USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Records and files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, vol 7 > Part 5
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50
*Inventory of the estate of Richard Richards, deceased, t Autograph.
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RECORDS AND FILES
1678]
Upon complaint against several persons in Marblehead for opposing or abusing the military officers in the execution of their office, John Codner, and Peeter Harling and his wife were fined. [Wm. Bacheler was ordered to appear at the next court. - Waste Book.]*
appraised June 25, 1678, by Edward Flintt and Richard Croade, t and allowed, 28 : 4 : 1678, upon oath of the widow: in ye lower room, a Feather bed & Bolster with ye Bedsteed, a Rug and ye Furniture being old, 3li .; a Table & Forme, a chest & 2 Boxes, 1li .; 4 old chaires, 5s .; An old Iron pott, 3s., an Iron kettle, 8s .; 2 Iron hakes, 6s., a paire of Tongs & fire shovell, 4s .; A Fryeing pan & Brass skillett, 4s .; A grid Iron, 2s., an old smoothing Iron, & 2 heaters, 2s .; 4 old pewter platters, 8s .; 2 Jarrs, 2s., 5 Cheese Fatts, 18d .; 4 Woodden Boles & 3 Trayes, 5s .; An old Broken woollen wheele, 6d., an old Lynnen wheele, 2s .; 6 old Trenchers & 3 old earthen potts, 1s .; an old ax, 1s .; an old paire of cards, 6d .; in the chamber, An old bed, an old Bedsteed & Furniture to ye Bed, 1li .; A horse coller, a paire of hames & a cart saddle, 3s. 6d .; an old rideing saddle without stirrops or girts, 4s .; A peece of Tarrd roape & some old Iron, 5s .; 3 old Tubbs, 2 old Trayes & old Troff, 3s .; An old hoe, 18d., an old paire of wheeles & cart with ye Appertenances, 16s., 17s. 6d .; total, 9li. 8s. 6d.
*Summons, dated June 27, 1678, for the appearance of John Codner, William Blacklook and Peter Harleng, for refusing to show their arms and otherwise abusing or threat- ening the officers, also to witnesses, Sergt. William Nicks, Samll. Morgin, Corp. John Furbush and Richard Oliver, signed by Daniel Denison,t and served by William Woodes, t constable of Marblehead, who returned that he could not find William Blackle, he being at sea.
John Codner's bill of cost, 13s.
"whear as wee whose Names are under written Beeing sent out By or Chife offesers to assiste The Clerke for gather- ing of fines and see how men wear prouided with armes wee coming to Petter Harlines House The man being not at home The Clerke Required to see His armes and amanition His wife shewed Her Husbands armes but could not as shee sd shewe Her Husband amanition because it was In Her Hus- bands Chest. The Clerke asked the woman for Her Husbands fine for Neglecte of Trayning shee Refused to paye It. The Clerke sd hee would straine Her goods If shee had not money To which shee sd: If you touch any goods of mine I will knoke out yor Braines wheare upon she thurst The Clearke of and hee Required Sarg" Nicke To assist Him which hee did and
t Autograph.
42
SALEM QUARTERLY COURT
[June
William Hoar and his wife, Goody Harris and Goody John- son, being under great suspicion of receiving stolen goods of Margarett Lord, Mr. Hale's maid, and several things proved by several witnesses of giving entertainment to Mr. Hale's servant and having stolen goods found in some of their houses, were to pay costs .*
the Clerke tooke a pewter dish for The fine: soe shee gave many Railling words and went awaye Towards Night wee came to John Codners and the dore was Shutte and Then to wm Blakelers House the dore was Drawen Home but seeing John Codner and wm Blakeller In there fish fencs whene wee wente In To The fences and the first man the Clerke spake too was wm Blackellor of whom The Clerke demanded To see His armes and amonicco which he Refused to doe and to paye His fine where upon The sd Blackellor Called Him pittifull fellow and picking fellow and Lousie fellow and pimping fellow and so did his wife the like with many angry words Then The Clerke went to John Codner to demand To see his armes and Amunition and His fine John Codner sd That he would Not shew his armes To him Nor any man alife and sd wee are Brought to a braue passe to be ordered By such a pittifull fellow as thee and after many abusiue words more of about Halfe ours Time of these too: Petter Harling and His wife beegan to Rail on the Clerke and sd: he should haue his Hearts Blood If he had ben at Home before hee should Take any thinge of his for his fine and Like wise his wife threttened to doe The Clerke a mischeefe bee fore Shee went out of the Contry Theay beeing Boath at this tim In ye fencs aboue me." Wm. Nick, Sam. Morgain, Richd. Oliver, John Furbish and James Denis made oath to what refers to the fence and Denis Oliver and Nick to what was done in the house. Sworn in court.
