FOOTNOTES:
[79] A brief Article on this deluded Man will be seen in Dr. Allen's Amer. Biog. Dictionary. He will be found further noticed in these Pages. He possesed considerable Ability, but was very weak minded.
[80] Perhaps a typographical Error. Nathaniel Ingerson or Ingersoll is undoubtedly meant. Edward Pulman is Edward Putman; Nurce is since Nourse; Jarboll is Tarbell.
[81] This flatly contradicts those who have charged all to the Devil.
[82] Joseph Bridgham was probably the Son of Henry, of Dorchester, and afterwards of Boston, born in 1651. He was a Member of the Artillery Company, Representative, and in other Walks a prominent Man. He died about 1709. Samuel Checkley was the Minister of the New South Church, Boston. Jeremiah Dummer was the well known Author, the Defence of the New England Charters. Nehemiah Jewett, I suppose, was of Ipswich, a Representative, and, at one Time, Speaker of the House, and died about 1720. James Allen was Minister of the First Church, Boston. Samuel Torrey was Minister of Weymouth, and died in 1707. William Torrey was also of Weymouth, and Brother of the Rev. Samuel. Joseph Boynton was of Rowley. Richard Middlecott was of Boston. John Walley was probably the Major Walley who shared the Disgrace of the ill advised and iller executed Expedition against Canada, under Sir William Phips. Hunt was another of Phips's Colonels, &c., was of Weymouth, and died 1713. Williams was probably the Nathaniel Williams, of Boston, a Commissary in Philip's War. Samuel Phillips was the Minister of Rowley, perhaps, who died in 1696. Samuel Willard, of the Old South, Author of A Body of Divinity, and other theological Work, Vice-President of Harvard College, &c.; he died in 1707. See Note ante. Edward Payson was Minister of Rowley, and was Father of seventeen Children, and died 1732.
[83] Whether the Original manuscript of this Paper is in existence I have not learned. The Names of the Signers would be of much interest at this Time, and the Historian of Salem should not cease his Labours until it is found, if anywhere preserved.
[84] One who was as firm a Believer as Dr. Mather in Witch Mysteries, remarks in Justification of what was done—"That I may satisfy such as are not resolved to the Contrary; that there may be (and are) such Operations of the Powers of Darkness on the Bodies and Minds of Mankind; by Divine Permission; and that those who sate Judges in those Cases, may by the serious Consideration of the formidable Aspect and perplexed Circumstances, of that Afflictive Providence; be in some measure excused; or at least be less censured, for passing Sentence on several Persons, as being the Instruments of Satan in those Diabolical Operations, when they were involved in such a Dark and Dismal scene of Providence, in which Satan did seem to Spin a finer Thred of Spiritual Wickedness than in the ordinary methods of Witchcraft; hence the Judges desiring to bear due Testimony, against such Diabolical Practices, were inclined to admit the validity of such a sort of Evidence, as was not so clearly and directly demonstrable to Human Senses, as in other Cases is required or else they could not discover the Mysteries of Witchcraft; I presume not to impose upon my Christian or Learned Reader; any opinion of mine, how far Satan was an Instrument in God's Hand, in those amazing Afflictions, which were on many Persons there, [at Salem] about that time; but I am certainly convinced, that the Great God was pleased to lengthen his Chain to a very great Degree, for the hurting of Some and reproaching of Others, as far as he was permitted to do so."—Lawson, pages 93-4.
From this Author's uncertain view of the Operations of the Devil (which was the View of a great majority of the World), it is not at all strange that some among the very Conscientious people inquired as to the Difference between the Malignant and Supreme Power; that is, if the Supreme controlled the Malignant, there was no question to whom the Consequences were to be charged; and hence it is in no wise to be wondered at that some in their Simplicity could not understand what use there was for any Devil at all, mutch less for Witches.
[85] Mr. Lawson says she was "about twelve Years of Age."—Brief and True Nar., P. 3. Much more concerning her will be found.
[86] Wait Still was his full Name. He was Son of Gov. John Winthrop, of Connecticut; died in Boston about 1717.