TRIAL OF SARAH GOOD FOR ENGAGING IN WITCHCRAFT
SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS, 1692

[The following contains the most important and interesting documents associated with the trial.  The spelling is from the original.  I have made some small changes in formating and added headings to improve readability.]
 

[Warrant for Good's Arrest]
 

Salem feb'y the 29th 1691/2

   Whereas Mrs Joseph Hutcheson Thomas putnam Edward putnam and Thomas preston Yeomen of
Salem Village in the County of Essex personally appeared before us, and made Complaint on Behalfe of
theire Majests against Sarah Good the wife of William Good of Salem Village aboves'd for suspition of
Witchcraft by her Committed, and thereby much Injury donne to Eliz parris, Abigail Williams Anna
putnam and Elizabeth Hubert all of Salem Village afores'd Sundry times within this two moneths and
Lately also don, at Salem Village Contrary to the peace of our Sover'n L'd and Lady W'm & mary King &
Queen of Engld &c -- You are therefore in theire Majesties names hereby required to apprehe'd & bring
before us the said Sarah Good, to morrow aboute ten of the clock in the forenoon at the house of L't
Nathaniell Ingersalls in Salem Village.or as soon as may be then & there to be Examined Relateing to the
aboves'd premises and hereof you are not to faile at your perile Dated Salem, febr 29th 1691/2

                               *John Hathorne
                                                                    Assists.
                               *Jonathan.Corwin

To Constable George Locker

   (O. R.)

[Officer's Return]

    I brought the person of Saragh Good the wife of william Good according to the tenor of the within
warrant as is Attest by me 1.March. 1691/2        *George Locker Constable
 

[Examination of Sarah Good]

The examination of Sarah Good before the worshipfull Assts John Harthorn Jonathan Curren

(H.) Sarah Good what evil spirit have you familiarity with
(S G) none

(H) have you made no contract with the devil,
(g) good answered no

(H) why doe you hurt these children
(g) I doe not hurt them. I scorn it.

(H) who doe you imploy then to doe it
(g) no creature but I am falsely accused

(H) why did you go away muttering from mr Parris his house
(g) I did not mutter but I thanked him for what he gave my child

(H) have you made no contract with the devil
(g) no

(H) desired the children all of them to look upon her, and see, if this were the person that had hurt
them and so they all did looke upon her and said this was one of the persons that did torment
them--presently they were all tormented.

(H) Sarah good doe you not see now what you have done why doe you not tell us the truth, why
doe you thus torment these poor children
(g) I doe not torment them,

(H) who do you imploy then
(G) I imploy nobody I scorn it

(H) how came they thus tormented,
(g) what doe I know you bring others here and now you charge me with it

(H) why who was it.
(g) I doe not know but it was some you brought into the meeting house with you

(H) wee brought you into the meeting house
(g) But you brought in two more

(H) Who was it then that tormented the children
(g) it was osburn

(H) what is it that you say when you goe muttering away from persons houses
(g) if I must tell I will tell

(H) doe tell us then
(g) if I must tell I will tell, it is the commandments I may say my commandments I hope

(H) what commandment is it
(g) if I must tell you I will tell, it is a psalm

(H) what psalm
(g) after a long time shee muttered over some part of a psalm

(H) who doe you serve
(g) I serve god

(H) what god doe you serve
(g) the god that made heaven and earth

though shee was not willing to mention the word God her answers were in a very wicked, spitfull
manner reflecting and retorting aganst the authority with base and abusive words and many lies
shee was taken in.it was here said that her housband had said that he was afraid that shee either
was a witch or would be one very quickly the worsh mr Harthon asked him his reason why he said
so of her whether he had ever seen any thing by her he answered no not in this nature but it was
her bad carriage to him  and indeed said he I may say with tears that shee is an enimy to all good.

