Bridget Webb (1678)

Born 17 Aug 1678 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Ancestors

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Biography

Bridget Webb was born on 17 August 1678 to John and Bridget (Whitford) Webb in Salem, Massachusetts.^[1]

Bridget is a bit of a mystery.

Rev. William Bentley, made a series of diary entries in 1790, upon the death of Mary (Webb) Whitefoot, attempting to document her age by inference. One of them concerned her sister, Bridget.

"18 [December 1790]. Further means of ascertaining the age of Mary Whitefoot. Aunt Bridget her sister died at Kettle's near Derby's farm above thirty years ago. She was 20 years older than Mary. aet. 92. Note. Kettle married Aunt Bridget's daughter afterward the Wife's mother of S. Williams. The age of her Daughter Tozzer, who is above 60, & was born after her father's Whitefoot's death who lived with Mary ten years, & Mary was married late in life, after thirty. Sister Bridget was of full age in 1692 & went to see & converse with the witches & was present at their execution. Mary was of reputed age with Aunt Hodges, who was eleven years older than Aunt Crowninshield, & the last born in 1700. Her age even to herself unknown."^[2]

First -- Rev. Bentley's reasons for referring to Bridget as an aunt are not yet comprehended. Second-- whether or not a 14-year-old is of full age to attend witch trials is a matter on which civilized people may disagree.

As to the other implications, it certainly appears to be the case that he was asserting Bridget had a daughter who married a Kettle, and that said daughter herself had a daughter who married one S. Williams.

There are some rather complex scenarios which could be elaborated on such circumstances. The only record found which might support this assertion is that of an agreement Jonathan Kettle made with the town of Danvers to take care of his mother-in-law "Mrs. Bridget Webb" on 4 June 1759.^[3] Unfortunately, the record itself is on microfilm only, and has not been consulted, but if this woman was being called Mrs. Bridget Webb, then Rev. Bentley or his source for this information may have been misinformed, because Bridget Webb the maiden must have had some other last name after marrying, unless she happened to marry another Webb. A case of mistaken identity is also supported by his assertion that she died at age 92 before 1760, which would have her born in or before 1668.

Sources

1. ↑ "John Webb & Bridgett Whitford were marryed the [line ending faded out]
   their daughter Bridgett borne the 17: 6 mo. 1678." Massachusetts. County Court (Essex County). "Court Records: Births, Marriages & Deaths, 1658-1701," p. 37; "Essex County, Massachusetts, births, marriages, and deaths, 1636-1795," FamilySearch, Film # 7,009,706, image 274.
2. ↑ Bentley, William. The Diary of William Bentley, D.D., Pastor of the East Church, Salem, Massachusetts. Salem: Essex Institute, 1905-1914, 1:220.
3. ↑ Tracy, Cyrus M, and Henry Wheatland. Standard History of Essex County, Massachusetts... Boston: C.F. Jewett & Co, 1878, p. 98.