(Statement of Mary Warren and Mary Ireson v. Mary Toothaker )

[++ June 4, 1692]

one may the 24 mary waren being in a feet and grevosly aflected then was in a tranc for sum tim we hard her say who ar ye what is your name and again. she said what totheker Doktr toothekers wiffe wee often herd her say I wont i wonte i will not touch y'r book and then the fet was over then she told us that Dockter toothekers wiff brought the book to her and a basen and a winding shet and grav cloths and said that she must set her hand to the book or elce she would kil her and stil she urged to touch the book or elc be wrapt in that sheet this have ben Done this Day by tooth ekers wiff

mary iyerson , wiff to bengemin iyerson at lin have[?] in the sam maner hav tormented almost to Deth and brought the book to her

(Reverse)

Mary Warren ag't Ierson Toothaker &c

( Essex County Court Archives, Salem -- Witchcraft Vol. 2, no. 117 )

(Examination of Mary Toothaker)

[July 30, 1692]

30 July 1692 The Examination and confession of widow Toothaker Taken before Majo'r Gidney m'r Hauthorn m'r Corwin & Cap'n Higginson.

After many questiones and negative answe's returned and her stricking down of severall of the afflicted persones with her looks, she was desired to tell the truth in this matter She then said that this may last she was under great discontentedness & troubled w'h feare about the Indians, & used often to dream of figheting with them. Being asked what was the devils temptation under her discontentm't She said she would confess if she could But that there was something at her breast that hindered her. she said she had often prayed but thought she was the worse for prayeing and knows not but that the devil hes tempted her not to pray, for #(my) her breath has been often stopt as it was just now; Being asked if the devil did not Desier her to renounce her baptisme, she answered that she had thoughts she was rather the worse for her baptisme and has wished she had not been baptised because she had not improved it as she ought to have done She saith she used to get into a corner alone and desired to pray but her mouth would be stopt but sometymes she had been helped to say Lord be mercifull to me a sinner. Being again asked how far she had yeilded to Satan she said the devil promised her she should not be discovered and if she wer discovered & brought down that she should goe home Innocent & cleare but now find he hes deluded her Being again asked how long it is since Satan first wrought with her in this manner she said she could not well tell how long but thinks it is not two year(s)
And confesses that she went in her spirit to Timothy Swans, and did often think of him & her hands would be clinched together, And that she would grip the dishclout or any #(thgelee) thing else. and so think of the persone; And by this & afflicting of othe's since she came down she is convinced she is a witch -- she saith now, the devil appeared to her in the shape of a Tawny man and promeised to keep her from the Indians & she should have happy dayes with her sone -- she was asked if she did not signe the devills book; answered he brought something which she took to be a peece of burch bark, and she made a mark with her finger by rubbing off the whit Scurff. And he promised if she would serve him she should be safe from the Indians (she was then a litle stopt again & believed it was the devil that did it) Being asked if the Devil did not say she was to serve him Answered yes, and signed the mark upon that condition and was to praise him w'h her whole heart, And it was to that appearance she prayed at all tymes for he said he was able to delyver her from the Indians And it was the feare of the Indians that put her upon it
She confesses she hurt Timothy Swan and thinks she was twice at salem Village witch meeting and thatbridges was one of her company -- she said as she came along in order to examinan she promised herself twenty tymes by the way (but fea's it was to the devil) That if she should dye upon the Gallowse yet she would not say any thing but that she was Innocent And rejoyced In the thought of it that she should goe home Innocent, -- she saith that Goody Green and Goody Broomage were also her companions and that Broomage afflicted Swan by squeezeing his armes, And is afrayd that she the s'd toothaker squeezed his throat -- she said further that when Goody Bridges (who had confessed before) urged her also to confess she had then no remembrance of this but with the justices discourse and the help of god it came into her mynd. She saith she thought that that appearance was God her creator & being asked if she did not know otherwise answered The devil is so subtil that when she would confess he stops her and deluds also by scripture and being asked what scripture he made use of to her she mentioned that in the psalms where it is said Let my enemies be confounded, And so shee hes wished them all Destroyed that raised such reports of her--She confesses that her sister was with her at all the meetings & particularly at Salem Village & there went with her Goody Bridges Goody foster Goody Green & Goody broomage Severall afflicted persones said they saw the black man before her in the tyme of her examination And she now herself confesses she saw him upon the table before her She sayes further there was a minister a litle man whose name is Burroughs that preached at the village meeting of witches, and she heard that they used bread & wine at these meetings And that they did talk of 305 witches in the countrey she sayth their discourse was about the pulling down the Kingdome of christ and setting up the Kingdom of Satan, And also Knew Goody How among the rest Being asked if their was not a woman that stirred them up to afflict swan Answered yes there was a pretty elderly woman that was most busie about him and encouraged the rest to afflict him. She thinks she set hir hand to that book at Salem Village meeting And thinks the end of all their setting their hands to that book was to come in, and afflict & set up the Devils Kingdome She being asked if her husband did not speak to his daughter to Kill one Bulton a reputed witch, Answered yes, and that they used to read many historyes, especially one book that treated of the 12 signes, from which book they could tell a great deal. -- she saith she never knew her daughter to be in this condition before this summer, But that she was at Sallem village meeting once with her, she cannot tell that her daughter did then signe the book but a great many did. Being asked how many were of her Society she said Goody Broomage , foster , green , the two mary Laceyes older and younger, Richard Carryer, her sister Carryer and another aged woman.

