USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Portland > Chronicles of Casco Bay > Part 4
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1676.
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GEORGE BURROUGHS.
1676. to Pydounce [the Providence] of our Lord God and desire your prayers also for us. Yours in all humility to sarve in
the Lord,
BRIAN PENDLETON.
Mr. Burroughs went to Salem village, Danvers, and 1680. succeeded Mr. Bayley in November, 1680. His sala- ry was sixty pounds a year, to be paid him, one third in money, and two thirds in provisions, as follows : rye, barley, and malt at three shillings a bushel, corn at two shillings, beef at one and a half pence a pound, pork at two pence and butter at six pence. In conse- quence of some dispute with his parish, he left them, and in May, 1683, Mr. Lawson was invited to fill his place. The same year, Mr. Burroughs returned to Falmouth. At a general meeting of the inhabitants, held the 20th of June, 1683, the following record is made : " Whereas there was formerly given to Mr. George Burroughs, minister, a parcel of land, judged to be about two hundred acres, and we being driven off by the Indians for a time, and in time reinhabit- ing: therefore, for to give people incouragement to come and settle down among us in a body, we took
1 Brian Pendleton settled in Water- ministration. He died in 1681, aged town about the year 1630, when he eighty ; leaving two children. His son James removed to Stonington, Conn., and died, leaving four sons and one daughter, who married, in 1665, Rev. Seth Fletcher, minister of Wells, and who was afterwards settled in Sa- co. Pendleton Fletcher, their only child, was taken captive no less than four times by the Indians, and when he died, in 1747, he left six sons, whose descendants have spread over the Union. was thirty-one years of age. For six years he represented the town in the General Court. He afterwards re- moved to Portsmouth and engaged in commerce. IIe represented that town for five years. He purchased two hundred acres of land in Saco, near Winter Harbor, where he settled in 1665. He was appointed Seargent- major of the military and held several offices under President Danforth's ad-
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GEORGE BURROUGHIS.
part of said Burrough's land, formerly given him by the people of Falmouth, for the end before exprest." This land, amounting to about one hundred and seven- ty acres, Mr. Burroughs freely relinquished, at the re- quest of the town, which shows the liberal and disin- terested spirit of the man. He even offered to give them twenty acres more, if they wished it, without ac- cepting in return, their offer of one hundred acres, some distance off.
Mr. Burroughs continued to preach to the people of Falmouth, until the year 1690, "when the town was sacked by the Indians," and he retreated to Wells. But a severe trial awaited him. He was one of the unhappy number who fell victims to that extraordina- ry delusion of the seventeenth century, witchcraft. The indictment against him was as follows :
The jurors for our sovereign lord and lady, the king and queen, present, that George Burroughs, late of Falmouth, in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, in New England, clerk, the 9th day of May, in the fourth year of the reign of our sovereign lord and lady, Wil- liam and Mary, by the grace of God, of England, Scot- land, France, and Ireland, king and queen, defenders of the faith, &c. and divers other days and times, as well before as after certain detestable acts, called witchcraft and sorceries, wickedly and feloniously hath used, practised, and exercised, at and within the town- ship of Salem, in the County of Essex aforesaid, in, upon, and against one Mary Wolcott, of Salem village, in the County of Essex, single woman, by which said wicked arts, the said Mary Wolcott, on the 9th day of
1690.
48
GEORGE BURROUGHS.
1690. May, in the fourth year aforesaid, and divers other days and times, as well before as after, was and is tor- tured, afflicted, pined, consumed, wasted, and torment- ed, against the peace of our sovereign lord and lady, the king and queen, and against the form of the stat- ute made and provided.
Witnesses : Mary Wolcott, Sarah Bibber, Mercy Lewis, Ann Putman, Elizabeth Hubbard.
There was a second indictment, for afflicting Eliza- beth Hubbard. The witnesses were Elizabeth Hub- bard, Mary Wolcott, and Ann Putman. A third in- dictment was for afflicting Mercy Lewis. The witness- es were Mercy Lewis, Mary Wolcott, Elizabeth Hub- bard and Ann Putman. The fourth indictment was for acts of witchcraft on Ann Putman. The witness- es were Ann Putman, Mary Wolcott, Elizabeth Hub- bard, and Mary Warren.
In prosecuting the charges against Mr. Burroughs, he was accused by five or six of the bewitched as the author of their miseries, and by eight of the confess- ing witches, as being a head leader at some of their hellish resorts. He had the promise of being a king in Satan's kingdom. He was also accused by nine persons for extraordinary feats of strength, which could not have been accomplished by man, without the assistance of the devil. In all, about thirty witnesses were called in to testify against him and scores more might have been produced, but these were adjudged sufficient to fix upon him the character of a witch.
One of the females bewitched, testified that in her distress, a little black haired man appeared to her say- ing his name was Burroughs. He bid her put her
19
GEORGE BURROUGHIS.
hand upon a book, which was shown to her. making his boasts that he was a conjurer above the common order of witches. Because she refused to do as she was bidden, cruel pains were inflicted upon her. Some times the prints of teeth would be seen on her arms, which prints corresponded exactly with the teeth of Mr. Burroughs. Others testified to the same thing. When they cried that George Burroughs was biting them, the print of his teeth would immediately be seen on their flesh.
Another female testified, that George Burroughs had taken her into a very high mountain and showed her mighty kingdoms, which were promised to her if she would but write in his book ; but on her refusal, she suffered excruciating pains. Another testified that Burroughs tempted her to go to a sacrament, when she perceived him with a trumpet, sounding it lond to summon other witches, who immediately came from all quarters to the rendezvous.
Several others testified, that they had been troubled with the apparitions of two women, who stated that they were the wives of Mr. Burroughs and that he had been the cause of their death. They were told by the spirits to inform the magistrate of the fact, when he should be on trial, or they should themselves appear in court. They were also informed, that Mr. Burroughs had killed, in addition to several others, a Mrs. Law- son and her daughter. It was noticed by the court that these persons were the wife and daughter of one with whom Mr. Burroughs might have had a prejudice.
A man by the name of Elizur Keysar, forty years of age, testified that he had been called to see Mr.
1690.
50
GEORGE BURROUGHS.
1690. Burroughs on some business, when he fixed his eyes intently upon him. The same evening, while Keysar was in his own house, in a room where there was no light, he saw strange appearances in the chimney, which seemed to him to be something like jelly that used to be in the water. He supposed he saw a dozen of them, which strangely quivered and then disappear- ed. During the evening he saw a light up the chim- ney, about the bigness of a hand, which seemed to be in motion. His maid saw the same, but his wife look- ed and could not see it. He concluded it was some diabolical operation.
One of the witnesses was thrown into a state of horror, upon seeing the ghosts of Mr. Burroughs's wife, which then appeared before him crying for ven- geance. Other witnesses being called in, affirmed that they saw the same spirits before them.
The testimony of several individuals was received, who testified that they had been witches themselves, and that George Burroughs had been to witch-meet- ings with them-that he had first seduced them into the snares of witchery-that he had promised them fine clothing-that he had brought thorns to them, for the afflicting of people, and that he exhorted them to bewitch all Salem village. It was testified, that al- though Mr. Burroughs was a small man, he had taken up a gun, the barrel of which was seven feet in length, and held it out at arm's length-that he made nothing of taking up barrels of cider and molasses and carry- ing them off, through most difficult places. Two of the witnesses testified that Mr. Burroughs, by merely putting the fore finger of his right hand into the
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GEORGE BURROUGHS.
muzzle of a heavy gun, would hold it out at arm's length-a gun too, which the defendants could not lift up and hold out at the but-end. It was further testified, that he kept his two wives in a sort of slave- ry-that he often brought them to the point of death by his severity-that he made his neighbors promise, in the case of their death, never to reveal his actions, and that his wives had privately complained to their neighbors, respecting the frightful spirits that infested the house.
A brother-in-law of Mr. Burroughs, by the name of Ruck, testified that he, in company with Mr. B. and his wife, went two or three miles to gather strawber- ries. While Ruck and his sister were returning home, Burroughs stepped aside in the bushes, whereupon they halted and hallooed for him, but receiving no reply, they rode home, with a quickened pace. When near the house, they discovered Mr. Burroughs on foot, having a basket of strawberries in his hand. He com- menced chiding his wife, on account of her conversa- tion-he stating that he knew their thoughts. Ruck intimated that the devil himself did not know as much ; but Burroughs replied that God had made known to him their thoughts. The prisoner at the bar remarked that Ruck left a man with him, which was pronounced to be false. The court thought he merely stepped aside to receive the assistance of the devil.
Upon such testimony, the jury brought Mr. Bur- roughs in guilty, and the sentence of death was passed upon him.
Probably, a more upright, conscientious, Christian
1690.
52
GEORGE BURROUGHS.
1692. man than George Burroughs never lived. There is not, perhaps, an act of his life, that would bring re- proach upon his character. He was just, benevolent, and pious-yet an eminent New England divine, co- temporary with him, thus speaks in reference to his supposed criminality and trial : " His tergiversations. contradictions, and falsehoods were very sensible. Faultering, faulty, unconstant, and contrary answers, upon judicial and deliberate examination, are counted some unlucky symptoms of guilt in all crimes, espee- ially in witchcrafts. Now there never was a prisoner more eminent for them than George Burroughs, both at his examination and on his trial. Glad should I have been, if I had never known the name of this man, or never have had this occasion to mention so much as the first letters of his name."
George Burroughs was publicly executed, with five others, on the 19th of August, 1692. His age was not far from sixty. He declared his innocence to the last ; but it was in vain, so great was the infatuation that prevailed. Just before his execution, he made an address, still asserting that he was innocent of the charges brought against him, and, in his dying prayer, repeated the Lord's prayer, probably, to vindicate his character-as it was the current opinion, that a witch could not correctly repeat this prayer. His supplica- tion to God was uttered with so much composure and fervency, that it drew tears from the scores who came to witness his death.
Mr. Burroughs left a third wife-the sister of Thon- as Ruck, who was a witness against him-and several children. His daughter Rebecca married Mr. Tolman,
53
GEORGE BURROUGHIS.
of Boston ; Hannah married Mr. Fox, of the same place ; but we know not the name of the husband of Mary ; and Elizabeth married Peter Thomas, of Bos- ton, the ancestor of the late Isaiah Thomas,1 L L. D. of Worcester. The names of his two sons were 1 George and Jeremiah.
I Isaiah Thomas was the son of Mo- ses Thomas. He was born in Boston in 1749. His father died when he was young. At the age of six years he was put out as an apprentice to Z. Fowle, with whom he remained eleven years. In 1770, he commenced in Boston the publication of the Massa- chusetts Spy, in which paper he pub- lished many spirited articles against the oppressive laws of the British Par- liament towards the New England Colonies. In 1771, Governor Hutch- inson and Council, on account of an article that appeared in the Spy, en- deavored to bring Mr. Thomas before them-but so much resistance was made that the measure was finally dropped. In 1775, he removed his
paper to Worcester, and three years after opened a bookstore in Boston. At one time he had under his control sixteen presses in use and eight book- stores. He issued a folio edition of the Bible in 1791. In the latter part of his life, Mr. Thomas founded the American Antiquarian Society, for which he erected a brick house at Worcester-of which society he was president and a most liberal patron. The honorary degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred upon him by the Alleghany College, Pennsylvania. He published in 1810, in two volumes, oe- tavo, a valuable History of Printing in America, which cvinces great re- search. He died at Worcester, April 4, 1831, aged 82 years.
1692.
CHRONICLES OF EIGHTEEN HUNDRED
AND SEVEN.
William Symmes-Maine bank broken open-Rev. Mr. Noyes-Nathaniel Knights-shock of an earthquake-Abigail Taylor-night watch-William Thompson-Jonathan Scott-his house consumed-Zephaniah Harding- freshets-the mail stage swept away-Samuel Foxcroft-annual town meet- ing-officers chosen-votes for Governor-votes respecting the separation of Maine from Massachusetts-centre school house-marriage of Jotham Davis-Pendleton Fletcher-thunder storm-stage struck by lightning- shock of an earthquake-Dr. Morrell attacked by a steer-Representatives to the General Court-Mehitable Meserve-singular death of William Ste- phens-Supreme Court-trial of Joseph Donnough-attorneys admitted to practice-Anthony Morse-accident on Fort Hill-Cotton street laid out- Bank street-high way robbers-Portland Lodge-fourth of July celebration -loss of the schooner Charles on the rocks near Richmond's Island-list of the drowned-Joseph Williams-death of Joseph M'Keen-Commodore Preble-John Baker-Alexander Munroe-Dolly Taylor-Capt. David Smith-his severe afflictions and losses-Benevolent Society-John Patter- son-Josiah Converse-William Tyng-Thomas Hopkins-Judge Wilde- ordination of Edward Payson-merchants in Portland-dwelling houses built-population-marriages-deaths.
1807. Jan.
JANUARY 7. William Symmes, Esq. Counsellor at Law, died, aged 45 years. Mr. Symmes was the son of Rev. William Symmes,1 D. D. of Andover, Massa- chusetts. He pursued his legal studies in Essex, Mas- sachusetts, and was admitted to the bar in that County, and his admission was recognised by the Cumberland bar at the October term in 1790, soon after he came to Portland. Mr. Symmes was a member of the conven-
1 Dr. Symmes graduated at Har- vard college in 1755, and for the fol- lowing three years was a tutor in that institution. He was ordained at An-
dover in 1758, and died in 1807, aged 77 years. He published an election sermon and two other occasional ser- mons.
55
CHRONICLES OF EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND SEVEN.
tion that adopted the federal constitution, to which he and his constituents were at first opposed ; but when he heard the able arguments in its favor, he was convinced of his error and resolved not to oppose it. He returned to his constituents and repeated the able arguments which had convinced him of his error, and told them that he could not, conscientiously, oppose the constitution. This honorable course excited their approbation, and after a general consultation with the people of Andover, they desired him to return to the convention and vote according to the dictates of his own conscience, and they would acquiesce in the re- sult. He did so, and defended himself in an able speech to that learned body, and voted for the adop- tion of the constitution.
As a lawyer, Mr. Symmes ranked high among his cotemporaries. He was an able and eloquent advo- cate. He also possessed a highly cultivated literary taste. A series of his articles, entitled " Communica- tions," written about the year 1795, in defence of the common law against the political fanatics of that day, were masterly productions and were republished in the principal papers of the Union. Mr. Symmes, with several other distinguished gentlemen, contributed to make the periodicals of this period interesting and valuable.
Mr. Symmes had no family of his own, but he was zealously interested in the education of youth.
JANUARY 12. The Maine Bank was broken into Saturday evening and robbed of about two thousand dollars. An Irishman was apprehended and a part of the money discovered under a barn, concealed in an old pair of pantaloons.
1807. Jan.
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CHRONICLES OF EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND SEVEN.
1807. Jan.
JANUARY 16. Rev. Mr. Noyes died in Gorham. He was a native of Newburyport, and graduated at Harvard college in 1799. He had been settled in Gorham four years.
The town voted to employ eight men on the night watch-four of whom were to be on the watch at a time, till the first of April, at an expense of seven hundred dollars.
Fch.
FEBRUARY 1. Died in Scarborough, Hon. William Thompson, Chief Justice of the Court of General Ses- sions of the Peace for the County of Cumberland. He was a man of uprightness and piety.
FEBRUARY S. The dwelling house of Rev. Jonathan Scott, of Minot, was consumed by fire. A son twelve years of age perished in the flames. An older son es- caped by jumping from the chamber window.
FEBRUARY 13. Mr. Zephaniah Harding died in Gor- ham, aged 70 years. He fell dead at his door. He was a soldier in the French war of 1758, and kept by him, till the day of his death, a tomahawk and scalp- ing knife which he took from the enemy.
FEBRUARY 19. The wife and child of Mr. Nathan- iel Knights were drowned in attempting, with a horse and sleigh, to cross the unrailed bridge at Little Falls in Windham. The horse started from a sudden fright, when Mr. Knights sprang from the sleigh and attempt- ed to stop the horse, but his efforts were ineffect- ual.
A shock of an earthquake was felt in town about half past one o'clock. Its duration was about thirty seconds. Its direction appeared to be from north-east to south-west.
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