History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

1656.] THE WITCHCRAFT SLANDER TRIAL. 45
Testimony of Mrs. The wifc of William Hannum. who lived
William Han- qh Market street, a short distance above
Mrs. Parsons, testified that she had "been
warned by some of Windsor and some of Norwottuck
(Northampton) to beware how I had to doe with Mary, the
wife of Joseph Parsons." Notwithstanding this warning,
Mrs, Hamuim had considerable "to do" with Mary Parsons.
She spun yarn for her and afterwards Mrs. Parsons
asked her to let one of her daughters "goe there to dwel."
But Mrs. Hannum, considering "what rumors went about
her," refused. "But she, having allured my daughter," as
the evidence reads, inspired the girl with a great desire to
live with her. The mother, however, was decided, and de-
clared that her daughter "should not goe thither to dwel if
she might have £10 a yeere." In other words, she wouldn't
be hired to consent. Then Mrs. Parsons found fault about
the yarn, and charged that it "wanted of the tale in the
threads in the knotts." Upon examination Mrs. Hannum
found that it '
' did want almost in every knot of the yarn.
Some tymes there would be but 18 threads in a knot for 40
or 2S for 40 & whch notwithstandinge when I spun it I
did my best indeavor to give true account, and it was not
found fault with till this tyme and soe I spun some more
for her to recompence this defect," Afterwards more yarn
was spun and that was short, though Mrs, Hannum declared
that she had spun for others, "and could have my
yarn hold out," After this the witness spun some " Ockuni
yarn" for Mrs. Parsons. To make things sure this time
she sent for the weights belonging to the latter lady, and
weighed the "Ockum" before witnesses, but Mrs. Parsons
"sent me word it wanted weight." Then her daughter,
"though formerly healthy, yet this summer hath been
sickly and unhelpfull to mee wch though I know it may be
by God's own immediate hand, yet it causes some jealousyes
in me agt the said Mary, because it fell out within
three or four days after I had given her a full denyal of my
daughter's service." Here is the covert insinuation of uncanny
dealings by Mrs. Parsons. The daughter, charmed
with the idea of living with one of the richest families in
town, was disappointed at the refusal of her mother, an^l
moped and sulked and wouldn't help about the house work.