Devonshire Witches

by Paul Q. Karkeek

Whereas we Thomas Eastchurch and Elizabeth Eastchurch his wife, Honor Hooper and Anne Wakely, upon yesterday which was the 3rd of July 1682, did give in our several informations upon our oaths, before Thomas Gist, Mayor, and John Davies, Alderman, two of his Majesties Justices of the Peace within the Burrough, etc., of Biddiford, against Temperance Lloyd, for using and practising witchcraft upon the body of Grace Thomas, as by our several examinations it doth appear: But because we were dissatisfied in some particulars concerning a piece of leather, which the said Temperance confessed of unto the said Elizabeth Eastchurch and we conceiving that there might be some enchantment used in or about the same leather; Therefore upon this present 4th of July we with the leave of Mr. Mayor did bring the said Temperance into the Parish Church of Biddiford, in the presence of Mr. Michael Ogilby, rector of the same parish church, and divers other persons, where the said Temperance was demanded by the said Mr. Ogilby, how long since the Devil did tempt her to do evil. Whereupon she did confess, that about twelve years ago, she was tempted by the Devil, to be instrumental to the death of William Herbert. And that the Devil did promise her, that she should live well and do well. And she did then also confess that she was an instrument of the death of the said William Herbert. And as to the said Grace Thomas, she further confessed, that on Friday the 23rd of June last; she the said Temperance, came into the said Thomas Eastchurch's shop, in the form of a cat, and fetcht out of the same shop, a puppet or picture (commonly called a child's baby) and that she carried the same into the chamber where the said Grace did lodge and left it about the bed: where the said Grace did lie; but would not confess that she had prickt any pins in the said puppet, or baby picture, altho she were demanded particularly that question by the said Mr. Ogilby. Also the said Temperance did then confess That she was the cause of the death of Anne Fellow, the daughter of Edward Fellow.—Also she did then confess that she was the cause of the death of one Jane Dallyn, wife of Symon Dallyn of Biddiford, mariner, by pricking her in one of her eyes, which she did so secretly perform that she was never discovered or punished for the same. Also the said Temperance did confess and declare that she did bewitch unto death one Lydia Burman of Biddiford, spinster, because she had been a witness against her, at the trial for her life, at the Assizes when she was arraigned for the death of the said William Herbert, and had deposed that the said Temperance had appeared to her in the shape of a red pig at such times as she the said Lydia was brewing in the house of Humphrey Ackland of Biddiford. Being further demanded in what part of the house of the said Mr. Eastchurch, or in what part of the bed whereon the said Grace Thomas lay, she left the puppett above mentioned, saith, That she would not, nor must not discover, for if she did discover the same that the devil would tear her in pieces.

And afterwards Mr. Ogilby desired her to say the Lord's prayer and her creed; which she imperfectly performing he did give her many good exhortations, and so departed from her. In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands, this 4th day of July Anno Domini 1682.

The information of Thomas Eastchurch of Biddiford, gent, taken the 3rd of July A.D. 1682. The said informant upon his oath saith, that upon yesterday, which was 2nd of July, he did hear the said Temperance Lloyd say and confess, that about the 30th of September last, as she was returning from the bakehouse with a loaf of bread under her arm towards her own house, she did meet with some thing in the likeness of a black man in the street called Higher Gunstone Lane, within this town, and then and there the said black man did tempt and persuade her to go to this Informant's house, to torment one Grace Thomas, who is this informant's Sister in law. That the said Temperance did first refuse the temptation, saying that the said Grace Thomas had done her no harm. But afterward, by the further persuasion of the said black man, she did go to this informant's house and that she went up stairs after the said blackman: and confessed that both of them went into the chamber where the said Informant's said sister in law was, and that there they found Anne Wakely rubbing one of the arms of the said Grace Thomas. And this informant further saith—That the said Temperance did also confess that the Blackman did persuade her to pinch the said Grace in the knee, arms and shoulders, intimating with her fingers how she did it. And that when she came down stairs into the street, she saw a braget cat go into the Informant's Shop, and that she believed it to be the Devil. And this Informant did hear the said Temperance confess that on Friday night last, the Black man did meet with her near her own door about ten of the clock and there did again tempt her to go to this Informant's house and to make an end of the said Grace Thomas. Whereupon the said Temperance did go to this Informant's house with the black man, and that she did prick and pinch the said Grace Thomas again in several parts of her body, declaring with both her hands how she did it. And that thereupon the said Grace did cry out terribly. And confessed that the said black man told her that she should make an end of the said Grace Thomas. And further did confess, that the black man did promise her that no one should discover her or see her. And she also confessed that about 12 of the clock that same night that same black man did suck her in the street, she kneeling down to him. That he had blackish clothes and was about the length of her arm. That he had broad eyes and a mouth like a toad, and afterwards vanisht clear away out of her sight. This informant further saith that he heard the said Temperance confess, that about the 1st of June last the said black man was with her again, and told her that on that night she should make an end of the said Grace Thomas; and confessed that she had griped the said Grace in her belly, stomach and breast and clipt her to the heart. And that the said Grace did cry out pitifully. And that the said Temperance was about the space of two hours tormenting her. And that Anne Wakely (with several other women) were then in the chamber but could not see the said Temperance: and that the black man stood by her in the same room. This informant further saith, that he supposed that the said Grace Thomas in her sickness had been afflicted through a distemper arising from a natural cause and did repair to several physicians but that she could never receive any benefit prescribed by them.

