Individual Details
Jonathan Ames
(Sep 1743 - )
There is supposed to be an infant of Jonathan and Ruth born 5 months after the wedding
https://www.mhl.org/sites/default/files/files/Abbott/Ames%20Family.pdf
pp 6-7
Ruth Perley, said to be very pretty &refined, & Jonathan Ames Jr, from an affluent Boxford family, were married 19 December 1768 by Rev. Samuel Perley of Seabrook NH. They settled into the Ames family home, as was the custom for newly weds in those days. Ruth's mother-in-law took a dislike to Ruth. This dislike was caused by or aggravated by the fact that an infant was born less than 5 months after the wedding. Early in the morning of 5 June 1769, a neighbor woman came to visit Ruth. The mother-in-law claimed that Ruth was very ill & that the room wasn't fit for visitors due to vomiting, etc. The neighbor insisted on seeing Ruth, while she found the room to be perfectly clean with no signs or smells of vomiting, she found Ruth to be frothing at the mouth. Within 4 hours, Ruth was dead. Her arms had "livid spots" on them, said to be a sign of poisoning. A private funeral was held and no neighbors were invited. The funeral and burial service were conducted by an out-of-town minister. The neighbor continued to be suspicious of poisoning and repeatedly said so. Within a month, 3 coroners were called upon to investigate. A jury of 25 was gathered, 13 of whom were physicians.Four additional physicians were hired to do the autopsy. The investigation began on the 10th of July. The Grand Jury concluded that Ruth died of poisoning, but who did it ? Due to lack of sufficient evidence and also due to the fact that the husband and the mother-in-law each accused each other, it could not be immediately determined who committed the crime. Soon it was decided to indict the mother-in-law as the principal and the husband accessory. Jonathan's sister, Elizabeth, was also arrested as an accessory.They were all held in the ancient jail in Salem. At the actual trial, the 3 were successfully defended by future U. S. president, John Adams, using an argument based on reasonable doubt. The 3 were released, but due to the scandal, the family immediately sold their property and moved far away.
Written by Laura Sullivan
https://www.mhl.org/sites/default/files/files/Abbott/Ames%20Family.pdf
pp 6-7
Ruth Perley, said to be very pretty &refined, & Jonathan Ames Jr, from an affluent Boxford family, were married 19 December 1768 by Rev. Samuel Perley of Seabrook NH. They settled into the Ames family home, as was the custom for newly weds in those days. Ruth's mother-in-law took a dislike to Ruth. This dislike was caused by or aggravated by the fact that an infant was born less than 5 months after the wedding. Early in the morning of 5 June 1769, a neighbor woman came to visit Ruth. The mother-in-law claimed that Ruth was very ill & that the room wasn't fit for visitors due to vomiting, etc. The neighbor insisted on seeing Ruth, while she found the room to be perfectly clean with no signs or smells of vomiting, she found Ruth to be frothing at the mouth. Within 4 hours, Ruth was dead. Her arms had "livid spots" on them, said to be a sign of poisoning. A private funeral was held and no neighbors were invited. The funeral and burial service were conducted by an out-of-town minister. The neighbor continued to be suspicious of poisoning and repeatedly said so. Within a month, 3 coroners were called upon to investigate. A jury of 25 was gathered, 13 of whom were physicians.Four additional physicians were hired to do the autopsy. The investigation began on the 10th of July. The Grand Jury concluded that Ruth died of poisoning, but who did it ? Due to lack of sufficient evidence and also due to the fact that the husband and the mother-in-law each accused each other, it could not be immediately determined who committed the crime. Soon it was decided to indict the mother-in-law as the principal and the husband accessory. Jonathan's sister, Elizabeth, was also arrested as an accessory.They were all held in the ancient jail in Salem. At the actual trial, the 3 were successfully defended by future U. S. president, John Adams, using an argument based on reasonable doubt. The 3 were released, but due to the scandal, the family immediately sold their property and moved far away.
Written by Laura Sullivan
Events
| Birth | Sep 1743 | Boxford, Essex, Massachusetts | |||
| Baptism | 11 Sep 1743 | ||||
| Marriage | 19 Dec 1768 | Ruth Perley |
Families
| Spouse | Ruth Perley (1747 - 1769) |
| Father | Jonathan Ames (1712 - ) |
| Mother | Elizabeth Blunt (1714 - ) |
| Sibling | Sarah Ames (1739 - 1767) |
| Sibling | Miriam Ames (1741 - ) |
| Sibling | William Ames (1745 - 1748) |
| Sibling | William Ames (1749 - 1749) |
| Sibling | Elizabeth Ames (1751 - ) |