Sarah Wildes: Difference between revisions
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==Family== |
==Family== |
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Sarah was one of seven children born to William Averell<ref group=note>William is known to have spelled his name Averell, with a second "e", notably in the signature on his will, although his children and descendants often spelled the name Averill. He was also called "Avery" in some town records.</ref> and Abigail Hynton, immigrants from [[Chipping Norton]], England who settled in [[Ipswich, Massachusetts]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Supplement for Insertion in the Averell-Averill-Avery Family|last=Avery|first=Clara Arlette|year=1922|page=3|url=http://books.google.com/books/about/Supplement_for_Insertion_in_the_Averell.html?id=d5hQGwAACAAJ|accessdate=December 30, 2013}}</ref> She married [[England|English]] immigrant John Wildes (born ca. 1615-1618<ref group=note>John self-reported his age as 17 as of 11 Apr 1635, when he registered for his voyage to New England. Later, 30 Nov 1677, he was said to be 62 years of age.</ref>), a widower with |
Sarah was one of seven children born to William Averell<ref group=note>William is known to have spelled his name Averell, with a second "e", notably in the signature on his will, although his children and descendants often spelled the name Averill. He was also called "Avery" in some town records.</ref> and Abigail Hynton, immigrants from [[Chipping Norton]], England who settled in [[Ipswich, Massachusetts]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Supplement for Insertion in the Averell-Averill-Avery Family|last=Avery|first=Clara Arlette|year=1922|page=3|url=http://books.google.com/books/about/Supplement_for_Insertion_in_the_Averell.html?id=d5hQGwAACAAJ|accessdate=December 30, 2013}}</ref> She married [[England|English]] immigrant John Wildes (born ca. 1615-1618<ref group=note>John self-reported his age as 17 as of 11 Apr 1635, when he registered for his voyage to New England. Later, 30 Nov 1677, he was said to be 62 years of age.</ref>), a widower with eight children, and had a son, Ephraim. Ephraim held the positions of town [[treasurer]] and [[constable]] during the period of the conspiracy.<ref name="Virginia">{{cite web|url=http://salem.lib.virginia.edu/texts/tei/BoySal3R?div_id=n136|title=Sarah Wilds Executed July 19, 1692|author=Staff|website=Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project|publisher=University of Virginia|accessdate=December 22, 2013}}</ref> They were residents of [[Topsfield, Massachusetts|Topsfield]], a neighboring town of [[Salem, Massachusetts|Salem]], in the [[Massachusetts Bay Colony]]. Two of her step-daughters, Sarah (Wildes) Bishop and Phoebe (Wildes) Day, and a step-son-in-law, [[Edward Bishop (Salem)|Edward Bishop Jr.]], were also accused of witchcraft. |
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One of Sarah's stepsons, Jonathan, was known for strange behavior, which local ministers theorized could be mental [[distraction]], [[demonic possession|possession by the devil]], or fakery, a story that Rev. [[John Hale (Beverly minister)|John Hale]] related during Sarah's trial, retrospectively considering it to be possible evidence of Sarah's witchcraft. Jonathan died in [[King Philip's War]], and no resolution was ever reached.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege|last=Roach|first=Marilynne K|year=2004|page=186|https://books.google.com/books?id=TvxES1lB6XoC|accessdate=July 31, 2015}}</ref> |
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Sarah's older brother, William Averill, Jr., who had held several prominent positions in Ipswich and Topsfield, died the year before Sarah's arrest, and was therefore unable to come to her defense. Sarah and her husband had been the witnesses to his will, demonstrating a relationship of trust. |
Sarah's older brother, William Averill, Jr., who had held several prominent positions in Ipswich and Topsfield, died the year before Sarah's arrest, and was therefore unable to come to her defense. Sarah and her husband had been the witnesses to his will, demonstrating a relationship of trust. |
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Revision as of 22:55, 31 July 2015
Sarah Wildes | |
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| Born | Sarah Averill March 16, 1627 |
| Died | July 19, 1692 (aged 65) |
| Cause of death | Execution by hanging |
| Nationality | English |
| Occupation | Housewife |
| Known for | Convicted of witchcraft in the Salem witch trials |
| Spouse |
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| Children |
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| Parents |
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Sarah Wildes (nee Averell/Averill; March 16, 1627 – July 29, 1692 [O.S. July 19, 1692]) was wrongly convicted of witchcraft during the Salem witch trials and executed by hanging. She maintained her innocence throughout the process, and was later exonerated.
