Sharon Massachusetts

October 15, 1897

The Esteys of Old Stoughton
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By S. Talbot
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No. 3

By the statute of Henry the Eighth, 1541, it was declared all witchcraft and sorcery to be felony without the benefit of clergy. This English law continued in force nearly 200 years. It was estimated that 30,000 people suffered death during this period. It was repealed in 1736.

Sir Matthew Hale, chief justice of the Kings bench, tried witches. Eminent lawyers laid down rules for convicting them. Grave clergymen undertook to prove the existence, characteristics and evidences of witchcraft. Near the close of February, 1692, some girls at Salem Village, now Danvers, 11 and 12 years of age, began to act in a strange and unaccountable manner. Physicians were called who failed to find any cause for the strange actions of the children. Several ministers were called who united in prayer at the house of Mr. Paris, the minister. The children were decent during the service, but when it was over, they renewed their strange and inexplicable conduct. Soon after this they began to point out the authors of their supposed sufferings.

It is not the young and lovely that suspend the laws of nature-sell themselves to the evil one to do his wicked work in the world; oh, no. They are bright, beaming with life, laying plans for future happiness. It is time stained traveler who has borne the heat and burdens of the day, that is accused of being the agent of the devil to do his mischief in the world. Mary Estey, an old and devoted wife, an estimable, kind hearted woman, 58 years of age, and the mother of seven children, was accused of bewitching these children. Upon being taken before a Magistrate to face her accusers, Ann Putnam and others, the children went into fits at the sight of the prisoner. The Magistrate inquired what she had to say for herself. She answered, "Would you have me accuse myself?" He said, "How far have you complied with Satan to bewitch these children?" "Sir, I never complied with Satin but prayed against him all days. What would you have me do?" "Confess if you are guilty," replied the Magistrate. "I will say it, if it was my last time, I am clear of this sin." The Magistrate, evidently affected by her manner and bearing, enquired of the girls, "are you certain that this is the woman?" Ann Putnam and the others cried out, "O goody Estey! goody Estey! You are the woman! Do you think this is witchcraft?" "I cannot tell," answered the accused, "it is an evil spirit, but whether it is witchcraft I do not know." Mary Estey was committed to prison by the Magistrate on the 21st of April, but for some cause was released and discharged on the 18th of May. But the demon of superstitious ignorance and fanaticism clamored still for blood - a victim must be sacrificed. May 20, 1692, the testimony of George Herrick aged 34 and John Putnam of Salem Village, aged 35 or there-abouts testifieth that they saw "Mercy Lewis in a very dreadful solemn condition, and that to our apprehension she could not continue being in this world without a mitigation of the torments we saw her in which caused us to expedite a hasty dispatch to apprehend Mary Estey in hopes, if possible, it might save her life. And returning the same night to John Putnam's house, we found the said Mercy Lewis in a dreadful fit, but her reason was returned again." She said, "What have you brought me, the winding sheet of good wife Estey? Well, I had rather go into the winding sheet than set my hand to the book." "Edward Putnam being present with several others, had for the space of two days and nights looked for nothing else but death. She continued in this state until such time as we understood Mary Estey was in prison." She was confined in Salem jail awaiting trial some three or four months and when arraigned in court she presented the following petition:

"The humble request of Mary Estey and Sarah Cloyse to the Honorable Court - Humbly sheweth:-

That whereas, we two sisters Mary Estey and Sarah Cloyse stand before the Honorable Court charged with the suspicion of witchcraft, our humble request is,

1st. That seeing we are neither to plead our own case, nor is counsel allowed those in our condition, we are

2nd. Not conscious to ourselves of any guilt in the least degree, of that crime whereof we are accused, (In the presence of the living God we speak it, before whose awful tribunal we know we shall ere long appear), nor any scandalous evil of miscarriage; inconsistent with Christianity. Mr. Capen, the pastor, and church of Topsfield, are ready to say something which we hope may be looked upon as something considerable in this matter with seven children of one of us.

3d That the testimony of witches, or such as are supposed to be such, may not be improved to condemn us, as without other legal evidences concurring. We hope the honored court and jury will be so tender of the lives of such as we are, who have for many years lived under the unblemished reputation of Christianity, as not to condemn us without a fair and equal hearing, of what may be said for us as well as against us.



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