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. Jone Johnson Lewis is a women's history writer who has been involved with the women's movement since the late 1960s. At his execution, he quoted the Lords Prayer which a witch should not have been able to do. It he should become apprised of what was going on, his escape into remoter and inaccessible settlements would have baffled the whole scheme. was there & they had the Sac't[= sacrament] & after they had done he tooke leave & bid them Stand to their faith, & not own any thing, Martha Tyler saith the same w'th Sarah Wilson & Severall others (on side) These Since the Execucion of Mr. Burro, ( Essex County Court Archives, Salem -- Witchcraft Vol. During the meeting, John Putnam suddenly had Burroughs arrested for failure to repay his debt to him for Hannah Burroughss funeral expenses. George Burroughs, a 1670 Harvard graduate, grew up in Roxbury, MA; his mother returned to England, leaving him in Massachusetts. Death . I s'd deponant saw Mr Borroughs: put his hand on the gun: to show us: how he held it and where he held his hand:and saying there he held his hand when he held s'd gun out: but:I saw him not hold it out then: ), The Deposition of Mary Walcott agged about 17 years who testi- fieth and saith that on the later end of April 1692: mr. George Burroughs or his Apperance came to me whom I formerly well knew: and he did Immediatly most greviously torment me by biting pinching and almost choacking me urging me to writ in his book: which I refusing he did -- againe most greviously torment me and tould me if I would but touch his book I should be well but I tould him I would not for all the world and then he threated to kil me and said I should never witnes against him: but he continewed tortering and tempting me tell the 8 may: and then he tould me he would have kiled his first wife and child: when his wife was in travil but he had not the power: but he keept hir in the kithin tell he gave hir hir deaths wound.but he charged me in the name of his God I should not tell of it:but Immediatly there appeared to me mr.Burroughs two first wives in their winding sheets whom I formerly well knew and tould me that mr. Burroughs had murthered them and that their blood did crie for vengance againt him: also on the 9'th may being the day of his ex- amination he did most greviously torment me dureing the time of his examination for if he did but look on me he would strick me down or allmost Choake me: also dureing his examination I saw mr. George Burroughs or his Apperane most greviously torment mercy lewes Eliz Hubb [e] rt Abigail william and Ann putnam and I beleve in my heart that mr. George Burroughs is a dreadful wizzard and That he had often afflected and tormented me and the afore mentioned parsons by his acts of wicthcraft, Mary Walcot declared this writing to be a true evidence: to the Jury putnam aged 40: years and Edward putnam agged 38 years who testifieth and saith. then s'd King sayd I beleive he is a Child of god, a Choice Child of god, and that God would Clear up his Inocency; soe I told him my Opinion or feare was, that he was, the Cheife of all the persons accused for witchcraft or the Ring Leader of them -- all, and told him also that I beleived if he was such an one his Master meening the divell had told him before now, what I said of him, And s'd King seemeing to mee to be in a passion. #[Robert Morrell] Putnam also said the spirits of Reverend Deodat Lawsons wife and her child and the spirit of Goodman Fullers wife came to her that day as well and said Burroughs had murdered them. The Lord in mercy fit us for death and direct the hearts and hands to act and doe what is most needful in such a time of distress as this. Compiled by L.A.Burroughs, p.4. He served as minister of Salem Village from 1680 until he left in 1683. . Oxford University Press, 2014.Goss, K. David. name it. 166: Death Warrants Folder and Census of Prisoners (May - July 1692), SWP No. *Thomas putnam Mercy Lewis later moved to Salem Village from Maine, joining many other refugees, and became a servant with the Putnams of Salem Village. In 1674, Burroughs moved to Falmouth, Maine where he served as the pastor at the Falmouth Congregational Church. SWP No. 2, Charles William Sever, 1881.Hoyt, David Webster. Thomas Evans that he Carried Out Barrels Molossus & Meats &c out of a Canoo whilst his mate.went to the fort for hands to help out with them, Sarah Wilson Confess't that the night before mr Burroughs was Executed that there was a great Meeting of the witches Nigh Sarj't Chandlers that mr Burr. In September, 1681, Mr. Burroughs wife died, and he had to run in debt for her funeral expenses. He was also suspected of killing his wives by witchcraft, and although clearly witchcraft was not involved, there is some historical evidence that he had treated them poorly.[10]. 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. Herrick Dep't Sheriff, ( Essex County Court Archives, Salem, Witchcraft, vol. 21. (Reverse) Jury men Return about Jacobs Tennessee: City Death Records, 1872-1923 for Nashville, Knoxville, and Chattanooga(at Ancestry/requires payment) coverage varies by city; includes digitized images of the death certificates or registers Tennessee Death Indexes, 1908-1912 and 1914-1933from the Tennessee State Library and Archives Nevertheless, Burroughss trial reached its end shortly after and he was promptly found guilty and sentenced to hang later that month. 5, Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston, MA. his T marke. Robert Calef later said that he had been buried so poorly that his chin and hand protruded from the ground. ), The deposistion of Ann putnam who testifieth and saith that on the 5'th of may 1692 at evening I saw the apperishtion of Mr George Burroughs who greviously tortored me and urged me to writ in his book which I refused then he tould me that his Two first wives would appeare to me presently and tell me a grat many lyes but I should not beleve them:then immediatly appeared to me the forme of Two women in winding sheats and napkins about their heads: att which I was gratly affrighted: and they turned their faces towards Mr. Burroughs and looked very red and angury and tould him that he had been a cruell man to them.and that their blood did crie for vengance against him: and also tould him that they should be cloathed with white Robes in heaven, when he should be cast into hell: and immediatly he vanished away: and as soon as he was gon the Two women turned their faces towards me and looked as pail as a white wall: and tould me that they ware mr Burroughs Two first wives and that he had murthered them: and one tould me that she was his first wife and he stabed hir under the left Arme and put a peace of sealing wax on the wound and she pulled aside the winding sheat and shewed me the place and also tould me that she was in the house Mr parish now lives w'n it was don, and the other tould me that Mr Burrough and that wife which he hath now kiled hir in the vessell as she was coming to se hir friends because they would have one another: and they both charged me that I should tell these things to the Magestraits before Mr Burroughs face and if he did not own them they did not know but that they should appere their: thes morning also Mis Lawson and hir daughter Ann appeared to me whom I knew: and tould me that Mr Burroughs murthered them: this morning also appeared to me another woman in a winding sheat and tould me that she was goodman fullers first wife and Mr Burroughs kiled hir because there was sum differance between hir husband and him: also on the 9'th may dureing the time of his ex- amination he did most greviously torment and afflect Mary Walcott mercy lewes Eliz Hubburd and Abigail williams by pinching prick'g and choaking them Another man of over eighty years was pressed to death under heavy stones for refusing to submit to a trial on witchcraft charges. They begin [to] name my name they cannot Click on the names below to see their relationship charts. Salem August 2'd 1692 Elizer Keiser, Capt. This category includes civil, church, cemetery, obituary, and other death-related collections. He took a job as minister of the Salem Village Church in 1680 and his contract was renewed the next year. The claim: The cause of George Floyd's death was a drug overdose. 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. John Bare Jurat. Elisha Hutchinson, a magistrate there, issued the proper order, addressed to John Partridge in Portsmouth, Field-marshal of the provinces of New Hampshire and Maine, dated April 30, 1692, to arrest George Burroughs, preacher at Wells; he being suspected of a confederacy with the devilWhen we consider the distance and the circumstances of travel at that time, it is evident that the officers charged with the service acted with the greatest promptitude, celerity, and energy. Lewis, Jone Johnson. Perhaps Cotton's most self-damning act within the public eye was his publication of the volume The Wonders of the Invisible World, in October, 1692, after the final executions. Nathaniel Ingersoll and five others paid a 15 pound bond to keep Burroughs out of prison and also collected depositions in his favor. (2021, July 31). He experienced significant heart failure in 2005. It has taken 10 weeks for George Michael's cause of death to emerge George Michael died as a result of heart and liver disease, a coroner has confirmed. Memorial plaque located on Masonic Temple. Other witnesses testified that Burroughs was secretive and had tried to censor what his previous wives told others about his behavior. On Monday afternoon, an independent autopsy ordered by George's family found . Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/george-burroughs-3529133. He served as minister of Salem Village from 1680 until he left in 1683. Ann Putnam the Book. He denyed that about the Mallossoes The resettlement of Falmouth was under way, and Burroughs was preparing to resume his old post there.. Sworne the first of June 1692 Although the jury had found no witches' marks on his body, he was nonetheless convicted of witchcraft and a conspiracy with the devil. Salem August 2'd 1692. I, Wiggin and Lunt, 1867.Roach, Marilynne K. The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege. A Facebook post said, "Toxicology report was made public by the MN prosecution revealing the cause of George Floyd's death was a fentanyl overdose." That's not what the county medical examiner . Contra Geo 063: Sarah Good Executed July 19, 1692, SWP No. With those words, under the tearful gaze of an ambivalent crowd the George Burroughs was hanged. 