86

TRIAL l-'OR WITCHCRAFT.

Yorkshire upon Long Island aforesaid, do further Present for our Soveraigne Lord the King, Thatsome while after the deatli of the aforesaid George Wood, The said Ralph Hall did (as is suspected)divers times by y e like wicked and detestable Aids, comouly called Witlicraft and Sorcery , Mali-ciously and feloniously practise and Exercise at the said Towne of Seatalcott, in the East Ridingof Yorkshire upon Long Island aforesaid, on the Person of an Infant Childe of Ann Rogers, wid-dow of y e aforesaid George Wood deceased, by w h wicked and detestable Arts, the said InfantChilde (as is suspected) most dangerously & mortally sickned and languished, and not long after bythe said Wicked and detestable Arts (as is likewise suspected) dyed, And so y e said Constable andOverseers do Present, That the said George Wood, and the s d Infante s d Childe by the waves andmeanes aforesaid, most wickedly maliciously and feloniously were (as is suspected) murdered bythe said Ralph Hall at the times and places aforesaid, ag st ye Peace of Our Soveraigne Lord yeKing and against the Laws of this Government in such Cases Provided.

The like Indictm 1 was read, against Mary the wife of Ralph Hall.

There upon, severall Depositions, accusing y e Prison” of y e fact for which they were endictedwere read, but no witnesse appeared to give Testimony in Court vive voce.

Then the Clarke calling upon Ralph Hall, bad him hold up liis hand, and read as followes.

Ralph Hall thou standest here indicted, for that having not y e feare of God before thine eyes.Thou did’st upon the 25 th day of December, being Christmas day last was 12 Moneths, and at seu’allother times since, as is suspected, by some wicked and detestable Arts, commonly called witchcraftand Sorcery , maliciously and feloniously practice and Exercise, upon the Bodyes of George Wood,and an Infant Childe of Ann Rogers, by which said Arts, the said George Wood and the InfantChilde (as is suspected) most dangerously and mortally fell sick, and languisht unto death. RalphHall, what dost thou say for tliyselfe, aft thou guilty, or not guilty 1

Mary the wife of Ralph Hall was called upon in like manner.

They both Pleaded not guilty and threw themselves to bee Tryed by God and the Country.

Where upon, their Case w'as referr’d to y e Jury, who brought in to the Court , this followingverdict vizt.

Wee having seriously considered the Case committed to our Charge, against y e Prison 18 at theBarr, and having well weighed y e Evidence, wee finde that there are some suspitions by the Evi-dence, of what the woman is Charged with, but nothing considerable of value to take away her life.But in reference to the man wee finde nothing considerable to charge him with.

The Court there upon, gave this sentence, That the man should bee bound Body and Goods forhis wives Apperance, at the next Sessions, and so on from Sessions to Sessions as long as they stayw th in this Government, In the meane w r hile, to bee of y e good Behavio 1 So they were return’dinto the Sheriffs Custody, and upon Entring into a Recognizance, according to the Sentence of theCourt, they were released.

[Orders Warrants Letters, II.]

A Release to Ralph Hall & Mary his wife from y e Recognizance theyentred into at the Assizes .

These Are to Certify all whom it may Concerne That Ralph Hall & Mary his wife (at presentliving upon Great Minifords Island) are hereby released & acquitted from any & all Recognizances,bonds of appearance or oth r obligations—entred into by them or either of them for the peace orgood behavio r upon account of any accusation or Indictem 1 upon suspition of Witch Craft broughtinto the Co r t of Assizes against them-in the year 1665. There haueviug beene no direct proofesnor furth 1 ' prosecucon of them or eith r of them since—Giuen und 1 ' my hand at Fort James in New rYorke this 21 th day of August 1668. R. NICOLLS.