Abigail Barker, accused witch

https://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=nancyd2&...

Name: Abigail Wheeler Sex: F Note:

   On Sept. 8, 1692 in Salem, MA., Abigail Barker was accused of being a witch. The following indictment was taken from a transcription of a surviving cout document obtained from the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA.

Abigail Barker
(Indictment v. Abigail Barker)
Essex in the Province

   of the Massachusetts bay

   In New England Ss// Anno R R's & Reginae Gulielmi

   & Mariae Angliae &c Quarto Anoq'e

   Dom: 1692

The Jurors for o'r Sov'r: lord and Lady the King and Queen present...
That Abigaill Barker Wife of Ebenezer Barker of Andivor In

   & upon the Eighth day of September last in the Yeare aforesaid

   & divers other days & Times as well before as after Certaine detes-

   table arts Called Witchcrafts & Sorcerys Wickedly Mallitously

   & felloniously hath used practised & Exersised at & in the Town of

   Andivor aforesaid in the County of Essex aforesaid upon & Against

   One Rose foster of Andivor by which Said Wicked Arts the Said

   Rose foster the day & year afors'd & divers others days & times

   both before & after, was & is Tortured Afflicted Consumed pined

   Wasted and Tormented Against the peace of o'r Sov'r lord & lady

   the King & Queen their Crowne & dignity & the laws & Acts in

   that Case made & provided

( Mass. Archives Vol. 135 No. 54 )

   (Case of Abigail Barker)

Abigail Barker wife of Ebenezar Barker of Andover in the County of Essex, being indicted by the Jurors, for our Soveraigne Lord and Lady the King and Queen, upon their Oathes, by three Severall Indictments; That is to Say: 1'st: --
For that shee the said Abigaill Barker wife of Ebenezar Barker of Andover in the County of Essex, about Two yeares Since, at, & in the Towne of Andover aforesaid, wickedly malitiously, and felloniously, a Covenant with the Devill did make, and Signe the Devills Booke, and by the Devill was baptized, and renounced her former christian baptisme, and gave her Selfe up to the Devill, to Serve him and for the Devill, to be her Lord and Master, by which diabolicall,

   and wicked covenant, Shee the said Abigaill Barker, is become a detestable witch Contrary to the Peace of our Soveraigne Lord and Lady the King and Queen their Crowne, and Dignity, and the Lawes, in that case made, and provided.

2'dly For that the said Abigaill Barker, wife of Ebenezar Barker of Andover, in the County of Essex aforesaid, in and upon the Eighth day of Septemb'r last, in the year of our Lord 1692, and diverse other dayes, and times, as well before, as after; certaine detestable Arts called witchcrafts, and Sorceries, wickedly malitiously, and feloniously, hath used, practised, and exercised, at, and in the Towne of Andover afores'd in the County of Essex aforesaid, upon, and against One Ralph farnum Senior of Andover aforesaid by which said wicked arts aforesaid the said Ralph farnum the day and Yeare aforesaid, and diverse other dayes, and times, both before, and after was, & is, tortured, aflicted, consumed, wasted, pined, and tormented, contrary to the peace of our Soveraigne Lord, and Lady, the King and Queen, their Crowne and Dignity, and the Lawes in that case made, and provided.
Jury of Tryall
Nathan'l Howard for[fig=BS30916a][/fig]
John Hale
Samuel Morgan
James Sanders
Richard Gross
John Witt
Nathan'l Emerson
John Emery
Benayah Tidcomb
John Platts
John Lamson
James freind
3'dly For that the said Abigaill Barker, wife Ebenezar Barker, of Andover, in, and upon the Eighth day of September last in the year of our Lord 1692 and divers other dayes and times as well before as after certaine detestable arts, called witchcrafts, and Sorceries, wickedly, mallitiously, and felloniously hath used, practised, and Exercised, at, and in the towne of Andover aforesaid, in the County of Essex aforesaid, upon, and against, one Rose foster, of Andover [] by which Said wicked Arts, the said Rose foster, the day, and year aforesaid, and diverse others dayes, and times both before, and after, was, and is, tortured, afflicted consumed,, pined and wasted, and tormented, against the Peace of o'r Soveraigne Lord and Lady the King, and Queen, their Crowne and dignity, and the Lawes, and Acts in that case made and Provided. -- Upon the aforesaid Indictments, and each of them, the said Abigaill Barker was then, and there, before the Justices of our Lord and Lady the King

   and Queen aforesaid, arraigned, and upon her arraignment, did then, and there, the day, and Year aforesaid, plead to them, and each of them Not Guilty, and put her Selfe, upon triall, by God, and her Countrey --

