Deliverance Hobbs v. Bridget Bishop et al.

Deliverance-Hobbs. Exam'ed May. 3. 1692. Salem prison

Q. w't have you done since whereby there is further trouble in your appearance?

An. nothing at all.

Q. but have you nott since bin tempted?

An. yes S'r, but I have nott done itt, nor will nott doe itt

Q. here is a great change since we last spake to you, for now you Afflict & torment againe; now tell us the truth tempted you to sighne againe?

An. itt was Goody Olliver; shee would have mee to sett my hand to the book, butt I would nott neither have I. neither did consent to hurt them againe.

Q. was that true that Goody Wilds appeared to you & tempted you?

An. yes, that was true.

Q. have you been tempted since?

An. yes, about fryday or Saturday night last

Q. did they bid you that you should nott tell?

An. yes they tould me soe.

Q. but how farr did thay draw you or tempt you, & how farr did you yeild to the temptation? but doe not you acknowledge that was true that you tould us formerly?

An. Yes.

Q. and you did sighne then att the first, did you Nott?

An. Yes, I did itt is true.

Q. did you promise then to deny att last what you said before?

An. yes, I did & itt was Goody Oliver Alias Bishop that tempted me to deny all that I had confessed before.

Q. doe you nott know the man w'th the Wenne?

An. noe I doe nott know whoe itt is; all that I confessed before is true.

Q. Whoe were they you named formerly?

An. Osburne, Good, Burroughs, Olliver, Wiles, Cory & his Wife, Nurse, procter & his Wife.

Q. who were w'th you in the chamber? (itt being informed that some were talking w'th hir there.)

An. Wilds and Bushop or Olliver, Good & Osburne, & they had a feast both of Roast & Boyled meat & did eat & drink & would have had me to have eat and drunk w'th them but I would not; & they would have had me sighned, but I would nott then not when Goody.Olliver came to me.

Q. Nor did nott you con chidren in your likeness?

An. I doe nott know that I did.

Q. What is that you have to tell, w'ch you cannot tell yett you say?

William Stacy v. Bridget Bishop

William Stacy of the Towne of Salem aged, Thirty Six years or thereaboutes Deposeth and Saith:/

That about fourteene years agone this Deponant was visited with the Small Pox, then Bridget Bishop give him a visitt, and withall Professed a great Love for this Deponant in his affliction. more than ordinary, at which this Deponant admired, some time after this Deponent was well, the said Bishop got him to do some work for her. for which she gave him three pense, which seemed to this Depo't as if it had been good money: but he had not gone out above 3 or 4 Rods before he Looked in his Pockett where he put it, for it, but could not find any sometime after this deponent met the said Bishop in the Street a goeing to Mill; she askeing this Deponant whether his father would grind her grist: he put it to the said Bishop why she Asked: she answered because folks counted her a witch this Depo't made answer: he did not Question but that his father would grind it: but being gone about 6 Rod from her the said Bishop; with a small Load in his Cart: suddenly the off Wheels Slumped or Sunk downe into a hole upon Plain ground, that this Depon't was forced to gett one to help him gett the wheele out afterwards this Depon't went Back to look for said hole where his wheele sunk in but could not find any hole some time after in the winter about midnight this Deponent felt something between his lips Pressing hard ag't his teeth: and withall was very Cold in somuch that it did awake him so that he gott up and sat upon his beed: he at the same time seeing the said Bridgett Bishop sitting at the foot of his bed: being to his seeming, it was then as light as if it had been day: or one in the said Bishops shape: she having then a black cap & black hat, and a Red Coat with two of two Coulers: the she the said Bishop or her shape clapt her coate close to her Leggs & hopt upon the bed and about the Roome and then went out: and then it was Dark: againe: some time after the s'd Bishop went to this Depon't and asked him whither that which he had reported was true. that he had told to severall: he answered that was true & that it was she, and bid her denigh it if she dare, the said Bishop did not denigh it and went away very angry and said that this Dep't did her more Mischief: than any other body he asked Why: she answered because folks would believe him before any body Elce: some time after the said Bishop thretned this Deponent: and told him he was the occasion of bringing her out about the brass she stole: Some time after this Dep't in a dark night was goeing to the Barn who was suddenly taken or hoisted from the Ground & threw ag't stone wall after that taken up againe a throwed Down a bank at the End of his house: some time after this Deponent mett the said Bishop by Isaac Sternes Brick Kill: after he had Passed buy her: this Deponents Horse stood still with a small load goeing up the hill so that the Horse striveing to draw all his Gears & tackeing flew in Peices and the Cart fell downe.