(Salem Village March the 1t 1691/2
    Written by Ezekiell Chevers
         Salem Village March the 1t 1691/2)
 

[Mittimus (i.e., order sending Good to prison for safekeeping)]

To the Keeper of theire Majests Goale in Boston

    You are in theire Majests names hereby required, to take into your care and safe Custody the Bodys of
Sarah Good the wife of W'm Good of Salem farmes husbandman and Titiba an Indian Woman, belonging
unto mr. Samuell parris of Salem Village Minester, who stand Charged on behalfe of theire Majests. for
theire feloniously Committing Sundry acts of Witchcraft at Salem Village on the Bodys of Elizabeth parris
Eliz Hubbert Abigail Williams And Ann putnam of Salem Village. whereby great hurt hath beene donne to
theire Body contrary to the peace of our Sov'r L'd and Lady W'm & Mary of England &c King & Queen
    Whome you are well to secure untill thay shall thence be delivered by due order of Law and hereof you
are not to faile

    Dated Boston May the 24t 1692

                                    *John Hathorne
                                                                        Assists.
                                    *Jonathan Corwin

(O. R.) Mittimus

[list of witnesses omitted]
 

[Summary of evidence against Sarah Good]

Titabes Confession & Examinacon ag't. her selfe & Sarah good abstracted

    Charges Sarah Good to hurt the Children & would have had her done it 5. were with her last night
& would have. had her hurt the Children w'ch she refused & that Good was one of them
    Good with others are very strong & pull her with them to Mr. putnams & make her hurt the Child.
Good rode with her upon Apoole behind her, takeing hold of one another doth not know how they
goe for she never sees trees nor path but are presently th -
    good [ther] tell her she must kill some body with a knife & would have had her killed Tho:
putnams Child last night the Child at the same time afirmed she would have had her cutt of her
own head if not Titabe would doe it & complained of a knife cutting her
    Good came to her last night when her Mr. was at prayer & would not let her hear hath one yellow
bird & stopped her Eares in prayer time, the yellow bird hath been seen by the Children & Titubee
saw it suck Good between the forefinger & long finger upon the right hand
    Saw Good [ther] practice witchcraft.
    Saw Good have a Catt besides the bird & a thing all over hair [ther]
    Sarah Good appeared like a wolfe to Hubbard going to proctors & saw it sent by Good to
Hubbard
    good [ther] hurt the Children again & the Children affirme the same Hubbard knew th[em] not
being blinded by them & was once or twice taken dumb herslefe i:e: Titube
    Good cause her to pinch the Children in their own persons
    Saw Goods name in the booke, & the devell told her they made these marks & said to her she
made ther marke & it was the same day she went to prison
    Good [ther] came to ride abroad with her & the man shewed her Goods mark in the book
    Good [ther] pinched her on the leggs & being searched found it soe after confession
    Nota S. G. mumbled when she went away from Mr Parrass & the children after hurt.

    Dorothy Goods Charge ag't. her mother Sarah Good. That she had three birds one black, one
yellow & that these birds hurt the Children & afflicted persons.
 


her own Confession

Nota None here sees the witches but the afflicted & themsleves Charges Sarah Osburne with
hurting the Children -- looking upon them at the same time & not being afflicted must
consequently be a Witch

Deliverance Hobs Confession

    being at a meeting of the witches in Mr: parisses feild when Mr. Burroughs preached &
administred the sacram't to them saw Good amongst the rest & this fully agrees with what the
afflicted persons relate. 22th. Apr (92)

Abigaile Hobbs' Confession

    was in Company with Sarah Good & knowes her to be a witch & afterwards was taken deafe &
Mary walcott [ther] saw Good & osburn run their fingers into this dpoits ears a little after she
spoke & s'd Good told her she sh'd not speake

Mary Warren's Confession

    That Sarah Good is a Witch & brought her the booke to sighe to.
...
 

