Sarah, daughter of Christian Remick and Hannah Foster. This is very puzzling. She (Ann Foster) was convicted of witchcraft in 1692 and died in Salem Jail. I would love to solve this puzzle. My Sarah Remick married Barnabus Wixam/Wixsom, Wixon she was my 9th great grandmother.

Re: Ann Foster

mcycjim — 2013-02-11 01:12:29Z

I am also working on this puzzle! My ancestor is Mary daughter of Christian Remick and Hannah Foster. I have found in "old Kittery" records of Hannah Foster & Christian being married. Then a 2nd family starts for Christian in 1692. I find no record of a divorce.
I have two death dates for Hannah 1703 and the murder in 1689. I am having a hard time with that.
It is quite puzzling.
I am researching every lead. Old Kittery seems to be a good reference.

Re: John Proctor Descendants

marianjela — 2013-02-10 08:49:37Z

Charles, I'd say that is a family treasure indeed, and it is now your honor to add your mother's name to the line then pass it on to the next generation and add yours for posterity when it is time.
I could only dream to hold a family bible with so much history behind it, let alone one with so many marks set upon it!
John Proctor was my 9th great grandfather.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful find!!!
Marian Matha-Fromknecht

Re: Gilbert Surname

bdewinni — 2013-02-04 05:30:28Z

Do you have any idea of what Lydia's maiden name might have been? Lois Gates Gilbert married my x 3 Great Grandfather, Joseph Emmons, on 6 Jan 1763 and she is a direct descendant of Thomas Gilbert, Sr.. I have seen at least two different maiden names for Lydia and neither of them is accurate. I would dearly love to find her maiden name to fill out my tree correctly.

Re: Martha Proctor(b. June 4, 1666- ??)

Eighlin — 2013-02-01 05:07:48Z

I started this search because of the Jonathan who was born in 1786 came from Worc. Ma to Ohio to head a college. He was a Baptist pastor.I was researching the family line of the man who had built my childhood home-He too was a Pastor and a Rev "Mr Going " had spoken at his ordination ceremony in 1819. I was immediatly intrigued because Going was my maiden name and so i began to search and sure enough i traced my line back to Ebenezer's brother Benjamin(and then beyond to The Gowing who came from England), So my line goes to Benjamin and the line of Jonathan Going who spoke@the ordination of the the Man who built a house(in 1820) that my father would eventually buy in the 1960's goes to Ebenezer. The Proctor part was very interesting.

Re: elizabeth Howe

lolgurl88 — 2013-01-02 06:23:17Z

Do you have any pictures of what she may have looked like?

Re: John Proctor Descendants

JanCorley58 — 2012-12-29 03:41:46Z

John Proctor and Allis Gray were my 12th gg through their son, John Proctor who was married to Martha Harper (my 11th gg). If you would like to communicate. please email me directly at jcorley1@hotmail.com

My name is Jan and I live in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.

Re: Mary Barnes the "witch"

glass600 — 2012-12-23 00:05:33Z

I ran across this http://www.bellavistaranch.net/genealogy/barnes.html

It would indicate that Maybee is from a different Barnes line.

Re: Porter - Putnam Family Feud

cindylou37 — 2012-12-21 17:05:46Z

Eunice Boardman/Boardman married 2nd Jeremiah Putman in 1810. They had a son Joseph. P Putman Born 1811 died 1816 in Topsfield. Mass. Her marriage to Jonathan Porter in 1797 in Topsfield Mass. From Ancestry

Re: Ann Foster

kmarymuthig — 2012-12-11 16:13:10Z

I am trying to verify that Ann's daughter Hannah who was murdered by Hugh Stone had been married before to a man named Christian Remick. If so I am descended from her through daughter Sarah who married Barnabas Wixam/Wixom.

Re: Mary (AYER) PARKER

WillisB51 — 2012-12-09 18:27:34Z

Mary Ayer Parker EditDelete
WillisB51 (View posts) Posted: 2 Dec 2012 8:24PM
Classification: Query
Is there any one still searching this issue? Is there any one with questions?

