Mercy Lewis Over the course of the following decade, the residents of Salem had come to the realization that the witch trials had been a mistake and that innocent people may have been executed. He married Frances Sparrow (1583-1621) 1597 in Wickhambrook, Saint Edmunsbury, Suffolk, England. The villagers disliked his attitude and thought he was unqualified for the role. 2, no. I did afterwards forbeare #[The same Evening after these words being alone in one Roome of my house and noe candle or light being in the s'd Roome] the same afternoone I haveing Occation to be at the s'd Beadles house and [being] in the Chamber where mr George Burroughs Keept I observed that s'd Burroughs did steadfastly fix [his] eys upon mee, the same Evening being in my own house, in a Roome without any Light I did see very strange things appeare in the Chimney. Summary George Burroughs was born on June 18, 1923, and died at age 31 years old in July 1954. John Pierce and hands this Is about a ll a clock and I ask her Where about this lettel man stood s'd she Just where the Cart wheell went along I had a 3 graned irne fork in my hnad and I thru it wher she said he stud and she presently feell in a letel feet and when it twas over Said She you have toren his coot for I hard it tare wher abouts said I one won side said she 2, no. 013: Bridget Bishop Executed, June 10, 1692, SWP No. dreadfull tell me your name that I may know who you are: then againe he tortored me & urged me to writ in his book: which I Refused: and then presently he tould me that his name was George Burroughs and that he had had three wives: and that he had bewitched the Two first of them to death: and that he kiled Mist. above written evidence: is the truth Aug'st 3: 1692 *Thomas putnam Derek Chauvin, one of the four police officers who arrived on the scene, knelt on Floyd's neck and back for 9 minutes and . . If anyone is interested in any of these historical groups you can contact me. 3, Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston, MA. 097: Alice Parker Executed, September 22, 1692, SWP No. Sarah died in 1689, probably also in childbirth, and Burroughs moved with his family to Wells, Maine. Burroughs denied these accusations, but they were common accusations against him. and an Indian that comes with her for the flore is all covered with blod.then the said mary and abigaill looked out of dores & said they saw a greet company of them one a hill & there was three of them lay dead the black woman & the indian & one more that they knew not hand to the Book, which she did; & after- The resettlement of Falmouth was under way, and Burroughs was preparing to resume his old post there.. According to a recent handwriting analysis by Professor Peter Grund, from the University of Kansas, the afflicted girls testimonies were all written by Thomas Putnam. ), Gentlemen Nevertheless, Burroughss trial reached its end shortly after and he was promptly found guilty and sentenced to hang later that month. Thomas Ruck, Burroughs former brother-in-law, testified to this as well when he told a story about when he went strawberry picking with his sister, Sarah Ruck Hathorne, and Burroughs. We will remember him forever. Lewis testified that on several nights in May, Burroughs appeared to her and tortured her and on the second night tried to persuade her to join him as a witch: the next night he tould me I should not see his Two wifes if he could help it because I should not witnes agast him this 9th may mr Burroughs caried me up to an exceeding high mountain and shewed me all the kingdoms of the earth and tould me that he would give them all to me if I would writ in his book and if I would not he would thro me down and brake my neck: but I tould him they ware non of his to give and I would not writ if he throde me down on 100 pichforks.. That about the breaking Out of this last Indian Warr being at the house of Capt Scottow's at black point he Saw Mr George Burroughs lift and hold Out a gunn of Six foot barrell or thereabouts putting the forefinger of his right hand into the Muzle of s'd gunn and So held it Out at Armes End Only with that finger and further this deponent Testifieth that at the Same time he Saw the Said Burroughs take up a full barrell of Malasses w'th but two fingers of one of his hands in the bung & Carry it from the Stage head to the Door at the End of the Stage Without letting it downe & that Liut Richard Hunniwell & John Greinslitt & Some other persons that are Since dead Were then present. George Burrows in BillionGraves George Burrows was born circa 1843. On April 8, 1712, Burroughss