Wonders of the Invisible World, and A Farther Account of the Tryals of the New England Witches — 21. V. The Tryal of Martha Carrier

V. THE TRIAL OF MARTHA CARRIER, AT THE

COURT OF OYER AND TERMINER, HELD BY ADJOURNMENT

AT SALEM, AUGUST 2.

1692. I.

_Martha Carrier_ was Indicted for the bewitching certain Persons, according to the Form usual in such Cases, pleading _Not Guilty_, to her Indictment; there were first brought in a considerable number of the bewitched Persons; who not only made the Court sensible of an horrid Witchcraft committed upon them, but also deposed, That it was _Martha Carrier_, or her Shape, that grievously tormented them, by Biting, Pricking, Pinching and Choaking of them.

It was further deposed, That while this _Carrier_ was on her Examination, before the Magistrates, the Poor People were so tortured that every one expected their Death upon the very spot, but that upon the binding of _Carrier_ they were eased.

Moreover the Look of _Carrier_ then laid the Afflicted People for dead;

and her Touch, if her Eye at the same time were off them, raised them again: Which Things were also now seen upon her Tryal.

And it was testified, That upon the mention of some having their Necks twisted almost round, by the Shape of this _Carrier_, she replyed, _Its no matter though their Necks had been twisted quite off.

_ II.

Before the Trial of this Prisoner, several of her own Children had frankly and fully confessed, not only that they were Witches themselves, but that this their Mother had made them so.

This Confession they made with great Shews of Repentance, and with much Demonstration of Truth.

They related Place, Time, Occasion; they gave an account of Journeys, Meetings and Mischiefs by them performed, and were very credible in what they said.

Nevertheless, this Evidence was not produced against the Prisoner at the Bar, inasmuch as there was other Evidence enough to proceed upon.

III.

_Benjamin Abbot_ gave his Testimony, That last March was a twelvemonth, this _Carrier_ was very angry with him, upon laying out some Land, near her Husband's: Her Expressions in this Anger, were, _That she would stick as close to +Abbot+ as the Bark stuck to the Tree;

and that he should repent of it afore seven Years came to an End, so as Doctor +Prescot+ should never cure him.

_ These Words were heard by others besides _Abbot_ himself; who also heard her say, _She would hold his Nose as close to the Grindstone as ever it was held since his Name was +Abbot+.

_ Presently after this, he was taken with a Swelling in his Foot, and then with a Pain in his Side, and exceedingly tormented.

It bred into a Sore, which was launced by Doctor _Prescot_, and several Gallons of Corruption ran out of it.

For six Weeks it continued very bad, and then another Sore bred in the Groin, which was also lanced by Doctor _Prescot_.

Another Sore then bred in his Groin, which was likewise cut, and put him to very great Misery: He was brought unto Death's Door, and so remained until _Carrier_ was taken, and carried away by the Constable, from which very Day he began to mend, and so grew better every Day, and is well ever since.

_Sarah Abbot_ also, his Wife, testified, That her Husband was not only all this while Afflicted in his Body, but also that strange extraordinary and unaccountable Calamities befel his Cattel; their Death being such as they could guess at no Natural Reason for.

IV.

_Allin Toothaker_ testify'd, That _Richard_, the son of _Martha Carrier_, having some difference with him, pull'd him down by the Hair of the Head.

When he Rose again, he was going to strike at _Richard Carrier_; but fell down flat on his Back to the ground, and had not power to stir hand or foot, until he told _Carrier_ he yielded; and then he saw the shape of _Martha Carrier_, go off his breast.

This _Toothaker_, had Received a wound in the _Wars_; and he now testify'd, that _Martha Carrier_ told him, _He should never be Cured.

_ Just afore the Apprehending of _Carrier_, he could thrust a knitting Needle into his wound, four inches deep; but presently after her being siezed, he was throughly healed.

He further testify'd, that when _Carrier_ and he sometimes were at variance, she would clap her hands at him, and say, _He should get nothing by it;_ whereupon he several times lost his Cattle, by strange Deaths, whereof no natural causes could be given.

V.

_John Rogger_ also testifyed, That upon the threatning words of this malicious _Carrier_, his Cattle would be strangely bewitched; as was more particularly then described.

VI.

_Samuel Preston_ testify'd, that about two years ago, having some difference with _Martha Carrier_, he lost a _Cow_ in a strange Preternatural unusual manner; and about a month after this, the said _Carrier_, having again some difference with him, she told him; _He had lately lost a Cow, and it should not be long before he lost another;_ which accordingly came to pass; for he had a thriving and well-kept _Cow_, which without any known cause quickly fell down and dy'd. VII.

_Phebe Chandler_ testify'd, that about a Fortnight before the apprehension of _Martha Carrier_, on a Lords-day, while the Psalm was singing in the _Church_, this _Carrier_ then took her by the shoulder and shaking her, asked her, _where she lived_: she made her no Answer, although as _Carrier_, who lived next door to her Fathers House, could not in reason but know who she was.

Quickly after this, as she was at several times crossing the Fields, she heard a voice, that she took to be _Martha Carriers_, and it seem'd as if it was over her head.

The voice told her, _she should within two or three days be poisoned.

_ Accordingly, within such a little time, one half of her right hand, became greatly swollen, and very painful; as also part of her Face;

whereof she can give no account how it came.

It continued very bad for some dayes; and several times since, she has had a great pain in her breast; and been so siezed on her leggs, that she has hardly been able to go.

She added, that lately, going well to the House of God, _Richard_, the son of _Martha Carrier_, look'd very earnestly upon her, and immediately her hand, which had formerly been poisoned, as is abovesaid, began to pain her greatly, and she had a strange Burning at her stomach; but was then struck deaf, so that she could not hear any of the prayer, or singing, till the two or three last words of the Psalm.

VIII.

One _Foster_, who confessed her own share in the Witchcraft for which the Prisoner stood indicted, affirm'd, that she had seen the prisoner at some of their _Witch-meetings_, and that it was this _Carrier_, who perswaded her to be a Witch.

She confessed, that the Devil carry'd them on a pole, to a Witch-meeting; but the pole broke, and she hanging about _Carriers_ neck, they both fell down, and she then received an hurt by the Fall, whereof she was not at this very time recovered.

IX.

One _Lacy_, who likewise confessed her share in this Witchcraft, now testify'd, that she and the prisoner were once Bodily present at a _Witch-meeting_ in _Salem Village_; and that she knew the prisoner to be a Witch, and to have been at a Diabolical sacrament, and that the prisoner was the undoing of her, and her Children, by enticing them into the snare of the Devil.

X.

Another _Lacy_, who also confessed her share in this Witchcraft, now testify'd, that the prisoner was at the _Witch-meeting_, in _Salem Village_, where they had Bread and Wine Administred unto them.

XI.

In the time of this prisoners Trial, one _Susanna Sheldon_, in open Court had her hands Unaccountably ty'd together with a Wheel-band, so fast that without cutting, it could not be loosed: It was done by a _Spectre_; and the Sufferer affirm'd, it was the _Prisoners_.

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