Thomas Putnam, The abovs'd Complaint was Exhibited before us this 30'th aprill 1692, (Essex Institute Collection, no. Burroughs was apparently familiar with some works of Thomas Ady, critical of witchcraft prosecutions, whom he later quoted at his trial: "A Candle in the Dark", 1656; "A Perfect Discovery of Witches", 1661; and "The Doctrine of Devils", 1676. On October 17, 1711, the court cleared the name of George Burroughs and over 20 other convicted witches. He remained there for the next two years until he was unexpectedly drawn into the witch hysteria of 1692. According to the book Biographical Sketches of Graduates of Harvard University, it is not known exactly who Burroughs father was: He was thought by Farmer at one time to be the son of John Burroughs, of Salem; but at another, of Jeremiah Burroughs of Scituate. George Burrough (1579-1653), rector of . Mercy Lewis, who lost relatives in one of the attacks on Falmouth, fled to Casco Bay, with a group that included Burroughs and her parents. Co-Founder of The Walt Disney Company. on The Witchcraft Trial of Reverend George Burroughs, The Witchcraft Trial of Reverend George Burroughs, View all posts by Rebecca Beatrice Brooks. Greenwood Press, 2008.Biographical Sketches of Graduates of Harvard University. *Stephen Sewall , Cler. On August 5, George Burroughs was indicted by a grand jury; then a trial jury found him and five others guilty of witchcraft. The pop star was suffering from. I Recd an order from the Gov'r & Council to aprehend mr George Buroughs at present preacher at Wells, to be Sent to Salem their to be Examened, being Suspected to have Confedracy with the devil in opressing Sundry persons about yo'r Towne of Salem, accordingly I have sent him by John Partredg Marshal of this provence, Except he meet with any other Authority that will commit him to Some other officer to be Convayed as above, he pleading it will be to his damage to go So far, I am When Burroughs was cut down from the gallows, his body was dragged to a rocky crevice bordering the execution site, his clothing was stripped off and he was dressed in a pair of trousers of one executed and was placed in the grave with Willard and Carrier. 172: Petitions to the General Court, with Responses (1696-1725), SWP No. Lewis testified that on several nights in May, Burroughs appeared to her and tortured her and on the second night tried to persuade her to join him as a witch: the next night he tould me I should not see his Two wifes if he could help it because I should not witnes agast him this 9th may mr Burroughs caried me up to an exceeding high mountain and shewed me all the kingdoms of the earth and tould me that he would give them all to me if I would writ in his book and if I would not he would thro me down and brake my neck: but I tould him they ware non of his to give and I would not writ if he throde me down on 100 pichforks.. She had not seen him personally before as she Sus: [one line too faint] the Bewitched being present. & others unknowne came to this depon't & Mr Burroughs had a trumpett & sounded it, & they would have had this depon't to have gone up with them to a feast at Mr parris- ses & Goody Nurse & Goody procter told her this depon't they were Deacons & would have had her eat some of their sweet bread & wine & she asking them what wine that was one of them said it was blood & better then our wine but this depon't refused to eat or drink with them & they then dreadfully afflicted her at that tyme. ), You are Required in their Maj'sts names to aprehend the body of mr George Buroughs at present preacher at Wells in the provence of Maine, & Convay him with all Speed to Salem before the Magestrates there, to be Examened, he being Suspected for a Confederacy with the devil in opressing of Sundry about Salem as they relate. 166: Death Warrants Folder and Census of Prisoners (May - July 1692), SWP No. -- wee find nothing upon the body of the above sayd burroughs but w't is naturall:but upon the body of George Jacobs wee find 3. tetts w'ch according to the best of our Judgements wee think is not naturall for wee run a pinn through 2 of them and he was not sinceible of it: one of them being within his mouth upon the Inside of his right shoulder balde an a 3'rd upon his right hipp. Vol. Death . Contra Geo Susan Sheldon. attest *Step. After he was killed, Cotton Mather, a minister from Boston, reminded the crowd from atop his horse that Burroughs had been convicted in a court of law, and spoke convincingly enough that four more were executed after Burroughs. Gadsden, Etowah County, Alabama 35901 . Plot #54299260. Women are disproportionately affected. Being askd w[hat] he thought of these things. all of the Bewitched) were greivously tortured. George Burroughs, a Puritan minister who served in Salem, Massachusetts from 1680-83, was also one of the survivors of the attack by the Native Americans. His secretive nature didnt help either and made it seem like he was hiding something. Hannah Fox my 8th great grandmother. Sources:Upham, Charles W. Salem Witchcraft: With an Account of Salem Village and a History of Opinions on Witchcraft and Kindred Spirits. She was the youngest of six siblings, and had three sisters, Mary (1644-1695), Sarah (1646-1716), and Hannah (1652-1698), and two brothers, Andrew (1657 . 