ViewsWatchersBrowse |
Mary Allen
d.5 Aug 1695 Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States
Family tree▼ (edit)
m. Bef 1644
(edit)
m. 9 Jun 1665
Facts and Events
She was also accused of witchcraft and pleaded guilty to that charge. Killed by Indians during an attack with her daughter. [edit] The Toothakers and the Salem Witch TrialsRoger 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 ) [edit] The Examination of Mary Toothaker30 July 92 The Examination and confession of widow Toothaker Taken before Major Gidney, Mr Hauthorn, Mr Corwin & Cap'n Higginson.
http://etext.virginia.edu/etcbin/salem-browse?id=768 References
|