The Portland daily press., 1883-07-18
oLD-fIME SUPERSTITION
Dispositions in the Trial of George Bur
roughs for Witchcraft.

George Burroughs was graduated at Har-
ward College in 1910. He settled on the
Neck" now Portland, soon aiterward and
ministered to the Inhabitants both at the Neck
and at Poorpooduck near the present site of
Fort Preble. Willis says. his house stood on
Congress near where Preble street joins 1t.
Mr.. Burroughs was examined on charge of
witchcraft May s, 1862, at Salem and August
I'd and Sd dispositions were taken and read be-
fore the court and he was executed on the
18th of August, 1852. He was man of unex-
ceptionable character but the same power
reached him that did that of the first settled
minister in Falmouth, the Rev. Richard Glib
son, an Episcopal clergyman, about 1855, who
was arrested, thrown into prison for preaching
antagonistic to the views of the Pilgrims in
Boston. He thought that discretion was the
better part OF valor and promised to leave the
country if released, and did so. His successor,
Rev. Robert Jordan, met with the same treat
ment; he made an outward acknowledgment
and was released.
Now comes George Burroughs. We find
that by notes, made kg one of the judges, that
the leading animus of the examination was in
regard to his religious faith. 1t seems that
only one of his children had been baptized
the eldest; that he he had been an attendant
at meetings in Cbarlestown, Boston and Rox-
bury but did not partake of the Lords Sup
per- He was questioned il his house at Caseo
was haunted and denied that it was These two
dispositions were used at the last examination.
The deposition OF Sarah Biber who besweareth
and saith that on the 9Th day of May, 1892, as
was going to Salem village saw the appari-
ton OF little man like monster with a black
coat on and he pinched me aud he came aud
bid me goe along with him but tould him
would not do 1t. When l came to the village
l saw there Mr.. George Burroughs which
never had seen in the morning, and he tor
tured me several times while he was
in examination, also during the time
of his examination saw Mr.. George
Burroughs, or bis apparition, most grievousy
torment and aff1ct Mary Walcott, Mercy Lew
is, Elizabeth Hubbard, Ann Putnam and ABR
gail Williams, by pinching them, twisting and
almost choking them to death, Also, several
times since, Mr.. George Burroughs, or his APP
partition, has most grievously tormented me
(word uninteilgible) and 1 believe in my
heart that Mr.. George Burroughs is dreadful
wizard, and that he most grIevously torment
ed me and the above mentioned persons by his
act of witchcraft. SARAH BIBER.
Salem, August Sd, 1892, Jjurat in curia.
Samuel Weber, aged about &c years, testi-
fieth and sayeth that about seven or eight years
ago l lived at Casco Bay, and George Bur-
roughs then coming TO our house we we're In
discourse about the same, and he told me that
he had put his fingers into bung of barrel
OF molasses, and lifted it up and carried it
round, and soft it down again.
SAMUEL WEBER.
Jurat In ctria, Salem, August 2, 1892.
5usanah Sheldon testified that George Bur-
roughs' two wives appeared to her, in their
winding sheets and said that he killed them.
The several other dispositions, with the ex-
ception Of Simon Willard, were OF the gener-
al tenor Of Sarah Biber. We did not discover
from the judges note that he attempted any
defence except general denial. We have
considerable other matter connected with this
that ought to be published in pamphlet form.
l infer that he was considered resident OF
Casco. We have amongst as several of our
best and influential citizens, who are his de-
scendants. =. P. MAYBERRY.