*Complaint, dated June 28, 1678, of John Halet of Beverly: "I have found my late maide servant Marget Lord in the latter part of her time exceedingly adicted to lying & very obstinate to stande in her lyes: & my wife desiered to putt her away saying it grieved her to keep such a lyar in her house yet she was retained in hope of her reformation till shee ran away. I beeing gon a journy came home March last ye 21st when I understood Marget had run away & was returned & a bundle of things found gotten by ye sd Marget without or knowledge or consent which beeing enquired into shee gave account of about 40 shillings in money shee had layd out as shee said, the last of wch mony shee said was layd out by her about eight weeks before shee ran away & strongly affirmed
* Autograph.
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RECORDS AND FILES
1678]
shee had had no mony in about eight weeks before shee ran away. Yet Goody Hoar owned yt Marget threw a shilling into her lap to give her yt week shee ran away || wch good Hoar said shee returned to her out of dores||. Upon counting my mony I found between ye 4th of January last & ye 23 of March I missed out of my box twenty three shillings & ten pence gon || I knew not how.|| As to my childrens evidences I say in many of ye things they were asked severally one not knowing what ye other said & yet agree in their sayings neither had they any opportunity to know, that I can understand yt wch severall others have since affirmed to strengthen what they affirme as ye Hoars Chilldren & others I have observed the last winter Samuell, Tabbie & Nancie Hoare to hang so much about our houses yt in my minde I suspected they came to steale & spake of it.
"I remember ye day my maid Sarah came to borrow a six pence in the Tabbie Hoars name & wondred at it. As for ye Key said to bee used by Marget unbeknown to us I remember a little before Marget ran away I found such a key wch apeared to bee newly dropt without ye dore, fresh & bright as a key in dayly use. I supposing it to bee ye key of ye seller my wife had in use I gaue it to her. As for pease I had a parsell in an hoggshedd wch by my book wete 4 bush: & a halfe but when measured there wanted about three pecks before I ordered any of them to bee used I have strangly mist mony divers times out of my box before ye 4th of January I suspect pounds but cannot tell what sum exactly to pitch upon. I have heard my wife speak offen before Marget ran away yt her malt went away shee knew not how."
Search warrant, without date, for apprehension of Mar- garet Lord, who had hidden herself, signed by Daniel Denison,* and served by Thomas Rix,* deputy marshal of Salem, who returned that he could not find the party.
Warrant, dated May 31, 1678, for apprehension of Dorcas Hoare, Mary Harris, Elizabeth Johnson and Anis Hoare, for receiving stolen goods, such as flour, malt and oatmeal from Margaret Lord, signed by Daniel Denison,* and served by John Blacke,* constable of Beverly.
John Hale* of Beverly, aged about forty-two years, testified that "when I coming from a journy ye 21 of March last & understood my late servant Marget Lord had run away & was returned ye very next day Goody Hoar came to me & in a strange way did pleade to excuse Marget for her night walk- ing & othr misdemeanors then discovered, agen ye Saturday night following viz ye 23d march Marget was wanting till late at night & Goody Hoar confessed shee had been with her allso ye sabboth following as I was told Margett went
* Autograph.
44
SALEM QUARTERLY COURT
[June
out of ye meeting in ye time of publick worship & goody Hoar owned || to me | shee was then wth her or at her house upon suspicion I had of Goody Hoar I sent to speak wth her; shee owned yt Marget gave A shilling into ye said Hoare's lap a day or two before she ran away shee beeing in my house: shee owned shee knew of wheat & suggar yt Tabbie Slew had wch might come from my house & I thinke a few appls: but denyed to know of oatmeale, hopps shee owned an handfull but said shee sent to my wife for ym (by as I understood her daughtr Nancie) pease shee said shee had none of o's for shee could not eate any pease & they had no other for yr family but wt they bought of Mr. Higginson. ye malt for ye wedding beare of Tabbies shee said her husband hoar bought shee solemnly professed yt shee would never more have to doe with Marget Lord, yet I am informed yt since yt time Marget hath been twice at her house & wth her chilldren; viz when Jo. Cooke went away as its said & another time since about ye middle of May. Goody Hoar allso Affirmed strongly to mee yt Marget Lord was never within her dores but once (I understood her while my servant) except when sent of an arrant by her mistriss."
