Margaretta Mattson

Biography

Margareta Erichzdr and Neels Mattson were married on 5 November, 1651 in Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden, per Vital Records Index, Scandinavia, Sweden - sources collection, Storkyrko (Sankt Nikolai); Svenska Kyrkan, On LDS FHL Film 77821, Batch M419741. Note: Torshalla, Sweden is very close to Stockholm, Sweden. A trip to Stockholm would be a short journey for Neels and Margareta. Reference book: "Anthony Nelson" By Elmer Garfield Van Name,LL.B.,LL.D.(*) (Oct. 1962) and book: Davis: A Quaker Family, By Eleanor Davis

Further, the survival in Europe of the ancient pagan beliefs and and practices of witchcraft could hardly fail to span the Atlantic; and about 1663, Neals Matson's wife had been called a "witch" (SSD 667). Later the slander was revived, and fear of persecution, torture, or even execution might arise. In any case, Neals Matson, and his son, Anthony, determined to sell theirproperties in Pennsylvania, and to move across the river. Altho the reasons for this move are not known, the planting of corn (really winter wheat), in the fall of 1683 to be harvested the following summer, might suggest that the decision had not been long contemplated, (or was just good husbandry); for the sale intervened. Whether news and resentment concerning the sale precipitated prosecution,or whether it would have come anyhow, is not clear, but come it did.Altho Mrs. Matson was acquitted, this harrowing experience certainly very distressing to her, and her family, as well as a study of the documents of sale, afford memorials by which Mrs. Matson's name, and those of her husband and son, are perpetuated. The superstitious rumors, or intentional falsehoods, concerning Mrs.Matson and Mrs. "Yeshro" Hendrickson were brought to the attention of William Penn, the Proprietor, and his associates, on February 7, 1683/4(W&H 1:265). Mrs. Hendrickson's husband was Hendrick Jacobson. Jacob Hendrickson entered into bond for "Getro" Hendrickson in the amount of 50 Pounds for a period of 6 months (Col. Rec. 1:95). Mrs. Matson was indicted on February 27, 1683/4 and brought to trial the same day! The Judges were, William Penn, James Harrison, William Biles,Lasse Cock, William Haigue, Chris Taylor, William Clayton, and Tho.Holmes. The members of the Grand Jury and the petit jury appear to have been predominently English, excepting Gunner Rambo, of course. Mrs.Matson had as interpreters, Lasse Cock (one of the Judges) and James Claypoole, confirmation of the fact that she spoke a foreign language, no doubt, Swedish (W&H 1:266; 0 175, 177). One witness testified that James Sanderling's mother, had said Mrs. Matson bewitched her cow. Another testified that Anthony's wife sold her cattle because her mother had bewitched them, having taken it off of Hendricks' cattle. Oxen she might keep! He further testified that Mrs.Matson desired Jno. Symcock to take away his calves. In defense, Mrs.Matson denied the charges and said they were "hearsay", and that if Sanderlin's mother had come, she would have answered her; she values notthe evidence, denying it "at her Soul", she said "Where is my daughter; let her come and say so." Governor Penn charged the jury, who returned a verdict of "Not guilty" (Col. Rec. 1:40). Altho Mrs. Matson was acquitted, Neels Mattson and Anthony Neelson entered into a bond for 50 Pounds to assure her good behavior for six months. (Not guilty, but don't do it again!) Thus was the majesty of the law able to triumph over sinister forces! (Col. Rec. 1:95; PaM 5:169; W&H 1:265, 274). We know that trifling and untenable hearsay such as this would not for a moment be entertained in this day. It is reminiscent of the following quip found on a scrap of paper in the library of The Historical Society of Pennsylvania: "They keep talkin about somethin they don't no nuthin about - till its 10 times as bad as it was, when it wasn't not in at all in the first place." The trial, said to be one of the few such cases in Pennsylvania, had ended; and thus did William Penn and his community of Quakers exert asane and Godly influence upon the destiny of the Province. Their example apparently created an atmosphere that dissuaded persecution of others,even during the succeeding decade when hysterical fanaticiam ran rife in Massachusetts, and heathenism, even among the clergy, hunted down and brought trial and death to the innocent!

Referring now to the documents of sale: Nels Matson sold to Edward Pretchett of Chester, his plantation (for 120 Pounds payable in aspecified way), reserving the crop of corn already sown. He signed bymark in the presence of Anthony Nealson who signed his name. The penmanship is difficult to read and the date somewhat faint, but it appears to be 17 day, 11 mo. 1683 (January 17, 1684, New Style). On February 18, 1683/4 the following was signed: Know all men by these presents that wee neales mattson and Anthoney nealson of the province of Pensilevenia Husband men doe sell bargain and grant unto Edward Prettchetof the same province all their right and title in a Certain planttacionlieng and being one the west sid of Delawer river and on the west sid ofthe Crum Crek with all and singler the apertances land and medow grownd the corn now sowed upon the land and the stock only exsepted in Considration wherof hee the sd Edward Prettchet is to pay unto the sdneales mattson and Anthony the sume of ??