afterwward this Deponent went to lift a Bagg of Corne of about 2 bushells: but could not budge it with all his might:

This Deponent hath mett with severall other of her Pranks at severall times: which would take up a great time to tell of

This Deponent doth veryly beleive that the said Bridget Bishop was Instrumentall to his Daughter Prisillas Death: about two years agoe, the Child was alikely Thriveing Child. And suddenly Screaked out and soe continued in an unsuall manner for about. a fortnight & soe dyed in that lamentable manner

Sworne Salem May the 30'th 1692 *John Hathorne )
before us ) Assis'ts
� *Jonathan. Corwin)
� Jurat in Curia June. 2'd 1692
William Stacey �

Samuel Gray v. Bridget Bishop

Samuell Gray of Salem Aged aboute 42 yeares Testifieth and sayth that about fourteen years agoe he goeing to bed well one Lords Day and night, and after he had beene asleep some time, he awakened & looking up, saw the house light as if a candle or candles were lighted in it and the dore locked & that little fire there, was Raked up he did then see a woman standing between the Cradle in the Roome and the Bed side and seemed to look upon him soe he did Rise up in his bed and it vanished or disappeared then he went to the dore and found it locked. and unlocking and Opening the dore he went to the Entry dore and looked out, and then againe did see the same Woman he had a little before seene in the Rome, and in the same garbe she was in before, then he said to her in the name of God what doe you come for. then she vanished away soe he Locked the dore againe & went to bed and between sleepeing & wakeing he felt some thing Come to his mouth or lipes cold, & there upon started & looked up & againe did see the same woman with some thing betweene both her hands holding before his mouth upon which she moved. and the Child in the Cradle gave a great screech out as if it was greatly hurt and she disappeared and takeing the child up could not quiett it in some howres from which tyme, the child that before was a very likely thriveing Child did pine away and was never well, althow it Lived some moneths after, yet in a sad Condition and soe dyed, some tyme after within a weeke or less he did see the same Woman in the same Garb and Cloaths, that appeared to him as aforesaid, and althow he knew not her, nor her name before, Yett both by her Countenance & garb doth testifie that it was the same Woman that thay now Call Bridget Bishop Alias Oliver of Salem

Sworne Salem May 30'th 1692 *Samuell Gray
Before me *John Hathorne Assis't
Sam'll Grays Evedence Bridgett Bishopp

Samuel and Sarah Shattuck v. Bridget Bishop

Sam'll Shattock aged 41 years testifieth that in the year 1680. Bridged Oliver formerly wife to old Goodman Oliver: now wife to Edward Bishop did Come to my hous pretending to buy an old hh'd we'h tho I asked verry little for: & for all her pretended want She went away w'th out it: & Sundry other tymes she came in a Smooth flattering maner in very Slighty Errants: we have thought Since on purpos to work mischief: at or very near this tyme o'r Eldest Child who promised as much health & understanding both by Countenance and actions as any other Children of his years: was taken in a very drooping Condition and She Came oftener to the hous he grew wors & wors: as he would be standing at the door would fall out & bruis his face upon a great Step Stone as if he had been thrust out bye an invisible hand: often tymes falling & hitting his face in a very miserable maner: after this the abovesaid Oliver brought me apair of sleeves to dye & after that Sundry peeces of lace Some of w'ch were Soe Short that I could not judge them for any uce: she p'd me 2 d for dying them w'ch 2 d I gave to Henry Willms w'ch lived w'th me he told me put it in a purse among som other money w'ch he locked up in a box & that the purs & money was gon out of the Box he Could not tell how: & never found it after just after the dying of these things this child taken in a terrible fit; his mouth & Eyes drawne aside and gasped in Such a maner as if he was upon the point of death; after this he grew wors in his fits; and out of them would be allmost always crying that for many months he would be crying till natures strenght was spent & then would fall a sleep and then awake & fall to crying & moaning: that his very Countenance did bespeak Compassion; and at length wee p'rceived his understanding decayed Soe that wee feared (as it has Since proved) that he would be quite bereaft of his witts; for Ever Since he has bin Stupified and voide of reason his fitts still following of him; after he had bin in this kind of Sickness Som tyme he has gon into the garden & has got upon a board of an inch thick w'ch lay flat upon the ground & wee have Called him; he would Com to the Edge of the board & hold out his hand & make as if he would Com but Could not till he was helped of the board; other tymes when he has got upon a board as aforesaide my wife has Said She has ofered him a Cake & mony to Com to her and he has held out his hand & reach't after it but Could not Com till he has bin help't of the board; by w'ch I judge som inchantm't kept him on about 17 or 18 months after, the first of this Ilnes there Came a Stranger to my hous & pittyed this Child and Said among other words wee are all borne Some to one thing & Som to another; I asked him & w't doe you Say this Child is borne too he replyed he is born to be bewitched and is bewitched I told him he did not know; he said he did know & Said to me you have a neighbor that lives not far of that is a witch: I told him wee had now neighb'r but w't was honest folke; he replyed you have a neighb'r that is a witch & She has had a falling out w'th yo'r wife & Said in her hart your wife is a proud woman & She would bring downe her pride in this Childe: I paused in my selfe & did remember that mye wife had told me that goodwife Oliver had bin at the hous & spoke to her to beat Henry Willms, that lived w'th us & that she went away muttering & She thought threatning: but little before o'r child was taken ill; I told the aforesaid Stranger that there was Such a woman as spoke of; he asked where she lived for he would goe & see her if he knew how: I gave him money & bid him ask her for a pot of Syd'r away he went & I Sent my boy w'th him who after a short tyme: both returned; the boys face bleeding & asked w't the matter they told me the man knock't at the door & goody Oliver Came to the door & asked the Stranger w't he would have he told her a pot of Cyd'r she saide he sheuld have none & bid him get out & took up a Spade & made himgoe out She followed him & when She came w'th out the poarch She saw mye boy & ran to him & scratched his face & made it bleed: Saying to him thou roague w't dost thou bring this fellow here to plague me; now this man did say before he went: 't he would fetch blood of her And Ever Since this Child hath bin followed w'th grevious fitts as if he would never recover moor: his hed & Eyes drawne aside Soe as if they would never Come to rights moor lying as if he were in a maner dead falling any where Either into fier or water if he be not Constantly looked too, and generally in Such an uneasie and restles frame allmost allways runing too & fro acting soe Strange that I cannot judge otherwise but that he is bewitched and by these circumstances doe beleive that the aforesaid Bridged Oliver now Called Bishop is the Caus of it and it has bin the Judgem't of Doctors Such as lived here & forreigners: that he is under an Evill hand of witchcraft