136: Sarah Wilds Executed July 19, 1692, SWP No. 165: List of Eleven Accused Persons and Their Accusers, May 1692, SWP No. Hillar, at the Princess-Arms, in Leaden-Hall-Street, over against St. Mary-Ax, and Joseph Collier, at the Golden Bible, on London Bridge. On May 9, George Burroughs was examined by magistrates Jonathan Corwin and John Hathorne; Sarah Churchill was examined the same day. "Rev. hands this Is about a ll a clock and I ask her Where about this lettel man stood s'd she Just where the Cart wheell went along I had a 3 graned irne fork in my hnad and I thru it wher she said he stud and she presently feell in a letel feet and when it twas over Said She you have toren his coot for I hard it tare wher abouts said I one won side said she Elis: Hubbard {& they all fell into fits Sus: sheldon testifyed that Burroughs two wives Walt Disney. 30 ), The Complaint of Susannah Shelden against mr burroos which brought a book to mee and told mee if i would not set my hand too if hee would tear mee to peesses i told him i would not then hee told mee hee would starve me to death then the next morning he told mee hee could not starve mee. The Lewis family then moved to Salem, and when Falmouth seemed safe, moved back. 2, no. Mary Walcott Capt Putman testifyed that he made his wife Letter from Fancis Littlefield and others to Governor and Councils. Const'b in [in] Salem. On May 3, 1683, Burroughs visited Salem Village to meet with the village committee in order to settle his accounts. *Jonathan Corwin { Assis'ts, M[emoran]d[um]. The judges also asked Burroughs when he last took communion, which he couldnt remember, and asked how many of his children were baptized, which he answered only the eldest was, and asked if it was true that he refused to let his second wife, Sarah Ruck Hathorne, write to her father without letting him see the letter first, which he denied. Rebecca is a freelance journalist and history lover who got her start in journalism working for small-town newspapers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire after she graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a B.A. George Burroughs may have been born in Suffolk, England, although some sources claim he was born in Scituate sometime in 1650. George Burroughs was the only Puritan minister indicted and executed in Salem in 1692. Robert Calef later said that he had been buried so poorly that his chin and hand protruded from the ground. Thus in haste I commit you to Providence of our Lord God and desire Your prayers also for us. Thomas putnam Mary Wolcott [3] As an American Congregational pastor, he graduated from Harvard College in 1670 with distinguished honors, where he was also considered an outstanding athlete. New details are being revealed in regards to the death of George Floyd. of Geo: Burroughs, ( Uncatalogued MS, Miscellaneous Manuscripts (1692), Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston, MA..), Anno Regis et Reginae Willim et Mariae nunc Angliae &c Quarto, Essex ss The Jurors for our Sovereigne Lord and Lady the King and Queen pr'sents That George Burroughs late of falmouth in the province of the Massach'ts Bay in New England, Clerk -- the Ninth Day of May in the fourth Year of the Reigne of Our Sovereigne Lord and Lady William and Mary by the Grace of God of England Scott- land France and Ireland King and Queen Defenders of the faith &c and Divers other Days and times, as well before, as after, Certaine Detestable Arts called Witchcrafts, and Sorceries, Wickedly, and felloniously, hath used Practised.