Person:Ann Unknown (1138)

ADDITIONAL NOTES:ANN UNKNOWN GREENSLADE PUDEATER

Nothing is known of Ann's parentage, birthplace or birthdate. It is assumed that she was born about 1617-1622

based upon her age of 70-75 at death in 1692. It would also be assumed that she was born in England as emigration

did not begin to the Maine area until well after her presumed birthdate. Her maiden name is unknown. We can find

references in Maine for her first husband and some of her children, but she is not mentioned. It is assumed that

she was in Maine with her first husband and her children. In 1673 references for her husband and children began

showing up in Salem, Massachusetts.

The first reference using Ann's name was 1677 in Salem: Thomas Greenslett, dying intestate, court granted administration upon his estate to Ann Greenslett, who was to pay the debts as far as the inventory, which was 3 li, 16s, sd., would allow.

In 1677 or later she remarried Jacob Pudeater: From Torreys "New England Marriages": Greenslad, Thomas (-1674) & Ann _____ (-1692), m/2 Jacob PUDEATOR/PUDEATER 1677+; by 1652; Falmouth,

ME/Scarborough, ME {Salem 2:398, 3:64; Averill 1:112; Sv. 2:310; GDMNH 289; Porter 25; EIHC 3:228, 4:37}

An inquiry by the Salem Quarterly Court in 1680 contains the following testimony regarding the death of Jacob Pudeator's first wife:

  John Barton(sig) Chirurgeon of Salem, testified that "being called to ye house of Jacob Pudeator for to visett 

his former wife I found her upon ye bed in a sencelesse stupifyed condition not able to spake one word, felt of her hands & she was extream cold, with little or noe pulse. After Enquiry how she came into that condition ye said Pudeater with ye widow Greenslet did answer that she had been a broad adrinking of Rum & being a very slibery cold time, she fell downe & not being able to rise againe lay in ye said place some considerable time till somebody found her & brought her into ye house and after administration of several Medicines, in some few days she was recovered, & sat up in a chair by the fire, haueing some competency of sence & reason, then there being Mr. John Browne, Sr. admonishing her, she seemed to be troubled for her fault & promised amendment. I ye said Barton chargeing & requiring ye said Pudeator & ye nurss Greenslet not to giue her any rum or other strong Drinkes for they answered they shall not need to doe itt, for she would haue itt if it was to be had, for their backs could not be turned, but she would out of doors & carry anything with her to pawne for Rum, & as her husband said she had made away with most of ye necessaryes of ye house for Rum, soe I left her by ye fireside in a hopefull way of recouervy, & in a short time after I heard she was dead, much to my amazement." Sworn, May 31, 1680, before Bartho. Gidney(sig), commissioner.

  Ann Pudeator testified that the night her husband's first wife died she was in the same room and saw Pudeator 

give his wife Rum in a porringer, as she sat in her chair, three several times, and, about a half an hour after, they saw that she was dead. Sworn, Apr 26, 1680, before Wm. Hathorne(sig), assistant.

  Humphrey Case, aged about fifty years, testified that the night before she died he heard her ask for a dram, 

whereupon he gave her a white earthen porringer full of brandy. She drank part of it and he urged her to drink it all, but she said she would bye and bye. The porringer was as full each time as it could be conveniently handed one from another. Sworn, Apr 27, 1680, before Bartho Gedney(sig), commissioner.

  Symon Booth, aged about thirty-nine years, and Recha Booth, aged about thirty-nine years, deposed that about two 

and three-quarters years ago they lived in Salem in a house of Jacob Pudeater's and Isabell, wife of said Jacob, on the afternoon before she died, about three of four o'clock, came to their house and smoked a pipe of tobacco. She talked rationally and seemed in reasonable good health. At about eight or nine o'clock they heard she was dead, and Symon testified that, at eleven or twelve o'clock, he saw her stretched out dead upon a board or table in Pudeator's house.

