Phebe Tyler

Phebe Chandler

Written as recorded:

PHEBE3 CHANDLER, (William 9, William) and Jonathan Tyler.

At the trial of Martha (Allen) Carryer, wife of Thomas Carryer, b. in England; he d.in Colchester, Conn., l6 March, 1735, aged 108 or 9 yrs, of Andover, for witchcraft Aug 2. 1692, which resulted in her being condemned and hanged, Aug. 19, on the gallows that was erected, not only for those who were thought to be possessed by the evil spirit, but for those also who might ridicule the idea of this popular delusion, as stated by Dr. Cotton Mather, Phebe Chandler, then not twelve years old, was called as a witness. She testified:
That about a fortnight before the apprehension of Martha Carryer, on a Lord's day while the psalm was singing in the Church, this Carryer then took her by the shoulder, and shaking her asked her where she lived. She made her no answer, although Carryer, who lived next door to her father's house, could not in reason but know who she was. Quickly after this, as she was several times crossing the fields, she heard a Voice that she took to be Martha Carryer's, and it seemed as if it were over head. The voice told her she should, within two or three days, be poisoned: accordingly, within such a little time, one half of her right hand became greatly Swollen and very painful, as also a part of her face. Whereof she can give no account how it came. It continued very bad for several days, and several times since, she has had great pain in her breast, and been so seized on her legs that she has hardly been able to go.
She added, That lately, going to the house of God, Richard, the Son of Martha Carryer, looked Very Earnestly upon her, and immediately her hand, which had formerly been poisoned as above said, began to pain her greatly, and she had a strange burning in her Stomach, but was then struck deaf so that she could not hear any of the prayer or singing till the two or three last words of the psalm.
After finishing his account of her trial, Cotton Mather makes this Memorandum: 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 Hell.
While John Proctor, a respectable farmer, and his wife were in prison in Salem, July, 1692, waiting their trial, the Sheriff, George Corwin, came to his house, and seized all his goods, and even emptied a pot of broth and took away the pot, and left nothing in the house for the Support of the children. No part of said goods were known to be returned. Proctor earnestly requested Mr. Noyes to pray with him and for him; but it was wholly denied because he would not own himself to be a Witch.
On the 23d July, John Proctor wrote to Mr. Mather and others:

• Here are five persons who have lately confessed themselves to be Witches, and do accuse some of us of being along with them at a Sacrament. Since we were committed into close prison, which we know to be lies. Two of the five are Carrier's sons, young men who would not confess anything till they tied them neck and heels till the blood was ready to come out of their noses, and it is credibly believed and reported this was the occasion of making them Confess what they never did, by reason they said one had been a Witch a month, and another five Weeks, and that their mother had made them so, Who has been Confined here this nine Weeks.

Though the confessing witches Were many (and those accused were urged by their nearest relations, seeing no other way of escape for them, to "confess their own guilt" ) not one of them that confessed and abode by their confession was put to death.
Bridget Chandler, the mother of Phebe, corroborates the daughter's story in the trial of Martha Carrier.
The Examination of Thomas Carrier, taken this 10 Aug., 1692, before me, Dudley Bradstreet, one of their Majestie's Justices of the Peace for Essex:

• Thomas Carrier, being accused of witchcraft, confessed that he was guilty of witchcraft, and that he had been a Witch a Week, and that his Mother, Martha Carrier, taught him witchcraft. That a yellow bird had appeared to him and Spoke to him; at which he being affrighted, his Mother appeared to him and brought him a book, and bid him Set his hand to it, telling him it would do him good if he did so, and that she would tear him to pieces if he did not.
• That his mother baptized him in Shaw- Shine River; Pulled off his clothes and put him into the river, and that his mother then told him he was her's forever; That his mother bid him afflict Maxy Walcutt, Ann Putnam, and Sarah Phelps. And that he went the 9th inst. at night to John Chandler's [Cousin to Phebe Chandler. who married Jonathan Tyler, above], that there were ten in Company with him, who rid upon two poles, and that there were three men in the Company, and two of the Women belonged to Ipswich, whose names were Mary and Sarah, and that he saw Betty Johnson in the Company.
• And confessed that he did the 9th instant at night, afflict Sarah Phelps and Ann Putnam by pinching them.

Dudley Bradstreett, Justice Peace

( Vol.I 3d Series, Mass. Hist Coll.)

Source:Chandler, George:[History of William and Annis Chandler who Settled in Roxbury, Mass.1637]; Worcester, Mass.; press of Charles Hamilton; pg. 37-39

Link: https://books.google.com/books?id=h2JmAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA47&lpg=PA47&dq=...