(Examination of Joannah Tyler , Copy )

[September 16, 1692]

The Exam' of Joanna Tyler taken Before Jno Higginson & Cap't Wade their Majesties Justices of the Peace for the County of Essex 16th Sep'r 1692 about 2 Months agoe (but was Stopt) he Saith Somthing Speak to her & S'd that She Should not Confes She Sd Goode falkner pe'swaded her first & the black Man w'th her & he asked me if I would Sett my hand to his book he would lett me have fine Cloaths & when he Baptized Me if he S'd I Should be his for Ever & Ever she s'd she promised to serve the Divel & if I wished So & so w'th Respect to afflicting p'rsons it Should be done She made a Red Mark & he brought the trad w'th & she afflicted Sarah Wilson & Sarah Phelps She Saith She knows the Divel went in her shape to M'r Bernards Where Sarah Wilson was Confesing to hind'r her -- & asked me if I was Willing he Should goe in my Shape She S'd Good'e falkner was before her Now on the table to hind'r her She was at a witch metting at Chandler' pasture
* John Higginson
* Tho: Wade

( Essex Institute MSS. Collection, no. 24, 10v, Peabody Essex Library, Phillips Library, Rowley, MA. )

(Indictment v. Hannah Tyler , for Afflicting Rose foster

[++ January 5, 1693]

Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England Essex ss.] Anno RR's & Reginae Gulielmi & Mariae Angliae &c Quarto Annoqs Dom 1692.

The Juro's for o'r Sov'r Lord & Lady the King & Queen Present That Hannah Tyler of Andivo'r in the County of Essex aforesaid Single Woman On or about the Seaventh Day of September last in the yeare of our lord 1692 aforesaid, And divers other days & Times as Well before as after Certaine detestable Arts Called Witchcrafts & Sorceries, Wickedly mallitiously & felloniously hath Used practised & Exersised at and In the Towne of Andivo'r aforesaid, upon & Against One Rose foster of Andivor aforesaid by which Said Wicked Arts The Said Rose foster The day & yeare aforesaid & divers other days & times as Well before as after, was & is aflicted Tortured Consumed pined Wasted & Tormented Against the peace of o'r Sov'r lord & Lady the King & Queen Their Crowne & dignity And the laws in that Case Made & Provided.

(Reverse) Hannah Tyler Indictment for bewitch-
ing Rose foster -- --

Billa vera:
Robert: Payne foreman:

Ponet Se
Not Guilty

( Mass. Archives Collection, Vol. 135, No. 53. Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, MA. )

(Court Record of the Trial of Johannah Tyler )

[January 6, 1693]

Hannah Tyler of Andover in the County of Essex Singlewom being Indicted by the Jurors for our Soveraigne Lord and Lady the King and Queen upon their Oaths by Two Severall Indictments, That is to say 1'st That shee the said Hannah Tyler of Andover in the County of Essex Singlewoman some time in the moneth of Aprill last in the year of our Lord One Thousand Six hundred ninety two aforesaid in the Towne of Andover afores'd wickedly mallitiousely and feloneously A Covenant with the Devill did make whereby she Gave both her soule and body to the Devill and signed his booke and by him was Baptized and owned the Devill to be her God and promissed to hon'r and serve him forever And unto the Devill did renounce her Christian Baptisme and God and Christ By which Diab #[ab] ollicall & wicked Covenanting with the Devill as aforesaid the said Hannah Tyler is become a detestable Witch Contrary to the peace of our Soveraigne Lord and Lady the King and Queen their Crowne and Dignity and the Law in that Case made and provided.

2'ly For that She (the said Hannah Tyler ) on or about the seventh day of September last in the year of our Lord One thousand Six hundred ninety Two aforesaid and divers other dayes and times as well before as after certaine detestable arts called Witchcraft and Sorceries wickedly mallitiousely and feloneously hath used practised & Exercised in the Towne of Andover afores'd upon and against one Rose foster of Andover afores'd By which said wicked arts the said Rose foster the day and year aforesaid and divers other dayes and times as well before as after, was and is afflicted Tortured Consumed pined wasted and tormented against the peace of our Soveraigne Lord and Lady the King & [Queen] Their Crowne and dignity and the Lawes in that case made and Provided. --

3'r Jury of Tryalls

nathaniell Howard forem'n
John Hale
James freind
Samuell Morgan
James Sanders
Richard Gross
John Witt
Nathan'll Emerson
John Emery
Benaiah Tidcomb
John Platts
John Lamson

upon the aboves'd Indictments and each of them the said Hannah Tyler was then & there before our Justices of our Lord and Lady the King & Queen afores'd Arraigned & upon her Arraignem't the said Hannah did then and there the said day & year afores'd plead to them & each of them not Guilty & put her selfe upon Tryall by God & her Country.

A Jury being called Nathaniel Howard foreman & accordingly Sworne no Exception made by the prisoner the said Indictments being read together with Evidence & Examination and the Prisoners defence being heard the Jury went out to agree on their verdict who Returning did then and there in open Court deliver their Verdict That the said Hannah Tyler was not Guilty of the felony by Witchcraft for w'ch She stood Indicted in & by the said Indictm'ts & each of them

The Court Ordered Hannah Tyler aforesaid to be discharged Paying her fees//

(Records of the Superior Court of Judicature (1692/3), p. 6, Massachusetts Supreme Juducual Court, Judicial Archives, Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, MA.)