The Information of William Herbert of Biddiford blacksmith taken the 12th of August A.D. 1682.

This Informant upon his oath saith, that near or upon the 2nd of February in the year 1670 he did hear his father William Herbert declare on his death bed that Temperance Lloyd of Biddiford widow had bewitched his said father unto death. This Informant's father further declaring to this informant that he with the rest of his relations should view his father's body after his decease and that by his body they should see what prints and marks the aforesaid Temperance had made upon his body. And saith that his father did lay his blood to the charge of the said Temperance Lloyd, and desired this informant to see her apprehended for the same; which was accordingly done, and saith that she was accused for the same, but that she was acquitted at the Assizes. This informant further saith, that upon the 4th of July last, he went to the prison of Biddiford, where the said Temperance was, and demanded of her, whether she had done any bodily harm unto the said William Herbert deceased; unto which she answered "Surely, William, I did kill thy father." This informant did demand of her further whether she had done any hurt to one Lydia Burman late of Biddiford, unto which the said Temperance answered that she was the cause of her death. This informant demanded of her, why she had not confessed so much when she was in prison last time? She answered that her time was not expired, for the Devil had given her greater power for a longer time. And this informant did hear the said Temperance confess that she was the cause of the death of Ann Fellow, daughter of Edward Fellow of Biddiford, gent. And also that she the said Temperance was the cause of the bewitching out of one of the eyes of Jane wife of Symon Dallyn of Biddiford, Mariner.

The information of John Barnes of Biddiford, yeoman, taken the 18th of July A.D. 1682.

The said informant upon his oath saith, that upon Easter Tuesday, which was the 18th of May last, this Informant's wife, Grace Barnes, was taken with very great pains of sticking and pricking in her arms, stomach and breast, as tho' she had been stabbed with awls being so described unto him by the said Grace in such a manner as this Informant thought she would have died immediately; and in such sad condition she had continued to this present day in tormenting and grievous pains. And further saith, that upon Sunday last, which was the 16th of July instant, about 10 of the clock in the forenoon, this Informant's said wife was taken worse than before, insomuch as four men and women could hardly hold her. And at that time one Agnes Whitefield, wife of John Whitefield of Biddiford, cordwainer, being in this Informant's house and hearing some body at the door, she did open the door where she found one Mary Trembles of Biddiford, single woman, standing with a white pot in her hand, as though she had been going to the common bakehouse. And thereupon this Informant's wife did ask of the said Agnes, who it was that was at the door? Unto which the said Agnes answered that it was Mary Trembles. Then this Informant's wife said that she, the said Mary Trembles was one of them that did torment her, and that she was come now to put her the said Grace out of her life.

The Information of Grace Barnes, the wife of John Barnes of Biddiford, yeoman, taken the 2nd of August, Anno Domini 1682. The said Informant upon her oath saith, that she had been very much pain'd and tormented in her body these many years last past insomuch that she had sought out for remedy far and near and never had any suspicion that she had magical art or witchcraft used upon her body until about a year and half ago, that she was informed by some physicians that it was so. And further saith thereupon she had some suspicions of one Susanna Edwards of Biddiford, widow, because that the said Susanna would oftentimes repair to this Informant's house upon frivolous or no occasion at all. And further saith that about the middle of May last she was taken with very great pains of sticking and pricking in her arms, breast, and heart as though divers awls had been prick'd or stuck into her body, and was in great tormenting pains for many days and nights together with very little intermission. And saith that upon Sunday the 16th of July last, she was taken in a very grievous and tormenting manner; at which instant of time one Agnes Whitefield, the wife of John Whitefield of Biddiford, was in this Informant's house, who opening the door and looking out found one Mary Trembles of Biddiford standing before the door. And thereupon this informant did ask of the said Agnes, who it was that stood at the door? who answered that it was the said Mary Trembles. Upon which this informant was fully assured that the said Mary Trembles, together with the said Susanna Edwards, were the very persons that had tormented her by using some magical art or witchcraft upon her body as aforesaid.

The Information of William Edwards, of Biddiford, blacksmith, taken the 18th of July, Anno Dom. 1682.