ANOTHER REPORT FOUND IN BOOK: 'Samuel Carpenter and His Decendants' At a Council held at Philadelphia the seventh of the twelfth month1683--Present--William Penn Proprietor and Governor, Lasse Cock, WilliamClayton, John Symcock, Thos. Holmes. Margaret Mattson and Yestro Henderickson examined and about to be proven witches. Whereupon this Board ordered that Neils Mattson should enter into a Recognizance of fifty pounds for his wife's appearance before this board the 27th instant. Jacob Hendrickson doth the same for his wife. At a Council held the twenty-seventh of the 12th Mo. 1683, the Grand Jurybeing attested, the Governor gave them their charge, and the Attorney General attended them with the presentment. [Their names follow--twenty-one--the second in order being Samuel Carpenter.]

Post Meridian. The Grand Jury made their return and found the Bill. Margaret Mattson,indictment made--She pleads not guilty and will be tryed by the country--Lasse Cock attested Interpreter between the proprietor and the prisoner at the bar. The Petit Jury empanelled [twelve men, whose names are given. Then follows the testimony reported.] The prisoner denyth thethings and sayeth that ye witnesses speak only by hear-say. After which the Governor gave the Jury their charge concerning the Prisoner. The Jury went forth and upon their return brought her in guilty of having the common fame of a Witch but not Guilty in manner and form as she stands indicted. YET ANOTHER REPORT per a Bethel Township Report A Witch Trial in Pennsylvania Much has been written about witch hunts, trials and executions of witches in early colonial Massachusetts, but little has been noted abou tPennsylvania's famous witch case. In 1684, before a Provincial Court was established, William Penn. asproprietor and governor, was called upon to preside at the triIal of analleged witch some 18 years before the famous trial at Salem, Massachusetts. The basis of calling for the trial was a 1603 English Statute, making witchcraft punishable by death. In Pennsylvania, here in our own Delaware County, it was the case of Margaret Mattson, wife of Swedish settler Neels Mattson. She was accused of bewitching cows and doing the strange things witches are accused of doing. She was said to be unable to speak English, and had Lasse Cock,prominent leader of the Swedish community as interpreter. According to one authority, William Penn himself questioned the accused,"Art thou a witch?" he asked her, "Hast thou ever ridden through the air on a broom stick?" The poor lady insisted that she had. Penn told herthat be knew no law against it, and recommended that the case be dropped.So, according to the story, they found her guilty not of witchcraft but of having the "common fame of being a witch", and set her free. This story is of interest to Bethel Township, because included among the jurors were pioneer settlers John Gibbons, Edward Bezer and Robert Piles(Pyle) of Bethel, and Walter Mantin of Chichester, who married Jane Bushell of Bethel, daughter of the pioneer settler, Joseph Bushell. It isalso a tribute to our Quaker ancestors, who in a trying situation, showed understanding of mental illness and the problems of the persecuted.(Information from Smith, History of Del. Co. 1862, and Ashmead, Historyof Del. Co. 1883) Book: Witchcraft and Quakerism, by Amelia M. Gummere, 1908 - Excerpt from Chaper 4 The only witchcraft trial in the province of Pennsylvania occurred before the Council, previous to the organization of the Provincial Court, on December 27, 1683. Only one of two old women, both of them Swedes, seems to have been tried. Yeshro Hendrickson's name disappears. Margaret Mattson lived upon her husband's plantation on the Delaware, near Crum Creek, in Ridley township, now Delaware County. She remained for long in local legend, the "Witch of Ridley Creek." At her trial she appeared before William Penn, his Attorney General, a Grand Jury of twenty-one persons, all apparently English, and a Petit Jury of twelve persons, one of whom was a Swede. One Councilman, Lasse Cock, was also a prominent Swede. The case was heard, all the formalities gone through with, and the verdict rendered the same afternoon, as follows: "Guilty of having the Comon Fame of a Witch, but not Guilty in manner and Forme as Shee stands Endicted." There were various accusations of a vague sort against the poor woman, as that she had bewitched calves, geese, cattle and a few persons. Her own daughter testified that she was in league with the Devil, But the sober sanity of the Quaker Jury brought in an eminently safe verdict. Tradition has it that William Penn said to her: "Art thou a witch? Hast thou ridden through the air on a broomstick?" When the poor, confused creature answered, "Yes," he said that she had a perfect right to ride upon a broomstick, that he knew no law whatever against it, and promptly ordered her discharge. This was the only witchcraft trial ever before the Pennsylvania Courts.

Link:http://myrootsplace.com/getperson.php?personID=I97195&tree=MRP

Taken from Thomas/Krueger Ancestry: Grandma Was a Witch?

Margaret was born about 1635 in Torshälla, Södermanland, Sweden. She married Nils Matson [also Matsson] in Sweden on 5 Nov 1651. The couple immigrated to America in 1654, arriving at “New Sweden, Delaware“.

According to a biography written by Nils Matsson’s great-grandson Peter Matson, Nils and Margareta arrived aboard the ship Örn and were initially assigned a plantation in “Finland”, an area south of Upland, Pennsylvania. The family then moved to land along Crum Creek near present-day Eddystone, Pennsylvania.