A Jury being called [] foreman and A[fig=BS30917a][/fig]rdingly Sworne, no exception being made by the Prisoner the said Indictments, and each of them, being read, together with Evidences, and Examinations and the Prisoners defence being heard: the Jury went out to agree on their verdict, who returning, did then and there, in open Court, deliver their verdict; That the Said Abigaill Barker was Not Guilty, of the fellony by witchcraft, for which she stood Indicted, in, and by, the said Indictements, and each of them.
The Court Ordered, Abigaill Barker aforesaid, to be discharged, paying her fees.
The following petition was written to the court on behalf of the following women:

   Petition for Mary Osgood, Eunice Fry, Deliverance Dane, Sarah Wilson, Sr., and Abigail Barker)

To: To the honoured court of Assize held at Salem, The humble address of several of the inhabitants

   of Andover.

   May it please this honoured court,

We being very sensible of the great sufferings our neighbours have been long under in prison, and charitably judging that many of them are clear of that great transgression which hath been laid to their charge, have thought it our duty to endeavour their vindication so far as our testimony for them will avail. The persons in whose behalf we are desired and concerned to speak something at present are Mrs. Mary Osgood, Eunice Frye, Deliverance Dane, Sarah Wilson and Abigail Barker, who are women of whom we can truly give this character and commendation, that they have not only lived among us so inoffensively as not to give the least occasion to any that know them to suspect them of witchcraft, but by their sober godly and exemplary conversation have obtained a good report in the place, where they have been well esteemed and approved in the church of which they are members.
We were surprized to hear that persons of known integrity and piety were accused of so horrid a crime, not considering, then, that the most innocent were liable to be so misrepresented and abused. When these women were accused by some afflicted persons of the neighbourhood, their relations and others, tho' they had so good grounds of charity that they should not have thought any evil of them, yet, through a misrepresentation of the truth of that evidence that was so much credited and improved against people, took great pains to persuade them to own what they were, by the afflicted, charged with, and, indeed, did unreasonably urge them to confess themselves guilty, as some of us who were then present can testify. But these good women did very much assert their innocency, yet some of them said they were not without fear least Satan had some way ensnared them, because there was that evidence against them which then was by many thought to be a certain indication and discovery of witchcraft, yet they seriously professed they knew nothing by themselves of that nature: Nevertheless, by the unwearied sollicitations of those that privately discoursed them both
at home and at Salem, they were at length persuaded publickly to own what they were charged with, and so submit to that guilt which we still hope and believe they are clear of. And, it is probable, the fear of what the event might be, and the encouragement that it is said was suggested to them, that confessing was the only way to obtain favour, might be too powerful a temptation for timorous women to withstand, in the hurry and distraction that we have heard they were then in. Had what they said against themselves proceeded from conviction of the fact, we should have had nothing to have said for them, but we are induced to think that it did not, because they did soon privately retract what they had said, as we are informed, and, while they were in prison, they declared to such as they had confidence to speak freely and plainly to, that they were not guilty of what they had owned, and that what they had said against themselves was the greatest grief and burden they laboured under: Now, though we cannot but judge it a thing very sinful for innocent persons to own a crime they are not guilty of, yet, considering the well ordered conversation of those women while they lived among us, and what they now seriously and constantly affirm in a more composed frame, we cannot but in charity judge them innocent of the great transgression that hath been imputed to them. As for the rest of our neighbours, who are under the like circumstances with these that have been named, we can truly say of them that while they lived among us, we have had no cause to judge them such persons as, of late, they have been represented and reported to be, nor do we know that any of their neighbours had any just grounds to suspect them of that evil that they are now charged with.
Dudley Bradstreet
Francis Dane, sen.
Thomas Barnard
Tho. Chandler, sen.
John Barker
Henry Ingolls, sen.
Wm. Chandler, sen.
Samuel Martin
Stephen Parker
Samuel Ingolls
Ephraim Stevens
John Abbot, sen.
Samuel Blanchard
Wm. Ballard
Thomas Hooper
John Hooper
Wm. Abbot
James Russell
Oliver Holt
John Presson
Francis Dane, jun.
George Abbot
Elizabeth Rite
Wm. Peters
Sam. Peters
Walter Wright
Hooker Osgood
Benj. Stevens
Ann Bradstreet
Joanna Dane
Eliza. Stevens
Eliza. Barnard
Phebe Robinson
Daniel Poore
John Ingolls
Henry Ingolls, jun.
John Frie, sen.
James Frie
John Aslebee
Samuel Holt
Wm. Chandler, jun.
John Chandler
Joseph Robinson
Thomas Johnson
Tho. Johnson, jun.
Andrew Peters
Mary Peters
Hannah Chandler
Hannah Dane
Bridget Chandler
Mary Johnson
Robert Russel
Mary Russel.
( Thomas Hutchinson, History of Massachusetts-Bay, II, 32-33 .)
Petitions from Relatives of Prisoners and Others (October 1692-January 1693)

