The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1853-11-30
Wiecacran.


The following concise history of Wi,chcrafi as
it occurred in the province of Massachusetts Bay,
from the middle TO near the close of the seven
teenth century, is c,ped from President Dwights
Travels:
Near the close CT February, 1892, two girls,
about eleven years of age, IA daughter and neicr
of Mr.. Paris, minister of Danvers, then Salem vii
lage, and two other girls in the neighborhood, be-
gan, as the children of Mr.. Goodwin had done be-
fore, TO act 10 peculiar aod unaccountable man
ner: creeping, for example into holes and under
chairs, using many unnatural gestures, and utter
ing many ridiculous observations, equally destitute
of sense ard sobriety. This behavior excited the
attention of the neighbnrhood. Several physicians
were consulted; all of whom, except one. declared
themselves unable to assigna cause for these sin
gular affections of The children. This man, more
ignorant sppersiiiious than his companions,
confessed his suspicion that the children were be-
witched. The connections of the children imme-
diately applied themselves to fasting and prayer,
and summoned their friends to unite with them in
their devotions. On the 1I.h of the following
March, Mr.. Paris invited several of the neighbor-
ing ministers to unite with him in prayer at his
o"u nOuS0' II noS ooSeib6u uuTIUS tuS re-
igious exercises the children generally de-
cent and si and that. after the service was end
ed, they renewed their inexpIcable conduct
A few days before this, an indian man and :
man, servants in the house Of Mr.. Paris, formed IA
kind of magical cake, which like the moLd among
the Romans; was esteemed sacred to Mexico, tue
native country of the woman, and was supposed
hv thAaa IN m efficacy
sufficient to detect the authors of the witchcraft
This cake was given to the house-dog. as having
the common canine prerogative eff corresponding
with the invisible world Soon after this spell
was finished. the children, acquainted probably
with its drift, and therefore naturally considering
this the proper time to make disclosures, began
to point out the authors of heir misfortunes, The
first person accused was the Indian woman herself,
who was accordingly committed TO prison; aud at-
ter lying there sometime, escaped without any fur
| ther punishment, except being sold to defray the
expense of her prosecution.
| Two other women, of The names of Good and
Osborn, one long sunk in melancholy, the other be
drid, were next accused by the children; and af-
ter being examined, were also committed to Pris
on. Within FIVE weeks. Mrs. Corey, and u Mrs
| Nurse, women of unbemished character, anc
professors of religion, were added to the number
of accused. Before the examination of Mrs. Co
rey, Mr.. Noyes. minister of Salem, highly es
teemed for his learning, piety and benevoence
made prayer. She was then vehemently accu
sed by Mrs. Putnam, the mother of one of them
aud by several other persons who now declared
themselves bewiched. of beating pinching, strang
ling, and in yarions other ways affiicting them
Mrs. Putnam, particularly complained of excru
cating distress and with loud piercing shrieks ex
cited the numerous spectators emotions of aston
ishment pity and Indignation, bordering upon fren
zy, Mrs. Corey was, OF course, pronounced gull
ty, and imprisoned. -,.E...... ...
i The examination of Mrs. Nurse was introduces
by PRAYER from Mr. H lie, of Beverly. The &C
cusatiop the answers, the proof, and the conse
quence were the same. t
Soon sfter her commitment. n child of Sara
Good 1.-The melancholy Isdtndn mentioned above
. raped between four and five years, vas accused b
+ 1.-The same woman of bewhching them, ahd:adcord
ingly was imprisoned
:, In the meantime, fasts were multiplied. Se'
} al public ones were kept by the inhabitants of tn
village; and finally general fast was hode
throughout the eolony By these successive SC
) lemnities the subject acquired consideration Ii
J erally sacred; and alarmed and engrossed th
I minds of the whole community. Magistrates an
clergymen gave to it the weight oftheir belief, ar
8 their reputation led their fellow citizens into Il il
byrinth of error and iniquiiy, and stained the cha
? acer of the country in the eye of all succeedir
g generations.