children filed another petition stating that they had only received four pounds each which we think but a poor recompense, and asked that whatever additional amount that the court would award them be delivered to their brother George Burroughs. Although the jury had found no witches' marks on his body, he was nonetheless convicted of witchcraft and a conspiracy with the devil. George Burroughs was a minister who was accused of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Elizer Keiser, Capt. She was the youngest of six siblings, and had three sisters, Mary (1644-1695), Sarah (1646-1716), and Hannah (1652-1698), and two brothers, Andrew (1657 . *Joseph Neale Burroughs was apparently familiar with some works of Thomas Ady, critical of witchcraft prosecutions, whom he later quoted at his trial: "A Candle in the Dark", 1656; "A Perfect Discovery of Witches", 1661; and "The Doctrine of Devils", 1676. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/george-burroughs-3529133. Witnesses He then moved toWells, Maine, believing it would be safer fromIndianattacks. ), Wee whoes names are under written having r'ceived an order from the sreife for to search the bodyes of George Burroughs and George Jacobs . 038: Martha Corey Executed, September 22, 1692, SWP No. Ed. 1700.Mather, Cotton. name it. #[Robert Morrell] Short of stature, muscular, dark-complexioned, he was highly attractive to women, as is shown by his winning the hand of a rich widow as his second wife when he was a mere village minister. 33. 173: Reversal of Attainder and Restitution (1710 - 1750). 22. One of the most common complaints these witnesses testified to was rumors of Burroughss super human strength. Lewis, Jone Johnson. Below is the original account as first compiled and published in 1700 by Robert Calef in More Wonders of The Invisible World, and later reprinted or relied upon by others including Charles Wentworth Upham and George Lincoln Burr: Mr. Burroughs was carried in a cart with others, through the streets of Salem, to execution. I suppose a dozen of them. Sewall Clr, ( Witchcraft Papers, no. attest *Step. This stirred the crowd and it is suggested that some of the spectators may have tried to stop the execution. Witnesses. The legislature also gave compensation to the heirs of 23 of those convicted, in the amount of 600. [citation needed] At his trial, which took place in May, he was found guilty based on evidence that included his extraordinary feats of strength, such as lifting a musket by inserting his finger into the barrel (such feats of strength being presumed impossible without diabolical assistance[8]). By Before the Honoured John Hallum Rev. In 1711, the Massachusetts legislature passed a law to clear the names of the convicted witches and offered restitution to the survivors and their families if they came forward. Jurat in Curia, ( Essex County Court Archives, Salem -- Witchcraft Vol. I s'd deponant saw Mr Borroughs: put his hand on the gun: to show us: how he held it and where he held his hand:and saying there he held his hand when he held s'd gun out: but:I saw him not hold it out then: After graduation, he became the minister of Salem Village in 1680. Compiled by L.A.Burroughs, p.4. 32 ), The Deposition of Ann putnam: who testifieth and saith that on 20'th of April 1692 :at evening she saw the Apperishtion of a Minister at which she was greviously affrighted and cried out oh dreadfull: dreadfull here is a minister com:what are Ministers wicthes to: whence com you and What is your name for I will complaine of:you tho you be A minister: if you be a wizzard; and Immediatly I was tortored by him being Racked and all most choaked by him: and he tempted me to write in his book which I Refused with loud out cries and said I would not writ in his book tho he tore me al to peaces but tould him that it was a dreadfull thing: that he which was a Minister that should teach children to feare God should com to perswad poor creatures to give their souls to the divill: oh. ), Essex ss The Jurors for our Sovereigne Lord and Lady the King and Queen pr'sents That George Burroughs late of Falmouth w'thin the province of the Mattathusets Bay in New England Clerke -- The Ninth Day of May -- in the fourth Year of the Reigne of our Sovereigne Lord and Lady William and Mary by the Grace of God of Eng- land Scottland France and Ireland King and Queen Defenders of the faith &c Diver other Days and times as well before as after, certaine Detestable Arts called wicthcraft & Sorceries -- wickedly and feloniously hath used Practiced & Exercised at and within the Township of Salem