&.Exercised at and within.the Towneship of Salem in the County of Essex aforesaid in upon and ag't one Mary Walcott of Salem Villiage in the County of Essex Singlewoman -- by which said wicked Arts the said Mary Walcott the Ninth Day of May in the forth Year aboves'd and Divers other Days and times as well before as after was and is Tortured afflicted Pined Consumed wasted and Tormented.ag't the Peace of our Sover- eigne Lord and Lady the King and Queen and ag't the forme of the Statute in that case made and Provided: One eye witness to the execution, Robert Calef, described the event in his book More Wonders of the Invisible World: Mr. 21. For a puritan minister, the fact that he couldnt remember the last time he took communion and that only some of his children were baptized did not reflect well on him. In September, 1681, Mr. Burroughs wife died, and he had to run in debt for her funeral expenses. It is with broken Hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved son, husband and father on February 10, 2018 with his loving family by his side. Burroughs moved to Falmouth (now Portland, Maine), in which he lived until it was destroyed by the Wabanaki Confederacy in 1690. Click on the names below to see their relationship charts. She is a former faculty member of the Humanist Institute. George Floyd's heart disease and use of fentanyl were contributing factors to his death, but they were not the direct cause, the medical examiner who performed his autopsy testified on Friday in . It is not known why exactly Burroughs was accused but it may have been due to left over resentment from his time as the minister in Salem Village as well as his legal troubles with the Putnam family. Savage says his father probably died in Virginia, and he can feel no doubt that he was the son of that Mrs. When he was upon the ladder, he made a speech for the clearing of his innocency, with such solemn and serious expressions as were to the admiration of all present; his prayer (which he concluded by repeating the Lord's Prayer) was so well worded, and uttered with such composedness as such fervency of spirit, as was very Affecting, and drew tears from many, so that it seemed to some that the spectators would hinder the execution. 098: Mary Parker Executed, September 22, 1692, SWP No. Another man of over eighty years was pressed to death under heavy stones for refusing to submit to a trial on witchcraft charges. Willard {testimoy about his great Thomas Putnam, ( Charles W. Upham, Salem Witchcraft, Boston, 1867, II, 139-140. Vol. After graduation, he became the minister of Salem Village in 1680. Richard Carrier affirmed to the jury that he saw Mr. George Burroughs at the witch meeting at the village and saw him adminster the sacrament. George Burroughs was the only minister executed as part of the Salem Witch Trials onAugust 19, 1692. At his entry into the Room, many (if not 2, no. John Proctor, George Burroughs, George Jacobs Sr., John Willard, and Samuel Wardwell were all hanged after being convicted of witchcraft, while Giles Corey was pressed to death with stones for refusing to "put himself on the . Thirty-five citizens of Salem Village signed a petition to the court, but it did not move the court. [Edward Putnam]?tag/putnam_edward.html) Several witnesses testified that they often heard Burroughs bragging about an incident where he lifted a heavy gun with one finger and other incidents where he claimed to have carried heavy barrels of cider by himself, although he always declined to recreate these events. The idea that the Devil may have infiltrated the church terrified the people of Salem and made Burroughss trial one of the most significant trials in the witch hysteria. Despite being far away from the witch hysteria in Salem, Massachusetts, Burroughs name was brought up as a witch and a warrant was put out for his arrest. George H Burroughs of Flint, Genesee County, Michigan was born on February 28, 1914. He looked back & knockt down all (or more) Elizer Keiser, Capt. 072: Elizabeth How Executed July 19, 1692, SWP No. marshall of the Provence of newhansher and maine, (Reverse) Warrant agt Burroughs the Marchalls Returne, ( Witchcraft Papers, no. Abig: Hobbs in prison affirmed that Geo: Burroughs 167: Petitions from Relatives of Prisoners and Others (October 1692 - January 1693), SWP No. Peter's second wife, Sarah Cloyce, sister of Rebecca Nurse and Mary Easty (or Eastey), relocated to Salem End, now West Framingham. Despite not living in Salem for many years prior to the Salem Witch Trials, Burroughs was found guilty of witchcraft and sentenced to hang. was Baptised. 1691 p. 274. Marcy Lewis Abigail Williams Ann putnam and Eliz Hubert and Susanah Sheldon (Viz) Upon Som: or all of them, of Salem Village or farm[es] whereby great hurt and dammage benne donn[e] to the Bodys of s'd persons above named therefore Craved Justice, Signed by Both above'd Complainers Jonathan Walcott She is the first causality of the Salem witch trials. 