1621 Susan North, daughter of Richard North was baptized laste of September [1621] in Olney, Buckinghamshire, England. [1]
1646 Susan North married George Martin of Amesbury, Gloucester, Massachusetts. [2] [3]
George Martin was a blacksmith. [4]
1692 Transcript of the Examination of Susannah Martin (1st version)
The Examination of Susan: Martin. 2. May 1692
As soon as she came in Many had fits.
Do you know this Woman
Abig: Williams saith it is Goody Martin she hath hurt me often. Others by fits were hindered from speaking. Eliz: Hubbard said she hath not been hurt by her. John Indian said he hath not seen her
Mercy Lewes pointed to her & fell into a little fit. Ann Putman threw her Glove in a fit at her The examinant laught.
What do you laugh at it?
Well I may at such folly.
Is this folly? The hurt of these persons.
I never hurt man woman or child.
Mercy Lewes cryed out she hath hurt me a great many times, & pulls me down
Then Martin laught againe
Mary Walcot saith this woman hath hurt me a great many times. Sus: Sheldon also accused her of afflicting her.
What do you say to this?
I have no hand in Witchcraft.
What did you do? Did not you give your consent?
No, never in my life.
What ails this people?
I do not know.
But w't do you think?
I do not desire to spend my judgm't upon it.
Do not you think they are Bewitcht?
No. I do not think they are
Tell me your thoughts about them.
Why my thoughts are my own, when they are in, but when they are out they are anothers.
You said their Master -- who do you think is their Master?
If they be dealing in the black art, you may know as well as I.
Well what have you done towards this?
Nothing.
Why it is you, or your appearance.
I cannot help it.
That may be your Master.
I desire to lead my self according to the word of God.
Is this according to Gods word?
If I were such a person I would tell you the truth.
How comes your appearance just now to hurt these.
How do I know?
Are not you willing to tell the Truth?
I cannot tell: He that appeared in sams shape a glorifyed saint can appear in any ones shape.
Do you beleive these do not say true?
They may lye for ought I know
May not you lye?
I dare not tell a lye if it would save my life.
Then you will speak the Truth.
I have spake nothing else, I would do them any good.
I do not think you have such affections for them, whom just now you insinuated had the Devill for their Master.
Eliz: Hubbard was afflicted & then the Marshal w'o was by her said she pincht her hand.
Severall of the afflicted cryed out they [saw] her upon the beam.
Pray God discover you, if you be guilty.
Amen Amen A false tongue will never make a guilty person.
You have been a long time coming to the Court to day, you can come fast enough in the night.said Mercy Lewes.
No, sweet heart, said the examinat, And then Mercy Lewes, & all, or many of the rest, were afflicted
John Indian fell into a violent fit, & said it was that woman, she bites, she bites, and then she was biting her lips
Have you not compassion for these afflicted?
No, I have none
Some cryed out there was the black man with her, & Goody Bibber who had not accused her before confirmed it:
Abig: William upon trial could not come near her -- Nor Goody Bibber. Nor Mary Walcot. John Indian cryed he would Kill her if he came near her, but he was flung down in his approach to her
What is the reason these cannot come near you?
I cannot tell. It may be the Devil bears me more malice than an other
Do not you see how God evidently discovers you?
No, not a bit for that.
All the congregation think so.
Let them think w't. they will.
What is the reason these cannot come near you?
I do not know but they can if they will, or else if you please, I will come to them.
What is the black man whispering to you?
There was none whispered to me
Examination of Susannah Martin -- Second Version
The Examination of Susannah Martin. 2. May. 1692
As soon as she came into the meeting-house many fell into fits
Hath this Woman hurt you?
Abig: Williams said it is Goody Martin, she hath hurt me often Others by fits were hindered from speaking.
Eliz: Hubbard said she had not hurt her. John Indian said he never saw her Mercy Lewes pointed at her & fell into a fit. Ann Putman threw her Glove in a fit at her
What do you laught at it?
Well I may at such folly.
Is this folly, to see these so hurt?
I never hurt man, woman or child.