in the County of Essex & aforesaid, in Upon & ag't one Elizabeth Hubbard of Salem in the County of Essex Singlewoman -- by which said wicked Arts the said Elizabeth Hubbard the Ninth Day of May -- in the fourth Year aboves'd and Divers other Days and Times as well before as after.was.and is Tortured afflicted Pined Consumed wasted and Tormented.also for Sundrey other Acts of witchcrafts by Said George Burroughs .Committed and done ag't the Peace of our Sovereigne Lord & Lady the King & Queen their Crowne and dignity and ag't the forme of the Statute in that case made & Provided: And for other such things he was accused, until about thirty testimonies were brought in against him; nor were these judgd the half of what might have been considered for his conviction. Lawson because she was so unwilling to goe from the village and also killed Mr Lawsons child because he went to the eastward with Sir Edmon and preached soe; to the souldiers and that he had bewicthed a grate many souldiers to death at the eastword, when Sir Edmon was their. John Proctor, George Burroughs, George Jacobs Sr., John Willard, and Samuel Wardwell were all hanged after being convicted of witchcraft, while Giles Corey was pressed to death with stones for refusing to "put himself on the . Aug'st 3: 1692, ( Witchcraft Papers, no. When the parsonage was finally completed, the Burroughs family moved in and took on a young servant, Mercy Lewis, a fellow survivor of the Wabanaki raid of 1676. This article was interesting to me since I am 7th generation from Martha Carrier. After Boston minister Cotton Mather reassured the crowd that his execution was the result of a court decision, Burroughs was hanged. He was accused by nine persons for extraordinary lifting, and such feats of strength as could not be done without a diabolical assistance. Burroughs was moved to Boston jail. George Burroughs and the Salem Witch Trials." Startled, Ruck stated that even the Devil himself didnt know what she said, to which Burroughs replied My God makes known your thoughts unto me.. John lane New details are being revealed in regards to the death of George Floyd. he said) in full communion at Roxbury. Death: August 19, 1692 (37-46) . Ann Putman, ( Witchcraft Papers, no. Salem August 2'd 1692. ), Mary Webber wid aged aboute 53 years Testifieth and sayth that she liveing at Casco Bay aboute six or seaven years agoe, when George Burroughs was Minester at s'd place, and liveing anner -- Neighbour to s'd Burroughs , was well acquainted with his wife w'ch was dauter to mr John Ruck of Salem she hath heard her tell much of her husband unkindness to her and that she dare not wright to her father to acquaint [him] how it was with her, and soe desired mee to wright to her father that he would be pleased to send for her and told mee she had beene much affrighted, and that something in the night made anoise in the chamber where she lay as if one Went aboute the Chamber, and she calling up the negro. white calf in his house. 30 ), The Complaint of Susannah Shelden against mr burroos which brought a book to mee and told mee if i would not set my hand too if hee would tear mee to peesses i told him i would not then hee told mee hee would starve me to death then the next morning he told mee hee could not starve mee. At the time of Burroughs arrival, Salem was in a constant state of conflict and many of its residents were feuding. The Wonders of the Invisible World: Being an Account of the Tryals of Several Witches Lately Executed in New-England. *Elisha Hutchinson Maj'r, By Virtue of this warrant I Apprehended s'd George Burroughs and have Brought him to Salem and Delievered him to the Authority there this fourth day of May 1692 then we come into the house of left Ingersoll and I went into the great Roome and abigle come in and said ther he stands I said wher wher and presently draed my rapyer but he emmedetly was gon as she said then said she ther is a gray catt then i said wher abouts doth she stand ther s'd she ther than I struck # [with] with my rapyer then she fell in afitt and when it was over she said you kild hur and immedetly Sary good come and carrid hur away this was about 12 a clock He died in August 1974 at 57 years old. The same day after lecttor in the said: Ingersolls chamber abigaill williams mary walcot said that goody hobs of topfell bitt mary walcot by the foot then both falling into a fit as soone as it was over the said william hobs and his wife goe both of them a long the table; the said hucheson tooke his rapier stabed goody hobs one the side as abigaill williams & mary walcot saide: the said abigaill & mar said the roome was full of them then the said hucheson & Ely putnam stabed with their raperres at a ventor then said mary & abigell you have killed a greet black woman of Stonintown. 