(Examination of Abigail Faulkner, Sr.)
Abig'l Folkner examined August. 11: 1692 .
Mr Hauthorn; Mr Corwin: & Cap: Higginson pressent when she was
brought into the room: the afflicted persons fell down Mr Ha: You
are:heare: aprehended:for:witchcraft: but Answ'd: I know nothing
of it with: the cast of her eye: mary:walcot: & the rest afflicted:
mary waren and others fell down: it was s'd to her do you not see:
she s'd yes but it is the devill dos it in my shape: mary Walcot s'd
she had seen her 2 monthes a good while agoe but was not hurt
by her till last night: An Putnam sayd she had seen s'd falkn'r but
was not hurt by her till last night & then she pulld me off my hors:
mary warin s'd she had seen her in company with other witches:
but was not hurt by her till lately
Mary Warin & others of the afflicted: were struck down into:
fitts & Helped up out of their fitts by a touch of Abig'l folkn'rs
hand: she was urged to confes the truth:for the creddit of hir Town:
her Couz Eliz Jonson urged her: with that: but: she refused to do it
saying god would not: require her to confess that: that she was not
gilty of Phelpses daughter complayned her afflicting her: but: she
denyed: that she had any thing to doe with witchcraft she s'd falkn'r
had a cloth in her hand: that when she squeezed in her hand the
afflicted; fell into greevous fits: as was observed: the afflicted sayd
Dan'll Eames & Capt floyd was upon that cloth when it was upon
the table
She sayd she was sorry they were afflicted: but she was told
& it was observd she did not shed a tear: mary waren was pulld und'r
the table & was helpd out of her fitt by a touch of s'd faulkn'r she
s'd she had looked on some of these afflicted: when they came to
Andov'r & hurt them not: but she was told it was before she had
began to afflict them: she was told that it was reported she used
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to Conjure with a seiv: but she s'd it was not so that story:was
cleared up:
August 30: 92: Abig'l Fokner: before: their Majestt's Justices
at first denyed witchcraft as she had done before: but afterward:
she owned: that: she was Angry at what folk s:d when her Couz
Eliz. Jonson was taken up: & folk laught & s'd her sister Jonson
would come out next: & she did look with an evil eye on the af-
flicted persons & did consent that they should be afflicted: becaus
they were the caus of bringing her kindred out: and she did wish
them ill & her spirit being raised she did:pinch her hands together:
& she knew not but that the devil might take that advantage but it
was the devil not she that afflicted them: this she s'd she did at
Capt Chandlers garison: the Night after: Eliz Jonson had bin ex-
amined before Capt Bradstreet in the day
This is the substance of what s'd Abig'l folkners examination
was: taken out of my Charackters:
Attest
*Simon Willard
The aboves'd Examination was before John Hathorne Just peace
Abigaiel Falknors Examination
( Essex County Archives, Salem -- Witchcraft Vol. 2 Page 19 )
(Indictment v. Abigail Faulkner, Sr., No. 1)
Essex in the Province
of the Massachusetts
Bay in New England ss Anno RRs & Reginae Gulielmi
& Mariae Angliae &c Quarto Anno'qe
Domini 1692
The Jurers for o'r Sov'r Lord and Lady King & Queen do present
that. Abigaill Falkner Wife of francis falkner of Andivor -- In the
county of Essex afors'd Husbandm On or about the begining of
August -- In the year aforesaid and divers other dayes and times as
well before as after Certaine Detestable Arts Called Witchcraft and
Sorceries Wickedly Mallistiously and felloniously hath used practised
and Exercised at and in the Towne of Boxford in the County of
Essex aforesaid in upon and against One Martha Sprague of Boxford
aforesaid Single Woman by which Said wicked Acts the said Martha
Sprague the day & year aforesaid and divers other dayes and times
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both before and after was and is Tortur'd Aflicted Consumed Pined
Wasted and Tormented and also for Sundry other Acts of Witchcraft
by the Said Abigaill Falkner Comitted and done before and Since
that time -- against the Peace of o'r Sov'r Lord and Lady the King
and Queen theire Crowne and dignity and the forme of the Stattute
in that Case made and Provided
Indictm't ags't Abagaill Falkner for
bewitching Martha Sprague Billa Vera: --
( Essex County Archives, Salem -- Witchcraft Vol. 2 Page 18 )
(Indictment v. Abigail Faulkner, Sr., No. 2)
Essex in the Province
of the Massachusetts
Bay in New England ss Anno R Rs & Reginae Gulielmi
& Mariae Angliae &c'a Quarto Anno'qe
Domini 1692
The Jurors for our Sov'r Lord and Lady the King & Queen doe
psent That Abigaill Falkner Wife of frances falkner of Andivor In the
County of Essex Husbandman in and About the beginning of August
In the Yeare aforesaid and divers other days and times as well before
as after Certaine detestable Arts called Witchcraft and Sorceries
