Person:Rebecca Andrew (1)

Witchcraft Accusation, Imprisonment & Trial

"The father of her second husband and her own daughter had already been imprisoned, and her husband had fled to escape a similar fate, when she was arrested on suspicion of witchcraft. She was long confined in prison, leaving four young children, one of them an infant, to the tender mercies of her neighbors. What made her case the more deplorable was, that she had long been partially deranged." ^S1

In 1692, her mother Rebecca, petitioned the Colonial authorities for her release, the original which stills exists.

To his Excellency Sir William Phips, Knt., Governor, and the honorable Council now sitting in Boston, the humble petition of Rebeccah Fox of Cambridge sheweth, That whereas Rebecah Jacobs (daughter of your humble petitioner) has a long time, even many months now lyen in prison for Witchcraft, and is well known to be a person crazed, distracted, and broken in mind, your humble petitioner does most humbly and earnestly seek unto your Excellency and to your Honors for relief in this case. Your petitioner, who knows well the condition of her poor daughter, together with several others of good repute and credit, are ready to offer their oaths that the said Jacobs is a woman crazed, distracted, and broken in her mind ; and that she has been so these twelve years and upwards. However, for (I think) above this half year the said Jacobs has lyen in prison, and yet remains there, attended with many sore difficulties. Christianity and nature do each of them oblige your petitioner to be very solicitous in this matter ; and although many weighty cases do exercise your thoughts, yet your petitioner can have no rest in her mind till such time as she has offered this her address on behalf of her daughter. ^{S1 p 353, 354}

As the witchcraft delusion spread and more prominent families were being accused, the Colonial Authorities re-examined the proceedings. In January 1693, those still remaining in jail, including Rebecca (Andrew) Jacobs, would be acquitted of witchcraft charges and released.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Thomas Andrew, in Paige, Lucius Robinson. History of Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1630-1877: With a Genealogical Register. (Boston, Massachusetts: H. O. Houghton, 1877)
   p 480.

   Rebecca [dau of Thomas & Rebecca Andrew], b. at Cambridge 18 Ap. 1646, m. John Frost 26 June 1666, who d. in 1672, and she m. George Jacobs, Jr., of Salem Village.

2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 Rebecca Andrewes, in Baldwin, Thomas W. Vital Records of Cambridge, Massachusetts, to the Year of 1850. (Boston: Wright & Potter Printing Co., 1914-15)
   1:21.

   Andrewes, Rebecca, d. of Thomas and Rebecca, Mar. 18, 1646.