(Examinations of Ann Foster )

[July 15, 1692 ]

The Examination and Confession of Ann Foster at Salem Vilage 15 July 1692 after a while Ann foster confessed that the divill apered to her in the shape of abird at several Times, such abird as she never saw the like before, & that she had had this gift (viz of striking the aflicted downe w'th her eye ever) since, & being ask't why she thought that bird was the divill she answred because he came white and vanished away black & that the divill told her that she should have this gift & that she must beleive him & told her she should have prosperity & #[that] she said that he had apeared to her three times & was always as a bird & the last time was about halfe a year since, & sat upon atable had two legs & great eyes & that it was the second time of his apearance that he promised her prosperity & that it was Cariers wife about three weeks agoe that came & perswaded her to hurt these people.

[July 16, 1692]

16. July. 1692. Ann Foster Examined conffesed that it was Goody Carier that made her a witch that she came to her in person about Six yeares agoe & told her if she would not be awitch the divill should tare her in peices and Cary her away at w'ch. time she promised to Serve the divill, that she had bewitched a hog of John Lovjoyes to Death & that she had hurt Some persons in Salem Vilage that goody Carier came to her & would have her bewitch two children of Andrew Allins & that she had then two popets made and stuck pins in them to bewitch the said Children by which one of them dyed the other very sick, that she was at the meeting of the witches at Salem Villiage, that Goody Carier came & told her of the meeting & would have her goe, so they gat upon Sticks & went said Jorny & being ther did see mr Burroughs the minister who spake to them all, & this was about two months agoe that ther was then twenty five persons meet together, that she tyed a knot in a Rage & thre it into the fire to hurt #[a woeman at Salem Village & that she was hurt by her & that her name is Goody Vibber] Timo. Swan & that she did hurt the rest that complayned of her by squesing popets like them & so almost choaked them. --

[July 18, 1692]

18 July 1692. Ann Foster Examined confesed that the devill in shape of a #[black] man apeared
to her w'th Goody carier about six yeare since when they made her awitch & that she promised to serve the divill two yeares: upon w'ch the Divill promised her prosperity & many things but never performed it, that she & martha Carier did both ride on a stick or pole when they went to the witch meeting at Salem Village & that the stick broak: as they ware caried in the aire above the tops of the trees & they fell but she did hang fast about the neck of Goody Carier & ware presently at the vilage, that she was then much hurt of her Leg, she further saith that she hard some of the witches say that their was three hundred & five in the whole Country, & that they would ruin that place the Vilige, also saith ther was present at that metting two men besides mr Buroughs the minister & one of them had gray haire, she saith that she formerly frequented the publique metting to worship god. but the divill had such power over her that she could not profit there & that was her undoeing: she saith that above three or foure yeares agoe Martha Carier told her she would bewitch James Hobbs child to death & the child dyed in twenty four howers

[July 21, 1692]

21. July: 92. Ann. Foster Examined Owned her former conffesion being Read to her and further conffesed that the discourse amongst the witches at the meeting at Salem village was that they would afflict there to set up the Divills Kingdome This conffesion is true as wittnese my hand:
The ) marke of
Ann: Foster

Ann Foster Signed & Owned the above Examination & conffesion before me
10th September 1692 *John Higginson Just'e peaceSalem

(Reverse) Ann Fosters Examination And Conffession

( Essex County Court Archives, Salem -- Witchcraft Vol. 2, no. 48, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Judicial Archives, Massachusetts State Archives. Boston, MA. )

(Testimonies of Mary Walcott, Mary Warren & Elizabeth Hubbard v. Ann Foster )

[September 13, 1692]

Mary Walcot affirmed to the Jury of Inquest: that Ann Foster: of Andover: has afflicted her: both: before her examination: and at her examination & since: that time by biting pinching & choaking of her s'd Walcot also sayth she has:seen her s'd Foster afflict: Eliz Hubbert: at the time of her examination: by choaking & pinching of her: & #[that] she beleeved Foster is a witch: & that: she hath afflicted me & Eliz Hubbard by witchcraft #[Sept'r 13: 16] upon her oath Sept'r 13: 1692

Mary Warin affirmed to the Jury of Inquest: that she saw Ann Foster or her Apperition: afflict: Mary Wallcot &Eliz Hubbert: & she also: afflicted me s'd Warin: before the Jury of Inquest: & I veryly believe s'd Foster is a witch & th't she afflicted me and: the persobns mentioned: by witchcraft upon her oath Sept.

