The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Witchcraft Delusion In Colonial
Connecticut (1647-1697), by John M. Taylor

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Title: The Witchcraft Delusion In Colonial Connecticut (1647-1697)

Author: John M. Taylor

Release Date: May 7, 2004 [EBook #12288]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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[Illustration: A Grand Jury Presentment for Witchcraft Reproduced from the
original in the Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford

May it please yr Honble Court, we the Grand inquest now setting for the
County of Fairefeild, being made sensable, not only by Common fame (but
by testamonies duly billed to us) that the widow Mary Staple, Mary
Harvey ye wife of Josiah Harvey & Hannah Harvey the daughter of the
saide Josiah, all of Fairefeild, remain under the susspition of useing
witchecraft, which is abomanable both in ye sight of God & man and ought
to be witnessed against. we doe therefore (in complyance to our duty,
the discharge of our oathes and that trust reposed in us) presente the
above mentioned pssons to the Honble Court of Assistants now setting in
Fairefeild, that they may be taken in to Custody & proceeded against
according to their demerits.

Fairefeild, Fby, 1692
in behalfe of the Grnd Jury
JOSEPH BASTARD, foreman]

THE WITCHCRAFT
DELUSION IN COLONIAL
CONNECTICUT

1647-1697

BY JOHN M. TAYLOR

Author of "Maximilian and Carlotta, a Story of Imperialism," and
"Roger Ludlow, the Colonial Lawmaker"

1908

"Connecticut can well afford to
let her records go to the world."
_Blue Laws: True and False_ (p. 47).
J. HAMMOND TRUMBULL.

FOREWORD

The true story of witchcraft in old Connecticut has never been told. It
has been hidden in the ancient records and in manuscripts in private
collections, and those most conversant with the facts have not made them
known, for one reason or another. It is herein written from
authoritative sources, and should prove of interest and value as a
present-day interpretation of that strange delusion, which for a half
century darkened