I have the answers, contact me here or directly to Willisb199@aol.com

Happy hunting;

Mary Ayer Parker

WillisB51 — 2012-12-03 03:24:55Z

Is there any one still searching this issue? Is there any one with questions?

I have the answers, contact me here or directly to Willisb199@aol.com

Happy hunting;

Re: Martha Proctor(b. June 4, 1666- ??)

ranlan75 — 2012-11-22 04:08:52Z

Martha Proctor is my 7th gr grandmother. Her son Benjamin Gowing is my line. Would love any more info available. Thanks!!!

Lee Ann

Re: Martha Proctor(b. June 4, 1666- ??)

ranlan75 — 2012-11-22 04:07:37Z

Martha Proctor is my 7th gr grandmother. Her son Benjamin Gowing is my line. Would love any more info available. Thanks!!!

Lee Ann

Excellent Resource Site

Deana_Barker — 2012-11-18 20:04:17Z

Hi!
I'm new to using the forums so hopefully I'm not just posting something that's already known, but I found great info for my family at http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/salem/witchcraft/. A large number of my family was accused (direct descents and "in-laws") in Andover, MA but it was another ancestor, Francis Dane, who first spoke out against the trials and eventually gained enough support to get the accused out of jail.

The surnames that were part of my family are Barker, Osgood, Marston,Farnum, Dane, and Abbott.

Re: Mary Barnes

hugbunney — 2012-10-29 16:37:26Z

Roberta,

On the little girl next door, I think this is in reference to his 2nd wife, Mary Andrews. Mary Andrews was actually his cousin and the daughter of the then judge/sheriff who presided over Mary Brockett Barnes trial for witchcraft. She lived in his house as a servant and I do believe you are right in his part in Mary's witchcraft conviction.

Re: Mary Barnes the "witch"

Fisk_Scoville — 2012-10-29 15:51:28Z

Mary Barnes is believed to have been hanged 25 Jan 1662/3 -- but there is no firm documentation that I know of. We know that she was condemned to die, and we know that the Greensmiths were condemned at the same time, but details on the actual execution are hard to establish with great confidence.

You're quite right about the difference in record-keeping between Hartford and Salem. I'm related to many of the central figures in the Salem witch trials, including my 7th-g-grandfather, Deacon William Fisk, who was one of the 12 jurors who signed the Letter of Regret. There's a plethora of great documentation to sift through on Salem. Conversely, the Barnes case is hard to piece together because there's scant reliable info out there and a whole lot of erroneous info and unfounded speculation that keeps getting repeated.

Re: Mary Barnes the "witch"

Fisk_Scoville — 2012-10-29 15:47:04Z

@Hugbunney -- Thanks for posting. Have you found any documentary evidence to support that account? I know that there are undocumented claims to that effect that get repeated all the time on the Internet, but as far as I know there is no documentary evidence to support the claim that the Mary who was hanged was maiden-named Brockett, nor that Thomas Barnes Sr. was married to a Mary Andrews.

Re: Mary Barnes the "witch"

hugbunney — 2012-10-29 15:01:31Z

I'm thinking there is some confusion that I might be able to help with. There are multiple Thomas Barnes that are all related but the last two are the applicable ones. Thomas Barnes SR married Mary Andrews and together they had Thomas JR. Thomas JR went on to marry Mary Brockett, the woman hung as a witch, and they had Sarah who married a Scoville, also my relation. After Mary Brockett was hung, Thomas JR married his cousin Mary Andrews, niece to his mother.

Re: Sarah Osborne

bekajean2 — 2012-10-23 23:24:51Z

Actually she married the worker Alexander Osborne. Her first husband was Robert Prince who died in 1675. She tried to get the large farm to herself and not her new husband and kids. Soon she was accused of witchcraft. She died in the Jail in Boston because she was terribly sick. Some say she was accused cause she tried to own the land from he 1st husbands will was uncommon and unnatural so it wasn't encouraged. I found all of this information on history cites, movies, documents, and a lot of internet cites. I could give them to you if you would like.

