(Examination of Stephen Johnson, Copy)

[September 1, 1692 ]

1st Sept: 92 Before Maj'r: Gidney Mr: Hathorne Mr: Corwin & Jno Higginson Esq'r:

The Examination & Confession of Steph'n: Johnson aged 14 Yeares --

In the time of his Examinat'n he afflicted Martha: Sprauge Mary lacy & Rose ffostt'r: by looking on them & Recovered them again by laying his hand Upon there Rist or arme & at last Conffesed thus -- that @ hilling time this Sum'er being alone he Saw a Speckled bird not soe big as a pigeon which Spake to him & the Next day he Saw a black Catt & after that Came a black man who told him he must Set[?] his hand to a book & Soe p'rsented him a Single paper to which he Sett his hand being asked after w't maner he did it he Said he prickt his fing'r: & blood Came out & he Stampt his fing'r: Upon the paper & made a red Mark He S'd that he was also to Serve the Black man one Year & his Servis was to afflict prsons & further that the Divel asked him to give up him Self Soul & body to him & Soe he did & thinks also that the Divel was to Have him at the Years End being asked w't he was to have of the Divel for his Service s'd a pair of french fall Shouses w'ch he never yett had He Saith also that he was baptized at Shaw Shim River alittle after he Saw the Divel the first time. The Manner was thus having ben at work at Benja: abbotts he went alone in the Evening to Swim In the Watt'r: & there mett w'th: the black Man who told him he must be his Servant & must be also baptized & Soe the black man took him Up & flung in his Whole body over the bank into the Watt'r: being Ready Stript before to goe in him Self, & [then] then this black man told him he must be his & must Renounce his first baptizime & Soe he did he Saith their was also a couple of Mades & 2 Men he Conffess that Yersterday he afflicted Martha Sprauge & that he did it by Squeezing his hands together he Conffesses also that he and the Rest of his Comp'y: did Daunce at Moses Tylers House & Made Martha Sprauge Sing he Says he is Sorry for w't he has done Renounces the Divel & all his Works & then Could Take the afflicted by the Hand w'th out hurting of them -- The Marke O of
Stephen Johnson

Stephen Johnson Signed & owned the
above S'd Examination & Conffesion
1st Sept: 92 Before Me *Jno Higginson Just'e peace

( Essex Institute Collection, no. 24, 10r, Peabody Essex Museum, James Duncan Phillips Library, Rowley, MA. )

(Indictment of Stephen Johnson, for Afflicting Martha Sprague, Mary Lacey, & Rose Foster)

[++ January 13, 1693]

Province of the Massachusets Bay In New England Essex ss Anno RRs & Reginae Gulielmi & Mariae Angliae &c Quarto -- Ano'qe Dom 1692

The Jurors for o'r Sov'r lord & lady the King & Queen Present
that Stephen Johnson
On or about the first Day of September last in the Yeare aforesaid & divers other days & times as well before as after Certaine detestable Arts Called Witchcrafts & Sorceries Wickedly Mallitiously & felloniously hath Used practised & Exersised, at & In the Towne of Salem In the County of Essex aforesaid Upon & Against Martha Sprague Mary Lacey & Rose foster, By which Wicked Arts the said Martha Sprague Mary Lacey & Rose Foster, The Day & Yeare aforesaid And divers other days and times as well before as after was & is Tortured Afflicted Consumed Wasted Pined & Tormented, Against the peace of o'r Sov'r lord & lady the King & Queen Their Crowne & dignity & the laws in that Case Made & provided --

(Reverse) Steph Johnson bewitching
Martha Sprague Mary Lasey
and Rose foster
Billa vera:
Robert Payne
foreman

( Massachusetts Archive Collection, Vol. 135, no. 42. Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, MA. )

(Indictment of Stephen Johnson, for Covenanting)

[++ January 13, 1693]

Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England Essex ss ] Anno RRs & Reginae Gulielmi & Mariae Angliae &c Quarto Ano'qe Dom 1692