In 1682 Jacob Pudeator died.

  Will of Jackob (his mark) Pudetor, proved 28:9:1682:"Imprimis.  After my Debts And Funeral Expences Dyscharged 

that the Remayner of the Whole Estate both housing Land & Goods shall Be for ye use of my wife An Pudetor During her Naturall Life. Secondly: my will is that If It plese god to tak me out of the work By this Sickness then the five pound that John Grenslitt oeth me the Next year shall Be frely for Given him. Thirdly. My will is that the other fore of my wifes Children that is to saye Thomas Grenslitt & Ruth & Samuel & James Grenslit shall haue Each of them five pounds A peece out of the Estate After My wiues Desece. Forthly. My will is that after My wiues Desece & the formar Legesyespayd the Remayner of my Estate shall fall to Isec Pudetor my Cosen and After his Decece to the Next that is Nerest of my Relation & soe from one Jeneration to Another. Further My will is that My Loving wife An Pudetor shall Be My Sole Exececetris & haue desired my Louing frends Cosen Mr. John Browne Sr., Mr Francis Scerry & John Massey to be the Ouarsesears of this my will & that they shall be satisfied for Any Extraordenary Paynes." Wit: John Browne(Sig) and Francis Skerry(sig)

In 1692 Ann Pudeater was charged with sorcery and witchcraft: Transcriptions of arrest warrants and trial testimony is listed under "misc notes" below.

On 22 Sep 1692 Ann Pudeater was executed by hanging at Gallows Hill, Salem, Massachusetts. The disposition of her body is unknown. A stone commemorating her was engraved and placed at the witches' memorial in Salem, Massachusetts along with stones honoring the other executed victims of the witchcraft paranoia in Salem.

MISC NOTES

http://etext.virginia.edu/salem/witchcraft/Essex/ On-line references to the quarterly court of Salem.

TRIAL TRANSCRIPTS

The Salem Witchcraft Papers, Volume 3 : Verbatim Transcripts of the Legal Documents of the Salem Witchcraft

Outbreak of 1692 / edited and with an Introduction and Notes by Paul Boyer and Stephen Nissenbaum Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Library ________________________________________ " Case 1 Ann Pudeator Executed, September 22, 1692 (See also: George Jacobs, Sr. -- Mittimus.) o Warrant (Warrant for Arrest of Ann Pudeater and Alice Parker) o Section (Sarah Churchill v. Ann Pudeator, Bridget Bishop, and George Jacobs, Sr.) o Examination (Examination of Ann Pudeator) o Summons (Summons for Witnesses v. Ann Pudeator and Alice Parker) o Indictment (Indictment v. Ann Pudeator) o Section (Sarah Churchill v. Ann Pudeator) o Section (Mary Warren v. Ann Pudeator) o Section (Elizabeth Hubbard v. Ann Pudeator) o Section (Ann Putnam, Jr. v. Ann Pudeator) o Section (Sarah Bibber v. Ann Pudeator) o Section (Mary Walcott v. Ann Pudeator) o Section (Samuel Pickworth v. Ann Pudeator) o Section (Ann Putnam, Jr. v. Ann Pudeator) o Section (John Best, Sr. v. Ann Pudeator) o Section (John Best, Jr. v. Ann Pudeator) o Section (Petition of Ann Pudeator) Ann Pudeator Executed, September 22, 1692 (See also: George Jacobs, Sr. -- Mittimus.) (Warrant for Arrest of Ann Pudeater and Alice Parker) To: To the Marshall of Essex or Constable in Salem

  You are in theire Majes'ts names hereby required forthwith to apprehend and bring before us Alice parker the 

wife of John parker of Salem and Ann pudeator of Salem Widdow who stand Charged with sundry acts of Witchcraft by them Committed this day Contrary to the Laws of our Sov'r Lord & Lady. faile not Dated Salem. May the. 12'th 1692

  us *John Hathorne [unclear: ] Assists 
  *Jonathan. Corwin 
  May 12'th -- 1692 I have apprehended the a bove named persons and Brought them att the place apointed by your honors 
  

r mee *George Herrick Marshall of Essex

  (Reverse) copyed 

(Sarah Churchill v. Ann Pudeator, Bridget Bishop, and George Jacobs, Sr.)