Eliz Hubburt. Affirmed to the Jury of Inquest: th't Ann Foster: both before: and at her examination & after hath afflicted her: she also affirmed: that she saw s'd Ann Foster or her apperition afflict Mary Walcot & Ann putnum: & she ses she verily beleeves: An Foster is a witch & that she s'd Foster: did afflict her & the above named persons by witchcraft upon her oath: Sept't 13 1692

Afflicted me & the persons mentioned: by Witchcraft upon her out Sept'r

( MS Am 1147.1, Rare Books & Manuscripts, Boston Public Library, Boston, MA. )

(Indictment of Ann Foster, for Afflicting Elizabeth Hubbard)

[+ September 13, 1692]

Essex in the Province of the Massachuetts Bay in New England ] Anno R Rs & Reginae Gulielmi & Mariae Angliae &ca Quarto.Anno'qe Domini 1692
ss
The Juriors for our Sov'r Lord & Lady the King & Queen doe present that. Ann foster of Andivor In the County of Essex Widdow In & Upon the fifteenth Day of July In the year afores'd. and divers other days and times as well before as after Certaine Detestable arts called Witchcrafts and Sorceries wickedly and Mallitiously and felloniously hath used practised & Exercised at and in the Towne of Salem in the County of Essex ------- aforesaid in upon & against one Eliza Hobert of Salem in the County of Essex -------- aforesaid Single Woman by which Said wicked arts ----

the Said Elizabeth Hobert the day & Yeare aforesaid and divers other days and times both before and after was and is Tortured aflicted Consumed Pined wasted and Tormented and also for sundry other acts of withcraft by the said Ann foster ------ Comitted and done before and Since that time against the peace of o'r Sov'r. Lord and Lady the King and Queen theire Crowne and Dignity and the forme of the Stattute in that Case made and Provided.---

(Reverse) Indictm't Agst An foster for bewitching Eliza: Hobert
Billa Vera

( Essex County Court Archives, Salem -- Witchcraft Vol. 2, no. 47, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Judicial Archives, Massachusetts State Archives. Boston, MA. )

(Indictment of Ann Foster, for Afflicting Mary Walcott)

[+ September 13, 1692]

Essex in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New EnglandAnno R Rs & Reginae Gulielmi & Mariae Angliae &tc. Quarto Annoq Domini 1692 The Juriors for our Soueraigne Lord and Lady the King and Queen doe present that Ann Ffoster of - - - Andiver - - - -in the county of Essex Widow, in & upon the fifteenth day of July- - - - - - in the year aforesaid and divers other days and times as well before as after Certaine Detestable arts called Witchcraft and Sorceries Wickedly and. Malliciously and ffeloniously hath used practised and Exercised at and in the towne of Salem in the County of Essex - - - -aforsaid in upon & against one Mary Walcott of Salem - - - - - - - - aforesaid Single Woman - - - - - - by which said wicked acts the said Mary Wolcott the day & yeare aforesaid and divers other dayes and times both before and after was and is Tortured aflicted Consumed Pined Wasted and Tormented and also for sundry other acts of Witchcraft by the said Ann Ffoster - - Comitted and done before and since that time against the peace of our Soueraign Lord and Lady the King and Queen and theire Crowne and Dignity and the forme of the Stattute in that case made and provided -----

(Reverse)Indictment agst Ann Ffoster
for Bewitching Mary Wolcott
Cogn: Billa Vera

(MS Am 52, Rare Books & Manuscripts, Boston Public Library, Boston, MA. )