Rebeckah, wife of Mr John Hale of Beverly, testified that she took account of Marget's clothes and some of them, the latter could give no account of and others she had removed from their accustomed place, whereupon "I thought shee had some evill design, & I took some of her cloaths & lockt them up in my husbands chest, Afterwards shee carryed it so stubbernly yt I had feares what her designes might bee so yt I lookt for ye knives & what I found I layd by for I had feares what ill intention shee had to me & my chilldren. The next morning my maid was gon, my husbands chest unlockt, most of ye cloaths I putt in taken from thence & another trunk & cupboard opened wherin were cloaths of valew. When shee was asked at severall times about a paire of lawn sleeves & a silk hood, shee said her brother gave her ye lawn & ye hood, yet after owned shee bought them of other persons. As for other things shee had without my knowledge I knew nothing of it I was told of it by others. As for money shee had of lodgers at my house, she layd it out so needlessly yt I have blamed her for it, so yt I cannot rationally conceive shee could have above ten shillings layd out upon ye things gotten without my knowledge, but yt ye rest must be gotten some other ways. As for ye key of ye sellar my chilldren spoak of I remember yt some time in winter one came & told me yt Marget said shee had lost ye key of ye sellar & I fetcht another yt would fit ye Lock Diverse things I missed before Marget ran away, as malt, hopps & butter, suggar & mony & other things. Diverse other things I missed not till ye
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RECORDS AND FILES
1678]
chilldren told mee yt Marget disposed of them & thereupon I made a search & miss them, as gold, corrall, orient pearl, amber, cloath, silk, &c. More particularly I miss according to my best understanding of mony two shillings six pence kept under lock: of malt to speak with ye least three bushells of Indian in corn & meale I miss this last winter & spring at least fower bushells if not more according to my best under- standing, butter twelve pound or 20 lb. suit five pounds suggar twenty pound if not A quarter of hundred Rye meale a peck I suppose more, hopps a pound, at least, wheat meal, bushell I suppose more, two or three cheeses of all or halfe new milk, wch I taxed Marget with above six weeks before shee went away: oyle, sope, candles, tow, I wondred how they went away & have questioned Marget about such things. As for apples of ye ordinary sort I have lost; but reckon not - of my choycest apples I miss two or three bushells. Of bugle- beads 3 or 4 shillings worth of ye choycest colours. Of black linsie woolsie cloath a yard & halfe at halfe a crown a yard; out of a peice of stuff of seaven yards bought of Mr Higginson wch is 4 shilling upon his book by ye yard, as under- stood, I miss a yard. Allso I miss a gold frame for a - wth
about 3 yards of lace worth a shilling & some & about an ounce of Sleve & Naples silk or more: Of & orient pearle a necklace yt would goe twice round my daughters neck, & allmost all lost & a necklace of Amber - allmost all lost. My pease I saw measured & they wanted about three or four bushell & a halfe, & I ordered none of them
used. . . . The chilldren showed me a stone they said Marget weighed sope to Nancie Hoar with; I weighed ye stone & it weighed five pound. I farther say I never ordered candles to bee layd on ye chees-press, or oyle this winter to be putt into a tubb, or cheeses into ye oven. On ye fast last after Mr. Shepards death I not beeing very well stayd at home, & sent Marget to meeting & about half an houre after people were gon I stept out & found Marget in ye cow-house: this is ye fast on wch its said
trimed ye gloves & spovyld ye well. I remember when Stockman lodged here ye last fall, shee told me shee handkercheif & lookt for it & said shee could not fynde - I remember I kept my bugle beads under Lock & key In relation to a passage in Deborah Morgans evidence Turkie I doe remember a roost fell on a Turkie & killed - but I took no mony of Marget for it." Sworn, May 31, 1678, before Daniel Denison .*
List of other articles stolen not mentioned before, certified to by Rebeckah Hale *: "1. I lost while Mary Morse was my seruant a Pigg as shee the said Morse hath witnessed worth I judge 15s. 2. After Marget Lord returned from
* Autograph.
46
SALEM QUARTERLY COURT
[June
her running away, I asked her for a silk hood yt Margaret used to ware; she told me it was lost, And according to my best obseruation this was the silk hook, the constable said was found upon search at Mary Hariss house. 3. I challenge the two bottoms of Naples silk which the constable said was found in Goody Hoars box, & haue others of the same sort, & Judge yt to be part of the quantity of silk I lost out of my box. 4. According as Tabbie Slew hath confessed I haue missed fruit & spice, I reckon worth three shillings or more. 5. I remember yt Goody Hoar owned that Marget threw into her lap a shilling in my house, which shee said shee after gaue Marget againe without dores. 6. I sold noe oatmeale to Goody Hoar since last march or february most a twelve month & then but halfe a peck."
