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| Research Notes for Martha KNIGHT | ||||||||||
| Death in NEHGS Register Volume 144, p. 141 | ||||||||||
| Research Notes for William (Spouse 1) | ||||||||||
| Death in NEHGS Register Volume 144, p. 141 | ||||||||||
| Notes for Hezekiah (Spouse 2) | ||||||||||
| Hezekiah Dutch was born on 29 March, 1647 in Gloucester, Massachusetts. He became a fisherman in that town noted for that industry. As the youngest son of Osmund and Grace, he followed the Dutch family's heritage and made the ocean his livelihood. It may have cost him his life. Like most boys raised on Cape Ann they were smitten by the sea and usually followed their fathers either as fisherman or mariners. Apparently Hezekiah did both and in that order. With every fishing vessel that left the port of Gloucester, went a boy of ten or twelve to learn to be a skilled fisherman. He was called a "cut-tail," because he cut a wedge-shaped bit from the tail of every fish he caught, and when the fish were sorted out the cut-tails showed the boy's share of the profit. The fishing industry required men with stout hearts and strong muscles. Catching the valuable codfish and other "dun-fish" was accomplished with hand lines and small nets and by using pickled mackerel a bait. The "dun-fish" fish was then sent to England and to the Catholic countries of France and Spain, while the trash fish would be sent to the West Indies to feed the slaves held there. In 1663 he deposed in Ipswich court that he was "about eighteen" in a slander suit brought on against his father by the Dutch family's nemesis, John Meaghers [EQR 3:120]. In June of 1674 he and his father signed a petition opposing the granting of a liquor license to a tavern near the meetinghouse. They also had signed a paper that stated in part,' that the towne is growing to a pritty fullness of younge people." And they were concerned that the youth of Ipswich were causing too much rowdiness and destruction during training days held on the Sabbath [EQR 5:361]. Dutch made oath that he saw the mark of his sister Esther Elwell, who with her husband Samuell, witnessed a bond signed by Joesph Elwell, a brother-in-law to Esther and husband of their sister Mary, to a fisherman from Gloucester in Salem Court on 19 March 1671[EQR 5:422]. Hezekiah married Martha Knight daughter of Robert1 and Mary Knight of Marblehead (Essex) about 1672. She was born about 1653[ NEHGER 117:142]. Dutch is mentioned in a Salem court record of 5 June, 1679 and he is also listed on the Salem tax rolls of 1683 and 1691[TR]. Dutch was mentioned in an account book of Salemite Edward Flint found in the Essex Historical Collections: on 21 February 1681, Flint recorded that he delivered "a half cord of would to Hezekiah Dutch."[EHC 57:22] Martha Dutch aged about twenty-six, testified in Salem Court in June of 1679 against the wife of William Dicer. Dicer was accused of "railing words against Mrs. Eleanor Hollingsworth, also for abusing and cursing." Martha and another young women her age, deposed that 'they heard Dicer call Mrs. Hollingsworth a blackmouthed witch and thief "[EQR 7:238]. This would not be the last time Martha would be involved in such a trial. In what was one of the most sensational trials of the modern world, Martha Dutch would play a part that forever will remain a part of history, the Salem witchcraft outbreak of 1692. Martha and her sister-in-law Susanna Dutch would both be subpoenaed to testify at the trials of Alice Parker and Ann Pudeator. The summons reads in part: 'that they appear at ye next Court of Oyer and Terminer holden at Salem on ye next Tuesday at twelve of ye clock there to testify ye truth to ye best of theire knowledge on certain Indictments to be exhibited against Alice Parker and Ann Pudeator, hereof make return fail not." Dated in Salem Septr. 5th. 1692 in ye fourth yeare of our Reigne. Stephen Sewall Clerc.[EHC 4:54] Martha's testimony in the trial of Alice Parker perhaps shed some light on the disappearance of Hezekiah Dutch. The following is the direct court testimony of Martha as recorded and attested by Stephen Sewall, Clerk of the Salem Court: The testimony of Martha Dutch aged about thirty-six years This Deponent Testifieth and saith that about 2 yeers Last past Jno Jarman of Salem Coming in from sea I this daponant & Alice parker of Salem Both of us standing Together said unto her w't a great mercy itt was for to see Them Come home well and Through mercy I said my husband had gone & Came home well many Times & I This deponant did saye unto the s'd parker that I did hope he would Come whome This voyage well allso & the s'd parker made answer unto me & said no Never more in This world the w'ch Came to pass as she then told me for he died abroad as I sertinly heare Jurat in Curia (Sworn in Court) Sep'r 7. 92.690 The above testimony sheds some light on Hezekiah's disappearance. He had been at sea and possibly "abroad" for two years prior to the trial, but he never returned. Martha's was not the sole deposition against Parker, but one of many. How damaging was Dutch's testimony may never be determined. Alice Parker was convicted of witchcraft on 17 September 1692 and was executed (by hanging) five days later. In a quote from Charles W. Upham's Salem Witchcraft, "Perhaps Parker had information which had not reached the ears of Dutch, or she may have been prone to take melancholy views of the dangers to which seafaring people are exposed. It was a strange kind of evidence to be admitted against a person in a trial for witchcraft."691 Was Martha Dutch an honest Puritan women or was she just one of the many townspeople caught up in this mass hysteria and delusion? Under old Puritan laws, provision was given to spy on one's neighbors and duly report any transgressions to their magistrates. Did she seek revenge and try to disclaim Parker? This does not explain why she and her sister-in-law Susanna Dutch also testified in the witchtrial of Ann Pudeator, who like Parker, was convicted and went to the gallows. It is amazing how such a relatively small family could have been so deeply involved in this window of America's history. Sister-in-law, Esther Dutch Elwell, was also accused of witchcraft during these same trials and was fortunately acquitted. Hezekiah left Martha a widow with two young daughters, Martha and Mary. Martha remarried William Jewell of Jewell's Island in Casco Bay (off Portland, Maine). Misfortune still plagued Martha as Jewell drowned while on his way to the mainland and his wife's two daughters inherited the island [YLR 34:123]. | ||||||||||
| Research | ||||||||||
| Death in NEHGS Register Volume 144, p. 141 | ||||||||||
| Last Modified 11 May 2002 | Created 6 Jan 2007 by EasyTree for Windows |