Individual Details
Sarah Proctor
(12 Aug 1646 - 8 Feb 1706)
This is the Sarah Proctor who was tried for witchcraft in Salem, Mass 1692. She confessed, paid a fine & was released. Archival info on internet verifies this. Her brother, John Proctor, was tried, convicted & hung.
"Fiery Temper" Interesting story
The new boundry between Beverly and Wenham was surveyed during the summer of 1679 by Charles Gott and John Batchelder. When a dozen Beverly residents complained that they now found themselves residents of Wenham, Gott and Batchelder confessed "that the compass that they ran by sight was altogether false. It would not work, and the north point stood south or any way, so they shook it and turned it the way best answered their ends."
The most serious trouble occured, however, when it came time to collect taxes. Beverly Constable Peter Woodbury collected as usual from his previous townsmen. But when Wenham Selectmen Walter Fairfield and Thomas Fiske took it upon themselves to "run the line" again and said they found John Dodge's house to be in Wenham.
Accompanied by Wenham Constable Richard Hutton they visited Dodge's house when John Dodge was away and took three pewter platters in payment of Wenham taxes. They then passed by the house of Rice and Elnor Edwards and when Sarah Dodge came by and saw her purloined tableware, she tried to grab it.
Elnor Edwards deposed in Court that, "They all three pulled her (Sarah Dodge) down and dragged her upon the ground, Thomas Fiske, Sr. striking her a blow on the neck with his fist. Then Rice Edwards cried out, "Rescue that woman," and John Edwards stepped in and held Fiske and Fairfield by the shoulders." The court assessed the Wenham officials costs of 50 pounds for the fracas. (Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, Vol. IV, Sept. 1680, pp. 18-22. The Essex Institute, Salem, Mass. (1911 ).
"Fiery Temper" Interesting story
The new boundry between Beverly and Wenham was surveyed during the summer of 1679 by Charles Gott and John Batchelder. When a dozen Beverly residents complained that they now found themselves residents of Wenham, Gott and Batchelder confessed "that the compass that they ran by sight was altogether false. It would not work, and the north point stood south or any way, so they shook it and turned it the way best answered their ends."
The most serious trouble occured, however, when it came time to collect taxes. Beverly Constable Peter Woodbury collected as usual from his previous townsmen. But when Wenham Selectmen Walter Fairfield and Thomas Fiske took it upon themselves to "run the line" again and said they found John Dodge's house to be in Wenham.
Accompanied by Wenham Constable Richard Hutton they visited Dodge's house when John Dodge was away and took three pewter platters in payment of Wenham taxes. They then passed by the house of Rice and Elnor Edwards and when Sarah Dodge came by and saw her purloined tableware, she tried to grab it.
Elnor Edwards deposed in Court that, "They all three pulled her (Sarah Dodge) down and dragged her upon the ground, Thomas Fiske, Sr. striking her a blow on the neck with his fist. Then Rice Edwards cried out, "Rescue that woman," and John Edwards stepped in and held Fiske and Fairfield by the shoulders." The court assessed the Wenham officials costs of 50 pounds for the fracas. (Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, Vol. IV, Sept. 1680, pp. 18-22. The Essex Institute, Salem, Mass. (1911 ).
Events
| Birth | 12 Aug 1646 | Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts | |||
| Death | 8 Feb 1706 | Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts | |||
| Burial | North Beverly Cemetery, Essex County, Massachusetts |
Families
| Father | John Proctor (1588 - 1672) |
| Mother | Martha Harper (1607 - 1659) |
| Sibling | John Proctor (1632 - 1692) |
| Sibling | Abigail Proctor (1640 - 1732) |