Rebecca (Cantlebury) Woodrow (abt. 1640 - 1663)

Born about 1640 in Salem, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Wife of Benjamin Woodrow — married 1660 in Salem, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died 2 Jun 1663 at about age 23 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts Bay

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Biography

Rebecca (Cantlebury) Woodrow was accused of witchcraft in the Salem Witch Trials

The Petition of Jeremiah Neale as attorney to Joseph Woodrow, mentions that said Joseph Woodrow is a grandson to William Canterbury, of Salem, deceased., mentions that Bettrice, widow of said William, died intestate, that Rebecca was the oldest daughter, and that shee is now dead and left two children, Joseph Woodrow and Mary, ... dated 29th of July, 1684.

Rebecca Cantlebury deposed in 1658, age about 20.

On 6:12:1659 [6 Feb 1659/60] "Ben. Woodroffe and Rebecca Canterbury" confessed to fornication before marriage. At June 1660 court, "Benjamin Woodrow and Rebeca Cantleburye" sentenced to be whipped or pay fine of 40 shillings [each]. [Note: daughter Mary was born 21 Apr 1660. There does not seem to be a record of the marriage. It is unclear if the continued use of Rebecca's maiden name indicates they were still not married, or if it reflects her name at the time of the crime.]

The above is actually an important event in the history of the Salem witch trials. She lived her life as a Pagan and as such the vows of marriage were not important to her. She taught her daughter the Art of Demonology, which was passed down to her from her mother. Linda Sibley

Sources

• Massachusetts (Colony). Quarterly Courts (Essex County). Records and files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts. (Salem, Massachusetts: The Essex Institute, 1911-1925, 1975), Vol. II (1656-1662, (p. 217)

• "Abstracts from Wills, Inventories, &c., on File in the Office of Clerk of Courts, Salem, Mass.", in Essex Institute Historical Collections. (Salem, Massachusetts: Essex Institute Press), 4:62.

• Pope, Charles Henry. Pioneers of Massachusetts (1620-1650): A Descriptive List, Drawn from Records of the Colonies, Towns and Churches. (Boston: The Author, 1900), 88.

• Perley, Sidney. The History of Salem, Massachusetts. (Salem, Massachusetts: Sidney Perley, 1924-1928), 2:62.

• Patch, Ira J., Extracts From Some The First Book of Births, Marriages and Death, of The City of Salem, Essex Institute Historical Collections (Salem, Massachusetts, 1862) Vol. 4, Page 43