   (Petition of Ebenezer Barker and Eight Others -- October 1692)

To: To the Honored Generall Court Now sitting in Boston this

   12 of october 1692

Right honored Gentlemen and fathers We your humble petitioners whose Names are under written petition as followeth: viz: We would Not Trouble Your honours w'th a Tedious diversion: but brieffly spread open our distressed Condition and beg your honours favour and pitty in affording what Relieff may be thought Convenient as for the matter of our Trouble: it is the distressed Condition of our wives and Relations in prison at Salem who are a Company of poore distressed creatures as full of inward grieff and Trouble as thay are able to bear up in life withall and besides That the agrivation of outward Troubles and hardships thay undergo: wants of food Convenient: and the coldness of the winter season that is coming may soon dispatch such out of the way That have Not been used to such hardships: and besides that The exceeding great Charges and expences that we are at upon many accounts which will be two Tedious to give a pertickular account of which will fall heavy upon us especially in a time of so great charge and expence upon a general accout in the Country which is expected of us to bear a part as well as others which if put all together our familys and estates will be brought to Ruin: if it Cannot in time be prevented: having spread open our Condition: we humbly make our adress To your honours to Grant that our wives and Relations being of such That have been approved as penitent Confessors might be Returned home to us upon what bond your honors shall see good we do not petition to take them out of

   the hands of Justic but to Remain as prisoners under bond in their own familys wher thay may be more tenderly Cared for: and may be redy to apear to Answer farther when the honored Court shall Call for them: we humbly Crave Your Honors favour and pitty for us and ours herin. having lett down our Troubled state before you. we heartyly pray for your honors

petitioners: *John Osgood in behalf of his wife
John frey. in behalf of his wife
John Maston. in behalf of his wife: mary maston
*Christopher Osgood. in behalf of his daughter mary maston
*Joseph Willson: in behalf of his wife #[& children]
John Bridges: in behalf of his wife and children hope Tiler: in behalf of his wife and daughter
*Ebenezer Barker: for his wife
*Nathaniel Dane for his wife
( Mass. Archives, Vol. 135 No. 59 )
(Petition of the Andover Ministers and Twenty-Two Others including Ebenezer Barker -- October 1692)
To: To his Excellency the Governour, and Councill, & Representatives, now Assembled at Boston. The Humble Address of the ministers, and of some of the Inhabitants of Andover.
We being deeply sensible of the heavy judgment that the Righteous God hath brought upon this place, thought it our duty (after our earnest prayers to the God of Heaven, to give us help from our trouble) to lay before this Honourable Assembly, our present distressed estate, and to crave a redress of our greivances. It is well known that many persons of this Town, have been accused of witchcraft, by some distempered persons in these parts and upon complaint made have been apprehended and committed to prison. Now though we would not appear as Advocates for any who shall be found guilty

