Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1873-04-10

instituted against one man for calling
another mans wife witch. For these
trials we are indebted to two ''quaint
and curious volumes of forgotten lore"
of rare date, preserved among the ar
chives Of Maryland. These contain
the odds and ends of court proceedings
in the province, transacted at the as
sizes held at St. Marie's, the time Of
which, with some of the records, runs
as far back as 1637-but three years
after the settlement of the colony
These volumes are pronounced the eX-
act transcript of older books which are
mouldering with their weight of years
in the Land Office at Annapolis. In
many instances the records are incom-
plete, but there is enough remaining
to give an insight into the quaint pro-
ceedings Of those curious times.
In one of these volumes are found
the deposition of two witnesses, which
throw some light upon the hanging of
an alleged witch in the good ship
Charity. The records make no dis
tinct mention of the trial of any one
for perpetrating this outrage; but, by
Inference, it appears an inquiry was
made into the conduct upon that oc-
casion Of the master Of the vessel, John
Bosworth. The dispositions of these
two witnesses, Messrs. Henry Corbyne
and Francis Darby, are all thatis given,
and there is no Judgment recorded
The records, capitalization and oEtho-
graphy theirs, says:
''The Deposition of Mr.. Henry Cor
byne of London, Merchant, aged about
rs yeares, Sworne and Examined in
the Province of Maryland, before the
Governour and Council there, (Whose
Names are hereunto subscribed the
I23th day of June,Anno Domini 1854,
saith
''That, at Sea, upon his, this Depo-
nent's, Voyage hither Ia the Ship call
led the Charity of London, Mr.. John
Bosworth being Master, and about a
fortnight or three weeks before the
said Ships ARRIVAL in this Province of
Maryland, or before A Rumour amongst
the seamen was very frequent that one
Mary Lee, then aboard the said ship,
was witch, the said seamen confident
ly affirming the same upon her own de-
pertinent and discourse, and then more
Earnestly than before, Importuned the
said Master, hyaU might be had other,
which he, the said Master, Mr.. Bos-
worth, refused, but resolved, Gas he ex-
pressed to put her ashore upon the
Barmudoes, but Cross Winds prevent
ed, and the Ship grew daily more
Leaky, almost to desperation, and the
Chiefe Seamen often declared their Re
solution Of Leaving her, if an opportu-
nifty offered it self, which aforesaid
Reasons put the Master upon Con
sultation with Mr.. Chipsham and this
Deponent, and it was thought fit, con-
sidering our said Condition, to Statistic
the Seamen, IN q qCny of trying her &C.
c0rdjng to the UsuaU CustOme IN thai
kind, aChether she ayere q aCjtch or not,
and endeavored, by way Of delay, to
have the Commanders Of other ships
aboard but stormy weather prevented.
In the interime two Of the seamen ap-
pretended her without Order, and
searched her, and found Some Signall
or Marke of witch upon her, and then
calling the Master, Mr.. Chipsham, and
this deponent, with others to see it, af-
forwards made her fast to the capstall
betWixt decks, and in the morning, the
Signall was shrunk into her body for
the Most part. And an examination
was thereupon importuned by the sea-
man, which this deponent was desired
to take. Whefeupon she confessed, as
by her Confession appeareth; and upon
that, the Seamen Importuned the Said
Master to put to Death, (Which as it
seemed he was unwilling to do and
went into his Cabbinn, but being more
vehemently pressed to it, he tould them
they might do what they would, and
went into the Cabbinn, and some time
before they were about that action, he
desired the deponent to acquaint them
that they should doc no more, then
what they Should Justife, which they
said they would doc by laying all thei1
hands in general to the Execution Of
her. All which herein before express
ed, or the same in effect, this Deponent
averreth upon his oath to be true, and
further sayeth not.
HENRY CORBYNE.
Sworne before us the day and Yeal
above Written.
VIM. STONE,
THOs. HUTTON,
JOB CHANDLER.
The same day, and before the same
Francis Darby, Esq, made his deposi
ton that ''upon the Same day, thai
one Mary Lee was put to Death aboard
the Said Ship as a Witch, he, the said
Mr.. BosWorth, seeing him, this depo.
nent, backward to assist in the exam
, ination Of her, asked this Deponen
, why; and tould him he was preplex
about the business, seeing he did no
E know how he might doc it by the Law
, Of England. Afterwards this depo
: Fnent heard the same Mr.. Bos
} worth give order that nothing should