This has been posted on the Mass Essex and Salem list today.
Thought I'd just pass it on in case someone hasn't seen it.
Neal
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Boyer & Nissenbaum, pp. 1015-1017:
(Reversal of Attainder -- October 17, 1711.)
Province of the Massachusets Bay: Anno Regni Anna Reginae Decimo.
An Act to reverse the attainders of George Burroughs and others for Witchcraft
Forasmuch as in the year of our Lord one Thousand six hundred ninety
two several Towns within this Province were Infested with a horrible
Witchcraft or possession of devils; And at a Special Court of Oyer
and Terminer holden at Salem in the County of Essex in the same year
1692. George Burroughs of Wells, John Procter, George Jacobs, John
Willard, Giles Core, and [] his wife, Rebecca Nurse and Sarah Good
all of Salem aforesaid Elizabeth How of Ipswich, Mary eastey, Sarah
Wild and Abigail Hobbs all of Topsfield, Samuel Wardell, Mary Parker
; Martha Carrier, Abigail Falkner : Anne Foster, Rebecca Eames, Mary
Post and Mary Lacey all of Andover, Mary Bradbury , of Salisbury, and
Dorcas Hoar of Beverley Were severally Indicted convicted and
attainted of Witchcraft and some of them put to death, others lying
still under the like sentance of the said Court, and liable to have
the same Executed upon them.
The Influence and Energy of the Evil Spirits so great at that time
acting in and upon those who were the principal accusers and
Witnesses proceeding so far as to cause a Prosecution to be had of
persons of known and good reputation, which caused a great
disatisfaction and a stop to be put thereunto until theire Majesty's
pleasure should be known therein: And upon a Representation thereof
accordingly made her late Majesty Queen Mary the second of blessed
memory by Her Royal Letter given at her Court at Whitehall the
fifteenth of April 1693. was Graciously pleased to approve the care
and Circumspection therein; and to Will and require that in all
proceedings ag't persons accused for Witchcraft, or being possessed
by the devil, the greatest Moderation and all due Circumspection be
used, so far as the same may be without Impediment to the Ordinary
course of Justice.
And some of the principal Accusers and Witnesses in those dark and
severe prosecutions have since discovered themselves to be persons of
profligate and vicious conversation.
Upon the humble Petition and suit of several of the s'd persons and
of the children of others of them whose Parents were Executed. Be it
Declared and Enacted by his Excellency the Governor Council and
Representatives in General Court assembled and by the authority of
the same That the several convictions Judgments and Attainders
against the said George Borroughs, John Procter, George Jacob, John
Willard, Giles Core and [] Core, Rebecca Nurse, Sarah Good, Elizabeth
How, Mary Easty, Sarah W[ild] Abigail Hobbs, Samuel Wardell, Mary
Parker, Martha Carrier, Abigail Falkner, Anne Foster, Rebecca
Eame[s,] Mary Post, Mary Lacey, Mary Bradbury, and Dorcas [Hoar], and
every of them Be and hereby are reversed made and d[eclared] to be
null and void to all Intents, Constructions and purposes wh[atso]
ever, as if no such convictions, Judgments or Attainders had ever
[been] had or given. And that no penalties or forfeitures of Goods or
Chattels be by the said Judgments and attainders or either of them
had or Incurrd.
Any Law Usage or Custom to the contrary notwithstanding. And that no
Sheriffe, Constable, Goaler or other officer shall be Liable to any
prosecution in the Law for anything they then Legally did in the
Execution of their respective offices.
Made and Pass'd by the Great and General Court or Assembly of her
Majestys Province of the Massachusets: Bay: in New England held at
Boston the 17th day of october. 1711.
( Essex County Archives, Salem -- Witchcraft Vol. 2 Page 63 )