General Notes

From The Magnalia Christi Americana, by Cotton Mather - 1702.
Mr. Philip Smith, aged about 50 years, a son of eminently virtuous parent
s, a deacon of a church in Hadley, a member of the General Court, a justi
ce in the County Court, a selectman for the affairs of the town, a Lieuten
ant of the troop, and which crowns all, a man for devotion, sanctity, grav
ity, and all that was honest, exceeding exemplary. Such a man was in the w
inter of the year 1684, murdered with an hideous witchcraft, that filled a
ll those parts of New England, with astonishment. He was, by his office co
ncerned about relieving the indigences of a wretched woman in the town; w
ho being dissatisfied at some of his just cares about her, expressed herse
lf unto him in such a manner, that he declared himself thenceforth apprehe
nsive of receiving mischief at her hands. Early in January, he beg
an to be very valetudinarious. He shewed such weanedness from the wearine
ss of the world, etc.... While he remained yet of a sound mind, he solemn
ly charged his brother to look well after him. Be sure (said he) to ha
ve a care for me.... There shall be a wonder in Hadley.... In his distre
ss he exclaimed much upon the young woman aforesaid, and others, as bei
ng seen by him in the room. Some of the young men in the town being o
ut of their wits at the strange calamities thus upon one of their most bel
oved neighbors, went three or four times to give disturbance unto the wom
an thus complained of; and all the while they were disturbing her, he w
as at ease, and slept as a weary man; yea, these were the only times th
ey perceived him to take any sleep in all his illness. Gally pots of medic
ine provided for the sick man were unaccountably emptied: audible scratchi
ngs were made about the bed, when his hands and feet lay wholly still, a
nd were held by others. They beheld fire sometimes on the bed; and when t
he beholders began to discourse of it, it vanished away. Divers people act
ually felt something often stir in the bed, at a considerable distance fr
om the man; it seemed as big as a cat, but they could never grasp it. Seve
ral trying to lean on the bed's head, tho' the sick man lay wholly stil
l, the bed would shake so as to knock their heads uncomfortably. Mr. Smi
th dies; the jury that viewed his corpse found a swelling on one breast, h
is back full of bruises, and several holes that seemed made with awls. Aft
er the opinion of all had pronounced him dead, his countenance continu
ed as lively as if he had been alive; his eyes closed as in a slumber, a
nd his nether jaw not falling down. Thus he remained from Saturday morni
ng about sunrise, till Sabbathday in the aftenoon. When those who took h
im out of the bed, found him still warm, tho' the season was as cold as h
ad almost been known in any age; and a New England winter does not want f
or cold. But on Monday morning they found the face extremely tumified a
nd discolored. It was black and blue, and fresh blood seemed running do
wn his cheek upon the hairs. Divers noises were also heard in the room whe
re the corpse lay; as the clattering of chairs and stools, whereof no acco
unt could be given. This was the end of so good a man.
From History of Hadley, by Sylvester Judd - 1863.
Mary Webster, the woman who disturbed Philip Smith, was sent to Boston, tr
ied for witchcraft, and acquitted. The young men of Hadley tried an experi
ment upon her. They dragged her out of the house, hung her up until she w
as near dead, let her down, rolled her some time in the snow, and at la
st buried her in it, and there left her. But she survived, and died in 169
6. No inhabitant of Hampshire Co. was ever executed for witchcraft.
From Families of Early Hartford, Connecticut, by Lucius Barnes Barbour - 1
976.
William Webster s. of John & Agnes died 1688 mar Feb 17, 1670 Mary Reeve w
ho died 1696 dau of Thomas Reeve of Springfield. Hadley; his wife was accu
sed of witchcraft a