   Sarah Churchwell confesseth that Goody pudeater brought the book to this Examin't and she signed it, but did not know her at that tyme but when she saw her she knew her to be the same and that Goody Bishop 

Olliver appeared to this Examinant & told her she had killed John Trask's Child, (whose Child dyed about that tyme) & said Bishop Olliver afflicted her as alsoe did old George Jacobs, and before that time this Examin't being afflicted could not doe her service as formerly and her s'd Master Jacobs called her bitch witch & ill names & then afflicted her as #[before] above and that pudEater brought 3: Images like Mercy Lewis, Ann putnam, Eliza' Hubbard & they brought her thornes & she stuck them in the Images & told her the persons whose likeness they were, would be afflicted & the other day saw Goody Olliver [fitt] sate upon her kneee,

Jurat in Curia by Sarah Churchill

This Confession was taken before John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin Esq'rs 1'0 Juny 1692, as attests

• Tho Newton

(Examination of Ann Pudeator)

   An Puddeater: examined before the Majestrates of Salem July 2: 92 Sarah Churchwell: was bid to: say what she: had to say of her: You have charged her with bringing the book to you: 
  A Yes said: Churchwell 
  have you seen her since. A no: 
  goodwife puddeater: you have: formerly: bin complaynd of: we now further enquire: here is one person: saith you 

brought her: the book Sarah Churchell: look on the person: ses Churchill: you did bring me the book: I was at Goodman Jacobses

  Puddeater s'd I never saw the Woman before now::it was told puddeater this mayd charged you with: bringing her: 

the book: at the last examinat'n Puddeater s'd I never saw: the Devils book nor knew that he had one Lt Jer: Neal: was asked what he could say of this woman Neal s'd she had been an ill carriaged woman: & since my wife has bin sick of the small pox: this woman has come to my house pretending kindnes: and I was glad to see it: she asked: whether she might use our morter: which was used: for my wife: and I consented to it: but I afterward repented of it: for the nurs told. me my wife was the wors: for senc she was very ill of a flux: which she had not before

  When the officer came: for puddeater: the nurs s'd you are come to late for my wife grew wors till she dyed: s'd 

Pudeater had often threatned my wife:

  Eliz Hubard: s'd she: had seen s'd Pudeater [] s'd Mary Wolcot: but she had not hurt her she had seen her with 

goodwife Nurs goody puddeater what did you doe with the ointments that you had in the hous so many of them:she s'd I never had ointment nor oyl but neats foot oyl in my hous since my husband dyed: but the Constable Joseph Neal affirmd she had: she had near 20 that had oynment or greas: in them: a little in a thing: she s'd she never had any oyntment but neats foot oyl: in the hous but what was in these things the Constable speakes of.

  A. It was greas: to make sope of::but: why: did you put them in so many things when one would have held all: but 

answerd not the porpose: but the constabl. s'd oyntments were of several sorts

  Sarah Vibber did you ever se this woman: before now answered no An putn[u]m s'd she had never seen: her but 

since she come: to Salem Town last: s'd Putman fell into a fitt: & s'd Puddeater was commanded to take her by the wrist & did & s'd Putnum was well presently: many warin fell into: two fitts quickly after. one another: & both times was helped: by s'd Puddeaters: taking her by the wrist

(Summons for Witnesses v. Ann Pudeator and Alice Parker)

   Wm & Mary by the Grace of God of England Scotland France & Ireland King & Queen defend' s &c. 
  To the Sheriff of Essex or deputy Greeting 
   
  We Cond you to Warn John Wesgate John Bullock Martha Dutch Susanna Dutch Lt. Jeremiah Neale John Beckett John Best Jun'r 

Jno Loader Sarah parott

  That they & Every of them appear at the Next Court of Oyer & Terminer holden at Salem on the Next Tuesday at 

Twelve of the Clock There to Testify the Truth to the best of thier knowledge On certain Indictments to be Exhibited against Alice Parker & Ann Pudeater hereof Make return fail not dated in Salem Sep'r 5'th 1692 in the fourth yeare of Our Reign.