Family
Sarah was one of seven children born to William Averell[note 1] and Abigail Hynton, immigrants from Chipping Norton, England who settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts.[1] She married English immigrant John Wildes (born ca. 1615-1618[note 2]), a widower with eight children, and had a son, Ephraim. Ephraim held the positions of town treasurer and constable during the period of the conspiracy.[2] They were residents of Topsfield, a neighboring town of Salem, in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Two of her step-daughters, Sarah (Wildes) Bishop and Phoebe (Wildes) Day, and a step-son-in-law, Edward Bishop Jr., were also accused of witchcraft.
One of Sarah's stepsons, Jonathan, was known for strange behavior, which local ministers theorized could be mental distraction, possession by the devil, or fakery, a story that Rev. John Hale related during Sarah's trial, retrospectively considering it to be possible evidence of Sarah's witchcraft. Jonathan died in King Philip's War, and no resolution was ever reached.[3]
Sarah's older brother, William Averill, Jr., who had held several prominent positions in Ipswich and Topsfield, died the year before Sarah's arrest, and was therefore unable to come to her defense. Sarah and her husband had been the witnesses to his will, demonstrating a relationship of trust.
Prior offences and feuds
Sarah had a reputation as a nonconformist in Puritan Massachusetts, with prior offences which may have made her an easy target for accusations of witchcraft. She was considered glamorous and forward as a young woman.[4] She was sentenced to be whipped for fornication with Thomas Wordell in November 1649, and later, in May of 1663, charged with wearing a silk scarf.[5]
Because she married John so soon after his first wife's death (about 7 months later), John's former in-laws held something of a grudge against her. This is particularly notable as the Goulds were related to the Putnam family, who were the principal accusers in the witchcraft hysteria. John Wildes testified against his first wife's brother, Lieutenant John Gould, in a treason trial, which further angered the family. Shortly after, John's ex-sister-in-law, Mary Goulds Reddington, began circulating rumors that Sarah was a witch. When John Wildes threatened to charge her with slander, she retracted her claims.[4][2][citation needed]
Ephraim also testified that he had been engaged to the daughter of Samuel Simmonds of Topsfield, which he broke off after confronting Mrs. Simmonds about rumors he had heard of her complaints about his mother, and that she had been angry with him ever since.[2]
Another source of contention was John's position as surveyor for Topsfield. Border disputes between Salem and Topsfield came out in Topsfield's favor.
Salem witch trials
Arrest
On 21 April 1692, John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin ordered Sarah, along with her stepdaughter, Sarah Wildes Bishop, Sarah Bishop's husband, Edward Bishop, and six others (William and Deliverance Hobbs, Nehemiah Abbot, Mary Eastey, Mary Black, and Mary English) to be arrested on "high suspicion" of witchcraft performed on Ann Putnam, Jr., Mercy Lewis, Mary Walcott, and others, due to a complaint by Thomas Putnam and John Buxton.
Sarah was arrested by the Marshall, George Herrick, who then ordered Constable Ephraim Wildes to arrest Deliverance Hobbs. Hobbs, whether through coercion or not, made a jailhouse confession and implicated Sarah Wildes as a witch. Ephraim himself testified that he believed Hobbs' accusation to be vengeance against him for arresting her.[2]
Her examination took place the following day. Sarah Bibber is specifically named in the court records as having had a fit, claiming to see Sarah's specter "upon the beam", and the other accusers followed suit. Ann Putnam, Jr. later testified that she herself was tortured during Sarah's examination, and that she witnessed the torture of Mary Walcott, Mercy Lewis, and Abigail Williams. Sarah stated her innocence, going as far as to say she had never even seen the accusers before. The old accusations by John's ex-sister-in-law, Mary Reddington ("John Herricks [step]mo[ther]"), resurfaced.
