Alice,
From what I've seen in old records and comments on the internet I
really doubt that Martha was buried in Marlborough.
It appears that Richard went to Conn. first in the late 1600's or early 1700's.
Thomas and some of the children stayed in the Andover area until around 1710 when he
received a few shillings for her hanging.
The Salem witchcraft papers, Additional Documents Electronic Text Center, University of
Virginia library
(Account of Thomas Carrier -- Case of Martha Carrier) To: To the Honorable Committe
Sitting at Salem this 13 day of Sept. 1710 These are to Inform your Honours that my wife
Martha Carrier was condemned upon an Accusation of witchcraft, and Suffered Death at Salem
in the year 1692. I payd to the Sherriff upon his Demand fifty Shillings. I payd the
prison keeper upon his demand for prison fees, for my wife and four children four pounds
Sixteen Shillings.
He was granted 50 shillings and the prison fee to the keeper for his wife and children.4
pounds 16 shillings.
Travel from Andover to Colchester in that time was pretty rough and I can't imagine
lugging Martha's body that far 10 to 20 years after the hanging. Burials in the
1600's didn't have the meaning that they do now. Most people were dumped in a hole
naked as clothing was too expensive to waste. Reading wills from those times they listed
every piece of clothing in the estate and who got it.
I suspect that old Thomas was kind of po'd at Martha because she wouldn't shut up
and just admit to being a witch so she could get off like the kids did and he probably
left her in the ravine for the critters to gnaw on.
Neal Carrier
On Nov 13, 2011, at 9:50 AM, Alice Markham-Cantor wrote:
I heard one account that Martha may be buried in the Carrier family
graveyard in Marlborough, Connecticut, where Thomas and the children lived
after the Trials. People digging in the early twentieth century found two
extra, unidentified bodies in the graveyard, and it's possible that one of
them is Martha.