119: Margaret Scott Executed, September 22, 1692, SWP No. 072: Elizabeth How Executed July 19, 1692, SWP No. 037: Giles Corey Pressed to Death, September 16, 1692, SWP No. Burroughs moved to Falmouth (now Portland, Maine), in which he lived until it was destroyed by the Wabanaki Confederacy in 1690. In 2019, Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia ranked as the 7th leading cause of death. The accuser said the black man stood and dictated to him. George Burroughs was the only minister executed as part of the Salem Witch Trials onAugust 19, 1692. As Baker suggests, although the issue was quickly settled, the arrest may have left a bad impression on the Salem villagers and may have set Burroughs up for further trouble in the community. Because the executions took place during a heat wave, the bodies had to be buried immediately in a shallow grave at the execution site to prevent them from rotting. At his entry into the Room, many (if not Despite this, he was executed on the same day like many others. Pennsylvania Death Certificates, 1906-1968 (indexed) (at Ancestry/requires payment); includes scanned copies of the death certificates Pennsylvania Death Records Indexes, 1906-1972 (index only; free) PDF files; you must search each year separately; for some years surnames are listed by Soundex code; from the Pennsylvania State . Burroughs borrowed the money for Hannahs funeral from John Putnam. El. In doing some genealogy on my biological family, I found out that Reverend Burroughs was my 9th great grandfather. The public paid his salary. Keyzer: declared: to the Jury of Inquest that the evidence: in this paper is the truth upon oath: Aug'st 3 1692 Mercy Lewis. 2, no. <- Return to List of People Involved in the Salem Witch Trials, Categories Colonial America, Salem Witch Trials. During the examination, Burroughs was asked if it was true that his house in Casco Bay was haunted. ), the Deposition of John putnam & Rebecah his wife testifieth and saith that in the yeare :80: Mr Burros lived in our house nine month, there being a great differanc betwixt Sd Barros & his wife, the differanc was so great that they did Desier us the deponants to com into their room to hear their difference, the contrivercy that was betwixt them was that the afor s'd Burros did rquier his wife to give him a written covenant under her hand and Seall that shee would never reveall his secrits, our anser was that they had once made a covenant before god and men which covenant we did conseive did bind each other to keep their lawfull secrits, and further saith that all the time that s'd Burros did live att our house he was a very sharp man to his wife, notwithstanding to our observation shee was a very good and dutifully wife to him Summary . 6, Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston, MA. August 5'th The persons above Named where all every of them sumoned to appeare as above To the Constable of Manchester August 4'th I have Sumoned the above named that thay and Each of them att time and place above written by me *John Ley, (Reverse) A Summons for Susan Sheldon. Stoughton didnt usually sit in on the examinations but did so in the case due to the fact that Burroughs was a minister, which added more gravity to the situation. It has taken 10 weeks for George Michael's cause of death to emerge George Michael died as a result of heart and liver disease, a coroner has confirmed. Three years later, on June 22, 2008, George once again experienced heart failure and passed away at . He looked back & knockt down all (or more) George Burroughs died at age 91 years old on May 18, 2005. Jurat in Curia, wee whose names are under writen being present with Ann putnam att the time above mentioned hard hir declare what is above writen what she said she saw and hard from the Apperishtion of Mr. George Burroughs : and allso beheld hir tortors:and perceived her hellish temtations by hir loud out cries I will not I will not writ tho you torment al days of my life:and being conversant with hir ever sence have seen hir tortored and complaining that Mr. Burroughs hirt hir.and tempts hir to writ in his Book Co-Founder of The Walt Disney Company. Ann Puttnam declared har above written evidence to Last edited on 24 February 2023, at 21:13, Learn how and when to remove this template message, introducing citations to additional sources, "Warrant for apprehension of George Burroughs, and Officer's Return", "Reverend George Burroughs: Ringleader of the Salem Witches? Thomas Ruck of his sudden coming in after them & that he could tell his thoughts. He was the only minister to have experienced this fate in American history. 