History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

126 HISTORY OF AMESBURY.
much believed as the Good Book, which they so greatly rever-
enced. In fact, within the memory of some now living, these
wonderful feats were credited and witches feared. It afforded
a very effectual way to punish an enemy or vent one's spite
upon a neighbor. From all that we can learn after much
research and careful consideration, the conclusion is reached
that Susanna was above the average in intellectual and moral
courage, being an outspoken, fearless woman, but very far from
being a hypocrite. She was the daughter of Richard North,
one of the first settlers in Salisbury, and was married to George
Martin as second wife in 1646. At the time of her trial she
was a widow, her husband having been dead some six or seven
years. Her children were all of age and, as a natural conse-
quence, the whole management of. the farm fell upon her at a
time when woman's rights were but little respected. She was
to some extent dependant upon her friends for labor, and thus
came in contact with rough and sometimes uncivil persons, who
would not have ventured to treat their male friends so ill.
The complaint came from Salem, but John Allen says, in his
deposition before Robert Pike, that James Freez* was the insti-
gator of it. She lived on the south-west side of the hill, a lit-
tle east of the late Aquilla Martin's, on the old "Hunt's lane,"
where John Pressy (who will figure somewhat conspicuously in
the trial) would pass on his way from the Ferry to his home
near South Amesbury.
Judging that the reader will be interested to know about this
fatal delusion and the summary process pursued in the trial
of suspected persons, we have taken pains to copy the court
file of the arrest and trial, and give it entire, as follows :
THE WARRANT.
" To the Marshall of the County of Essex or his Lawful Dep-
uties or to the Constable of Amesbury :
you are in their Majes ts names hereby required forthwith or
as soon as may be to apprehend and bring (before vs) Susanna
Mertin of Amsbury in y e county of Essex Widdow at y e house
of V Nathaniel Ingersalls in Salem village in order to her exam-
* He lived at Jamaco.
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