Sam'll Shattock &

Sarah Shattock

affirmeth upon the oath they have taken to the truth of w't is above written Jurat in Curia June 2'd 92

Attest *Steph: Sewall Cler

Eved. Against Bridget Bishop p Sam'l Shadock & wife

John Louder v. Bridget Bishop.

John Louder of Salem Aged aboute thurtey two Yeares Testifieth and sayth that aboute seaven or Eight years since I then Liveing w'th Mr John Gedney in Salem and haveing had some Controversy with Bridgett Bushop the wife of Edw'd Bushop of Salem Sawyer aboate her fowles that used to Come into our orchard or garden. Some little tyme after which, I goeing well to bed; aboute the dead of the night felt a great weight upon my Breast and awakening looked and it being bright moon; light did clearely see sd Bridget Bushop-or her likeness sitting upon my stomake and puting my Armes of of the bed to free myselfe from that great oppression she presently layd bold of my throat and armost Choked mee and I had noe strenth or power in my hands to resist or help my selfe; and in this Condition she held mee to almost day, some tyme after this, my Mistress Susannah Gedney was in our orchard and I was then with her. and said Bridget Bushop being then in her Orchard w'ch was next ad- joyneing to ours my Mistress told s'd Bridget that I said or afirmed that she came one night & satt upon my brest as afores'd which she denyed and I afirmed to her face to be true and that I did plainely see her. upon w'ch discourse with her she Threatened mee..And some tyme after that I being not very well stayed at home on a Lords day and on the afternoon of s'd day the dores being shutt I did see a black pig in the Roome Coming towards mee soe I went towards itt to kick it and it vanished away

Immediately after I satt down in an Narrow Bar and did see a black thing jump into the window and came & stood just before my face, upon the bar the body of itt looked like a Munky only the feete ware like a Cocks feete w'th Claws and the face somewhat more like a mans than a Munkiey and I being greatly affrighted not being able to speake or help my selfe by Reason of fear I suppose, soc the thing spake to mee and said I am a Messenger sent to you for I understand you are trobled in mind, and if you will be Ruled by rnee you shall want for Nothing in this world upon which I endeavered to clap my hands upon itt, and sayd You devill I will Kill you. but could feale noe substance and ittjumped out of the window againe.and Imediatly Came in by the porch althow the dores ware shutt. and sayd you had Better take my Councill, where upon I strook at it with a stick butt strook the Groundsill and broak the stick, but felt noe substance, and that anne with which I strook was presently disenabled, then it vanished away and I opened the back dore and Went out and goeing towards the house End I Espied s'd Bridget Bushop in her orchard goeing to wards her house, and seing her had no power to set one foot forward but returned in againe and goeing to shutt the dore. I Againe did see that or the like creture that I before did see within dores, in such a posture as it seemed to be agoeing to fly at mee, up- on which I cryed.out; the whole armor of god be between mee and you. soe itt sprang back and flew over the apple tree flinging the dust w'th its feet against my stomake, upon which I was struck dumb and soe Continued for aboute three days tyme-and also shook many of the apples of, from the tree w'ch it flu over: John louder apearid before me this 2. dy of June 1692 and one the oath that he had taken did owen this testimony to be the truth before us the Jarris of Inquest

