SWP No. 017: Mary Bridges, Sr.
(Warrant for apprehension of Mary Bridges, Sr. and Officer's Return )
[July 28, 1692]
To The Sherriff of the County of Essex or dep'y or Constable in Andover
You are in theire Majest's names hereby required to apprehend & forthwith, or as soone as May be, bring before us, Mary Bridges the wife of John Bridges of Andover who stands Charged in behalfe of theire Majest's w'th haveing Committed Sundry acts of Witchcraft Lately on the Body of Timothy Swan of Andover and others to theire great hurt, And that in order to her Examination Relating to the abovesaid Premises and hereof You are not to faile Dated Salem July the 28'th 1692
*Bartho Gedney
*John: Hathorne
*Jonathan. Corwin
*John Higginson Esq
Just'es Peace
in obedience to this writ I have Seased the Body of Marie Bridges wife of John Bridges and have brought her to #[the worshifull] answer John hathron] at Sailom what shall be aledged against her this 28 of July 1692
By mee *John Ballard constable of andover
( MS Ch K 1.40, vol. 2, p. 349, Rare Books & Manuscripts, Boston Public Library, Boston, MA. )
( Rev. Increase Mather's Report of his Conversation in Prison with Mary Bridges, Sr. )
[October 19, 1692 ]
Goodwife Bridges said that she had confessed against herself things which were all utterly false; and that she was brought to her confession by being told that she certainly was a witch, and so made to believe it, -- though she had no other grounds so to believe.
( Charles W. Upham, Salem Witchcraft. Boston, 1867, II, 406 .)