  *Stephen Sewall Cle
  (Reverse) 
  Sept 5'th 1692 I have Sumoned and have Warned all the within named persons John Best Jun'r Except s'd Best 

beeing Removed to Ipswich that thay and Every of them appeare to Give in their Evid: &c: att time and place within written

'r me *George Herrick Dep't Sheriff

(Indictment v. Ann Pudeator)

  Essex in the Province of [unclear: ] the Massachussetts Bay In New England ss 
  Annoq'e R R's & Reginae Gulielmi & Mariae Angliae &c Quarto Annoq'e Do

1692 //

  The Juriors for our Sov'r Lord and Lady the King & Queen 

sent That Ann Pudeator of Salem in the County of Essex #[Widow] aforesaid Widdow The second day of July in the Yeare Aforesaid and divers others days and times as well before as after Certaine detestable Arts called Witchcraft & Sorceries Wickedly Mallitiously and felloniously hath used practised and Exercised At and within the Township of Salem aforesaid in & upon & against one Mary Warren of Salem aforesaid Single Woeman, by which said Wicked Acts the said Mary Warren the second day of July aforesaid and divers other days and times both before and after was and is Tortured Afflicted Pined Consumed Wasted & Tormented, and also for sundry other Acts of Witchcraft by the said Ann Pudeater Comitted and done before and Since that time Ags't the peace of Our Sov'r Lord & Lady the King & Queen theire Crowne and Dignity and ags't the forme of the Stattute in that Case made and Provided

  Witnesses 
  Mary Warren Jurat 
  Sarah Churchel Jurat 
  Ann Putman Jurat 
  (Reverse) 
  Ann Pudeator on Mary Warren 
(Sarah Churchill v. Ann Pudeator) 
   Sarah Churchel: affirmd: to: the Jury of inquest: that Ann Puddeatee: has: greatly afflicted her s'd Churchel 

by: choaking her pinching her & sticking pinse into her: & by pressing of her: &: making her sett her hand to: the book upon: the oath she hath: taken Sept: 6: 1692

  Sworn in Court. 
  & brought poppets to her to stick pins to w'ch she did & the 'sons aflicted by it 
(Mary Warren v. Ann Pudeator) 
   Mary Warin upon her oath: that she hath taken affirms: to the Jury of inquest that Ann Puddeater hath often: 

afflicted me: by biting me pinching me sticking pins in me: & choaking me: and particularly on the 2 day of July: att her examination: s'd Puddeater did: afflict me greatly: also she or her Apperition did offer: me the book to sign to: she told me also that she was the caus of Jno Turners falling off: the cherry tree: to his great: hurt: & which: amazed him in his head & almost kild him: she told me also: she was the caus of: Jeremiah Neals wifes death: & I saw her hurt: Eliz Hubbard: Mary Walcot: & An Putnam: the last night she: afflicted: me also: last night: by her wichcrafts & I doe veryly: beleev: s'd Ann Puddeater is a: wich: she affirms puddeater: told her: she kild har husband Puddeater: & his first wife and that she was an instrument of Jno Bests: wifes death: Sept 7: 1692 Sworne in Court

(Elizabeth Hubbard v. Ann Pudeator) 
   Eliz Hubberd affirmd: upon: the oath she hath taken thatt: she hath seen: Ann: Puddeate: Afflict Mary: Warin: & 

that she or her Apperition did hurt me and Mary Warin the last night before. the Jury of inquest: Sep'r: 7: 1692 & that she hath aflicted her since she came into Court

Jurat in Curia.