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. Wells: Sept: 28th 1691 p 294. Thomas Putnam, ( Charles W. Upham, Salem Witchcraft, Boston, 1867, II, 139-140. He married a third time; with this wife, Mary, he had a daughter. (Reverse) G. Burroughs . 6, Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston, MA. Mary Walcott 10, Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston, MA., Boston, MA..), The: Deposition of Simon Willard aged:about forty two years sayth: I being att the house of Mr Robt Lawrance: at falmoth in Casco Bay: in Septemb'r 1689 s'd Mr Lawrance was commending Mr George Borroughs his strength: saying that we none of us could doe what he could doe: for s'd he Mr Borroughs can hold out this gun with one hand Mr. Borroughs being there: sayd I held my hand here behind the lock: and took it up: and held it out. ), The deposistion of Sarah viber who testifieth and saith that on the 9'th day of may 1692 . The 46-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest while . According to the book The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege, a terrible thunder storm struck while the lawmen and Burroughs were on the road to Salem and the thunder, wind and falling trees frightened both the horses and the men. Sus: sheldon testifyed that Burroughs two wives Jurat in Curia [*Edward] Putnam](/tag/putnam_edward.html), ( Essex County Court Archives, Salem -- Witchcraft Vol. On April 30, 1692, Capt Jonathan Walcott and Thomas Putnam of Salem Village filed a complaint of witchcraft against George Burroughs, as well as five other people, on behalf of the afflicted girls Mary Walcott, Mercy Lewis, Abigail Williams, Ann Putnam, Jr, Susannah Sheldon, and Elizabeth Hubbard. 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. The Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury, Massachusetts. 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. We were told that he also was hung because someone wanted his property. that they & Every of them be & personaly app'r forthwith at the pr'sent Court of Oyer & Termin'r holden at Salem to Testify the truth to the best of thier knowledge on certain Indicm'ts Exhibited against mr George Burrough hereof Make return fail Not dated in Salem Aug't 4'th 1692 in the fourth yeare of Our Reign Lewis, Jone Johnson. However they were enough to fix the character of a witch upon him according to the rules of reasoning, by the judicious Gaule, in that case directed.. 27. Aug. 3, 1692. Keyzer: declared: to the Jury of Inquest that the evidence: in this paper is the truth upon oath: Aug'st 3 1692 Mercy Lewis. Co-Founder of The Walt Disney Company. Zeb Hill Jurat Executed, August 19, 1692, SWP No. He remained there for the next two years until he was unexpectedly drawn into the witch hysteria of 1692. Although Cotton's words describe, and to some degree justify the trials . take it in his hands or arms out of the Cannoo or boat and carry it and set it on the shore: and mr Borroughs being: there sayd that he had carryed one barrill of molasses.or sider: out of a cannoo that had like to have done him a displeasure: s'd mr Borroughs intimated: as if he did not want strength to do it but the disadvantage of the shore was such: that his foot slipping in the sand: he had like to have strained his legg This article was very interesting in that my wife, Georgina Burroughs, is the 8th generation Grand Daughter of George Burroughs. 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 "Rev. While most ministers were public figures, open and engaged with their community, Burroughs was an intensely private individual and a man of mystery. 024: Martha Carrier Executed, August 19, 1692, SWP No. [6], Burroughs was arrested on charges of witchcraft on May 4, 1692,[7] based on the accusation of some personal enemies from his former congregation who had sued him for debt. Ann Puttnam declared har above written evidence to We know that George Burroughs had been residing in Gadsden, Etowah County, Alabama 35901. His secretive nature didnt help either and made it seem like he was hiding something. Sam: Sewall Esqrs made Oath to the latter part.of this paper By Before the Honoured John Hallum 1916.Reversal of Attainder and Restitution (1710 1750). Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project, University of Virginia,salem.lib.virginia.edu/texts/tei/BoySal3R?term=&div_id=BoySal3-n3.173&chapter_id=n141&name=moumarBaker, Emerson W. George Burroughs; Salems Perfect Witch.Oxford University Press, 19 Aug. 2014, blog.oup.com/2014/08/george-burroughs-salems-perfect-witch/George Burroughs Case File.The Salem Witchcraft Papers, Volume I: Verbatim Transcripts of the Legal Documents of the Salem Witchcraft Outbreak of 1692, University of Virginia, salem.lib.virginia.edu/texts/tei/BoySal1R?div_id=n22. Jurat in Curia above written evidence: is the truth Aug'st 3: 1692 George Burroughs #[case] No (1) George Burroughs, ( Witchcraft Papers, no. Willard {testimoy about his great 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. Thomas Hutchinson,The History of the Colony and Province of Massachusetts-Bay (1767.) He was the only minister to have experienced this fate in