(Examination of Sarah Bridges, Copy )

[August 25, 1692 ]

August 25'th 1692.
Sarah Bridges of Andivor Examined before the Justices of Salem -- She was told She was Charged for Hurting Martha Sprage by witchcraft but denyed it & hoped God would Clear her Inocencey the afflicted persons were Struck Dwone into a fitt & helped up by the touch of her hand Rich'd Carrier S'd it was She that was Upon the afflicted in there fitt She disowned witchcraft Saying She had never Sett her hand to the Divels book nor been baptized by him though She was told that her Sister Hannah Post had Confesed that She was one of the Company that had been baptized w'th her at 5 Mile pond yett denyed that She had any thing to doe w'th the Divel or that She had Seen or heard anything that was [tending] She was throwne of her horse once Indeed Coming from Ipswich & frighted by it but She thought it was by her aunt How, know nothing of Witchcraft She was Sensible the afflicted were Strangly Struck Dwone but She knew not the Mening of it -- Yett after [She owned] She owned She had been in the Divels [Snare] Ever Since the last winters & that the Divel Came to her like a man would have her Signe to his book & told His name Was Jesus & that She must Serve & worship him She did Sign the book & the Mark was Red he told me I must goe and afflict Some body & the Divel prickt her finger & She made a Red Mark in the book the Divel told her She must Renounce god & Christ & promis to Serve him & I did S'd She & She S'd the Divel Came Sometimes like a bird Som times like abare Somtimes like aman but most frequently like aman he told me Since I Came here he would kill me if I Conffesed She S'd her Compa. was Mary Post her Sister hanah & Mary Bridges that She used to afflict persons by Squezing her hands & Sticking pins in her Cloths She owned She had been baptized by the Divel w'th her Sister Susana post Mary Bridges & that She was to Serve the Divel 4 year

Brought from over leafe
& he was to have body & Soul She owned She had been to the witch Meeting at Chandlers Garrison at Andivor & that She thought there ware @ 200 Witches their & that they Eat bred & Drank wine & that Some of the prisoners were there She S'd She had heard of but one Inocent man Imprisoned yet for witchcraft & that was abbott of Ipswich being asked w't She thought of the afflicted whether they Ware witches She S'd no they were Honest persons that helped to bring out the witches She owned She had Some times Rid upon a pole & being bid to goe and ask foregiveness of the afflicted She did & owned She had afflicted them but would Doe it no more but would Renounce the Divel & his Works & the afflicted persons forgave her & She could talk w'th them & not hurt them --

These two persons Hanah Post & Sarah Bridges have Conffesed the Circumstances of what the afflicted S'd of them & not Saying falswhood to them or any one of their Charging of them as that they have afflicted the time when the way how they afflicted them the place where all agreeing w'th the afflicted have Charged them as thus the afflicted would Say did not you afflict me Such atime in Such a place in Such amaner they did answer Yes I did I am Sorry for it pray forgive me & forgivenes they asked w'th plenty of tears whereas they Could not Shed on tear before as was well observed Hannah Post owned her being Struck at her unkle Tilers by the Constab'e as the afflicted had Said and as to the number of witches the afflicted S'd their Saw @ 200 at Chandlers Metting Soe S'd those two they thought their was @ 200, Soe also Susana Post in her Confession Sayth She Saw @ 200, at a witch Metting at the Village Mary Bridges Said in her Conffesion Sayd She Saw @ 100 at a witch Metting that She was at --

( Essex Institute Collection, no. 24, 6r-v, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Judicial Archives, Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, MA. )

(Indictment of Sarah Bridges for Covenanting)

[+ January 12, 1693 ]

Province of the Mattathusets Bay in New Engl. Essex ss.Anno R. R's & Reginae Gulielmi & Mariae Nunc Ang liae &c quarto Annoq'e Domini. 1692

The Jurors for Our Soveraign Lord & Lady the King & Queen doe pr'sent That Sarah Bridges of Andover Singlewoman Sometime in the yeare of Our Lord #[1692] One Thousand Six hundred Ninety One at Andover afores'd in the County aforesaid Wickedly feloniously and Malitiously a Covenant with the Evil Spirit the Devill did Make & Signed to his Booke by Making a Red Marke Renouncing God and Christ & Gave her Soul & Body to the Devil and was Baptized by him by which Diabolicall Covenant the Said Sarah Bridges is become a detestable Witch Contrary to the peace of Our Soveraign Lord & Lady the King & Queen & the Laws in that Case Made & provided

Witness her Owne Confession acknowledged before Authority

(Reverse) Sarah Bridges Indictm't Cont -- w'th the Devill Vide confession.

Billa Vera Robert Payne
foreman.
Ponet Se.
Not Guilty
19

( Massachusetts Archives Collection, vol. 135, no. 40. Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, MA.)

(Indictment of Sarah Bridges, for Afflicting Martha Sprague Returned Not Guilty

[+ January 12, 1693 ]

Province of the Mattachusetts bay in New England Essex ss.Anno R R's & Reginae Gulielmi & Mariae Nunc Angliae &c. quarto Annoq'e Domini One Thousand Six hundred Ninety Two

The Jurors for Our Soveraign Lord & Lady the King & Queen pr'sent That Sarah Bridges of Andover in the County of Essex Single woman On the 25'th day of August in the yeare afores'd in the County afores'd and divers other Days and Times as well before as after Certain detestable arts Caled Witchcrafts Wickedly Malitiously & feloniously hath used practiced & Exercised at & in the Towne of Salem in the County afores'd upon & Against One Martha Sprague alias Tyler of Boxford in the County afores'd which Said Wicked Acts the Said Martha Sprague alias Tyler the day afores'd & yeare afores'd & Divers other Dayes & Times as well before as after was & is Tortured aflicted pined Consumed & Tormented against the peace of Our Soveraign Lord & Lady the King & Queen thier Crowne & dignity & the Lawes in that Case Made & provided --

Witness her owne Confession
Rose Foster

(Reverse) Sarah Bridges
Aflec't Martha Sprague
Bella Vera Robert Payne
foreman

Not Guilty

( Massachusetts Archives Collection, vol. 135, no. 36. Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, MA. )