Jurat in Curia

On her tryall Bridget Bishop alias Oliver denied that she knew this deponent though the orchard of this depon't & the orchard of said Bishop joined & they often had difference for some yeares together Evidence ag't Br. Bishop. Jno Loader

(John Bly, Sr., and William Bly v. Bridget Bishop.)

June 2'th 1692 jno Blye Senior aged about 57 years & William Blye aged about 15 years both of Salem Testifieth and sayth that being Imployed by Bridgitt Bushup Alies Oliver of Salem to help take downe the Cellar wall of The owld house she formerly Lived in wee the s'd Deponants in holes of the s'd owld wall Belonging to the s'd sellar found Severall popitts made up of Raggs And hoggs Brusells w'th headles pins in Them. w'th the points out ward & this was about Seaven years Last past

Jurat Curia

papers ag't B: B: no. 16 John Bly and Wm Bly Court Oy'r & Term'r held at Salem 2'd June. 92 poppets OLiver

Richard Coman v. Bridget Bishop.

Richard Coman aged aboute 32 years Testifieth that sometime aboute Eight yeares since: I then being in bed with my wife at Salem. one fift day of the Weeke at night Either in the Latter end of May the Begining of June. and alight burning in our Roome I being awake, did then see Bridget Bishop of Salem Alias Olliver come into the Roome wee lay in and two Women more with her. w'ch two Women ware Strangers to mee I knew them not.but s'd Bishop came in her Red paragon Bodys and the rest of her cloathing that she then usually did ware, and I knowing of her well also the garb she did use to goe in.did clearely & plainely know her, and testifieth that as he locked the dore of the house when he went to bed soe he found it after wards w'n he did Rise; and quickly after they appeared the light was out, and the Curtaines at the foote of the bed opened where I did see her and presently came And lay upon my Brest or body and soe oppressed him that he could not speake nor stur noe not soe much as to awake his wife althow he Endeavered much soe to do itt; the next night thay all appeared againe in like manner and she s'd Bishop Alias Oliver tooke hold of him by the throate and almost haled him out of the bed the Satierday night followeing; I haveing benne that day telling of what I had seene and how I suffered the two nights before, my Kinsman Wm Coman told mee he would stay with mee & Lodg with mee and see if thay would come againe and advised mee to lay my sword on thurt my body.quickly after Wee Went to bed that s'd night and both well awake and discoursing togather in came all the three women againe and s'd Bishop was the first as she had benne the Other two nights, soe I told him; Wm heer thay be all Come againe & he was Immediatly strook speechless & could not move hand or foote and Immediatly they gott hold of my sword & strived to take it from mee but I held soe fast as thay did not gett it away; and I had then Liberty of speech and called Wm also my wife & Sarah phillips that lay with my wife. who all told me afterwards they heard mee, but had not power to speak or sturl afterwards An the first that.spake was Sarah phillips and said in the name of God Good-M Coman w't is the Matter with you, soe thay all vanished away

Swome Salem June 2'd 1692. Before mee
Jurat in Curia *John Hathorne

John Bly, Sr. and Rebecca Bly v. Bridget Bishop.

John Bly sen'r and Rebecka Bly his wife of Salem, both Testifie and say that s'd jno Bly Bought a Sow of Edw'd Bushop of Salem Sawyer and by agreement with s'd Bushop was to pay the price agreed upon, unto Lt Jeremiah Neale of Salem, and Bridgett the wife of Said Edward Bushop because she could not have the mony or vallue agreed for, payd unto her, she [came] to the house of the deponents in Salem and Quarrelled w'th them aboute it soon after which the sow haveing piged, she was taken with strange fitts jump- ing up and knocking hir head against the fence and seemed blind and deafe and would not Eat neither Lett her pigs suck but foamed at the mouth, which goody hinderson heareing of sayd she beleived she was over-looked, and that thay had theire cattle ill in suck a manner at the Eastward when she lived there, and used to cure them by giveing of them Red Okar & Milk. which wee also gave the sow. Quickly after eating of which she grew Better.and then for the space of neere two howres togather she getting into the street did sett of jumping & running betweene the house of s'd deponents and s'd Bushops as if she ware stark mad; and after that was well againe and wee did then Apprehend or judge & doe still that s'd Bishop had bewitched s'd sow

Jurat in Curia

John Bly and wife

Mary Warren v. Bridget Bishop and Nathaniel Cary [?])

