From an article titled "When CT Hanged Witches"
It is difficult to find family records of people hung for witchcraft and
it seems like some of the records have been concealed. In all, 33
persons are known to have been accused of witchcraft during the latter
half of the 17th century when the witchcraft delusion swept CT, 11 of
these believed to have been executed.
John Carrington, A Wethersfield carpenter, and his (second) wife, Joan,
were convicted of "familiarity with Satan and works above the course of
Nature" and were hanged at Hartford in 1651. Their executions were also
noted in Grant's diary. John settled in Wethersfield prior to 1643 and
his homestead was on the east side of Sandy Lane, just south of Thomas
Standish. It is likely that Carrington was of a somewhat lawless
nature, for in March 1648 he was fined 10 pounds for bartering a gun
with an Indian."
(This is from an article in CT Nutmegger and History of Wethersfield.)
Indictment: "John Carrington, thou art indicted by the name of John
Carrington of Wethersfield, carpenter, that not having the fear of God
before thine eyes thoe hast Intertained familiarity with Satan, the
great enemy of God and Mankind; and by his help ahs done works above the
course of nature for ? both according to the laws of God and the
established laws of this common wealth thou deservest to Dye. The Jury
finds this Inditem against John Carrington the 6th of March 1650-1. The
same court, time, and place, found an Indictment also agains Joanne
Carrington, wife of John Carrington, with the same verdict." March 1652
Court Record. There was presented to this court and inventory of John
Carrington's estate which is ordered to be filed but not recorded. The
estate presented being 23 pounds, and the debts specified therein owing
by the estate is summed up 13 pounds. (From History of Wethersfield.)
The execution of Carrington and his wife was the second known execution
for witchcraft in New England. They were indicted at a court held Feb.
20 1651, Gov. John Haynes and Edward Hopkins being present among other
magistrates. They were found guilty on March 6, 1651. Both were
executed. (This from "Withcraft Delusion".)
Note:
There is a Nathaniel Carrington, who died 20 March, 1807. He is the son
of John Carrington. John Carrington married (1) Deborah Hunn 1729 and
(2) Thankful Hayford. Nathaniel "probably" is from the marriage with
Deborah Hunn, but I don't have many of the children's birth dates, so I
can't be sure. John Carrington was b/ca/1708, son of Clark Carrington,
b/ca/1678 and Sarah Higginson. Clark d/1745. Clark was the son of John
Carrington and (?). John was b/ca/1645 and d/1690. John was the son of
John Carrington and either his first wife, Mary, or second wife, Joan.
He was b/1602. He came to America with first wife Mary. In 1651 John
and his second wife were tried, convicted, and hung as witches in New
Haven, CT. This was more than 40 years before the Salem, MA witchcraft
trials. --Sandy--(I do not
have her address!)
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