Jonathan Putnam, James Darling, Benjamin Hutchinson
and Samuel Braybrook v. Mary Easty
Essex County Archives, Salem -- Witchcraft Vololume 1, Page 119
A constable was an elected official who was responsible for keeping the peace. His duties were more limited than the sheriff's. He apprehended and punished offenders, helped settle estates, and collected taxes.
The deposition of Jonathan Putman, James Darling, Benja.
Hutchinson & Sam Braybrook w'o testify & say that
we together
with divers others the 20 May 1692 between eight & eleven aclock
at night being with Mercy Lewes whom we found in a dase as if
death would have quickly followed, & to whom Eliz Hubbard was
brought (said Mercy being unable to speak most of the day) to discover what she could see did afflict said
Mercy heard & observed
that these two fell into fits by turns, the one being well whilst the
other was ill, & that each of them complained much of Mary Eastie,
who brought the book to said Mercy severall times as we heard her
say in her trances, & vexed & tortured them both by choking &
seemingly breathless fits & other fits, threatning said Mercy with
a winding sheet & afterwards with a Coffin if said Mercy would not
signe to her book, with abundance more of vexations they both
received from her.
Samuel Braybrook was an assistant constable and a weaver.
Salem is in Essex County, Massachusetts and was a significant seaport in early America. John Endicott obtained a patent from England and arrived there in 1628. Salem originally included much of the North Shore, including Marblehead. Salem Village also included Peabody and parts of Beverly, Middleton, Topsfield, Wenham and Manchester-by-the-Sea.
Very little is known about Elizabeth (Betty) Hubbard.
Deacon Edward Putnam (1654-1747) was about 38 at the time of the trials. His parents were Thomas Putnam and Ann Holyoke. He married Mary Hale. His brother was Thomas Putnam. Ann Putnam was 12 years old at the time of the trials. She was the daughter of Thomas and Ann Putnam. Ann died in 1716 and was the only girl to apologize. Constable John Putnam. Jr. (1627-1710). His parents were John Putnam and Priscilla Gould. He married Rebecca Prince.
Mercy Lewis was a servant in Thomas Putnam's home. She was born in Maine about 1673 and lost both parents in Indian attacks at a young age.
Many factors led to the witchcraft accusations in Salem.