(Ann Putnam, Jr. v. Ann Pudeator)

   An Putnam affirmed: upon: her oath: to: the Jury of inquest: that: she: hath seen Ann Puddeater: afflict Mary 

Warin: Mary Walcot: & Eliz Hubbard: often: and perticulerly: att the time: of her: last examination: before the Majestrates: at Mr Tho. Beadles: she also: hath afflicted me: both then and at other times: Sept'r 7: 1692

  Owned her Evidence in Court 

(Sarah Bibber v. Ann Pudeator)

   Sarah Vibber: upon: her: oath affirmed to the Jury of inquest that shee: hath seen: An Puddeater afflict: Mary 

Warin: Mary Walcot & An Putnam: both at the time of her examination at Mr Tho Beadles; and the last night she: together with goodwife Parker. did afflict: the forenamed: Warin Walcot & Putnum: s'd Puddeater: hath afflicted: me: to: and i do beleeve she is a wich Sep'r 7: 1692 (Mary Walcott v. Ann Pudeator)

   Mary Walcot: upon oath affirmd to the Jury of inquest: that: she hath seen An Puddeater: afflict Mary: Warin: 

An Putnam: & Eliz Hubbard: at the time of her examination: at Mr Tho Beadles: and also the last night: I saw: her: afflict Mary Warin #[Mercy Lewis] An Putman & Eliz Hubbard: by wichcraft: & I verily beleev: s'd Pudeater: is a witch September: 7: 92. & that this day she hath afflicted this deponent.

  Jurat in Curia Sep'r 10. 92. Attest *S Sewall 
  I find: by: my Characters: which I took: at the examination of An Puddeater that it was on the 2 day of July: 

that she was examined: at mr Tho Beadles thay bearing: date so:

Septr 7: 1692

• Simon Willard:

Reverse) Several Witnesses against An Pudeator (Samuel Pickworth v. Ann Pudeator)

  The testimony of Samuall Pikworth Whou testifieth that a bout six weckes agoo: I this deponant was coming along salim strete 

tween ann pudeaters hous and Captin higison hous. it being in the evening: and I this deponant saw awoman: neare Captin higisonn Cornar. the which I sopposed to be ann Pudeatar. and in a moment of time she pasid by me as swifte as if a burd flue by me and I saw said woman goo in to ann Pudeat [eat] ers hous Jurat in Curia

• S Sewall Cl

Sam'll Pickworth: affirmeth: that the above written evidence is the truth: upon oath: to: the Jury of Inquest: Sept'r 7: 92

Ann Putnam, Jr. v. Ann Pudeator)

  (Reverse) 
  September the 7. 92 ann Putnam afarmid to the grand Inquest that ann pudeatar: tould har that she flu by aman in 

the neight in to a hous

  (Reverse) Sam Pickworth 

(John Best, Sr. v. Ann Pudeator)

  The testimony of Jno Best Senior aged about 48 years Testifieth & saith that some years Last past that I this 

Deponat did often hear my wife saye that Ann pudeater would not Lett her alone untill she had killd her By her often pinching & Bruseing of her Till her Earms & other parts of her Body Looked Black by Reson of her soer pinching of her in the Tyme of her sickness of my wife did affarm that itt was an pudeater that afflict her & stood in the Belefe of itt as Long as she Lived. Jurat in Curia

• S Sewall Cle

Sep'r 7'th 92 Jno Best: afirmed: to the truth of the above written: before the Jury of inquest. Sept'r 7: 1692 (Reverse) Jno Best Oath ags't An: Pudeator -- (John Best, Jr. v. Ann Pudeator)

