Individual Details

Martha (Allen) Carrier was a tragic figure caught up in the witchcraft hysteria.
A smallpox epidemic late in 1690 hit the Allen and Carrier families hard. Martha had the disease and survived to carry the scars and to nurse other members of her family. Hazen's Notes on Thomas Carrier says Martha "had the care of her father in his illness, and served at the sickness and death of her brother Andrew Allen, her brother John Allen and his wife Mercy, sister Hannah's husband James Holt, two nephews, as well as in the sickness of those children who recovered."
Martha was arrested 28 May 1692 along with four of her children, her sister Mary, brother-in-law Roger Toothaker and Roger and Mary's daughter. Martha's two sons were tortured into confession. Martha's eight-year-old daughter Sarah Carrier also confessed. Hazen's Notes on Thomas Carrier says Sarah "was drilled until letter-perfect, and parroted to the jury the exact answers taught her, which were printed as evidence." Martha was the only one executed. Roger Toothaker died in prison before he could be tried.
Carol F. Karlsen's The Devil in the Shape of a Woman says many of Martha's Billerica and Andover neighbors "came forward to testify about the sudden and strange accidents to their persons and cattle which followed up their past disputes with this woman." Several complained that Martha tried to make them witches, too, "almost killing them because they refused."
Martha was unyielding in maintaining her innocence. The Ancestry of Philip Joseph Currier suggests that Martha was offered her freedom if she would confess. "Martha proudly said: 'I would rather die than confess a falsehood so filthy.' No amount of persuasion could make her change her stand and with unflinching courage and dignity she went to her execution on Gallows Hill . . . "

Birth	Abt 1650	Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts, United States
Marriage	7 May 1674	Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States - Thomas "alias Morgan" Carrier
Death	19 Aug 1692	Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, United States

Spouse	Thomas "alias Morgan" Carrier (1626 - 1735)
Child	Richard Carrier (1674 - 1749)
Child	Andrew Carrier (1677 - 1749)
Child	Jane Carrier (1680 - 1680)
Child	Thomas Carrier (1682 - 1740)
Child	Sarah Carrier (1684 - 1772)
Child	Hannah Carrier (1689 - )

Father	Andrew Allen (1616 - 1690)
Mother	Faith Ingalls (1622 - 1690)
Sibling	Mary Allen (1644 - )
Sibling	Sarah Allen (1646 - 1716)
Sibling	Hannah Allen (1652 - 1698)
Sibling	Andrew Allen (1657 - 1690)
Sibling	John Allen (1661 - 1690)