The Matssons did not speak English, and had a prime tract of farmland due to their early arrival at the colony. They were, by some accounts, prosperous farmers. This may have led to distrust and jealousy amongst the later-arriving Dutch and English. Margaret was also said to have been a “healer” in the Swedish tradition. In any case, in 1683 Margaret was accused of witchcraft by several people in her settlement, including (indirectly) her own daughter-in-law. Some accounts posit that this was a poorly-conceived attempt to wrest the land from the Matson family.

Whatever the motive, Margaret and Nils were brought before a provincial Grand Jury headed by William Penn himself to face charges that Margaret was a witch. It was the only witchcraft trial ever held in the province of Pennsylvania.

The trial proceedings are recorded in the “Minutes of the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania“, and, frankly, it’s pretty funny stuff. It’s written in Old English, which gives it a real charm, and the accusations against Margaret read like a scene from “Monty Python’s Holy Grail”. It’s not far from “She turned me into a newt!”

There was a preliminary hearing, held on 7 Dec 1683, that saw Nils Matson posting a bond of 50 pounds to ensure the good behavior of his wife. The trial date was then set for the 27th of December.

At the actual trial a couple of different Swedes were available to translate for Margaret, who, as previously-stated, did not speak English. Margaret plead “not guilty” to the charges, then the first witness against her took the stand. Henry Drystreet testified that:

“He was tould 20 years agoe, that the prisoner at the Barr was a witch, and that several cows were betwitcht by her; also, that James Saunderling’s mother tould him that she bewitched her cow, but afterwards said it was a mistake, and that her Cow should doe well again, for it was not her cow but another person’s that should dye”.

Got that? Henry got up and said he had once been told that Margaret was a witch, and his proof was that Mrs. Saunderling said that Margaret had bewitched her cow, but later told him she was mistaken because her cow was fine and it had been someone else’s cow that had died. Compelling stuff.

The next witness was just as convincing. Charles Ashcom took the stand and testified.

“Charles Ashcom attested, saith Anthony [Matson]’s wife being asked why she sould her Cattle; was because her mother [in-law] had bewitcht them, having taken the witchcraft of Hendrick’s cattle, and put it on their oxon; she might keep but noe other cattle.”

So, Charles’s point seems to be that he asked Margaret’s daughter-in-law why she sold her cattle, and she told him that Margaret had bewitched the cattle, taking a spell off Hendrick Jacobson’s cattle and putting it on some oxen. As a result, the wife sold her cattle and wouldn’t own any more.

Charles then got into some more serious accusations:

“That one night the daughter of ye prisoner called him up hastily, and when he came she sayd that there was a great light but just before, and an old woman with a knife in her hand at ye bedd’s feet, and therefore shee cryed out and desired Jonathan Symcock to take away his calves, or else she would send them to hell.”

This one’s a little tougher to decipher, but it seems that Margaret’s daughter-in-law [the Matsons had three sons and no daughters] called Charles in the middle of the night to say, “You just missed it! I was asleep, and then suddenly an old woman appeared in a flash of light at the foot of my bed! She had a knife, and she said if John Symcock doesn’t take his baby cows off our property this spectral, knife-wielding woman would send us… or the calves… she wasn’t entirely clear on the matter… to hell! Totally was not a dream. At all!”

“She turned me into a newt!”, indeed.

The next witness, Annakey Coolin, testified that she and her husband had a calf die, “they thought, by witchcraft”, so they boiled the heart of the calf, presumably to draw out the witch. When they were boiling the heart, Margaret came to their door and asked them what they were doing. They told her they were boiling the flesh, and Margaret told them they should have boiled the bones of the calf instead. This statement was, they said, accompanied by “other unseemly expressions”. There was apparently another story told by Annakey about how Margaret had gotten out of her canoe and bewitched some geese. That story is, unfortunately, only alluded to in the court transcript.

Finally, with the help of the interpreter, Margaret took the stand in her own defense.

“Margaret Mattson saith that she values not Drystreet’s evidence, but if Sanderlin’s mother had come, she would have answered her. [She] also denyeth Charles Ascom’s attestation at her soul, and saith, “Where is my Daughter? Let her come and say so.” Annakey Cooling’s attestation concerning the geese, she denyeth, saying that she was never out of her canoe, and also that she never said any such things concerning the calve’s heart. The Prisoner denyeth all things, and saith that ye witnesses speak only by hear say.”

In other words, “None of that happened, and none of you actually saw any of the things you’re testifying about.” The jury deliberated and returned a verdict:

“The jury went forth, and upon their returne brought her in guilty of having the comon fame of a witch, but not guilty in manner and forme as shee stands indicted.”

That’s one of my favorite parts: “We find you guilty of people thinking you’re a witch, but find you not-guilty of actually being a witch.” Case closed. Nils paid a 50 pound fine to ensure her good behavior for the next six months (kind of a probation), and they went home.

Nobody ever accused anyone else of being a witch in Pennsylvania after that.

Link: https://thomaskruegerfamily.wordpress.com/2014/02/12/grandma-was-a-...