  The testimony of John best Junear hou testifieth uppon his oath before the grand Inquest that his Mother did 

severall tims in har siknis complain of ann pudeatar of salim the wife of Jacob pudeatar how she had beewiched har and that she did believe she would kill har before she had dun: and soo she said severall times duering hear siknis: until har death allso I this deponant: did severall times goo in to the woulds to fech my fathars Cowes: and I did drive goode pudeatars Cow back from. our Cowes: and I being all alone: ann pudeatar would Chide me when I Came houm: for turning the Cow bak: by Reson of which I this deponant did ConClude said pudeater was a wich

Jurat in Curia (Reverse) John best Junior against pudeatar

(Petition of Ann Pudeator)

  The humble Petition of Ann Poodeater unto the honoured Judge and Bench now Setting in Judicature in Salem humbly Sheweth: 
  That Wheras your Poor and humble Petitioner being condemned to die and knowing in my own conscience as I shall 

shortly answer it before the great God of heaven who is the searcher & knower of all hearts: That the Evidence of Jno Best Sen'r and Jno Best Jun'r and Sam'll Pickworth w'ch was given in against me in Court were all of them altogether false & untrue and besides the abovesaid Jno Best hath been formerly whipt and likewise is r rded for a Lyar I would humbly begg of yo'r honours to Take it into your Judicious and Pious consideration That my life may not be taken away by such false Evidence and wittnesses as these be likewise the Evidence given in against me by Sarah Church and Mary Warren I am altogether ignorant off and know nothing in the least measure about it nor nothing else concerning the crime of witchcraft for w'ch I am condemned to die as will be known to men and angells att the great day of Judgment begging and imploring your prayers att the throne of grace in my behalfe and your poor and humble petition'r shall for ever pray as she is bound in duty for your hon'rs health and happiness in this life and eternall felicity in the world to come

  (Reverse) 
  Ann Pudeaters Peti
   ( Essex County Archives, Salem -- Witchcraft Vol. 1 Page 113 ) 

________________________________________

________________________________________

-711-

Ann Pudeator Written By Rachel Walker Salem Witch Trials in History and Literature An Undergraduate Course, University of Virginia Spring Semester 2001 When Ann was arrested on May 12th 1692, she was a twice-widowed woman of property in Salem Town. Although her testimony is well-documented in the transcripts of the Court of Oyer and Terminer, details of her origins before the trials of 1692 are largely unknown. Ann is thought to have been born in England sometime between 1622 and 1627. She married her first husband, Thomas Greenslit (also spelled Greenslade) and had five children with him sometime before 1677. Her name appears for the first time in the public record of Salem Town on the certificate of inventory for the his estate following his death in 1674. The family had likely lived in Falmouth, Maine during the birth of Ann's children, Thomas, Ruth, John, James, and Samuel, between 1650 & 1660. Although the eventual whereabouts of each of her children remains almost as unknown as Ann's own activities, her eldest son Thomas Pudeator went on to play a central role in the trial of the Reverend George Burroughs. He testified to the man's extraordinary feat of strength in lifting a gun at arm's length with just one finger in the barrel. In Salem Story, historian Bernard Rosenthal suggests that this may have been a last-ditch effort by Thomas to save his own mother from execution by appearing to join sides with the witch-hunters.

Ann was left destitute after her first husband died in 1674, probably working in the paid profession of a midwife and nurse. Her name does not appear again until March of 1678, when she is recorded as the wife of her neighbor Jacob Pudeator, a man about 20 years her junior. This unusual circumstance was calls attention to the fact that Ann had served as nurse to Jacob's first wife Isabel during her illness, and married Jacob less than a year after Isabel's unexplained death between 1675-1676. Jacob, too, passed away in 1682, leaving monetary bequests to each of Ann's five children, as well as the remainder of his property to Ann herself. Afterwards, Ann occupied the rather precarious position of being a professional woman of property in a male-dominated society.