36. mr Jno Ruck mrs Eliz: Ruck mr Thomas Ruck & Samuel Ruck Salem.Aug't 5'th 1692. Letter from Rev. his approbation of her letter to her Father: evidence: is the truth. Death 19 Aug 1692 (aged 41-42) Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA. [2] He was raised by his mother in the town of Roxbury, Massachusetts. Sheldon said Burroughss spirit came to her and confessed that he had killed three children in Eastward, or Maine, and also killed his first two wives, smothering the first and choking the second, and killed two of his own children. 2 no. Whats strange about the girls testimony is that several of the transcripts of their testimonies contain the same exact line: I beleve in my heart that Mr George Burroughs is a dreadfull wizzard and that he has often tormented me and also the above named parsons by his acts of witchcraft., I beleve in my heart that Mr George Burroughs is a dreadfull wizzard and that he has most greviously tormented me and the above mentioned parson by his acts of witchcraft., I verily beleve in my heart that Mr. George Burroughs is a dreadfull wizzard and that he has severall times tormented me and the affore said persons by his acts of witchcraft., I beleve in my heart that Mr. George Burroughs is a dreadful wizzard and That he had often afflected and tormented me and the afore mentioned parsons by his acts of witchcraft.. George Burroughs. 34 ), Benjemin huchension s'd that one the 21'st aprell 92 abegeral wiluams s'd that there.was a lettell black menester that Lived at Casko bay he told me so and s'd that he had kild 3 wifes two for himself and one for mr Losen and that he had made nine Weches in this plase and s'd that he Could hold out the hevest gun that Is in Casko bay w'th one hand w'c no man Can Case hold out w't both. His first wife was Hannah Fisher; they had nine children. James Duncan Phillips Library, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA. 2, no. The Lord in mercy fit us for death and direct the hearts and hands to act and doe what is most needful in such a time of distress as this. Yours in all humility to serve inWinter Harbor at night } the Lord,the 13 of August, 1676.} BRIAN PENDLETON.. He was bid to look upon sus: sheldon. Elis: Hubbard {& they all fell into fits Wee Comand you all Excuses set apart to be and personaly appear at the present Court of Oyer & Terminer held at Salem there to Testify the truth to the best of your knowledge on certain Indictm'ts Exhibited against mr George Burrough : hereof fail not dated in he being then in one of the Chambers in s'd House. 6th great-grandson John Ritter. George Burroughs, signed by Peter's brothers John and Nathaniel, were sent to the Governor and Council to improve the conditions of Wells, Maine. For a puritan minister, the fact that he couldnt remember the last time he took communion and that only some of his children were baptized did not reflect well on him. Jurat in Curia, ( Essex County Court Archives, Salem -- Witchcraft Vol. George Burroughs George Burroughs (1917 . Due to the significance of Burroughss trial, a large crowd gathered at the courthouse to witness the event. Executed, August 19, 1692, SWP No. 136: Sarah Wilds Executed July 19, 1692, SWP No. 1689: Benjamin Holton dies in Salem Village, and the doctor attending cannot identify a cause of death. Burroughs remained in Salem Village for two years but when the parishioners stopped paying his salary all together, he decided to leave, according to Emerson W. Baker in his book A Storm of Witchcraft: Burroughss tenure was shorter and more turbulent than Bayleys. 1691 p. 274. 163: Two Letters of Gov. He denyed that he made his wife swear, that May 10- Sarah Osborne dies in prison in Boston. George Burroughs was arrested in Wells, Maine on May 4 and the lawmen headed back to Salem Village with their prisoner. On December 17, 1711, the Burroughs family was awarded 50 in restitution. Burrows, Dr. George McLaughlin (May 7, 1928) - It is with heavy hearts we announce the death of Doc George who passed peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family, on Saturday, 23 May, 2015. He answered it was so long since he could not tell: yet to come to her the negro not Comeing sayd that she could not Come some thing stopt her, then her husband being called he came up. On August 19, 1692, George Burroughs plunged to his death and was buried in a shallow grave. Though there was a widely held belief that a true witch could not recite the Lord's Prayer, Burroughs did so, astounding the crowd. 