2, no. This was near enough the border with French Canada that the threat of French and Indian war parties was real. One of these witnesses stated that he was persuaded by others not to testify against Burroughs during the time of his trial but he said he later regretted this and decided to come forward after the fact. William Phips (1692-1693), SWP No. Its not clear why Greenlit or the other witness felt compelled to testify against Burroughs long after he had already been tried and executed but it suggests that the community may have begun to doubt Burroughss guilt, particularly after the events of his execution, and Greenlit may have been pressured to testify to provide further proof of this alleged guilt. Stories circulated about him, including many that described his tremendous strength so great that some believed it could not be earthly. When he was upon the ladder, he made a speech for the clearing of his innocency, with such solemn and serious expressions, as were to the admiration of all present: his prayer (which he concluded by repeating the Lords prayer) was so well worded, and uttered with such composedness, and such (at least seeming) fervency of spirit, as was very affecting, and drew tears from many, so that it seemed to some that the spectators would hinder the execution. Hannah died in childbirth in 1681, leaving George Burroughs with a newborn and two other children. His first wife was Hannah Fisher; they had nine children. Thank you for the research. Jurat in Curia, ( Withcraft Papers, 11a, Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston, MA., Boston, MA., Boston. Although they still believed in witches and believed witches may have invaded Salem, they had doubts that so many people could have been guilty of the crime. Although Cotton's words describe, and to some degree justify the trials . Wee Comand you all Excuses set apart to be and personaly appear at the present Court of Oyer & Terminer held at Salem there to Testify the truth to the best of your knowledge on certain Indictm'ts Exhibited against mr George Burrough : hereof fail not dated in 1, Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston, MA.. ), The Examination of Geo: Burroughs 9.May.1692 Lewis, Jone Johnson. Many of the things you point out verify what was passed down in family history. At his execution, he quoted the Lords Prayer which a witch should not have been able to do. Rev. Burroughs graduated from Harvard University in 1670 and, in 1673, married his first wife Hannah Fisher. 2, Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston, MA. Salem Witchcraft. [citation needed] At his trial, which took place in May, he was found guilty based on evidence that included his extraordinary feats of strength, such as lifting a musket by inserting his finger into the barrel (such feats of strength being presumed impossible without diabolical assistance[8]). While most ministers were public figures, open and engaged with their community, Burroughs was an intensely private individual and a man of mystery. George Robert Burrows, Circa 1867 - 1947 Among those in the crowd was the colonys most prominent minister Reverend Increase Mather. 2, no. During the examination, Burroughs was asked if it was true that his house in Casco Bay was haunted. He was bid to look upon sus: sheldon. On August 5, George Burroughs was indicted by a grand jury; then a trial jury found him and five others guilty of witchcraft. Geo Burroughs Her fathers name was George Wunder Burroughs and he was a senior official in his Masonic Lodge in Long Beach, Calif. Hi Rebecca! TV and Movie Actor. Visit this site's About page to find out more about Rebecca. If anyone is interested in any of these historical groups you can contact me. When it was Burroughs turn, he climbed the ladder and made an eloquent speech declaring his innocence and then recited the Lords prayer flawlessly, despite the common belief that witches couldnt recite the prayer without making a mistake. Anthony a[n]d Thomas B[r]a[c]ket and Mr. Munjoy his son only are named. Memorial Site* Salem Witch Trials Memorial. Derek Chauvin, one of the four police officers who arrived on the scene, knelt on Floyd's neck and back for 9 minutes and . He was raised in the town of Roxbury (a century later would be the town William Dawes rode through to warn the colonists of the British) by his mother and would be educated at Harvard College where he graduated in 1670 with honors. that at the time of the taking of this deposicon Goody Nurse appeared in the roome & afflicted the Depon't Mary & Deliverance Hobbs as they attested & alsoe almost Choaked abigaile Hobbs as alsoe testified, & Mr English then run a pin into Maryes hand as she attested, ( Witchcraft Papers, no. Although the jury had found no witches' marks on his body, he was nonetheless convicted of witchcraft and a conspiracy with the devil. One of the most common complaints these witnesses testified to was rumors of Burroughss super human strength. John Bare Jurat. About the Gun he said he took it before the Taylor Trade Publishing, 2002.Torrey, Clarence Almon. 