Defiance of the Devil
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 2
? Spr 1672: James Carr began courting the widow Rebecca Maverick, daughter of Rev. John Wheelwright. Widow Maverick invited him to come to the house more often. Upon his second arrival he encountered William Bradbury, son of Mary and Thomas, and the second of my line in the colonies. William was also courting the widow Maverick. James Carr said that William left that day angry, because the widow had treated him coarsely. After this day he claims that he came down with a strange affliction where it felt like "every living creature did run about every part of my body redy to tare me to peaces." And this condition continued for 9 months. He saw a Dr. Crosby who gave him a great deal of physic, including Tobacco steepings, none of which worked. The Dr. suggested Carr was bewitched, and he concurred saying he was quite sure of it. When the doctor asked who bewitched him he was "modest" and didn't say, but upon further urging claimed Mary Bradbury. Later that evening he believed a dark cat came after him in the bed, and he tried to strike it down, but was unable to move. Slowly he began to come to, and after striking the cat he was no longer plagued by the skin crawling.
? Sum 1672: William Bradbury married the Widow Rebecca Maverick, and had three children.
© Eric S. Riley, 2003