Porter - Putnam Family Feud

tracyjowens — 2012-10-21 13:59:44Z

I am researching my family history and discovered my 9th great grandmother was Elizabeth Porter Harnett, who lived in Salem, Massachusetts during the Salem Witch Trials.

I am just now delving into the feud between the Porter and Putnam families.

I haven't yet connected Elizabeth to the Porters so far mentioned, but figured she has to be in there somewhere. Her parents were Jonathan and Eunice Porter (Eunice's last name is apparently unknown at this point). Her son was Jonathan Harned/Harnett. My relation is through her daughter Joanna/Joan/Johanna Harnett.

If you have any information to share, I would greatly appreciate it. As I said, I am just now beginning the research so there may be a lot out there that I haven't found yet.

Tracy

Re: Joseph Putnam

tracyjowens — 2012-10-21 13:57:26Z

I am researching my family history and discovered my 9th great grandmother was Elizabeth Porter Harnett, who lived in Salem, Massachusetts during the Salem Witch Trials. I am just now delving into the feud between the Porter and Putnam families.

I haven't yet connected Elizabeth to the Porters so far mentioned, but figured she has to be in there somewhere. Her parents were Jonathan and Eunice Porter (Eunice's last name is apparently unknown at this point). Her son was Jonathan Harned/Harnett. My relation is through her daughter Joanna/Joan/Johanna Harnett.

Any information is greatly appreciated. As I said, I am just now beginning the research so there may be a lot out there that I haven't found yet.

Thank you!

Re: Joseph Putnam

HollyCavanaugh12128419 — 2012-10-08 00:08:40Z

I don't know if anyone saw my other post but if anyone has any information on the Putnams descending down to my great-grandmother Alice Bennett born 1906 through Israel Putnam's descendents please please please let me know as I have a Kinship project for my Cultural Anthropology class and this would definitely be neat to show. thanks so much!

Re: Is George Martin Husband of Susannah North Son of Mayflower Passenger Christopher Martin?

engrean — 2012-09-28 07:39:50Z

This might be of interest: http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/m/a/r/Kathleen-A-... .

Basically, it says George came over as a servant to Samuel Winsley who was from Colchester, Essex. It says they came over together. Other writings I have found regarding the witch hangings suggest an immigration date of about 1639. I'm not sure if this helps, but I think it puts the nail in the coffin for me.

Re: Henry Bennett of Salem

holleybennett18 — 2012-09-26 21:58:41Z

Is there anyway you can send me a link or picture of that court document. I'm doing a history project on the Salem witch trails

Re: Goody Bassett hung May, 1651 Stratford, CT for witchcraft

jakefmiller — 2012-09-26 04:51:22Z

any hints on where her gravestone is in the cemetary? i went looking with a couple friends and we couldn't locate her stone

Re: Mary Barnes

angel88eyes79 — 2012-09-21 22:35:53Z

Hi Andrea,

I was wondering the same thing about the relation. I just found out I'm also a 9th or 10th great grand-daughter to Mary Barnes on my maternal grandmother's side. I've printed this thread so I can see what books and sources that I can research this further. I find this interesting not only for my heritage, but I plan to teach history once I receive my master's degree.

Re: Hi cousin did you ever finish your book on salem

handmakery — 2012-09-13 23:05:58Z

My husband is also related to John Putnam (b 1580) 9th great grandfather) and his son Thomas Putnam and Ann Holyoke. They are his 8th great grandparent's. Nice to meet you! Debbie

Re: Hi cousin did you ever finish your book on salem

handmakery — 2012-09-13 23:05:38Z

My husband is also related to John Putnam (b 1580) 9th great grandfather) and his son Thomas Putnam and Ann Holyoke. They are his 8th great grandparent's. Nice to meet you! Debbie

Re: Joseph Putnam

handmakery — 2012-09-13 23:02:34Z

My husband is a direct descendant of the Putnam's. His great grandfather x 8 was Thomas Putnam Sr. It amazes me how so many people have theories about what happened in the 1600s and how there are discrepancies all over the internet.
What concerns me the most is when educational institutions use the movie "The Crucibile" as a historical documentation when it is filled with inacuracies. Those were horrible times and no one is overlooking the fact that innocent lives were taken. However innocent lives are taken everyday! 911, the Holocaust, 300 Protestants murdered under Queen Mary for not being Catholic, 40-60,000 supposed witches in Europe and countless innocent babies by abortions. We have to consider the source before we make an opinion.

