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In May 1692, three young girls, after
hearing stories of voodoo, claimed to be possessed by the devil. Hysteria
spread throughout the Massachusetts Bay Colony, with accusations of
witchcraft being made against more than 150 people. A special court was
established at the town of |
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July 4th, 1692. I, Thomas Ffiske, the subscriber hereof, being one of them that were of the jury the last week at Salem Court, upon the trial of Rebekah Nurse, etc., being desired, by some of the relations to give a reason why the jury brought her in guilty, after the verdict not guilty; I do hereby give my reasons to be as follows, viz.: When the verdict, not guilty, was given, the honoured court was pleased to object against it, saying to them, that they think they let slip the words which the prisoner at the bar spake against herself, which were spoken in reply to Goodwife Hobbs and her daughter who had been faulty in setting their hands to the Devil's book, as they had confessed formerly; the words were, "What do these people give in evidence against me now? They used to come amongst us" After the honoured court had manifested their dissatisfaction of the verdict, several jury declared themselves desirous to go out again, and thereupon the honoured court gave leave; but when we came to consider the case, I could tell how to take her words as an evidence against her, till she had a further opportunity to put her sense upon them, if he would take; and then going into court, I mentioned the words aforesaid, which by one of the court were affirmed to have been spoken by her, she being then at the bar, but made no reply nor interpretation of them; whereupon these words were to me a principal evidence against her. Thomas Ffiske (foreman of the jury in this case), quoted in Hutch ii., 52 |