Historian Carol F. Karlsen suggests that Ann became a prime target for allegations of witchcraft after she scolded John Best, Jr. for returning her lost cow from his fold. Best claimed that "he did conclude said Pudeator was a witch" because she "would chide me when I came home from turning the cow back." In her book, The Devil in the Shape of a Woman, Karlsen argues that women such as Ann who dared to defy the Puritan gender standard of the unassertive and docile female put themselves at great risk to be singled out for punishment through witchcraft accusations. She also implies that Ann's occupation of midwife, regardless of whether she earned money (for this is not confirmed), may have threatened other male medical professionals in Salem Town, leading to accusations. Birth was a risky act and filled with apprehension in that time period, loss of life during the process was often blamed on the malignant forces of the devil at work through witchcraft.

Whatever the motivations for her accusers, a warrant for Ann Pudeator and another woman, Alice Parker, was written on May 12th 1692. Pudeator was brought to trial on July 2nd, 1692. Sarah Churchill was the first to accuse Ann of having tormented her, by appearing with the book of the devil and asking her to sign it. She also accused Ann of having presented her with several images of accusing girls that she proceeded to torture like voodoo dolls with thorns. Five more of the circle of accusing girls confirmed these accusations - both Mary Warren and Ann Putnam falling into fits during Pudeator's examination and then being cured by a touch of Ann's hand. In addition to these displays, Elizabeth Hubbard, Mary Walcott, and Sarah Bibber also presented testimony that Pudeator had afflicted them through pinching, pressing and choking. The constable Joseph Neal described his discovery of "curious containers of various ointments" suspected to have been associated with Ann's alleged witchcraft at her house upon her arrest, and asserted that she was an "ill-carriaged woman" whom he was convinced had adversely affected his wife in her service as midwife. During her examination Ann insisted that these jars were simply filled with Neat's Foot Oil. Incriminating evidence of Ann's relation to animal familiars was given by Samuel Pickworth, who related seeing a bird fly by one night as he walked upon Salem Street, and soon after noticing a woman coming out of Ann's home, presumably the same entity as the bird. Going even farther, Mary Warren said that Pudeator had caused John Turner to fall from a tree, and accused Ann of killing her husband Jacob, Jacob's first wife Isabel, as well as the wives of John Best and Joseph Neal.

Throughout the trials, Ann remained consistent but relatively unassertive in her declarations of innocence. She insisted that she did not know her accusers, nor anything of the art of witchcraft. In response to curiosity about the ointments, she simply explained they were containers of grease to make her soap. Although her testimony in itself was not particularly noteworthy, her petition to the court, written before her death, merits acknowledgement for its simple denunciation of her accusers. Bernard Rosenthal brings this to light in his book, Salem Story,, pointing out that Ann accused Mary Warren, Sarah Churchill, John Best, Sr. and Jr., and Samuel Pickworth of bearing false witness against her. Particularly of note was her scathing addition that John Best Jr. was a known liar: "the abovesaid Jno Best hath been formerly whipt and likewise is [recorded] for a Lyar". In retrospect, this charge cast considerable doubt upon the validity of John's accusations, as well as the credibility of any court that would admit the testimony of a publicly acknowledged liar.

Strangely enough, not one of Ann's children came to her defense during the trials. Widowed and abandoned by her remaining kinfolk, Ann Pudeator, at that time somewhere between 70 and 75 years old, was hanged upon Gallows Hill on Sept. 22nd 1692, in what would be the final set of executions resulting from the Salem Witch trials.

Bibliography

Boyer and Nissenbaum, eds. "Pudeator, Ann." in The Salem Witchcraft Papers. 1977. Karlsen, Carol. The Devil in the Shape of a Woman. [1998], 1987. Piper, Deborah. "Re: [Salem Witch-L] Ann Greenslet Pudeator." 26 Apr. 2000. Salem Witch Descendents ListServe Rosenthal, Bernard. Salem Story, 1993

1. ↑ Ann Pudeator, in Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.