2, No. Burroughss trial was held on August 5, 1692. 2, no. putnam aged 40: years and Edward putnam agged 38 years who testifieth and saith. We Subscribe Our Selves your Honours Humble Sertts.. I had not time to copy the letter, persons being to go post to Major Walden; but I hope he hath before this sent the original to you. When the parsonage was finally completed, the Burroughs family moved in and took on a young servant, Mercy Lewis, a fellow survivor of the Wabanaki raid of 1676. The public paid his salary. John Hathorne served on the church committee to find Burroughs' replacement. ), The deposistion of Tho. Sheldon said Burroughss spirit came to her and confessed that he had killed three children in Eastward, or Maine, and also killed his first two wives, smothering the first and choking the second, and killed two of his own children. The police caused George Floyd's death, but drugs and heart disease played a role, the medical examiner says. Ann Putnam Salem Sep'r 15'th 1692 Thomas Greinslitt appeared before their Maj'ties Justices of Oyer & Terminer in Open Court & Made Oath that the above mentioned perticulars & Every part of them were True 140163, 296-304, 319, 480, 482, 514. 35. 113: Ann Pudeator Executed, September 22, 1692, SWP No. In 1992, the Salem Witch Trials Memorial was built in Salem, Mass and a marker was established for George Burroughs. Burroughs moved to Falmouth, in which he lived until it was destroyed by theWabanaki Confederacyin 1690. The tradition is, that they found Mr. Burroughs in his humble home, partaking of his frugal meal; that he was snatched from the table without a moments opportunity to provide for his family, or prepare himself for the journey, and hurried on his way roughly, and without the least explanation of what it all meant.. s'd gun was about or near seven foot barrill:and very hevie: I then tryed to hold out s'd gun with both hands: but could not do it long enough to take sight Some in town thought he might be the "dark man" spoken of in many of the accusations. When it was finally over and Burroughs still remained in their custody, the lawmen took it as a sign that the Devil had unsuccessfully tried to free Burroughs. Each of these accused was given a moment to say their last words. 2, no. George Burrows. The similarity of Thomas Putnams testimony with the afflicted girls testimonies and the shared language and phrasing in several of the girls testimony suggests that the girls might not have said those specific things and Putnam may have added these words to the documents himself to strengthen the case against Burroughs. Over the course of the following decade, the residents of Salem had come to the realization that the witch trials had been a mistake and that innocent people may have been executed. Death: August 19, 1692 (37-46) . 095: Sarah Osborne Died in Prison, May 10, 1692, SWP No. He is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Lorraine (Turnbull); his daughter, Nancy; special sons . putnam aged 40: years and Edward putnam agged 38 years who testifieth and saith. George Burroughs was the only Puritan minister indicted and executed in Salem in 1692. Death . This page was last edited on 24 February 2023, at 21:13. We will remember him forever. 29. This article was very interesting in that my wife, Georgina Burroughs, is the 8th generation Grand Daughter of George Burroughs. Abigail Williams: The Mysterious Afflicted Girl. Putnam testified again later on that the spirits of Burroughss wives also came to her on May 5 and told her that Burroughs had murdered them, his first wife said he had stabbed her at the parsonage in Salem Village and the second wife said he killed her in the vessell as she was coming to see her friends because they would have one another.. ThoughtCo, Jul. This article was interesting to me since I am 7th generation from Martha Carrier. There Being Complaint this day made (Before us) by Capt Jonathan Walcot and Serj't Thomas putnam of Salem Village, in behalfe of theire Majesties, for themselfes, and also for Severall of theire Neighbours Against George Burroughs Minester in Wells in the province of Maine Lydia Dasting in Reading Widow Susanah Martin of Amesbury Widow Dorcas Hoar of Beverly Widdow, and Sarah Murrell of Beverly And phillip English of Salem Merchant for high Suspition of Sundry acts of Witchcraft done or Committed by them Upon the Bodys of Mary Walcot . Sworne the first of June 1692 Rates were not collected, and his salary was in arrears.. Ann Putnam ), Essex ss The Jurors for our Sovereigne Lord and Lady the King and Queen pr'sents