Who was accused and put on trial for Witchcraft.The thing that struck so close to home for me was the fact that her Great Grandmother was baptised in Olney ,which is about 10 mins drive away from me.And I am hoping Goddess willing that Robin may come to visit me someday ,so that I can show her where it is.I asked Robin to put together a few facts and this is what she done.At the bottom of this page you will find a link which shows you a picture of her memorial stone and more information.Blessed Be.
Susannah Martin, of Amesbury, Mass was born in Ramsey H. England. She was baptised in Olney, Buckinghamshire, England September 30, 1621. Her parents were Richard and Joan (Bartram) North. Susannah was a young girl when her mother died, and afterward her father took another wife and moved to America. Where Susannah Met and married George Martin, a blacksmith by profession. They married on August 11, 1646 at Salisbury, MA
During Susannah's lifetime she was accused of being a witch on three different occastions. The first arrest was in 1661, however the magistrates did not persue the charge in court. The second was for the same charge in 1669. Again she was let go because the evidence was not substancial. When the Salem, Mass hysteria broke out in 1692, it was inevitable that she was again accused. By this time, her neighbors were so upset with her because she had such a violent and uncontrolable temper.
On May 2, she was taken to Ingersll's Tavern in Salem Village for examination. She was later tried on June 29th session of court. During the trial it is said that she laughed out loud at the affliced persons as they writhed about the floor in great pain . Their pain they said was because of Susannah. She later stated in her testimoney that she did not think the affliced were bewitched, and stated "If they be dealing in the black arts, ye know as well as I".
Many of her neighbors came to court to testify to her bewitching arts. Among them were James Allen of Salisbury. He stated that he refused to help Susannah cart wooden staves because his oxen were too tired. She angrily shouted, "It has been as good if you had. For your oxen should never do you much more service." James Allen then on his way home had to unyoke one of his oxen because the animal was so exhausted. The following day he drove the oxen to Salisbury Beach so they could rest. When he returned two days later, his oxen had disapeared.
Multiple neighbors came to court, and testified against Susannah. All the while Susannah stuck to her faith. Knowing that if she admitted she was a witch, she would save her life. At the trials end, Susannah Martin, at the age of 71, was found guilty and sentenced to hang on July 19. Along with Sarah Good, Elizabeth How, Rebecca Nurse and Sarah Wilds.
During the entire witchcraft hysteria in Salem, 400 plus people went through the horror of being accused of witchcraft. Only 19 were hanged, and one man pressed to death. On May 1693, all the people accused of witchcraft still being jailed were realeased after their jail and court cost were paid. Finally putting an end to the hysteria of 1692.
