( See also: Martha Carrier -- Complaint .)
(Warrant for Arrest of John Alden)
To the Constable of Salem
Essex Ss Whereas Complaint hath been made unto us John Ha-
thorne & Jonathan Corwin Esq'rs by severall persons of Salem Vil-
lage that Cap't John Alden of Boston Marrin'r # [that he] is guilty
of Witchcraft in cruelly tortureing & afflicting several of their Chil-
dren & others these are therefore in their Maj'ties King William
& Queen Maryes name to Authorize & Comand you forwith to Appre-
hend the body of the said John Alden and imediately bring him
before us to answer what shall be objected ag't him in that behalfe
and this shall be yo'r sufficient warrant Given under our hands the
31st day of May 1692 And in the fourth year of the Reigne of our
Sovereigne Lord and Lady William & Mary now King and Queen
over England &c
P us * John Hathorne
* Jonathan. Corwin }
Assis'ts
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persons Complaining viz't
Mary Walcott
Mercy Lewis
Abigail Williams Ann putnam
Elizabeth Booth Mary Warren
(Reverse) In obediance to the within written warant I have Appre-
hended the Body of Cap't John Alden accordeing to the tener of
this warrant
( Essex County Archives, Salem -- Witchcraft Vol 2. p. 52 )
# When this symbol precedes bracketed material in these documents, it signifies that in the
original a line is drawn through the bracketed word or words. (Bracketed words not preceded by the "#" represent informed guesses by the compilers of the 1938 WPA
typescript as to words that in the original are either illegible or, through the wear and
tear of the centuries, obliterated entirely.)
* An asterisk preceding a name in these documents signifies that in the original it is an
autograph signature.
(John Alden's Account of his Examination)
John Aldin Senior, of Boston, in the County of Suffolk, Mar-
iner , on the 28th Day of May, 1692, was sent for by the Magi-
strates of Salem, in the County of Essex, upon the Accusation of a
company of poor distracted, or possessed Creatures or Witches;
and being sent by Mr. Stoughton, arrived there the 31st of May,
and appeared at Salem-Village, before Mr. Gidney, Mr. Hathorn,
and Mr. Curwin.
Those Wenches being present, who plaid their jugling tricks,
falling down, crying out, and staring in Peoples Faces; the Magi-
strates demanded of them several times, who it was of all the People
in the Room that hurt them? one of these Accusers pointed several
times at one Captain Hill, there present, but spake nothing; the
same Accuser had a Man standing at her back to hold her up; he
stooped down to her Ear, then she cried out, Aldin, Aldin afflicted
her; one of the Magistrates asked her if she had ever seen Aldin,
she answered no, he asked her how she knew it was Aldin? She
said, the Man told her so.
Then all were ordered to go down into the Street, where a Ring
was made; and the same Accuser cried out, "there stands Aldin, a
bold fellow with his Hat on before the Judges, he sells Powder and
Shot to the Indians and French, and lies with the Indian Squaes,
and has Indian Papooses." Then was Aldin committed to the Marshal's
Custody, and his Sword taken from him; for they said he afflicted
them with his Sword. After some hours Aldin was sent for to the
Meeting-house in the Village before the Magistrates; who required
Aldin to stand upon a Chair, to the open view of all the People.
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The Accusers cried out that Aldin did pinch them, then, when
he stood upon the Chair, in the sight of all the People, a good way
distant from them, one of the Magistrates bid the Marshal to hold
open Aldin's hands, that he might not pinch those Creatures. Aldin
asked them why they should think that he should come to that
Village to afflict those persons that he never knew or saw before?