Mary Warren aged 20: yeares or thereabouts testifyeth & saith That severo times after the Nyneteenth day of April last when Bridgett Bishop z&s Olliver who was in the Gaol at Salem she did appear to this depon't tempting her to signe the book & oft times during her being there as afores'd the s'd Bridgett did torture & afflict this depon't & being in Chanies said tho: she could not do it, she would bring one that should doe it which now she knowes to be Mr [Cary] that then came & afflicted her,

Sworne before us the 1. day of June 1692

Assists

*John Hathorne

*Jonathan Corwin

(Susannah Sheldon v. Bridget Bishop)

The Deposistion of susannah shelldin aged about 18 years who testifieth and said that on this 2 June 1692 1 saw the Apperishtion of Bridgit Bishop.and Immediatly appeared to little children and said that they ware Thomas Greens two twins and tould Bridget Bishop to hir face that she had murthered them in setting them int fit wher of they dyed

Susanna Sheldon Evid ag't Bridgett Bishop

John Cook v. Bridget Bishop.

John Cooke aged about 18 years Testifieth that about five or six yeares agoe One Morning about Sun rising as I was in bed before I rose I saw goodwife Bishop alias Oliver Stand in the Chamber by the window and she looked On me & Grinn'd on me & presently struck me on the Side of the head w'ch did very much hurt me & then I Saw her goe Out under the End window at a little Creviss about So bigg as I Could thrust my hand into I Saw her again the Same day w'ch was the Sabath Day about noon walke & Cross the roome & having at the time an apple in my hand it flew Out of my hand into my mothers lapp who State Six or Eight foot distance from me & then She disapeared & though my mother & Severall others were in the Same room yet they afirmed [they afirmed] they Saw her not

John Cooke apearid before us the jarris of inqwest and did owne this to be his testimony one the oath that he hath taken: this 2: dy of June. 92

Jurat in Curia

John Cooke Witnis

Susannah Sheldon v. Bridget Bishop, Mary English, Phillip English, Giles Corey, and Martha Corey

on the foarth day at night Came goody olliver and mrs English and good man Core and ablak man with a hi crouned hatt with books in their hands goody olliver bad mee touch her booke i would not i did not know her name shee told mee her name was goody 0lliver and bid me touch her booke now I bid her tel mee how long shee had been a witch shee told me #[shee told meel S had been a witch above twenti years then their Came a streked snake creeping over her shoulder and crep into her bosom mrs. English had a yelo bird in her bosom and good man Core had two tircels hang to his Coat and he opened his bosom and put his turcls to his brest and gave them suck then good man Core and Goody oliver kneeled doune .beefour the blak man and went to prayer and then the blak man told mee goody olliver had been a witch twenti years and an half then they all set to biteing mee and so went away the next day Came good man Core mrs english in the morning and told mee i should not eat no vittals i took a spoon and put on spoonful in my mouth and good man Core gave me a blow on the ear and 0 most choaked mee then he laughed at rnee and told mee i would eat when he told mee I should not then he Clenched my hands that they could not be opened for more then a quarter of an our then cam phillip english and [and] told mee if i would touch his booke hee would not hit mee but i refused then he did bite inee and went away the sixth day at night Came goody olliver and mrs english good man Core and his wife goodwy Core S profired mee a booke i refused it and asked her whear she lived shee told mee she lived in boston prisson then shee puled out her brest and the blak man gave her a thing like a blake pig it had no haire on it and shee put it to her brest and gave it suck and when it had sucked on brest, shee put it the other and gave it suck their then she gave it to the blak man then went to praier to the blak man then goody olliver told mee that shee had kiled foar women two of them wear the fosters wifes and john trasks wife and did not name the other then they did all bitt mee and went away then the next day Came goody Core choaked mee and told rnee i would not cat when my dame bid mee but now I should eat none

susanna sheldon ag't Oliver English & his wife Core & his wife good--bucklie & her daughter & boston woman

(Elizabeth Hubbard v. Bridget Bishop and Mary Warren)

now whitest i was righting thes lines thar came in mary waring and another woman with hur whch woman mary waring shap said was goodey Oliver and that woman came in hur sheft

Elizab Hubbard ag'st Mary Warrin

1
Hosted by www.Geocities.ws