During her own examination, Deliverance Hobbs claimed that Sarah's apparition, along with that of Mercy Lewis, had previously "tore [her] almost to peices [sic]" as she lay in her bed.[2]
On 13 May 1692, Sarah was transferred to the Boston Gaol.[6] In his later request for restitution, Ephraim said that he or his father made trips to visit her once or twice a week, at great personal expense.[2]
Trial
Along with Sarah Good, Rebecca Nurse, Susannah Martin, and Elizabeth Howe, Sarah Wildes was tried on 30 June 1692.
Ann Putnam testified:
I have been afflected ever sence the begi[n]ing of march with a woman that tould me hir name was willds and that she came from Topsfeild but on the 22 April 1692 Sarah willd did most greviously torment me dureing the time of hir Examination and then I saw that Sarah willds was that very woman that tould me hir name was willds and also on the day of hir Examination I saw Sarah willds or hir Apperince most greviously tortor and afflect mary walcott, Mircy lewes and Abigail willia [ms] and severall times sence Sarah wilds or hirs Apperance has most greviously tortored and afflected me with variety of torturees as by pricking and pinching me and almost choaking me to death.[2]
Sarah Wildes was condemned by the Court of Essex County for practicing witchcraft.
Execution
She was executed by hanging in Danvers, Massachusetts (then Salem Village) at Gallows Hill, along with Elizabeth Howe, Susannah Martin, Sarah Good, and Rebecca Nurse, on July 19, 1692; she was 65 years of age. Rev. Nicholas Noyes was present, and Sarah Good famously predicted his demise if she should be executed.
Aftermath
Stepdaughter Phoebe Wildes Day was arrested in September 1692, but there is no record of her going to trial. Stepdaughter Sarah Wildes Bishop and her husband, Edward, having been transferred to Boston prison, escaped in October 1692 and went into hiding.
On 26 June 1693, John Wildes married Mary, the widow of George Jacobs, Sr. (George having been executed for witchcraft, as well). He died on 14 May 1705, in Topsfield.
Sarah was exonerated in 1710, along with many other condemned. Her son Ephraim, responding that "the los of so dere a frind... cannot be mede up" (sic), was awarded 14 pounds as restitution.[2]
The Salem Witch Trials Memorial includes a bench inscribed with the names of all those executed, including Sarah Wildes. Arthur Miller, who wrote The Crucible, a play based on the trials, spoke at the dedication, as did Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel.[7]
Notes
- ^ William is known to have spelled his name Averell, with a second "e", notably in the signature on his will, although his children and descendants often spelled the name Averill. He was also called "Avery" in some town records.
- ^ John self-reported his age as 17 as of 11 Apr 1635, when he registered for his voyage to New England. Later, 30 Nov 1677, he was said to be 62 years of age.
References
- ^ Avery, Clara Arlette (1922). Supplement for Insertion in the Averell-Averill-Avery Family. p. 3. Retrieved December 30, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Staff. "Sarah Wilds Executed July 19, 1692". Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project. University of Virginia. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
- ^ Roach, Marilynne K (2004). The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege. p. 186.
{{cite book}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Unknown parameter|https://books.google.com/books?id=ignored (help) - ^ a b - Salem Witchcraft Trials: The Convicted and Executed: 19 Victims Who Did Not Survive, NationalGeographic.com; accessed July 30, 2015.
- ^ Robinson, Enders A. (1992). The Devil Discovered. Hippocrene Books. p. 295. Retrieved December 30, 2013.
- ^ Essex Institute Historical Collections, Volume 42. 1906. p. 141. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
- ^ Salem Massachusetts – Salem Witch Trials The Stones: July 10 and July 19, 1692, salemweb.com; accessed December 24, 2014.
Further reading
- Upham, Charles (1980). Salem Witchcraft. New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., v. 2, pp. 135, 268, 480.
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