Mr. Gidney bid Aldin confess, and give glory to God; Aldin said
he hoped he should give glory to God, and hoped he should never
gratifie the Devil; but appealed to all that ever knew him, if they
ever suspected him to be such a person, and challenged any one,
that could bring in any thing upon their own knowledge, that might
give suspicion of his being such an one. Mr. Gidney said he had
known Aldin many Years, and had been at Sea with him, and al-
ways look'd upon him to be an honest Man, but now he did see cause
to alter his judgment: Aldin answered, he was sorry for that, but
he hoped God would clear up his Innocency, that he would recall
that judgment again, and added that he hoped that he should with
Job maintain his Integrity till he died. They bid Aldin look upon
the Accusers, which he did, and then they fell down. Aldin asked
Mr. Gidney, what Reason there could be given, why Aldin's looking
upon him did not strike him down as well; but no reason was given
that I heard. But the Accusers were brought to Aldin to touch them,
and this touch they said made them well. Aldin began to speak of
the Providence of God in suffering these Creatures to accuse Inno-
cent persons. Mr. Noyes asked Aldin why he would offer to speak of
the Providence of God. God by his Providence (said Mr. Noyes)
governs the World, and keeps it in peace; and so went on with Dis-
course , and stopt Aldin's mouth, as to that. Aldin told Mr. Gidney,
that he could assure him that there was a lying Spirit in them, for I
can assure you that there is not a word of truth in all these say of
me. But Aldin was again committed to the Marshal, and his Mittimus
written, which was as follows.
To Mr. John Arnold, Keeper of the Prison in Boston, in the County
of Suffolk.
Whereas Captain John Aldin of Boston, Marriner, and Sarah Rice,
Wife of Nicholas Rice of Reding, Husbandman, have been this day
brought before us, John Hathorn and Jonathan Curwin, Esquires;
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being accused and suspected of perpetrating divers acts of Witchcraft,
contrary to the form of the Statute, in that Case made and provided:
These are therefore in Their Majesties, King William and Queen Marys
Names, to Will and require you, to take into your Custody, the
bodies of the said John Aldin, and Sarah Rice, and them safely keep,
until they shall thence be delivered by due course of Law; as you will
answer the contrary at your peril; and this shall be your sufficient
Warrant. Given under our hands at Salem Village, the 31st of May,
in the Fourth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord and Lady,
William and Mary, now King and Queen over England, etc., Anno
Dom. 1692.
John Hathorn,
Jonathan Curwin, }
Assistants .
To Boston Aldin was carried by a Constable, no Bail would be
taken for him; but was delivered to the Prison-keeper, where he re-
mained Fifteen Weeks; and then observing the manner of Tryals,
and Evidence then taken, was at length prevailed with to make his
Escape, and being returned, was bound over to Answer at the Supe-
rior Court at Boston, the last Tuesday in April, Anno 1693. And
was there cleared by Proclamation, none appearing against him.
Per John Aldin.
(Robert Calef, More Wonders of The Invisible World [London, 1700], excerpted in George
Lincoln Burr, ed., Narratives of the Witchcraft Cases, 1648-1706 [N.Y., 1914; reissued,
1968], pp. 353-355.
(Recognizance for John Alden)
Suffolk Ss.
Memorandum, That on the Thirty First day of Decemb'r 1692 .
In the Fourth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord & Lady
William and Mary by the grace of God of England Scotland France
and Ireland King and Queen &c formally came and appeared Before
me John Richards Esq'r One of their Ma'ties Justices of the Superior
Court of Judicature within the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in
New England, John Alden #[of] Marrin'r Nathanael Williams &
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Samuel Checkley, shopkeepers all of Boston within the said County
of Suffolk. -- and acknowledged themselves and each of them to be
indebted unto our said Lord and Lady the King and Queen, and the
Survivor of them, their heires and Successors in the Sum of Two
hundred pounds To be levied on their or either of their Goods,
Chattels, Lands or Tenements for the use of our said Lord & Lady
the King and Queen or the Survivors of them, if default be made
in the performance of the condition underwritten.
The Condition of the above Recogniscance is such that whereas
the above bounded John Alden, being accused and Suspected of per-
petrating divers Acts of Witchcrafts contrary to the forme of the
Statute in that case made and provided, was taken up and committed
for the same unto their Ma'ties Goal in Boston, from whence he
made his Escape -- If Therefore the said John Alden shall personally
appear before their Ma'ties Justices, at the next Superior Court of
Judicature and Court of Assize to be held at Boston within the said
County of Suffolk, to answer what shall be objected against him on
their Maj'ties behalfe referring unto the premises, and shall do and
receive that which by the said court shall then & there be Enjoyned
him, then this abovewritten Recogniseance to be void and of no no
[ sic ] Effect; Or else to abide and remain in full force and virtue.
Recognit die predict.
Cor. me.
*John Richards |
