Martha (Allen) Carrier (1643-1692), hanged as a Salem Witch
My 10th great grandmother was Martha Allen, who was probably the most famous person condemned as a witch during the Salem Witch Trials.
From this distance in history, it appears that she was a much better person than her accusers, who were bitter and petty, and full of the righteous hate that seems to afflict our world into modern times.
This rampant Hag, Martha Carrier, was the person, of whom the Confessions of the Witches, and of her own children among the rest, agreed, That the Devil had promised her, she should be Queen of Heb.
- Cotton Mather
A mean and bitter man.
They even forced her children (by actual torture), including her 7 year old daughter, to admit to witchcraft and testify against their mother. But she held firm against all accusers. And spoke her mind. Which, in the end, is probably what got her into trouble.
“It is false; and it is a shame for you to mind what these say, that are out of their wits!”
- Martha Carrier testimony at the Witch Trial
In the examinations of the accused which preceded the regular trial, most made confession and thus averted the extreme penalty. Martha Carrier was the only one of all, male or female, who did not at some time or other make an admission or confession. From the first moment to the last, under all the persuasions and exhortations of friends, under denunciations and threats of the magistrates and examiners, she held firm, denying all charges, and neither overborne in mind nor shaken in nerve, met death with heroic courage.
- Historical Sketches of Andover
She was hanged as a witch on August 19, 1692.
One dog was also hanged, as he was believed to be a transformed witch.
In 1711 the Massachusetts government apologized to Thomas Carrier for the hanging of his wife, paid him a settlement, and reversed the conviction.
Jerry Milo Johnson to Martha (Allen) Carrier
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Filed under: Uncategorized | 6 Comments
Tags: Allen, Carrier, Hull, Masters, Pike, Pinney, relationship chart, Wilcox
What a story. She was also part of our family history.
On my Hanlin side one of my ancestors was a Jurior at the Trials Joseph Batchelor. Sorry Cousin!
Thank you for publishing this History. Marhta is my Great (9X) grandmother as well. On the Brewster, Holt branch!!
i have never heard of the johnsons being part of my ancestry im intrested in knowing what part of the family you stem from.
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