That George Burroughs late of Falmouth w'thin the province of the Mattathusets Bay in New England Clerke -- The Ninth Day of May -- in the fourth Year of the Reigne of our Sovereigne Lord and Lady William and Mary by the Grace of God of Eng- land Scottland France and Ireland King and Queen Defenders of the faith &c Diver other Days and times as well before as after, certaine Detestable Arts called wicthcraft & Sorceries -- wickedly and feloniously hath used Practiced & Exercised at and within the Township of Salem in the County of Essex & aforesaid, in Upon & ag't one Elizabeth Hubbard of Salem in the County of Essex Singlewoman -- by which said wicked Arts the said Elizabeth Hubbard the Ninth Day of May -- in the fourth Year aboves'd and Divers other Days and Times as well before as after.was.and is Tortured afflicted Pined Consumed wasted and Tormented.also for Sundrey other Acts of witchcrafts by Said George Burroughs .Committed and done ag't the Peace of our Sovereigne Lord & Lady the King & Queen their Crowne and dignity and ag't the forme of the Statute in that case made & Provided: 15. Since the Salem Village parsonage was in disrepair at the time of Burroughs arrival, the Burroughs family stayed with John Putnam, Sr, and his wife Rebecca. On April 30, 1692, several of the girls of Salem leveled accusations of witchcraft at George Burroughs. Salem.Aug't 5'th 1692. Yours in all humility to serve inWinter Harbor at night } the Lord,the 13 of August, 1676.} BRIAN PENDLETON.. Jurat in Curia, wee whose names are under writen being present with Ann putnam att the time above mentioned hard hir declare what is above writen what she said she saw and hard from the Apperishtion of Mr. George Burroughs : and allso beheld hir tortors:and perceived her hellish temtations by hir loud out cries I will not I will not writ tho you torment al days of my life:and being conversant with hir ever sence have seen hir tortored and complaining that Mr. Burroughs hirt hir.and tempts hir to writ in his Book Other witnesses testified that Burroughs was secretive and had tried to censor what his previous wives told others about his behavior. In January of 1712, the court ordered that 6 of the 50 pounds was to be divided in equal shares among all of Burroughs children: Charles Burroughs, Jeremiah Burroughs, Rebecca Fowle, Hannah Fox, Elizabeth Thomas, and Mary Burroughs. George Burroughs and the Salem Witch Trials." Lewis, Jone Johnson. He borrowed money from John Putnam for the funeral and was unable to repay the debt. 013: Bridget Bishop Executed, June 10, 1692, SWP No. He denyed that his family was affrighted by a Tho Som of us Can Remember of Considerable in the House, besides his Liberary which she Sold and Recd the money for; then Lett it out att Intrest and was afterward Recd by another Husband; and not one farthing bestowed upon any Child but her Own: This being matter of fact we Humbly Leave it with your Honours to Consider wheather of what The Honourable Generall Court allowd &c she have not allredy Recd To much And the Children To Little. From June through September of 1692, nineteen men and women, all having been convicted of witchcraft, were carted to Gallows Hill, a barren slope near Salem Village, for hanging. On June 25th, 2022, George was called to his eternal reward. In 1711,thelegislatureof the Province of Massachusetts Bayrestored all rights to those who had been accused in the 1692 witch trials. Profile of Elizabeth How, Persecuted Salem Witch, Tituba and The Salem Witch Trials of 1692, Biography of Elizabeth Parris, Accuser in the Salem Witch Trials, Sarah Cloyce: Accused in the Salem Witch Trials, John Alden Jr. and the Salem Witch Trials, History of Witches Signing the Devil's Book, M.Div., Meadville/Lombard Theological School. Edward putnam He resigned his post and left Salem in 1683. The afflicted girls, Ann Putnam, Jr., Sarah Bibber, Mercy Lewis, Elizabeth Hubbard, Abigail Hobbs, Mary Warren, Susannah Sheldon, testified against Burroughs as well and accused him of murdering members of his family and other people in the community. Keyzer: declared: to the Jury of Inquest that the evidence: in this paper is the truth upon oath: Aug'st 3 1692 Mercy Lewis. New England Marriages Prior to 1700. To make matters worse for Burroughs his wife died suddenly and he was unable to pay for her funeral. I am also a descendent of George Burroughs. He then moved to Wells, Maine, believing it would be safer from Indian attacks. He answered it was so long since he could not tell: yet (Reverse) The [examination] He served as a minister in Portland, Maine, for two years, surviving King Philip's War and joining other refugees in moving farther south for safety.