(Warrant for Arrest of Mary Bridges, Sr.) To The Sherriff of the County of Essex or dep'y or Constable in Andover You are in theire Majest's names hereby required to apprehend & forthwith, or as soone as May be, bring before us, Mary Bridges the wife of John Bridges of Andover who stands Charged in behalfe of theire Majest's w'th haveing Committed Sundry acts of Witchcraft Lately on the Body of Timothy Swan of Andover [and then] to theire great hurt, And [that] in order to her Examination Relating to the abovesaid Premises and hereof You are not to faile Dated Salem July the 28'th 1692 *Bartho Gedney *John: Hathorne *Jonathan. Corwin *John Higginson Just'es Peace in obedience to this writ I have Seased the Body of Marie Bridges wife of John Bridges and have brought her to answer at Sa[i]lom what shall be aledged against her this 28 of July 1692 By mee *John Ballard constable of andover ( Boston Public Library -- Dept. of Rare Books and Manuscripts ) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 132- (Rev. Increase Mather's Report of his Conversation in Prison with Mary Bridges, Sr.) Goodwife Bridges said that she had confessed against herself things which were all utterly false; and that she was brought to her confession by being told that she certainly was a witch, and so made to believe it, -- though she had no other grounds so to believe. ( Charles W. Upham, Salem Witchcraft [ Boston, 1867 ] II, 406 .) (Recognizance for Mary Bridges, Sr.) Memorandum That on the Twelfth Day of January 1692 In the fourth year of the Reigne of o'r Soveraigne Lord and Lady William and Mary by the Grace of God of England &c King and Queen Defenders of the faith &c Personally appeared before William Stoughton Esq'r Chief Justice of their Maj'ties Province of the Massachusets Bay in New England Jno Bridges of Andover in the County of Essex Blacksmith and Jno Osgood of the same Towne Husbandman and acknowledged them- selves to be joyntly and Severally Indebted unto o'r said Soveraigne Lord and Lady and the Survivor of them Their Heires and Successors in the Sume of One hundred pounds to be levied on their or Either of their Lands and Tenem'ts Goods and Chatles for the use of our said Soverainge Lord and Lady the King and Queen or Survivor of them On Condition that Mary Bridges haveing Stood Comitted for Suspition of Witchcraft shall make her personall apperance Before the Justices of o'r s'd Lord and Lady the King and Queen at the next Court of Assizes and Gen'll Goal Delivery to be held for the County of Essex Then & There to answer to all such matters and things as shall in their Maj'ties Behalfe be aledged against her and to doe and receive that w'ch by the said Court shall be then and there enjoyned her and thence not to depart without lycence Attest. *Jon Elatson Cler (Reverse) Recognizance of John Bridges & John Osgood for Mary Bridges May 10th Apears ( Mass. Archives Vol. 135 ) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 133-
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