[Third indictment against Good]

    The Jurors for our Soveraigne Lord & Lady, King William & Mary, Doe present; That Sarah Good the
Wife of william Good, of Salem, Village In the County of Essex husband man, upon the. first day of
March In the fourth Year of the Reigne of our Soveragine, Lord & Lady W'm. & Mary, by the Grace of
god of England, Scotland France & Ireland, King & Queen, defend'rs of the faith &c & Divers other
dayes, & Times as well before as after, Certaine Detestable Arts, Caled Witchcrafts & Sorceries, wickedly & feloniously, hath used, practiced & Exersised at & within the Township of Salem aforesaid In upon & against An Puttman, Singlewoman of Salem Village, by which said Wicked arts, the said. An Puttnam
the said first day of March in the fourth, year, abovesaid & divers other dayes & times, as well
before as after, was & is hurt, Tortured, afflicted, Pined Consumed, wasted & Tormented, & also for
Sundry acts, of Witchcraft by said Good, Comitted & done before & since that time, against the peace of
our Soveraigne Lord & Lady the King & Queen, Thair Crowne & dignity and against the forme of, the
Statutes, In that Case made & provided.

           Witnesses. Ann Putman Jurat Eliz: Hubbard
                    Abigall Williams. Jurat

(O. R.) No. 3 bil a vera Sarah Goods
 

[Summons to witnesses]

    W'm & Mary By the grace of God of England Scotland France & Ireland King & Queen def'rs of the
faith &ca.
    To Samuel Abbey & his Wife Joseph Herrick & his Wife goodwife Bibber Abigall Williams Elizabeth
Hubbard. Mary Wolcott Ann Putman Mercey Lewis. Samuel Braybrook
    Wee comand : you and Every of you all Excuses set apart to appear at the Special Court of Oyer &
Terminer to be held at Salem for the County of Essex on the 28th. of this Instant month at Nine of the
Clock in the Morning there to testify the truth to the best of your knowledge on Severall Indictments then
& there to be Exhibited against Sarah Good for Sundry acts of Witchcrafts by her Comitted & done.
hereof make return fail not

    dated in Salem June .27.1692

                                                            *Step: Sewall Clerc.

To the Constables of Salem or any of them

                                    Greeting

[Officer's return]

    Dat: 28 Jun 1692 -- I have warned the parsens.above.named accorden to tener of this summonce by
me.

                                       *John putnam. Const of salem
 

[Deposition of Samuel and Mary Abbey]

    Samuel Abbey of Salem Villiage Aged 45. Years or thereabouts and mary Abbey his wife aged
38 years or thereabouts, Deposeth and Saith:
    That about this Time three Years past W'm: Good and his wife Sarah Good being destitute of
an house to well in these Deponents out of Charity, they being Poor. lett them live in theirs some
time, untill that said Sarah Good was #[of] so Turbuland a Spirritt, [Spirritt,] Spitefull and so
Mallitiously bent, that these Deponents could not suffer her to Live in their howse any Longer;
and was forced for Quitteness sake to turne she the said Sarah, with her husband, out of their
howse ever since, which is about two years ½ agone; the said Sarah Good, hath carried it very
Spitefully & Mallitiously, towards them, the winter following after the said Sarah was gone from
our house, we began to Loose Cattel, and Lost severall after an unusuall Manner, in drupeing
Condition and yett they would Eate: and your Deponents have Lost after that manner 17 head of
Cattle within two years, besides Sheep, and Hoggs; and both doe believe they Dyed by witchcraft,
the said William good on the last of may, was twelve months, went home to his wife the s'd Sarah
Good, and told her, what a sad-Accident had fallen out, she asked what, he answered that his
neighbour Abbey had lost two Cowes, both dying within halfe an hour of one another; the s'd
Sarah good said she did not care if he the said Abbey had Lost all the Cattle he had, as the said
Jno. Good told us. Just that very Day, that said Sarah good was taken up, we yor Depoonents had
a Cow that could not rise alone, but since presently after she was taken up, the said Cow was well
and could rise so well, as if she had ailed nothing: she the said Sarah Good: ever since these
Deponants turned her out of their howse she hath behaveed her selfe very crossely & Mallitiously,
to them & their Children calling their Children vile Names and hath-threetened them often
                                                                                               Jurat in Curia.
 