Rebeckah Hale, jr., testified, "I haue known of the naughty doeings of our maid marget lord a great while but I was afraid to tell my mother of them least marget should kill me for shee threatened Iff I told of her tricks shee would burne mee with the marking Iron and that shee kept a rope in the hay to hang mee with Iff I told and many tymes held mee over the well to affright mee and once shee put mee into the bucket of the fore well and lett me down to the bottom. I told hir that Iff shee killed me It would be discouered shee answered mee shee would burn my body in the fire I told hir I had heard of murthers of chilldren that weere discouered. Shee said that was in England but it could not so easily bee discouered heere. Shee threatend to burn Sarah with the fire pan heating of it in the fire. Shee said shee had a book in which shee Could read and call the diuell to kill Sarah: farther she said that a little before tabitha hoar was maried hir father being at home and mother abroad I saw hir giue the said Taby our bagg with about halfe a bushell of something in it: Sarah went with hir and brought back the bagg empty and said goodwife hoar thanks you and said it was a good halfe bushell marget answered it was three pecks: farther shee saith I haue observed allmost allwaies this last winter when father and mother weere abroad nancy hoar useth to Come and cary away aples or turnups and beere sometymes twice in a day: and marget kept another key to unlock the back seller door the last fast befor marget went away shee bound hir ribins upon hir gloues as she told mee and said on the same fast day she punched down the stones of the fore well saying I have made work for old Edwards and said shee threw thirty four stones into the back well the day after John Edwards Cleered it: once this winter nancy hoar said to marget hir mother would pray you to giue hir some oatmeale and gaue marget a pillow beer: after wards I saw this pillow beer in the hen roost with about halfe a peck of oatmeale in it: and the next
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RECORDS AND FILES
1678]
day I saw nancy hoar fetch it and heard hir say to marget this will serue mother a great while: and another tyme I saw taby hoar Carrie away from our hous a bagg of something under hir arm and something in hir lap: I haue seene often a strange bagg and pillow beere lie at our hous and Symon hoar once said that is our bagg: I saw nancy hoar Cary away a pillow beere with about halfe a peck in it and flower Came out. once this winter I saw margett in hir bed Chamber haue in hir hand our black linsee woolsie Cloathe at the fagg end and said this is dreadfull rumpled tother end would doe cleuerly, if it weere not for the halfe bredth but this must doe and had the yard in hir hand to measure it withall: one day I missed out of my trunk my gold frame for a Jewell and two peices of lace and speaking to marget shee told mee that tabby hoar had the gold frame of the Jewell: after this I asked nancy hoar about it in our porch and nancy said that tabby told hir that marget gaue hir the gold Jewell: once this winter I saw a great bowle which I took to be goodwife hoars stand under our kitchen stairs full of peas which Sarah said nancy hoar caried away: itt was Comon with margett to say shee wished mother weer dead that soe shee might not be found out and uery offten said If euer I told of hir while shee liued heere shee would kill mee as dead as euer anything was: and offten took money from mee which people gaue mee saying shee would kill mee if I did not give it hir: the munday before marget ran away she said that at night shee would goe to goody harrises and when shee came back shee would pay off good- wife stone that old witches linnen the next morning before mother was upp I saw in our little garden an apron of kentin Cloath and a great handkercheife with spotts in it and a Lace cap with running strings and a Long neck cloath laced at each end with a black mark in the midle I knew not whose these things weere: but marget made them up in a bundle and said shee knew the neck cloath was John bills: when mrs Stockman lodged heere and said shee lost a handkerchir about three hours after Mrs. Stockman was gone marget shewed me a lawn handkercher and said it was mrs. Stockmans and said shee would speake to Sarah haskell for some lace to lace it with: when my grandfather Symonds lodged heere last winter in wet weather marget told me shee lay under his bed till hee was a sleepe and then tooke his purse out of his pocket and shewed me three shillings which shee said shee tooke out of his purs: about the tyme mrs. hardie lay in mr hardie came hither after which time marget told me that then shee gott his handketcher and caried it into the seller and tooke a shilling and three pence which with other money was tyed up in it tyed up the rest and caried it into the hall and laid it down again. allso when m' hardies Cow was heere I haue seene marget when shee was sent to fill the bottle with mr hardies
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SALEM QUARTERLY COURT
[June