American history. In 1690, Burroughs moved to Wells, Maine where he continued to preach. This was an excellent article! of Inquest Aug'st 3 1692 upon the oath she has taken Burroughs eldest son, Charles Burroughs, filed a claim stating that his fathers estate was seized after his conviction, leaving the family with very little money, and asked for 50 pounds in damages: To the Honoured Comitte apoined by the Gennarll Court to Inquire into the Names of Such as may be Meet for takeing of the atta[nbar ]der for the Makeing Some Restitucon & these Humbly & Sorroufully Shew that our Dear & Honourd father Mr George Burrough was aprehened in apriel 1692 at wells & Imprisoned Severall Months in Bostone & Salem Goales and at last Condemened & Executed for whichcraft which we have all the reason in the world to bleve he was innocent of by his carefull Chatecizing his Chilldren & upholding religion in his family and by his Solom & Savory written Instructions from prison we were Left a parsell of small Chilldren of us helpless & a mother in Law with one Small Child of her owne to take care of whereby she was not so Capable to take care of us by all which our fathers small Estate was most of it Lost & Expended and we Scattered we cannot tell Certanly what the lose may be but the Least we can Judge by best information was fifty poundes besides the damage that hath acrued to us many wayes thereby is Some hundreds of pounds wee Earnestly pray that the attainder may be taken of & if you please the fifty pounds may be restored.. 36. 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. George Burrough's children were among those. He was arrested on May 4 in Maine family legend says while he was eating dinner with his family and was forcibly returned to Salem, to be jailed there on May 7. As Baker suggests, although the issue was quickly settled, the arrest may have left a bad impression on the Salem villagers and may have set Burroughs up for further trouble in the community. According to Mathers account of the trial, in September, two witnesses came forward and offered testimony against Burroughs. On April 8, 1712, Burroughss children filed another petition stating that they had only received four pounds each which we think but a poor recompense, and asked that whatever additional amount that the court would award them be delivered to their brother George Burroughs. It was an odd trait indeed for a man in a profession that required many quiet hours dedicated to studying that Bible, preparing and giving sermons, and tending to the spiritual needs of his flock.. 037: Giles Corey Pressed to Death, September 16, 1692, SWP No. ), 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. Will Gill sworne Wheldon, Capt Wormwood testifyed about the Gun & Lewis, Jone Johnson. George Burrows. Letter from Rev. He was bid to look upon sus: sheldon. 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 Hillar, at the Princess-Arms, in Leaden-Hall-Street, over against St. Mary-Ax, and Joseph Collier, at the Golden Bible, on London Bridge. & 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. John Pierce and Peter's second wife, Sarah Cloyce, sister of Rebecca Nurse and Mary Easty (or Eastey), relocated to Salem End, now West Framingham. Rev. Another man of over eighty years was pressed to death under heavy stones for refusing to submit to a trial on witchcraft charges. This caused many in the audience to second guess his guilt. 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. 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. 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. 2, no. [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]). ). The previous minister, James Bayley, had gotten caught in the middle of the fighting and left after the parishioners failed to pay his salary. *Joseph Neale and that he had made Abigail Hobbs a wicth and: severall wicthes more: and he has continewed ever sence; by times tempting me to write in his book and greviously tortoring me by beating pinching and almost choaking me severall times a day and he also tould me that he was above wicth for he was a cunjurer [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 England Marriages Prior to 1700. 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 [Edward Putnam]?tag/putnam_edward.html) Burroughs was moved to Boston jail. 119: Margaret Scott Executed, September 22, 1692, SWP No. 7a, Mass. Peabody Essex Museum, Phillips Library, Salem, MA.). lock & rested it upon his breast Among those in the crowd was the colonys most prominent minister Reverend Increase Mather. After most humble and hearty thanks presented to your Honors for the great care and pains you have already taken for us, for which we are never able to make you recompense (and we believe you do not expect it of us; therefore a full reward will be given you of the Lord God of Israel, whose cause and interest you have espoused, and we trust this shall add to your crown of glory in the day of the Lord Jesus); and we, beholding continually the tremendous works of divine providence -- not only every day but every hour -- thought it our duty to inform your Honors of what we conceive you have not heard, which are high and dreadful: of a wheel within a wheel, at which our ears do tingle.