[Testimony of William Batten and William Shaw]

    The testimony of Willam Batten aged 76 years or their abouts and william shaw aged about 50
years and Deborah his wife aged about 40 years, these all testifie and say that this day was a weeke
agoe. Susannah shelding being at the house of william shaw shee was tied her hands a cross in such
a manner we were forced to cut the string before we could git her hand loose and when shee was
out of her fit she told us it [was] Goode dastin that did tye her hands after that manner, and 4
times she hat been tyed in this manner in towe weeks time the 2 first times shee sayth it was good
dastin and the 2 last times it was Good that did tye her, we furder testifie that wen ever shee doeth
but touch this string shee is presently bit.
    We furder testifie that in this time there was a broome carried a way out of the house in
visibble to us and put in a apple tree two times and a shirt once and a milke tube once was carried
out of the house three poles from the house into the woods and she sayeth that it
    thes parsons a bove named upon their oath ownid this their tistimony to be the trugh before us
the Juriars for Inqwest this. 28. of June: 1692

                                                            Jurat in Curia
 

[Testimony of William Allen et al.]

March 5'th 1691/2

    Wm Allin saith that on the 1'st of march att night he heard a strange noyse not usually heard,
and so continued for many times so that hee was afrighted and coming nearer to it he there saw a
strange and unuseall beast lying on the Grownd so that goeing up to it the s'd Beast vanished away
and in the s'd place starte up 2 or 3 weemen and flew from mee not after the manner of other
weemen but swiftly vanished away out of our sight which weemen wee took to bee Sarah Good
Sarah Osburne and Tittabe the time was a bout an hour within night and I John Hughes saith the
same beeing in Company then w'th s'd allin. as wittness our hands

                                                          * william Allen
                                                          * john hughes

    William Allen further saith that on the 2'd day of march the s'd Sarah Good vissabley appeared
to him in his chamber s'd allen beecame and sate upon his foot the s'd allen went to kick att her
upn which shee vanished and the light with her
    william Good saith that the night before his s'd wife was Examined he saw a wart or tett a little
belowe her Right shoulder which he never saw before and asked Goodwife Engersol whether she
did not see it when shee searched her
     John Hughes. further saith that on the 2'd day of march that comeing from Goodman Sibleys a
boute Eight of the clock in the night hee saw a Great white dogg whome he came up to but he
would not stire but when He was past hee the s'd dogg followed him about 4 or 5 pole and so
disappeared the same night the s'd John Huges beeing in Bed in a clossd Roome and the dore
being fast so that no catt nor dogg could come in the said John saw a Great light appeare in the
s'd Chamber and Risseing up in his bed he saw a large Grey Catt att his beds foot
     March the 2'd Sam'l Brabrook saith that Carrieng Sarah Good to ippswich the said Sarah leapt
of her horse 3 times which was Between 12 and 3 of the clock of the same day w'ch the daughter of
Thomas Puttman declared the same att her fathers house the s'd Brabrook further saith that s'd
Sarah Good tould him that shee would not owne her selfe to bee a wicth unless she is provd one
shee saith that there is but one Evidence and thats and Indian and therefore she fears not and so
Continued Rayling against the Majestrates and she Endevered to kill herselfe
 

[Deposition of Elizabeth Hubbard]

    The Deposistion of Elizabeth Hubbard agged about 17 years who testifieth and saith that on the
28 February 1691/92 I saw the apperishtion of Sarah good who did most greviously afflect me by
pinching and pricking me and so she continewed hurting of me tell the first day of March being the
day of her examination then she did also most greviously afflect and tortor me also dureing the
time of her examination and also severall times sence she hath afflected me and urged me to writ in
her book: also on the day of hir examination I saw the Apperishtion of Sarah good goe and hurt
and afflect the bodyes of Elizabeth parish Abigail williams and Ann putnam jun'r and also I have
seen the Apperishtion of Sarah Good afflecting: the body of Sarah vibber
                                                             mark
                                                   Eliz:  Hubbard

also in the Night after Sarah goods Examination: Sarah Good came to me barefoot and bareledged
and did most greviously torment me by pricking and pinching me and I veryly beleve that Sarah
good hath bewicked me also that night Samuell Sibley that was then attending me strok Sarah
good on hir Arme
 

...

