While the Crown and Massachusetts Bay Colony feared the frontier, there was a purpose to their desire to conquer the frontier and 'plant it as a garden.'
Puritans feared the frontier for that is where the Indians and French lived,in their view, in alliance with the devil. The author of In The Devil's Snare records this in her introduction:
The histories of King William's War, after 1688, and King Philip's War (its equally brutal predecessor in the 1670's) and the Salem Witchcraft crisis, are intricately intertwined.
Emerson Baker mentions that more than forty individuals who participated in the Salem Witch trials, "from afflicted girls and accused witches, to Governor William Phips, had lived or owned land in Maine or had a close family menber from the frontier."
Among the afflicted girls, Abigail Hobbs, Mercy Lewis, Susannah Sheldon, Sarah Churchill and Mercy Short, all were refugees from Maine who suffered the loss of parents and relatives.
When war again broke out again, George Burroughs moved his family first to Black Point, and then even further south to Wells. By this time, his second wife had died, again in childbirth, and he married for tthe third time, This would also be a point of conflict during his trials.
It was in Wells, after relative safety had been achieved, and the family had settled in, that a warrent for his arrest was issued. The Rev. George Burroughs a Puritan Minister would be taken from his home in Maine, on May 4, 1692, and forcibly returned to Salem. On May 9th he was examined by Magistrates Jonathan Corwin and John Hathorne, Sarah Churchill gave damning testimony.. He was moved to the Boston jail to await trial. Of his accusers were Mercy Lewis and Ann Putnam Jr., along with others.
For those of you who want to read the transcripts of his trial, they are available in the Massachusetts State archives
On August 2, 1692, the Court of Oyer and Terminer heard the case against Burroughs, as well as cases against Elizabeth Proctor, Matha Carrier, George Jacobs, Sr. and John Willard. On August 5, George Burroughs was indicted by the Grand Jury along with the others, and found guilty of witchcraft.
Although 35 residents of Salem Village petitioned the court in writing on his behalf, the verdict was set in stone. On August 19th, he was taken to Gallows Hill to be hanged.
As he stood on the ladder with the rope around his neck, he still proclaimed his innocence, even reciting the Lord's Prayer; something no witch could ever do. It was recorded that the crowd was amazed and some, moved to tears, and thought he might be reprived, until, the Boston Minister, Cotton Mather said, he was not ordained, he reassured the crowd that Burroughs' execution was a just court decision.
There is so much more to tell, which time and space will not allow. I believe the story of the connection to Portland's history was worth pursuing. I'm hopeful that those of you who find it interesting will do your own sluething and share it here.
Finally from Baker:
Pretty much anyone with a drop of New England blood may not have to look too far to find a relative involved in the Witch Trials:
70 people were afflicted, resulting in at least 169 accused
which led to more than 200 people signing petitions
of support for the accused. Beyond this, there were
9 judges, 2 prosecuting attorneys and dozens of jurors.
Salem's trials truly are the trials of a nation whether we realize it or not.