   of so horrid a crime, but we heartily desire that this place, and the whole land, may be purged from that great wickedness: yet if any of our #[freinds] friends and neighbours have been misrepresented, as tis possible some of them have been; wee would crave leave (if it might be without offence) to speak something in their behalf, haveing no other desighn therein, then that the truth may appear. We can truly give this Testimony of the most of them belonging to this Town, that have been accused, that they never gave the least occasion (as we hear of) to their neerest relations or most intimate acquaintance, to suspect them of witchcraft. Severall of the women that are accused were members of this church in full Communion, and had obtained a good report, for their blameless conversation, and their walking as becometh woemen professing godliness. But whereas it may be alledged, that the most of our people that have been apprehended for witchcraft, have upon Examination confessed it. To which we Answer that we have nothing to plead for those that freely and upon conviction own themselves guilty; but we apprehend the case of some of them to be otherwise. for from the information we have had and the discourse some of us have had with the prisoners, we have reason to think that the extream urgency that was used with some of them by their friends and others who privately examined them, and the fear they were then under, hath been an inducement to them to own such things, as we cannott since find thay are conscious of; and the truth of what we now declare, we judge will in time more plainly appear. And some of them have exprest to their neighbours that it hath been their great trouble, that they have wronged themselves and the truth in their confessions.

We are also very sensible of the disstressed condition of severall poor familyes, on whom this great trouble is fallen; some #[more] of our neighbors are like to be impoverished & ruin'd by the great charge they are at to maintain such of their familyes as are in Prison, and by the fees that are demanded of them, whose case we pray may be considered.
Our troubles which hitherto have been great, we foresee are like to continue and increase, if other methods be not taken then as yet have been, for there are more of our neighb'rs of good reputation & approved integrity, who are still accused, and complaints have been made against them, And we know not who can think himself safe, if the Accusations of children and others who are under a Diabolicall influence shall be received against persons of good fame.
We thought meet also to Signifye that not only persons of good creditt among our selves, but some Honorable & worthy men of other places, do suffer in their names by the acusations of afflicted people in this Town
Thus haveing given your Honors some account of our present troubles, we crave pardon for our boldness in this Address, and humbly pray this Honored Court to take into their serious consideration our low and distressed estate: And that the only wise God may bless yo'r counsels & Endeavors for the welfare of his people, shall be the prayer of
Dated at Andov'r 18'th Oct. 1692.

   Your Humble Petitioners

*Timothy Osgood
*Samuel Osgoode
*Samuel Martin
*William Chandler
*William abbutt
*Thomas Chandler
*Christopher osgood
*Ebenezer Barker
*Stephen Barnott
*Joseph Marble
*Ephraim Daviss
*Andrew peeters
*Walter Rice
*hooker osgood
Francis Dane sen'r
*Thomas Barnard
*John Osgood
*Thomas Johnson
*Nathaniel Dane
*Hopestil Tiler
*Ephraim Steevens
*John Aslebee
*James Frie
*Joseph Willson
*Joseph Steevens
*Thomas Chandler Jun'r
( Mass. Archives Vol. 135 No. 61 )
(Declaration of Mary Osgood, Martha (?) Tyler, Deliverance Dane, Abigail Barker, Sarah Wilson, and Hannah Tyler)
We whose names are under-written, inhabitants of Andover; whenas that horrible and tremendous judgment beginning at Salem village in the year 1692, by some called witchcraft, first breaking forth at Mr. Parris's house, several young persons, being seemingly afflicted, did accuse several persons for afflicting them, and many there believing it so to be, we being informed that, if a person was sick, the afflicted person could tell what or who was the cause of that sickness: Joseph Ballard, of Andover, his wife being sick at the same time, he, either from himself or by the advice of others, fetched two of the persons, called the afflicted persons, from Salem village to Andover, which was the beginning of that dreadful calamity that befel us in Andover, believing the said accusations to be true, sent for the said persons to come together to the meeting house in Andover, the afflicted persons being there. After Mr. Barnard had been at prayer, we were blindfolded, and our hands were laid upon the afflicted persons, they being in their fits and falling into their fits at our coming into their presence, as they said; and some led us and laid our hands upon them, and then they said they were well, and that we were guilty of afflicting them: Whereupon, we were all seized, as prisoners, by a warrant from the Justice of the peace and forthwith carried to Salem. And, by reason of that sudden surprizal, we knowing ourselves altogether innocent of the crime, we were all exceedingly astonished and amazed, and consternated and affrighted even out of our reason. and our nearest and dearest relations, seeing us in that dreadful condition, and knowing our great danger, apprehended there was no other way to save our lives, as the case was then circumstanced, but by our confessing ourselves to be such and such persons as the afflicted represented us to be, they, out of tenderness and pity, persuaded us to confess what we did confess. And indeed that confession, that it is said we made, was no other than what was suggested to us by some gentlemen, they telling us that we were witches, and they knew it, and we knew it, which made us think that it was so; and our understandings, our reason, our faculties, almost gone, we were not capable of judging of our condition; as also the hard measures they used with us rendered us incapable of making our defence, but said any thing and every thing which they desired, and most of what we said, was but, in effect, a consenting to what they said. Some time after, when we were better composed, they

