Person:Mary Allen (330)

m. Bef 1644
  1. Mary AllenEst 1644 - 1695
  2. Sarah AllenEst 1646 - 1716
  3. Martha AllenEst 1650 - 1692
  4. Hannah Allen1652 - 1698
  5. Andrew Allen1657 - 1690
  6. John Allen1661 - 1690
m. 9 Jun 1665
  1. Nathaniel Toothaker1666 - 1683
  2. Martha Toothaker1668 - 1725/26
  3. Allen Toothaker1670 -
  4. Roger Toothaker1672 - 1745/46
  5. Sarah ToothakerEst 1674 -
  6. Mary Toothaker1675 - 1675
  7. Mary Toothaker1676 - 1683
  8. Andrew Toothaker1679 - Est 1760
  9. Margaret Toothaker1682/83 - Aft 1695
Facts and Events
Name[1] Mary Allen
Gender Female
Birth[1] Est 1644 Andover, Essex, Massachusetts, United States (probably)
Marriage 9 Jun 1665 Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United Statesto Dr. Roger Toothaker, Jr
Death[1][2] 5 Aug 1695 Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States"Slain by ye Indian Enemy"

She was also accused of witchcraft and pleaded guilty to that charge. Killed by Indians during an attack with her daughter.

The Toothakers and the Salem Witch Trials

Roger Toothaker was a doctor, although possibly more of a self taught herbalist by today's standards, and Mary was a midwife. This family had quite an involvement in the Witchcraft Trials at Salem. Dr. Toothaker had claimed to many people that his daughter (Martha Emerson) had killed a witch. On May 8th, 1692 Salem filed a complaint against Dr. Roger Toothaker for witchcraft, and he was taken to Boston Prison. He had been accused by Elizabeth Hubbard, a 17 year old servant of Dr William Griggs, a rival doctor.

On May 28th Mary Toothaker, her 9 year-old daughter Margeret along with other family members were arrested for witchcraft. Roger died June 16, 1692, in Boston Prison; he had probably been tortured. There is not a record of torture, it was most likely covered up as 24 men inspected the body to confirm he died of natural causes.

Mary Toothaker was examined by John Hawthorne on July 30, 1692. She said that she feared the Indians so much that she made a pact with the Devil to protect her. Of course knowing how the Witch Trials were conducted, the confession was either fabricated or coerced, though she probably did greatly fear the Indians. The area had been attacked by the Indians numerous times in the preceeding few years. She and her daughter Margeret stayed in prison. Two days after the examination the Indians attacked Billerica, burning the vacant Toothaker house. At the end of January 1693 they were freed and went back home to the burned out house. Mary Toothaker went on helping sick people. This family again suffered in the Indian Massacre of Billerica of August 5, 1695. Mary Allin Toothaker was killed, and daughter Margeret was captured by the Indians, never to be seen again.

Within the original limits of Billerica lived a considerable number of Indians. The Pawtuckets at Wamesitt and its vicinity, contained in 1675, about 250 souls. They had formerly been estimated at 3000. The right of the Indians to the township of Billerica seems to have been partially acknowledged by the English, as we find the inhabitants obtained a purchase from them in 1684. The Indians however, appear to have maintained a part of Wamesitt (now Tewksbury) which bordered Mrs. Winthrop's farm of 3000 acres. At this place they had a praying town. They inhabited a small tract of land on the east side of the Concord river, and bordering on the Merrimack river. Their plantation was seperated from the English by a ditch. It seems that the Indians at this place were quite civilized. They attended to the cultivation of their land and planted apple trees much like the English. The town of Tewksbury erected a statue in their honor in the Wamesitt section of town. (N 42 37.336 W 71 15.782 )

The Examination of Mary Toothaker

30 July 92 The Examination and confession of widow Toothaker Taken before Major Gidney, Mr Hauthorn, Mr Corwin & Cap'n Higginson.

After many questiones and negative answers returned and her Stricking Down of severall of the afflicted persons with her looks, she was Desyred to tell the truth in this matter She then said that this May last she was under great Discontentednes & troubled w'h feare about the Indians, & used often to dream of fighting with them.
Being asked what was the Devils temptation under her discontentmt she said she would confess if she could But that there was something at her breast that hindered her. she said she had often prayed but thought she was the worse for praying and knows not but that the Devil has tempted her not to pray, for her breath has been often Stopt as it was just now; Being asked if the Devil did not Desier her to renounce her baptisme, she answered that she had thoughts she was rather the worse for her baptisme and has wished she had not been baptised because she had not improved it as she ought to have done she saith she used to get into a corner alone and Desryed to prey but her mouth would be Stopt but sometymes she had been helped to say Lord be merce full to me a sinner.
Being again asked how far she had yeilded to Satan she said the Devil promised her she should not be discovered and if she was discovered & brought down that she should goe home Innocent & cleare but now find he has deluded her. Being again asked how long it is since saten furst wrought with her in this manner she said she could not well tell how long but thinks it is not two years. And confesses that she went In her Spirit [to Timo' Swans] and did often think of him &

http://etext.virginia.edu/etcbin/salem-browse?id=768

References
  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 The Allen Line, in Holman, Mary Lovering. Ancestry of Charles Stinson Pillsbury and John Sargent Pillsbury. (Concord, New Hampshire: Privately Printed at The Rumford Press, 1938)
    2:1015.

    "Mary2 Allen (Andrew1). born, probably in Andover, Mass., about 1644. died 5 Aug. 1695 in the Indian massacre at Andover. She married Roger Toothaker."

  2. Toothaker, in Foster, F. Apthorp (ed.). Vital Records of Billerica, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850. (Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1908)
    Deaths, p. 400.

    "Mary [dup. Toothakar], w. Roger, 'Slain by ye Indian Enemy,' Aug. 5, 1695."