The Jurors for o'r Sov'r lord & lady the King & Queen present

That Stephen Johnson

Sometime In this Present Yeare 1692 Wickedly Mallitiously & fellonious[ly] with the Devill A Covenant did Make, Wherby he gave himselfe both Soule & Body to the Divel, And Signed the Devills Booke with his Blood And By the Devill was Baptized & Unto the Devill Renounced his Christian Baptizme By Which Wicked & Diabolicall Covenant with the Devill Made The Said Stephen Johnson is become A detestable Witch Contrary to the peace of our Sov'r lord & lady the King & Queen their Crowne & Dignity & the Laws in that Case Made & provided --

(Reverse) Stephen Johnson
Covenanting with the Devill 1692

Billa vera
Robert Payne
foreman.

( Massachusetts Archives Collection Vol. 135 No. 41. Massachusetts Archives, Boston. )

(Recognizance for Stephen Johnson , Abigail Johnson and Sarah Carrier October 6, 1692 by Walter Wright, Francis Johnson, & Thomas Carrier Sr.

[October 6, 1692]

Know all Men by these presents that Wee Walter Wright Weaver Francis Johnson Husbandman & Thomas Carrier Sen'r Husbandman All of the Town of Andover in the Cownty of Essex in New England, are holden & firmely Bownd Joyntly & Sevirally to theire Majesties King William & Queen Mary of England and Scottland france & Ireland King & Queen Defenders of the faith in the full & Just Sum of five hundrid pownds Sterling for the True And Juste payments of which Said Sum of five hundrid pownds to theire Majesties King William And Queen Mary, Wee do bind Our Selves Our heires Executtors Administrators And Assignes firmely by these presents Dated in Salem the Sixth day of Octo'r In the Year of Our Lord One thowsand Six hundrid Ninety & Two & in the fourth Year of the Reigne of Our Majesties King William & Queen Mary King & Queen of England Scottland france & Ireland Defenders of the faith --

The Condition of this Obligation is Such that Whereas the Above named Walter Wright weaver & francis Johnson & Thomas Carrier Husbandmen All of the Town of Andover in the Cownty of Essex in New England, having & taken Into there Care & Custody the Bodyes of Stephen Johnson Aged About thirteen Years & Abigail Johnson Aged about Eleven Yeares & Sarah Carrier aged About Eight Yeares who weare all Committed to there Majesties Goale in Salem in the Cownty of Essex in New England for havinge Used practised and Committed Divers Acts of Witchcraft Upon the Bodyes of Syndry persons who Also themselves have all of them Confessed the Same, If that the Aforesaid Walter Wright weaver & Francis Johnson & Thomas Carrier husbandmen Shall well & Truly keep the Aforesaid Stephen Johnson & Abigail Johnson & Sarah Carrier And them Secure Untill they shall Receive Order from George Corwin Sherrif of the Cownty of Essex to deliver the. Aforesaid Stephen Johnson Abigail Johnson & Sarah Carrier Unto William Downton Now Keeper of theire Majes'es Goale in Salem Or to Any Other Whome the Afforesaid George Corwin shall Appoint; that then they shall forthwith deliver the Same Stephen Johnson Abigail Johnson & Sarah Carrier according to his Order And if the above bownd do performe the above mentioned Articles & Shall pay Unto George Corwin the Sherrif aforesaid the forfieture of s'd Bond for theire Maj'ies Use in Case of Default then This Obligation shall be Void & of None Effect Or Otherwise to Stand in full force & Virtue in WITTNESS hereof we the above bownd have set Our hands & Seles this Sixth of October in the year of Our Lord One thowsand Six hundrid ninety two In the fourth year of ther Majesties Reigne --
Wittness

*Joshua Conant *Walter Wright his
mark X [seal]
*Elizur Keysar *Francis Johnson [seal]
*Joseph Phippen Juner Thomas Carrier his mark [seal]

( Massachusetts Archives Collection, vol. 135, no. 58, Massachusetts State Archives. Boston, MA.)