   telling us what we had confessed, we did profess that we were innocent and ignorant of such things; and we hearing that Samuel Wardwell had renounced his confession, and quickly after condemned and executed, some of us were told we were going after Wardwell.

Mary Osgood,
Mary Tiler,
Deliverance Dane,
Abigail Barker,
Sarah Wilson,
Hannah Tiler.
( Thomas Hutchinson , History of Massachusetts-Bay, II, 31-32 )
(Account of Ebenezer Barker -- Case of Abigail Barker )

   To: To the Honorable Comittee

An Account of what Ebenezer Barker of Andover payd for his wife Abigail Barker who was accused of witchcraft and suffered Imprisonment 18 weeks at Salem in the year 1692 Viz To the Keeper of the Goal 1-10-0

   it For Court Charges 1-7-4

   The sums abovs'd he was forcid to pay before his wife could be Released. Besides his maintaining his wife wholly in prison with provision and other necessaryes 2-10-0

£ s d
Totall. 5-7-4 p * Ebenezer Barker
I desire Capt Barker to give in this account
to the Hon'rable Comittee
* Eben. Barker
(Reverse) Abigail Barker of Andover Imprisond not Condemnd
( Mass. Archives. Vol. 135 No. 146 )
Abigail (Wheeler) BarkerAndover

   Married woman, 36Charged on September 7, 1692

   Abigail Wheeler was born 1656, daughter of Sarah (Wise) and David Wheeler of Rowley. In 1686 Abigail married Ebenezer Barker of Andover, fifth child of Joanna (mnu) and Richard Barker. In 1692 Abigail, 36, and her husband Ebenezer, a carpenter, were living in the south part of Andover. Abigail's sister, Lydia, and her husband, Daniel Eames, lived in Boxford but attended the Andover Church.

   By the early part of August 1692 Daniel Eames and his mother, Rebecca (Blake) Eames, both found themselves in prison. On August 29, 1692 Ebenezer's niece, Mary Barker, and his brother, William Barker, Sr., were imprisoned and on September 1 William Barker, Jr. was imprisoned. On September 7 Abigail (Wheeler) Barker was arrested at the Andover touch test. Ebenezer Barker quickly joined the newly formed Andover resistance and was a signer of the petitions of October 12, October 18, and December 6. Abigail (Wheeler) Barker is specifically mentioned in the petition presented to the Superior Court of Judicature at Salem when it opened on January 3, 1693. The petition was signed by Dudley Bradstreet, the Rev. Dane, the Rev. Barnard, and fifty men and women of Andover. Despite the petition, the grand jury at the Superior Court of Judicature indicted Abigail. However in a trial by jury on January 6 she was found not guilty. She was released, having been imprisoned for 18 weeks in Salem. In 1743 Abigail (Wheeler) Barker died at Andover, aged 87.

Marriage 1 Ebenezer Barker b: 22 MAR 1650/51 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts

   Married: 25 MAY 1686 in Andover, MA. 1

Children

   Has No Children Abigail Barker b: in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts

Has No Children Ebenezer Barker b: 17 MAR 1686/87 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts
Has No Children Nathan Barker b: 24 SEP 1688 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts
Has No Children Philemon Barker b: 22 APR 1695 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts
Sources:

   Title: Descendants of Richard Barker of Andover, MA.

