History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

HISTORY OF AMESBURY. 1 35
John Pressey's scene on the night that he came from the Ferry
and crossed her land on his way home, was very much like
one on another occasion when on his way home from the
same place. He came home some time in the night very much the
worse for wear— clothes badly torn and neck-handkerchief en-
tirely gone—in short, he was in a bad condition. He said he
had had a serious fight with wolves when half way home, and
thought he would have been killed, but barely escaped with his
life, bleeding and sadly scratched. Early next morning the
neighbors were aroused to go down and examine the locality
and perhaps find a dead wolf or two. They proceeded in the
usual path, which was easily found in daylight, and soon found
a large thorn-bush with his neck-handkerchief finely intertwined
around the branches and thorns. Here was the scene of
his dark fight with the wolves, and narrow escape with his life.
This story, as handed down by tradition, has more of reality in
it than any witch testimony ever offered.
John Allen was a rum-seller, being an innholder in Salis-
bury, and his evidence was warped by his interest, hate and
prejudices ; and so with other witnesses ; although believing firm-
ly in witchcraft, yet they selected those they disliked as proper
persons to deal in that black art. But there are no witches
now to trouble people—there were none then, and people gen-
erally were greatly deceived in this matter. But this diabolical
work went on until the accusations reached the relatives of
Cotton Mather and the governor's wife, when it came to an
abrupt termination.
At the session of the court, January 3d, 1693, the grand jury
brought in "Ignoramus" in thirty cases and twenty-six other
bills were dismissed, while only three persons were convicted,
and immediately pardoned by the governor. The reaction pur-
sued the Rev. Mr. Paris, in whose house the thing first com-
menced, till he was removed from his charge at Salem.
When the humbug exploded there were one hundred and fifty
in jail awaiting trial and two hnndred more accused. The fear-
ful evil it might have wrought, had it been allowed to continue,
can hardly be imagined. The idea of snatching this hard-work-