Mercy Lewes cryed out, she hath hurt me a great many times & plucks me down.
Then Martin laught againe
Mary Walcot said this woman hath hurt her a great many times
Susannah Sheldon also accused her of hurting her
What do you say to this?
I have no hand in Witchcraft.
What did you do? Did you consent these should be hurt?
No never in my life.
What ails these people?
I do not know.
But what do you think ails them?
I do not desire to spend my judgment upon it
Do you think they are Bewitcht?
No I do not think they are.
Well tell us your thoughts about them?
My thoughts are mine own when they are in, but when they are out they are an others
You said their Master -- Who do you think is their Master?
If they be dealing in the black art, you may know as well as I.
What have you done towards the hurt of these?
I have done nothing
Why it is you, or your appearance
I cannot help it
That may be your Master that hurt them
I desire to lead my life according to the word of God
Is this according to the word of God?
If I were such a person I would tell you the Truth
How comes your appearance just now to hurt these?
How do I know?
Are you not willing to tell the Truth?
I cannot tell: He that appeared in sams::shape can appear in any ones shape.
Do you beleive these afflicted persons do not say true?
they may lye for ought I know.
May not you lye?
I dare not tell a lye if it would save my life
Then you will not speak the truth will you?
I have spoken nothing else. I would do them any good.
I do not think that you have such affections for these whom just now you insinuated had the Devil for their Master
The marshall said she pincht her hands & Eliz: Hubbard was immediately afflicted.
Severall of the afflicted cryed out they saw her upon the Beam.
Pray God discover you if you be guilty.
Amen, Amen. A false tongue will never make a guilty person.
You have been a long time coming to day said Mercy Lewes, you can come fast enough in the night
No sweet heart --
And then said Mercy, & all the afflicted beside almost were afflicted
John Indian fell into a fit, & cryed it was that woman, she bites, she bites. And then said Martin was biting her lips.
Have not you compassion on these afflicted --
No I have none
They cryed out there was the black man along with her, & Goody Bibber confirmed it
Abig: Williams went towards her, but could not come near her. nor Goody Bibber tho she had not accused her before: also Mary Walcot could not come near her. John Indian said he would kill her, if he came near her, but he fell down before he could touch her
What is the reason these cannot come near you?
I cannot tell it may be the Devil bears me more malice than an other.
Do you not see God evidently discovering you?
No, not a bit for that.
All the congregation besides think so.
Let them think what they will.
What is the reason these cannot come to you?
I do not know but they can if they will or else if you please
I will come to them.
What was that the black man whisperd to you?
There was none whispered to me.
[5] [6]
1692 On July 19, Susan (North) Martin was executed for witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts. [7]
[1] David L. Greene, "The English Origin of Richard North and His Daughter, Susanna (North) Martin, Executed for Witchcraft in 1692," The American Genealogist 68 (1993), 65-70, at 66, [AmericanAncestors].
[2] David L. Greene, "The English Origin of Richard North and His Daughter, Susanna (North) Martin, Executed for Witchcraft in 1692," The American Genealogist 68 (1993), 65-70, at 66, [AmericanAncestors].
[3] David L. Greene, "Salem Witches III: Susanna Martin," The American Genealogist 58 (1982), 193-204, at 202, [AmericanAncestors].
[4] David L. Greene, "Salem Witches III: Susanna Martin," The American Genealogist 58 (1982), 193-204, at 193, [AmericanAncestors].
[5] Benjamin Ray, Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transciption Project (Online, 2002), [Salem Witch Trials], [Salem Witch Trials Transcript].
[6] Paul S. Boyer, Stephen Nissenbaum, The Salem Witchcraft Papers: Verbatim Transcripts of the Legal Documents of the Salem Witchcraft Outbreak of 1692 (Da Capo Press, 1977), citing Essex County Archives, Salem Witchcraft Vol. 1 Page 59, [GoogleBooks].
[7] David L. Greene, "Salem Witches III: Susanna Martin," The American Genealogist 58 (1982), 193-204, at 202, [AmericanAncestors].