Recently my niece was asking about the Bradbury family and if she was related to her friend whose surname was Bradbury. I asked if he knew the story of Mary Bradbury who was accused of being a witch during the Salem witch trials. He was aware that she was his ancestor. My niece isn't always fond to hear that her parents, grandparents share ancestors and in this case, both of her parents are descendants of Mary Bradbury.
Mary Perkins was baptized on September 3, 1615 at Hillmorton, Warwickshire, England, the daughter of John and Judith (Gator) Perkins. This is the same church her parents were married in 1608.
Mary's father for whatever reason from lack of property, or to join the puritans in the new world, set sail with family on the ship "Lyon" on October 9, 1830 from Bristol, England and arrived in Boston, Massachusetts on February 5, 1631. The ship which contained some much needed supplies for colonly also had 20 passengers. Of twenty passengers, there was John, age 48 and his wife, Judith, and at least 5 of their children including Mary.
Mary's family settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts by 1633 and she married Thomas Bradbury of Salisbury, Massachusetts in 1636, who was the land agent for his great-uncle, Sir Fernando Gorges, the colonial proprietor of the State of Maine and backer of the failed colony at Popham in Phippsburg, Maine. Thomas was considered one town's more distinquished citizens and one of it's earliest settlers. Thomas and Mary had eleven children together.
Through the years there had been some disagreements with another early family, the Carr family. Some of the complaints against Mary were nearly 20 years old or older. One story was that George Carr had asked for Mary's hand in marriage which she declined in favor of Thomas Bradbury and that had begun a long standing family fued. As most of Mary's accusers of witchcarft were the Carr family member, namely Ann (Carr) Putnam and their friends, the Endicotts.
On May 26, 1692, Mary Bradbury, who was in her mid 70s, was accused of tormenting Mary Marshall of Reading, and Mary Walcott, Mercy Lewis and Ann Putnam Jr of Salem. On June 23, 1692, Timothy Swan of Andover fell sick and claimed it was from being attcked by witches who flew into his father's house in Haverhill, Massachusetts and Mary's specter was specifically named as his attacker. Mary Bradbury was arrested on June 28th and taken to the Salem jail.
Trabscription
Essex in the province of the Massachusetts Bay in New EnglandAnno R R's & Reginae Gulielmi & Mariae Angliae &c Quarto Annoq'e Domini 1692/Ss/ The Juriors for our Sov'r Lord and Lady the King and Queen doe present That Mary Bradbury Wife of Capt Thomas Bradbury of Salisbury -- In the County of Essex Gent upon the Twenty=Sixth day of July
In the yeare aforesaid and divers other dayes and times as well before as after Certaine Detestable arts called Witchcraft & Sorceries Wickedly Mallitiously and felloniously hath used practiced and Ex- ercised At and in the Township of Andivor in the County of Essex aforesaid in upon & against one Timothy Swann of Andivor In the County [#aforesaid] Aforesaid Husbandman -- by which said Wicked Acts the said Timothy Swann upon the 26th day of July Aforesaid and divers other days & times both before and after was and is Tortured Afflic- ted Consumed Pined Wasted and Tormented, and also for Sundry other Acts of Witchcraft by the said Mary Bardbury Comitted and done before and since that time against the peace of our Sov'r Lord & Lady the King and Queen theire Crowne and dignity And the forme Of the Statute In that case made and Provided.
Wittness
Mary Walcott
Ann: Puttnam
( Essex County Court Archives, Salem - Witchcraft vol. 2, no. 69. Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Judicial Archives, Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, MA)
Mary tried to defend herslef in response to the accusations of witchcraft
Transcription:
The Answer of Mary Bradbury in the charge of Witchcraft or familliarity with the Divell I doe plead not guilty.
I am wholly inocent of any such wickedness through the goodness of god that have kept mee hitherto) I am the servant of Jesus Christ & Have given my self up to him as my only lord & saviour: and to the dilligent attendance upon him in all his holy ordinances, in utter contempt & defiance of the divell, and all his works as horid & detestible; and accordingly have endevo'red to frame my life; & conversation according to the rules of his holy word, & in that faith & practise resolve by the help and assistance of god to contineu to my lifes end: for the truth of what I say as to matter of practiss I humbly refer my self, #[my selfe,] to my brethren & neighbors that know mee and unto the searcher of all hearts for the truth & uprightness of my heart therein: (human frailties, & unavoydable infirmities excepted) of which i bitterly complayne every day:/
Mary Bradbury
( Essex County Court Archives, Salem - Witchcraft vol. 2, no. 72, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Judicial Archives, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Judicial Archives, Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, MA )
At the same time 115 residents of Salisbury signed a petition stating her good character and reputation and long standing love of the gospel. Her husband also testified on her behalf. At her trail on July 2nd, her accusers were namely the Carr family, the sons of George Carr: Richard, James and their sister Ann (Carr) Putnam. Her husband, Thomas Putnam recorded all the depositions in his own handwriting. Mary was accused of everything from making butter turn rancid, causing sickness, tormententing Ann Putnam, to causing the death of her former suitor, George Carr and his son, John Carr, who had been in love her daughter, Jane Bradbury and was spurned by her love and marriage to Henry True. Only William Carr gave testimony in favor of Mary's innocence.
On September 10, 1692, Mary Bradbury and 5 other women were convicted of being wicthes and sentenced to hang. On September 22, 1692, four of the women were hung at gallow's hill (now a park). One woman confessed the night before and was granted another month to her things in order and by then the hangings were over.