Re: Goody Bassett hung May, 1651 Stratford, CT for witchcraft

ReflectionsOfLove — 2012-09-13 05:16:15Z

[quote]Thomas Bassett who married Sarah Baldwin as the son of one of the sons of Thomas Bassett who married Johanna. Johanna ______ Beardsley was married previously and her maiden name has been lost.[/quote]

This may not help, but I have Thomas Jr. who married Sarah Baldwin as the son (not the grandson) of Thomas Sr. who married Johanna_______Beardsley. This makes sense since Thomas Sr. was 36 years older than his wife, and there's a about a 60 year age difference between Thomas Sr. and Thomas Jr. That would have made Jr.'s mother approx. 24 years old at his birth.

It could be in error, but the source is the Ackley-Bosworth Genealogy book here at Ancestry. It's part of the ancestry of Isaac Lacey, in the section titled Edward Lacey, page 222a.
It notes the following sources:

*Families of Old Fairfield (Jacobus) 1:371-2, 2:568-9
*Fairfield Deeds, 4:125, 8:83, 10:291, 365
*Samuel Orcutt, History of New Milford (1881), 722
*Conn. Hist. Society Collections, 9:226
*Commorative Biographical Record of Northeastern Pennsylvania (1900)
*Bible of Isaac Lacey, in possession of L. F. Camp, Tunkhannock, PA, 1929.

Re: Ann Foster

Mykellee — 2012-09-13 04:12:40Z

I too am trying to verify this. Many sites claim this without source info. the New England Historical and Genealogical Society has a sketch bio of George Alcock of the Winthrop Fleet and says he had two wives and only one son from each. No mention of any daughters.

Re: Decendants of Martha Carrier

jway155 — 2012-09-09 00:27:57Z

HI, Yes, I'm still here. Had planned to do some research in Summervile while in PA, but too many other things came up. Never got there. Any info or emails you'd like to exchange, let me know.

Re: Ann Foster

dawnclark60 — 2012-09-08 15:45:08Z

From the records I have seen, Ann didn't get here until 1635, aboard the Abigail. Unless her father came first, which is possible. He was a Deacon, if that helps at all.

Re: Goody Bassett hung May, 1651 Stratford, CT for witchcraft

pcarl24 — 2012-09-02 21:02:40Z

Hi. I am currently working on my family history (Tilyou line. I believe that I possibly am related to this line (via Sarah Sally Martindale). I would love any further info on Goody or where to find any more. Thank you Paula

Re: Salem Witch Trials

BarbaraTaylor7777 — 2012-08-25 04:42:03Z

I am related to 2 people hung on the same day: Rev. George Burroughs and Martha Ingalls (Allen) Carrier - George in my grandfather's line and Martha in my grandfather's line. See www2.iath.virginia.edu/salem/images/people/burroughs2.jpg - Caption: "Witchcraft Victims on the Way to the Gallows" Description: A scene showing a man and a woman on Gallows Hill. The man may be the Rev. George Burroughs, who is shown standing in prayer. The woman may be Martha Carrier, who was executed with him on August 19, 1692. Also executed on that day were George Jacobs, Sr., John Proctor, Sr., and John Willard. The man on horseback may be the Rev. Cotton Mather who attended the executions on this day and encouraged the hanging to go forward, even though George Burroughs recited the Lord's Prayer perfectly and won the crowd's sympathy. Source: Boston Herald, May 14, 1930. © Artist F. C. Yohan

Re: Gilbert Surname

momiles — 2012-08-13 15:49:34Z

Thank you for your reply. The Gilbert family I am searching lived in Andover, Ct. with a son Orlando Frank Porter. any connection as I do not have any papers with me. Marge