Wickedly Mallitiously and felloniously hath used practised and Ex-
ercised at and in the Towne of Andivor in the County of essex afore-
said in upon and against one Sarah Phelps daughter of Samuel Phellps
of Andivor aforesaid Husbandman by which said Wicked Acts the s'd
Sarah Phellps the day & yeare aforesaid & divers other days and
times both before and after was and is Tortured Aflicted Consumed
Pined Wasted and Tormented, and also for sundry other acts of
Witchcraft by the said Abigaill falkner Comitted and done before
and since that time against the Peace of our Sov'r Lord and Lady
the King and Queen theire Crowne & Dignity & the forme of the
Stattute in that case made & Provided
(On reverse side of paper)
Abagaiell Falkner Indictm't for
bewitching Sarah Phelps Billa Vera
( Essex County Archives, Salem -- Witchcraft Vol. 2 Page 18 )
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(Rose Foster v. Abigail Faulkner)
The deposistion of Rose Foster who testifieth & saith I have ben
most greviously afflected and tormented by Abigail Falkner of
Andeveour also I have seen Abigail Falkner or hir Apperance most
greviously afflect and torment Martha sprague s sara phelps and
Hannah Bigsbe sence the begining Augst and I veryly beleve that
Abigail Falkner is a wicth and that she has often afflected me and the
afforesaid person by acts of wicthcraft:
The above written evidence is truth uppon her Oath sept: 17:
1691
(Reverse) Rose foster Depo agst: abigail Falknor Jurat in Curia
( Essex County Archives, Salem -- Witchcraft Vol. 2 Page 19 )
(Mary Walcott v. Abigail Faulkner)
The deposistion of mary walcott who testifieth and saith that
about the 9.th August 1692 I was most dreadfully afflected by a
woman that tould me hir name was abigail Falkner.but on the 11th.
of August being the day of the examination of Abigail falkner she
did most dreadfully afflect me during the time of hir examination
I saw Abigail falkner or hir Apperance most greviously afflet and
torment sarah phelps and Ann putnam: and I veryly beleve in my
heart that Abigail Falkner is a wicth and that she has often affleted
me and the afforesaid persons by acts of wicthcraft
The above name mary Walcutt affirmed before the Grand inquest
that the above written Evidence is truth upon her Oath 17: Sept.:
1692
(Reverse) Mary Walcott Depo Agst: Aba: Falkner Jurat in Curia
( Essex County Archives, Salem -- Witchcraft Vol. 2 Page 19 )
(Martha Sprague v. Abigail Faulkner)
The deposistion of Martha Spreague who testifieth and saith
that I have ben most greviously affleted and tormented by Abigail
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Falkner of Andevor senc the [begining] of August 1692: Also I
saw Abigail Falkner of hir Apperance most greviously torment and
afflet Hannah Bigsbe and Rose Foster and sarah phelps and I verily
beleve in my heart that Abigaill Falkner is a wicth & that she has
often affleted me and severall others by acts of wicthcraft
The above named Martha sprague affirmed before the Grand
inquest that the above written Evidence is truth upon her Oath 17:
sept: 1692
(Reverse) Martha Sprague Depo agt Abigill Falkner Jurat in Curia
( Essex County Archives, Salem -- Witchcraft Vol. 2 Page 19 )
(Mary Warren v. Abigail Faulkner)
The deposistion of marry warren who testifieth and saith that
Abigail Falkner of Andevor did most greviously afflet and torment
me on 11th August 1692 dureing the time of hir examination for if
she did but look upon me she would strick me down or almost choak
me also on the day of hir examination I saw Abigail Falkner or hir
Apperance most greviously afflect and torment mary walcott Ann
putnam and sarah phelps and I veryly beleve that Abigail Falkner
is a wicth and that she has often afflected me and severall other by
acts of wicthcraft
Mary Waren:own'dupon her oath::to the grand Inquest that the
above written evidence is the truth: Sep'r 17: 1692
(Reverse) Mary Warren Depo agst Abigail Falkner Jurat in Curia
( Essex County Archives, Salem -- Witchcraft Vol. 2 Page 20 )
(Sarah Phelps v. Abigail Faulkner)
The depossistion of Sarah phelps who testifieth and saith that
about the begining of August 1692 I was most greviously afflected
and tormented by Abigail Falkner or hir Apperance: but most dread-
full she did torment on the 11 August being the day of hir examina-
tion for if she did but loock upon me she would strick me down or
almost choake me: also sence the begining of August I have seen
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Abigaill Falkner or hir appearance most greviously afflet and torment
mary walcott Ann putnam and Martha sprague and I veryly beleve
in my heart that Abigail Falkner is a wicth and that she has very
often affleted me and the afforesaid parsons by acts of wicth craft
The above named sarah Phelps affirmed before the Grand in-
quest that the above written evidence is truth upon her Oath the
17 Sept: 1692
Jurat.