milk sometymes gett the Creame off mr hardies millke and sometimes gett some of the milk too and when mr hardie was to fetch his Cow then marget would sometymes millk part of the millke from his Cow: when we heard grandmothers fan was lost marget tallked much about the fann so that I said to hir I beleeue you have found it she sayd what should I doe with it and laughed: & the day betty hiberd was buried I saw tenn candles lie upon the chees press and when nancy hoar went away the Candles were gone: another tyme I saw about two quarts of oyle in a tubb in the seller which margett told me was for goody hoar: I saw marget another tyme giue tabby hoar a great lump of sugar which shee said she got out of the wallet and tabby bid her get hir two pound more for hir wedding another tyme I saw roberts sleeue lie ouer the ouen full of sugar and marget told mee shee tooke it out of the Closet and said it was three pound another tyme marget being with tabby or nancy hoar in our kitchin they measured mallt and put a little abouve a bushell into their baggs and Symon hoar Caried it away on a hors: many times tabby or nancy hoar would come and Carie away Indean corn some tymes about a peck at a time beif suet indean meal and once about a peck of rie: marget told mee she tooke four shillings at one time out of fathers box haueing got his key: about two dayes before shee run away I saw a shilling in goodwife hoars lapp at our hous which marget said she gaue hir about a moneth or less before marget ran away she gaue me fiue or six shillings in money to Carie to william Elliot to buy hir a pair of white shoes. She shewed me eight shillings another time a little before hir running away: one day since hir run- ning away Sarah ross and I being in the kitchin with marget my mother being in the hall marget tooke the axe and said shee had a good mind to kill mother I and Sarah begged of hir that shee would not kill my mother but I was afraid to crye out least shee should kill mee: marget went to the doore leading to the hall with the axe and said as I am aliue I will kill hir but then my mother being Coming toward the door marget said I had as good let hir alone for then I should be hanged for hir so my mother Came into the kitchin and mar- get set the axe behind the ouen Sometime after mrs Stockman had beene heere marget shewed mee a handercheif with lace on it saying it was mrs Stockmans and I tooke it to be the same shee had shewed me before without lace. Marget used to keepe butter in the sheeps hous and in hir coat: I saw margett take bugle beads three or four tymes a box full at once out of mothers trunk that used to be lockt. And this winter marget said shee had a good mind to gett a sheete and a shift for goody hoar: I saw marget giue sam hoar of that sillk my mother calls sleaue sillke a parcell that shee made an hatband of and gaue some more to nancy hoar:
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RECORDS AND FILES
1678]
the day before marget lord ran away she said shee had a good mind to burn goody stones hous and shee knew goody hoar would helpe hir and burn the old catted baud to the heart and then shee would haue some thing ells to doe then to tell of hir Allso threatened to shoote goody ston with my fathers gunn If shee Came any more to tell: sometyme this Spring Robert and I being together marget did before us weigh sope with a great stone and gaue it to nancy hoar and said shee beleeued it was two pound: the day hannah graues went to nurs goody wood I and Sarah ross found in a hous nancy hoar had for hir play a babie with a peice of lace on it which was got out of my trunk and a work of beads which wee gaue mother I found afterwards once when grandfather Symonds lay at our hous marget shewed mee a pocket handkercheife which shee said was my grandfathers and it was marked with S S and I saw hir pick out the name: I saw marget giue nancy hoar a Cheese sometyme in the winter and saw two Cheeses more in the great ouen which marget said weere for goody hoar when goody lord sent me to fetch some of Margits things from Mary Harriss I saw In Mary Harrises Box His gloues which Margett was Condemd for Stealing from goody Stone with a lawn handkirchife & other things that Marget had after this Margit tould me she had in paper bags gloues & other things which lay in goody Harrises wich Margit tould me she fetcht som of these things herselfe: the day that mar- gett went away she thretned if I tould of her that when father went abroad good hoar would send word & she would come & ly & goody horis burn our house."
Mary, wife of Heugh Woodbery, complained that she had lost childbed linen worth lli. 10s .; a fine dowlas shirt worth 10s., and a fat weather worth 10s., making a total of 2li. 10s. Sworn, June 25, 1678, before Daniel Denison .*
Robert, son of Mr. John Hale, testified, "I have often heard marget Lord send Sarah to betty Jonsons to see Iff there weere a merry bout and said Iff Sarah would doe what shee bade hir the deuill should not ketch hir: she said she used to goe out of tuseday nights and thursday nights when mrs Stockman was heer: about three hours after shee was gone marget shewed mee a fine handketcher and said shee had got mrs Stockmans handkercher: after Edward bond died marget was Frighted and shewed us ribins of diuers Coulours which she offered to giue mee but I said I would not take any of hir stolen goods. shee said it may bee some- body will see it and owne it so shee burnt it in the fire: the sabath day goodwife dodge was buried I came home before my father and there was our marget and nancy hoar singing and dancing and then marget would in a laughing way say the
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