170: Superior Court of Judicature: Witchcraft Trials (January - May 1693), SWP No. His trial was the largest due to him being a member of the clergy. He was accused of not baptizing most of his children. July 1954 . When he was upon the ladder, he made a speech for the clearing of his innocency, with such solemn and serious expressions, as were to the admiration of all present: his prayer (which he concluded by repeating the Lords prayer) was so well worded, and uttered with such composedness, and such (at least seeming) fervency of spirit, as was very affecting, and drew tears from many, so that it seemed to some that the spectators would hinder the execution. This being about.4.a clock in the after noon, ( Essex County Court Archives, Salem - Witchcraft Vol. Last Known Residence . Upon realizing this, the people of Salem stopped paying his wages to get him to resign. 171: Officials' Expense Accounts for 1692 (Submitted 1692 - 1694), SWP No. lock & rested it upon his breast take it in his hands or arms out of the Cannoo or boat and carry it and set it on the shore: and mr Borroughs being: there sayd that he had carryed one barrill of molasses.or sider: out of a cannoo that had like to have done him a displeasure: s'd mr Borroughs intimated: as if he did not want strength to do it but the disadvantage of the shore was such: that his foot slipping in the sand: he had like to have strained his legg 25 Duncan Phillips Library, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, M.A. Rev. (2021, July 31). Sworne the first of June 1692 w'ch seemed to mee to be something like Jelly that used to be in the water and quaver with a strainge Motion, and then quickly diappeared soone after which I did see a light up in the chimney aboute the bigness of my hand some thing above the bar w'ch quivered & shaked. In 1711, his family would be given 50 pounds and his name would be cleared of all charges. Mary Wolcott wards in his own person he acknowledged to ). Abigail Williams: The Mysterious Afflicted Girl. I am a descendant of George Burroughs from his daughter Rebecca Fowle. -- 166: Death Warrants Folder and Census of Prisoners (May - July 1692), SWP No. all of the Bewitched) were greivously tortured. Savage says his father probably died in Virginia, and he can feel no doubt that he was the son of that Mrs. And this did somewhat appease the people, and the executions went on; when he [Mr. Burroughs] was cut down, he was dragged by a Halter to a hole, or grave, between the rocks, about two feet deep; his shirt and breeches being pulled off, and an old pair of trousers of one executed put on his lower parts: he was so put in, together with Willard and Carrier, that one of his hands, and his chin, and a foot of one of them, was left uncovered. "Rev. & Burroughs, ( Essex County Court Archives, Salem - Witchcraft, vol. Jonath: Corwin. Updated: November 13, 2011 . There Being Complaint this day made (Before us) by Capt Jonathan Walcot and Serj't Thomas putnam of Salem Village, in behalfe of theire Majesties, for themselfes, and also for Severall of theire Neighbours Against George Burroughs Minester in Wells in the province of Maine Lydia Dasting in Reading Widow Susanah Martin of Amesbury Widow Dorcas Hoar of Beverly Widdow, and Sarah Murrell of Beverly And phillip English of Salem Merchant for high Suspition of Sundry acts of Witchcraft done or Committed by them Upon the Bodys of Mary Walcot . His secretive nature didnt help either and made it seem like he was hiding something. Oxford University Press, 2014.Goss, K. David. As had happened with his predecessor, the first minister to serve Salem Villages separately from Salem Town, the church would not ordain him and he left in a bitter salary fight, at one point being arrested for debt, though members of the congregation paid his bail. Cotton Mather witnessed the event as well. On April 30, 1692, Capt Jonathan Walcott and Thomas Putnam of Salem Village filed a complaint of witchcraft against George Burroughs, as well as five other people, on behalf of the afflicted girls Mary Walcott, Mercy Lewis, Abigail Williams, Ann Putnam, Jr, Susannah Sheldon, and Elizabeth Hubbard. ), Wm & Mary by the Grace of God of England Scotland France & Ireland King defend'r of the faith &ca, To James Greenslit Greeting. She had not seen him personally before as she John Dunton, 1692.Baker, Emerson W. A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience.