Individual Details
Rebecca Aslebee or Aslett
(6 May 1652 - Bet 1705 and 1721)
Rebecca Aslebee (or Aslett) and Timothy Johnson were both from Andover and married in 1674. Rebecca and Timothy had seven children. Timothy died 15 March 1687/88 and Rebecca remained a widow. For at least eight years, November 1690 to 1698, she was employed at 40 shillings per annum as sexton of Andover First Church. She was responsible for sweeping its floor and ringing the bell for meetings and curfew, a job usually held by a man. She was given that position until her son, Timothy, should arrive at a “man’s estate."
However, less than two months later, on September 7, 1692, she was accused of witchcraft. The following is the Indictment of Rebecca (Aslebee) Johnson, widow. "Essex in the Province [unclear: ] of the Massachusets Bay in New England.Anno RRs. Reginae Gulielmi & Mariae Angliae &c Quarto Anno'qe Domini 1692.The Juriors for our Sovereigne Lord & Lady the King & Queen doe present that Rebecka Johnson widow, of Andivor In the County of Essex upon the Seaventh day of September In the yeare aforsaid and Divers other Dayes and times as well before as after Certaine Detestable Arts Called witchcraft and Sorceries Wickedly Malisiously and feloniously hath Used practised and Exercised at and in the Towne of Salem in the County of Essex in upon and against one Alice Booth of Salem aforesaid Singlewoman by which Said wicked Acts the Said Alice Booth the day and yeare abovesaid and Divers other Dayes & Times both before & after was & is tortured afflicted Consumed Pined wasted and Tormented Against the peace of our Sovereigne Lord & Lady the King & Queen their Crowne & Dignity and the Laws in that Case made & Provided..Witnesses.Martha Sprage alias Tyler.Rose Foster.(Reverse).Ignoramus.*Robert Payne. foreman."(Suffolk Court Records Case No. 2707, page 30)
Her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Johnson, and her nieces had already confessed to witchcraft, her sister Sarah (Aslebee) Cole was tried for witchcraft, and her daughter, Rebecca Jr. had just been implicated in fortune-telling. However, Rebecca Sr. denied anything other than attempting to divine whether or not her brother-in-law was dead. During the hearing, a number of the “afflicted” claimed that she “struck them down” or otherwise “afflicted” them.
Rebecca Johnson and her daughter, Rebecca Jr., were imprisoned for thirteen weeks in Salem jail in 1692. However, they were released on bond before trial, an indication that their transgression was not that serious. But, before they could leave the jail, Rebecca Sr. had to pay £3.15.00 to the jailor for provisions she and her daughter received while in jail, £0.08.00 for bail bonds for each of them, which was paid to the sheriff, and £6.00.04 for court charges, among other items. In 1694, her son, John Johnson, petitioned the General Court in Boston for recovery of those sums, which was granted. (Mass. Archives, Vol. 135, No. 142.) On December 30, 1692, Andover paid Widow Rebecca Johnson (free on bail) for her past duties of sweeping the meeting house and ringing its bell. The town also reinstated her for the coming year, though she still had to appear at the next Superior Court to answer the witchcraft charge. On January 7, 1693, the Grand Jury declared the case against Rebecca Johnson to be “ignoramus”, i.e., without support. Her daughter was never brought to trial.
However, less than two months later, on September 7, 1692, she was accused of witchcraft. The following is the Indictment of Rebecca (Aslebee) Johnson, widow. "Essex in the Province [unclear: ] of the Massachusets Bay in New England.Anno RRs. Reginae Gulielmi & Mariae Angliae &c Quarto Anno'qe Domini 1692.The Juriors for our Sovereigne Lord & Lady the King & Queen doe present that Rebecka Johnson widow, of Andivor In the County of Essex upon the Seaventh day of September In the yeare aforsaid and Divers other Dayes and times as well before as after Certaine Detestable Arts Called witchcraft and Sorceries Wickedly Malisiously and feloniously hath Used practised and Exercised at and in the Towne of Salem in the County of Essex in upon and against one Alice Booth of Salem aforesaid Singlewoman by which Said wicked Acts the Said Alice Booth the day and yeare abovesaid and Divers other Dayes & Times both before & after was & is tortured afflicted Consumed Pined wasted and Tormented Against the peace of our Sovereigne Lord & Lady the King & Queen their Crowne & Dignity and the Laws in that Case made & Provided..Witnesses.Martha Sprage alias Tyler.Rose Foster.(Reverse).Ignoramus.*Robert Payne. foreman."(Suffolk Court Records Case No. 2707, page 30)
Her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Johnson, and her nieces had already confessed to witchcraft, her sister Sarah (Aslebee) Cole was tried for witchcraft, and her daughter, Rebecca Jr. had just been implicated in fortune-telling. However, Rebecca Sr. denied anything other than attempting to divine whether or not her brother-in-law was dead. During the hearing, a number of the “afflicted” claimed that she “struck them down” or otherwise “afflicted” them.
Rebecca Johnson and her daughter, Rebecca Jr., were imprisoned for thirteen weeks in Salem jail in 1692. However, they were released on bond before trial, an indication that their transgression was not that serious. But, before they could leave the jail, Rebecca Sr. had to pay £3.15.00 to the jailor for provisions she and her daughter received while in jail, £0.08.00 for bail bonds for each of them, which was paid to the sheriff, and £6.00.04 for court charges, among other items. In 1694, her son, John Johnson, petitioned the General Court in Boston for recovery of those sums, which was granted. (Mass. Archives, Vol. 135, No. 142.) On December 30, 1692, Andover paid Widow Rebecca Johnson (free on bail) for her past duties of sweeping the meeting house and ringing its bell. The town also reinstated her for the coming year, though she still had to appear at the next Superior Court to answer the witchcraft charge. On January 7, 1693, the Grand Jury declared the case against Rebecca Johnson to be “ignoramus”, i.e., without support. Her daughter was never brought to trial.
Events
| Birth | 6 May 1652 | Andover, Essex, Massachusetts Bay | |||
| Marriage | 15 December 1674 | Andover, Essex, Massachusetts Bay - Timothy Johnson | |||
| Death | Bet 1705 and 1721 | Andover, Essex, Province of Massachusetts |
Families
| Spouse | Timothy Johnson (1644 - 1687) |
| Child | Rebecca Johnson (1675 - 1754) |
| Father | John Aslett (1614 - 1671) |
| Mother | Rebecka Ayer (1627 - 1718) |
| Sibling | Mary Aslett (1654 - 1747) |