She sayth she heard the Beating of a drum at the village meeting And thinks also she heard the sound of a trumpet

I underwritten being appointed to take the above & within examinat[ion] in wryting Doe testify upon oath taken in court That this is a true coppy of the substance of it, to the best of my knowledge;

6't Jan'ry in 1692/3
*W'm Murray

The within named Mary Toothaker was examined
by their Majesties Justices of the peace in Salem
*Atest Jno Higginson Just'ce peace.
owned before the Grand Jurey: 6 January 1692 atest.
*Robert Payne
foreman.

Mary Toothaker: Examined
30 July 1692: --

acused Goody Bridges 2 lacys
Goody Gren
Goody Brumage
[Goody Carier]
R'd Carier
Goody foster
M'r Burroughs.
Goody How.
Math. Emerson

afflicted Timo Swan

( Suffolk Court Files, col. 32, docket, 2713 p. 50, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Judicial Archives, Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, MA. )

(Indictment v. Mary Toothaker, for Covenanting )

[January 31, 1693]

Province of the Massacusetts Bay in New England ss ]

At A Superio'r Court of Judicature held in Charlston for the County of Midlesex the 31: Jan'ry 1692/3 Annoq'e RR & Reginae Gulielmiae & Mariae Angliae &c Quarto

The Juro's for our Sover lord & lady the King & Queen present that Mary Toothaker of Billrica in the County of Midllsex Widow On or about at & In the Towne of Belerica in the County of Midlesex aforsaid Wickedly felloniously And mallitiously A Covenant with the Devill did make & for Confirmacon of the Said Covenant made A marke upon A peece of Birch Ryne which the Devill brought to hir, & promised to Serve the Devill, & to praise him with hir whole heart by which Diabolicall Covenant with the Devill made in maner & forme aforsaid the Said Mary Toothaker is become A detestable Witch Against the peace of o'r Sov'r lord & lady the King & Queen their Crowne & dignity & the laws in that Case made & provided

Billa Vera
Atest *Simon Stone foreman

(Reverse) Mary #(Tayler) Toothaker for Covenanting w'th the Devill.
Pon't se:
Non Cull

( Suffolk Court Files, vol. 32, docket 2713, p. 50, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Judicial Archives, Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, MA. )

(Examination of Mary Toothaker, Copy)

[July 30, 1692]

30th July 1692 The Examination & confession of widow Toothaker Taken before Maj'r Gidney M'r Hauthorn M'r Corwin & Jno Higginson. --

After Many Questions propounded & Negative Answers #(propounded) Return'd & her Stricking Dwone of Several of the afflicted p'rsons w'th Her looks, She was Desired to tell the truth in this Matter, She then S'd that this May last She was under great Discontentednes & troubled w'th fear @ the #(Devill) Ind's & used often to Dream of fighting w'th them being asked what was the Divels Temptation under her Discontentment She Said She would confes if She Could But that their was Somthing at her breast that hindred her, She S'd She had often prayed but thought she was the worse for praying & knows not but that the Divel has tempted her Not to pray for her breath was almost Stopt as it was Just Now, Being asked if the Divel did not tempt her to renounce her baptizm She answered that that She had #(that) thought She was n#(e)ather the worse for her baptizing & has wished She had not ben bapt'ed because She had not Improved it as She ought to have done She sai#(d)th She used to gett into a Corner alone & Desired to pray but her mouth was Stopt but Somtimes She has ben helped to Say Lord be Mercyfull to me a Siner being asked again how far She had yelded to Sattan she S'd the Divel Promised her She Should not be Discovered, And if she were Discovered & brought Dwone yett She Should goe home Innocent & Clear but now finds he has Deluded her, Bing again asked how long it is Since Satan first wrought wth her in this Manner She S'd She could not tell how long but thinks it is not two Years & Confessed that She went In her Spirit to Timo Swans & did often think of him & her hands Would be Clinched together And that She would grip the Dishclout or any thing Else & Soe think of pe'sons And by this & afflicting of others Since She Came Dwone She is Convinced She is a witch ---- She Saith now the Divel apeared to her in the Shap of a Tawny Man & promised to Keep her from the Indians & Should have happy Dayes w'th her Son -- She was asked if She did not Signe the -- Divels booke Answ'r he brought me Something #(like) which She to Be a peice of burch bark & She made a mark w'th her finger by Rubing of the white Scruf & he promised if She would Serve him She Should be Safe from the Ind's (She was then a litle Stopt again & believed it was the Divel that did it) being asked if the Divel did not Say She was to Serve him A Yes and Signed the Mark upon that Condition & was to praise him w'th her whole hart & it was to that aperance She prayed at all tymes for he Said he was able to Deliver her from the Indians. & it was the fear of the Ind's that put her upon it She Confesses She hurt Timo Swan and thinks She was twice at Salem Village Witch Metting & that Good'e Bridges was one of her Company She S'd as She Came along in order to her Examination She promised her Self twenty times By the way (but feales it was to the Divel) that if She Should Dye upon the Gallows. Yett She would not Say any thing but that She was Innocent & rejoyced In (the thoughts of) it that She #(they) Should goe home Inocent -- She Saith that Good'e Green & Good'e Broomage were also her Companyons & that broomage afflicted Swan by Squesing his armes And is afraid that She the S'd Toothaker Squeezed his -- Throate--She S'd further that when Good'e bridges (who Had Confesed befor) Urged her also to Confes She had no Remembrance of this but w'th the Justices-- Discourse & the help of god it Came unto her mynd
She Saith She thought that that apperance was god her Creator & being asked if She did not now otherwise A the Divel is Soe Subtil that when She would Confes he Stops her & Deluds also by Scripture & being asked w't Scripture he made Use of to her She mentioned that In the #(Samle) Psalmes where it is Said Lett my Enimies Be Confounded And So She has wished them all destroyed that raised such reports of her She Confesses that her Sister was w'th her at all the Mett'gs & particularly at Salem Village & their went w'th her Good'e Bridges foster Goody Green & Good'e Broomage --Severall of the afflicted pe'sons Said thay Saw the black man before her In the time of her Examination & She Now her Self Confeses She Saw him Upon the table befor her She Says further ther was a Minister a little man Whose Name Is Burroughs that preached at the Village Metting of witches, & She Heard that they Used bread & wine thes Metting & that they did talk of 305 Witches in the Country She Saith their Discourse was about pulling Dwone the Kingdome of Christ & Setting Up the Kingdome of Satan And also knew Goody How among the Rest Being asked if their was not a woeman that Stared them Up to afflict Swan--A Yes their was a pretty Elderly woeman that was most busie about him & Encouraged the rest to afflict him
She thinks #[Sje ing] She Sett her hand to that book at Salem Village Metting & -- thinks the End of all ther Setting their hands to that Book was to Come In & afflict & Sett Up the Divel Kingdome She being asked if her husband did not Speak to his Daughter to Kill on Button a reputted witch A Yes & that thay Used to read many #(Histo) Histories Especially one book that treated of the 12 Signes from w'ch book they could #(Could) told tell, a greate Deal, She Saith She Never New her Daughter to be in that Condision before this Summer Butt that She was at Salem Village Metting once w'th her, can not tell that her Daughter then Did Signe the book but a great many did being asked how many ware of her Society She S'd Good'e Broomage foster & Green the two Mary Laceys Rich'd Carrier her Siste Carr'r & another aged Woeman She Saith She heard the bettinge of a Drum at the Village Metting & Thinks also She heard ye Sound of a Trumpet --

(Essex Institute Collection no. 24, 4-5r. Pebpdy Essex Museum, Phillips Library, Rowley, MA.)