Maria, Mariah or Mehitable Possibly the wife of John Hallett, was at Crosby's Tavern one night when a terrible storm forced a ship full of seamen to come ashore to wait out the storm. The storm lasted several days and during that time Maria had an affair with a sailor, Samuel Bellamy, and by the time he left port she was carrying his baby. It is said he promised Maria he would return for her once he had amassed a fortune for her. Soon afterwards he was considered one of the most notorious pirates to sail the seas. Maria's baby died the same night it was born and people said it was because 'Black Sam is the devilin the flesh, and Maria has consorted with the devil.' She was accused of witchcraft. On Cape Cod the witches were sentences to jail rather than hanged. After a few days, Maria's father was able to convince the town council (with a great deal of money), that Maria was not dangerous and should be freed. They forbade her to live in the town, however, and she resided all her days in a little shanty across a field of poverty grass which was known as 'Goody Hallett's meadow.' She was well-known for weaving the most beautiful fabrics in all of Massachusetts, and although people were forbidden to visit her, many risked being stoned to cross the meadow and purchase her fine fabrics.The National Geographic of July 1975 published an article about Cape Cod which included the story of Maria Hallett and Black Sam Bellamy. 'It even elaborated further, claiming that 'she sat, keeping watch on the shore, waiting for the return of her lover, Black Sam Bellamy, warning the sailors of danger by tying lanterns on the tails of whales.' ... -------------------- This person seems to be a better match for the girl Samuel "befriended". She was young just married, to John Hallett, which explains why she was called "goody", lived in the area, and her mother's name was the one that came up as a candidate by researchers at the Museum in Provincetown, MA.