mar 28, 1671 - Mary Warren, age 21

Description:

Mary was the oldest of the “afflicted” girls and became one of the most rigorous accusers. She also became a defender and confessor, a unique role among the accusing girls of Salem Village.

Her parents and sister died early, forcing her to become a servant in the house of John and Elizabeth Proctor, who lived on the outskirts of Salem in what is now known as Peabody.

The Proctors were opponents of the trials and thought the accusers should be punished. In early March 1692, Mary began to have fits, saying she saw the specter of Giles Corey. John Proctor told her she was just seeing his shadow and put her to work at the spinning wheel, threatening to beat her if she had any more fits.

She did not report any more sightings for some time, but she started to have fits again in his absence. Mary was kept hard at work at the Proctor home and was told that she would not be rescued if she ran into fire or water during one of her fits.

After her “fits” stopped, she posted a note at the Meeting House to request prayers of thanks. That very night, Mary said that Elizabeth’s spirit woke her to torment her about posting the note. On April 3, 1692, Samuel Parris read Mary’s note to the church members, who began questioning Mary after the Sunday services.

In her answers, she introduced the possibility of fraud on the part of the accused girls when she stated that they “did but dissemble.” Mary told them she felt better now and could tell the difference between reality and visions.

The other “afflicted” girls then became angry with Mary and began to accuse her of being a witch. A formal complaint was filed on April 18, 1692, and she was examined.

During her testimony, she was contradictory, telling the high court that all the girls were lying but continuing to have fits herself. She then confessed to witchcraft and accused various people, including the Proctors.

She was released from jail in June 1692 and her life after the trials is unknown.

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