   Repository:

   Media: Book

   Page: page 267 

* Reference: FamilySearch Family Tree - SmartCopy: Jul 29 2018, 4:06:33 UTC

• Abigail Wheeler
• F, #13801, b. 9 March 1660/61
• Father Henry Wheeler b. 1634
• Mother Abigail Allen b. 4 Jan 1640, d. 1696
• Abigail Wheeler was born on 9 March 1660/61 at Salisbury, Essex, MA.
• From: http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p459.htm#i...
• _______________________
• Genealogical and family history of the state of Connecticut : a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation (1911) Vol. 1
• https://archive.org/details/genealogicalfami001cutt
• https://archive.org/stream/genealogicalfami001cutt#page/25/mode/1up
• Pg.25
  • (The Wheeler Line).
• (I) John Wheeler, immigrant ancestor, was from Salisbury, England, and was an inhabitant of Hampton, Massachusetts, soon after the settlement of that town. He received land in Salisbury, Massachusetts, in 1641. He removed to Newbury, Massachusetts, before 1650, but was taxed in Salisbury in 1652. He was a barber by trade. He married Anne ___, who died August 15, 1662, Newbury. He died in 1670. His will was dated March 28, 1668, proved October 11, 1670. Children: Adam, remained in Salisbury, England, 1668 ; Edward, remained in Salisbury, England, 1668; William, remained in England, 1668; David, born about 1625, in England, married. May 11, 1650, Sarah Wise; Anne, married Aquila Chase; Mercy, living in 1668; Elizabeth, married a Bultom or Button, living in 1668; Roger, married, December 7, 1653, Mary Wilson ; Henry, mentioned below ; George, married, April 30, 1660, Susanna Stowers; Joseph, died October 13, 1659.
• (II) Henry, son of John Wheeler, married, about 1659, Abigail Allen or Allan. She was a member of the Salisbury church in 1687 ; a widow of Boston, 1696. He was admitted to the Salisbury church, August 26, 1694, and died before 1696. Abigail Allen was the daughter of William and Ann (Goodale) Allen, and was born January 4, 1639-40. Her father, William Allen, was a "house-carpenter" in Salisbury and received land there in the first division, also in 1640. His name appears on the list of "townsmen and commoners" in 1650 and later lists. He married (first) Ann, daughter of Richard Goodale, who died May, 1678; he married (second) Alice, widow of John Roper and of John Dickison. He died in Salisbury, June 18, 1686. Children of Henry Wheeler : Henry, born April 13, 1659, Salisbury; Abigail, March 7, 1660-61, Salisbury; William, September 6, 1663, Salisbury; Moses, June 24, 1665, Salisbury; Ann, (twin) May 27, 1667, Salisbury; James (twin), mentioned below; Josiah, April 23, 1669, Salisbury; Ruth, July 15, 1671, Salisbury; Nathaniel, March 28, 1675, Salisbury; Jeremiah, July 17, 1677, Salisbury; Benjamin, January 15, 1681-82, Salisbury; Mary, June 5, 1685, Salisbury.
• _________________________________
• WHEELER, Henry
• b. 8 FEB 1633/4 St Edmunds, Salisbury, Wilts, England
• d. ABT 1690 Salisbury, Essex, Mass.
• Parents:
• Father: WHEELER, John
• Mother: Ann,
• Family:
• Spouse: ALLEN, Abigail
• b. 1 OCT 1641 Newbury, Essex, Mass.
• Parents:
• Father: ALLEN, Walter
• Mother: Rebecca,
• Children:
  • WHEELER, Henry
  • WHEELER, Abigail b. 9 MAR 1659/60 Salisbury, Essex, Mass.
  • WHEELER, William
  • WHEELER, Moses b. 24 JUN 1665 Salisbury, Essex, Mass.
  • WHEELER, James
  • WHEELER, Ann
  • WHEELER, Josiah
  • WHEELER, Nathaniel
  • WHEELER, Ruth
  • WHEELER, Jeremiah b. 17 JUL 1677 Salisbury, Essex, Mass.
  • WHEELER, Benjamin b. 15 JUN 1681 Salisbury, Essex, Mass.
  • WHEELER, Benjamin b. 15 JAN 1681/2 Salisbury, Essex, Mass.
  • WHEELER, Mary
• From: http://www.genealogyofnewengland.com/f_b5.htm#37
• _____________________________