[Deposition of Susannah Sheldon]

    The Deposistion of Susannah Shelden agged about 18 years who testifieth and saith that sense I
have ben afflected I have very often ben most greviously tortured by Apperistion of Sarah Good
who has most dredfully afflected me by bitting pricking and pinching me and almost choaking me
to death but on the 26. June 1692 Sarah good most violently pulled down my head behind a
Cheast and tyed my hands together with a whele band & allmost Choaked me to death and also
severall times sence the Apperistion of Sarah good has most greviously tortored me by biting
pinching and almost Chaoking me to death: also william Battin and Thomas Buffington Juner
ware forced to cutt the whele band from ofe my hands for they could not unty it.
    And farther s'd Sheldon upon giving in this testimony to the grand jury was seized with sundry
fits w'ch. when she came to her self she told the s'd jury being aske that it was s'd. Good that
afflicted her & a little after Mary Warren falling into a fit s'd. Sheldon affirmed to the Grand jury
that she saw s'd Good upon her, & also a sauser being by invisible hands taken of from a Table &
carried our of doors s'd. Sheldon affirmed she saw said Sarah Good carry it away & put it where it
was found abroad.
    Susanah Shelden: oned this har testimony to be the trugh before the juriars of Inquest on the
oath which she had taken this. 28. of June 1692.
 

[Deposition of Sarah Bibber]

    The deposition of Sarah Biber aged 36 years testifieth and sayeth that the saterday night before
goode Dustin of Reding was examined I saw the apparition of Sarah goode standing by my
bedside, and shee pulled aside the curtain and turned down the sheet and Looked upon my child 4
years old and presently upon it the child was stracke into a great fit that my hausband and I could
hardly hold it
    Sara biber one of her oath did owe this har testimony before the Jurriars for Inqwest: this. 28: of
June 1692
                                                                                 Jurat Sarah Viber

[Death Warrant for Sarah Good and others]

To Georg: Corwine Gent'n High Sheriff of the county of Essex Greeting Whereas Sarah Good Wife of William Good of Salem Village Rebecka Nurse wife of Francis Nurse of Salem Villiage Susanna
Martin of Amesbury Widow Elizabeth How wife of James How of Ipswich Sarah Wild
wife of John Wild of Topsfield all of the County of Essex in thier Maj'ts Province of the
Massachusetts Bay in New England Att A Court of Oyer & Terminer held by Adjournment for
Our Severaign Lord & Lady King William & Queen Mary for the said County of Essex at salem in
the s'd County on the 29th day of June [torn] were Severaly arrigned on Several Indictments for
the horrible Crime of Witchcraft by them practised & Committed On Severall persons and
pleading not guilty did for thier Tryall put themselves on God & Thier Countrey whereupon they
were Each of them found & brought in Guilty by the Jury that passed On them according to their
respective Indictments and Sentence of death did then pass upon them as the Law directs
Execution whereof yet remains to be done:
     Those are Therefore in thier Maj'ties name William & Mary now King & Queen over England
&ca: to will & Command you that upon Tuesday next being the 19th day for [torn] Instant July
between the houres of Eight & [torn] in [torn] forenoon the same day you Safely conduct the s'd
Sarah Good Rebecka Nurse Susann Martin Elizabeth Howe & Sarah Wild From thier Maj'ties goal
in Salem afores'd to the place of Execution & there Cause them & Every of them to be hanged by
the Neck untill they be dead and of the doings herein make return to the Clerke of the said Court
& this precept and hereof you are not to fail at your perill and this Shall be your sufficient
Warrant given under my hand & seale at Boston the 12'th day of July in the fourth year of Reign of
our Soveraigne Lord & Lady Wm & Mary King and Queen &ca:

                                                                                  *Wm Stoughton
Annoq Dom. 1692 --

(Reverse)

                                                                                  Salem July 19th 1692

     I caused the within mentioned persons to be Executed according to the Tenour of the with[in]
warrant

                                                                                  *George Corwin Sherif

[Good was hanged on July 19, 1692]
 

[SOURCE: Paul Boyer and Stephen Nissenbaum. The Salem Witchcraft Papers, Volume 2, 355-378.