Mary Ireson in Salem Witch Trials

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]

WikiTree Profiles of Interest

• Mary (Leach) Ireson (abt.1659-abt.1711)

Bibliographic Notes

The text below is of unknown origin--meaning that its copyright status is unclear. The text was moved here from the profile of Mary (Leach) Ireson (abt.1659-abt.1711) so that the research to obtain a source can be completed.

Text

Note: The Examination of Mary Ireson�By Dabney Edwards

Date: June 6, 1692.�Mary Ireson, age unknown.�Wife of Benjamin Ireson of Lynn. �Name of presiding judges: John Hathorne, Barthomew Gedney, Jonathan Corwin.�Brought to Examination by: Henry Collings, Constable for the town of Lynn. �Stages of Process: Complaint on June 4th, 1692. Arrested on June 4th, Examined on June 6th at the house of Thomas Beadles in Salem. �Examination notes taken by: Simon Willard�Accusers: Deacon Edward Putnam and Thomas Rayment of Salem Village, on behalf of Mary Warren, Susana Sheldon, Mary Walcot and others. ("also Elizabeth Booth, Abigail Williams and Ann Putnam" were written in the margins of the Complaint). �Signed by Edward Putnam, June 4th, 1692. The mark of Thomas Rayment was below.

Mary Ireson was accused by Mary Warren, Susana Sheldon, Mary Walcot and "others". The names of Elizabeth Booth, Abigail Williams and Ann Putnam were also written in the margins of the complaint. Deacon Edward Putnam and Thomas Rayment of Salem Village submitted the complaint on behalf of the young girls. The examination begins with a description of the courtroom before Ireson is brought in. The afflicted girls fall into a fit and complain of Mary Ireson afflicting them. Ireson's sister enters with Mary. The judges call on the girls to look at her sister and see if she afflicted them. They responded by stating that it was not, but that it was the women with the hood. Mary was wearing a riding hood at the time.

The girls used clues by the accused and the judges to add to the examinations as proof against the accused. The judges asked, "Do you not see how you are discovered?" Here the judges are attempting to force Mary to admit to her position as a witch. Mary admits to other sins, such as her bad temper, but not to the sin of witchcraft. Upon this answer, Elizabeth Booth, Susana Sheldon and Mary Warren fell down when Mary Ireson looked at them. The girls use any type of movement by the accused to prove "affliction" caused by the accused. Once Ireson touched them with her hand, several times, the girls became well again. This indicated to the court that the "evil spirits" were returned to Ireson. The girls that were afflicted, charged her with afflicting them. When girls were well, they charged her with afflicting others. The girls often accused individual that they had never seen before, indicating that the adults had spoken the name in front of the children. The examination points out that three of the girls, expect Mary Walcott, said that they had never see her before in person. Yet, they all know that she was the woman afflicting them.

The accusing girls used spectral evidence to indict the accused. Mary Ireson was accused of bringing the Devil's book for the girls to sign, threatening them to sign it. Mary Warren said Ireson had brought the book a month before, while Susanna Sheldon said she brought the book at this examination. Susanna reported that Ireson said that "if she would not sign it she would tear her throat out". Ireson responded by staring at the girl, probably in disbelief that a young child could accuse her of such a thing.

After the girls finish with their drama, the examination turns back to Ireson for answers. Here, Ireson is prompted to confess her sins of Witchcraft. Possibly the judges or one of the girls, asks, "what she fixed her eyes upon". One of the afflicted said "that the black man was before her e bid her not confess". The girls enter the dialogue to ensure that Ireson's denials are not believed. Ireson's uncle, Fuller, was in the room and urged her to confess and break the Devil's "snare". Like many other accused, Ireson says that she did not know anything about being in the Devil's grasp. Ireson is asked, probably by a judge, if she could be a witch and not know it. Here they are prompting her for confession. Once again, Ireson answers no. Ireson responds that she could not confess until "she had more light". The meaning of this statement is unknown, but probably refers to evidence. Ireson needed more evidence that she could be a witch and not know of it. Most likely, at the trial, she confessed based on this last question, that she might be a witch and not know it. No records exist of any other dialogue with Mary Ireson.