(Reverse) Sarah Phelps Depo Ag't: Abagail Falkner Jurat
( Essex County Archives, Salem -- Witchcraft Vol. 2 Page 20 )
(Ann Putnam, Jr. v. Abigail Faulkner)
The deposistion of Ann putnam who testifieth and saith that
about the 9th of August 1692 I was affleted by a woman which
tould me hir name was Falkner: but on the 11th of August being
the day of the Examination of Abigail Falkner she did most dread-
fully torment me during the time of hir examination also on the day of
hir examination I saw Abigaill Falkner or hir Apperance most grev-
iously afflect and torment mary walcot sarah phelps. and I beleve
that Abigal Falkner is a wicth and that she has often afflected me and
severall others by acts of wicthcraft
The above named Ann Putnam affirmed before the Grand in-
quest that the above written Evidence is the truth upon her Oath.
sworne before the grand Jury Sept: 17. 1692
(Reverse) An Puttnam vs Abig'l Falkner Jurat Coram
Grand Jury --
( Essex County Archives, Salem -- Witchcraft Vol. 2 Page 20 )
(Ann Putnam, Jr. v. Abigail Faulkner)
The deposition of ann putman
who testefieth & saith that about the 9th of agust.1692: I was Afflic-
ted by a woman which tould me hir name was faulkner but on the
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11th day of agust being the day of the Examenation of abigell faulk-
ner shee did most dredfuly torment me and during the time of hir
Examenation, allso on the day of hir Examenation I saw abagell
faulkner or hir aperance most gr[e] vousily afflickt & torment mary
walcot & sara phelips, and I beleve that abigell faulkner is a witch
& that shee hath often afflicted me & severall others by acts of
witchcraft
the above named ann putman afermed before the grand Inquest
that the above writen Evedence Is the truth upon #[hir oath] hir
oath sworn before the grand Jury sptmbr 17th.
( Mass. Archives, Salem -- Witchcraft Vol. 135 No. 119 )
(Verdict and Death Sentence v. Abigail Faulkner)
Att a Court of Oyer and Terminer
holden att Salem by adjournment
Septem'r: 1692 --
Abigall Faulkner of Andover Indeated and arraigned for the
Crime of fellony by Witchcraft Comited on the bodyes of Martha
Sprague Evidences being Called and sworne in open Court Matter
of fact Comitted the Jury
The Jury find Abigall Faulkner wife of Francis Faulkner of
Andover guilty of the fellony by Witchcraft Comited on the body of
Marthah Sprague allsoe on the body of Sarrah Phelps --
Sentence of Death pased on Abigall Faulkner
Copia Vera
( Mass. Archives, Vol. 135 No. 49 )
(Petition of Abigail Faulkner)
The humblee Petition of Abigall: Falkner unto his Excellencye
S'r W'm Phipps knight and Govern'r of their Majestyes Dominions in
America: humbly sheweth
That your poor and humble Petitioner having been this four monthes
in Salem Prison and condemned to die having had no other evidences
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against me but the Spectre Evidences and the Confessors w'ch Con-
fessors have lately since I was condemned owned to my selfe and
others and doe still own that they wronged me and what they had
said against me was false: and that they would not that I should have
been put to death for a thousand worldes for they never should have
enjoyed themselves againe in this world; w'ch undoubtedly I shouled
have been put to death had it not pleased the Lord I had been with
child. Thankes be to the Lord I know my selfe altogether Innocent
& Ignorant of the crime of witchcraft w'ch is layd to my charge: as
will appeare at the great day of Judgment (May it please yo'r Ex-
cellencye ) my husband about five yeares a goe was taken w'th fitts
w'ch did very much impaire his memory and understanding but
w'th the blessing of the Lord upon my Endeavors did recover of
them againe but now through greife and sorrow they are returned
to him againe as bad as Ever they were: I having six children and
having little or nothing to subsist on being in a manner without a
head to doe any thinge for my selfe or them and being closely con-
fined can see no otherwayes but we shall all perish Therfore may it
please your Excellencye your poor and humble petition'r doe hum-
bly begge and Implore of yo'r Excellencye to take it into yo'r pious
and Judicious consideration that some speedy Course may be taken
w'th me for my releasement that I and my children perish not
through meanes of my close confinement here w'ch undoubtedly we
shall if the Lord does not mightily prevent and yo'r poor petitioner
shall for ever pray for your health and happinesse in this life and
eternall felicity in the world to come so prayes
Your poor afflicted humble sevants Petition'r
*Abigall: Falkner
from
Salem Prison
Decem the 3d: 1692
(Reverse) These: To his Excellencye
S'r W'm Phipps knight and Govern'r of their Majestyes Dominions in
America
p-sent
|
