Puritan Fears
Many of our Bingham ancestors were Puritans who came to New England to practice their religion in a purified form which had been relieved of "popish" ritual. They were not relieved of the burdens and superstitions of their age, however. The Abbey/Abbey family were very much people of their culture and times. When you prepare your costumes for Halloween parties be sure to teach your families how to distinguish between fantasy and reality, between truth and superstition. Gratefully, we have the restored truth to guide us. Still, most of us will at times be tempted to judge others based on our own experiences, beliefs, prejudices and fears. Let their story be a lesson to us to withhold pronouncements of guilt based on our latter-day knowledge. They did not have that luxury.
Samuel and Mary Abbe
Ebenezer Abbey is our ancestor born July 31, 1683 in Danvers (Salem Village), Essex, Massachusetts, and died
December 5, 1758 in Windham, Connecticut. He would have been nine years old and very impressionable at the height of the witchcraft trials. His parents, Samuel and Mary Knowlton Abbe testified during the proceedings. They were living in Salem during the days of witchcraft, Samuel being on record as one of those opposed to its fanaticisms. One Rebecca Nourse, on trial as a witch, produced a paper signed by several "respectable inhabitants" of Salem, among whom was Samuel Abbe. This document as to her good character caused her to be set at liberty but the sentence was later changed for some reason and she was put to death as a witch. Only a few years ago a monument to her memory was erected by her descendants. (Abby Genealogy, 1916)
Testimony at The Trials
Both Samuel and Mary were witnesses in a witch trial in Salem in 1692 against Sarah Snow [Good], a woman of vicious temper who had lived in their home for a time but was dismissed on account of her disagreeable ways. She vowed vengeance upon them and when several of their cows and hogs were taken sick, the blame was laid to her as a witch. A warrant for Sarah Good was given at Salem, February 29, 1691-2, in response to complaints of Sarah Vibber, Abigail Williams, Elizabeth Hubbard, Ann Putnam, and Jno. Vibber. Among the many depositions in witness to her malign practices were those of Samuel Abbey and wife. When called to testify they stated under oath that Sarah Goode “hath
behaveed her selfe very crossely & Mallitiously, to them & their Children calling their Children vile Names and hath-threetened them often.” Sarah Good was executed July 19, 1692.
When summoned, Samuel also testified during the trial against Mary Easty. He testified as to Mercy Lewis, May 20, 1692, she being at the house of her neighbor, John Putnam, jr., and accused of witchcraft.
He was about 45 years at the time of his deposition. “I went to the house of Constable Jno putnam about 9 a clock in the morning and when J came there: Mircy lewes lay on the bed in a sad condition and continuing speachless for about an hour: the man not being at whom: the woman desired me to goe to Tho: putnams to bring Ann putnam to se if she could se who it was that hurt Mercy lewes: accordingly J went: and found Abigail williams along with Ann putnam and brought them both to se mercy lewes: and as they ware a goeing along the way both of them said that they saw the Apperishtion of Goody Estick and said it was the same woman that was sent whom the other day: and said also that they saw the Apperishtion of the other woman that appered with gooddy Estick the Other day, and both of them allso said that the Apperishtion of gooddy Estick tould them that now she was afflecting of mircy lewes…” Mary Easty was executed, September 22, 1692.
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| Arresting a Witch by Howard Pyle |
Real People Living During Incredible Times
Our ancestors were real people with the strengths and foibles of others of their particular time and place. Think about them when you read The Crucible or study the history and psychology of the trial.
Ebenezer Abbe relocated with his father, Samuel Abbe, to the locality known as "Bricktop" in 1698. It's easy to imagine that they wanted to escape the memories of the witchcraft trials. Ebenezer was 16 when his father died in 1699 after which he worked in Norwich for a time, about 1705, was in Windham in 1706 and later lived at North Winham and Mansfield. In November 1705 two deeds were recorded showing an exchange of property between Samuel Abbe and Ebenezer of Norwich -- a lot on Bushnell's Plain. Ebenezer received another deed from Samuel on 17 July, 1707, and sold land to Abraham Mitchell and William Slate in 1709 and 1711. He married Mary Allen October 28, 1707, in Mansfield, Connecticut, daughter of Joshua Allen and Mary Rowell, who was born in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, about 1686 and died 1766.
Ebenezer Abbey
On 29 October 1713, John Abbe, "now resident at Hartford," sold his brother Ebenezer land he had received from his father. In 1715, Ebenezer settled at Hampton Hill in the northeast part of Windham County. On 9 May 1717, he signed a petition asking the General Assembly to authorize the formation of Canada parish, and the following October he put his name to a second petition to use the property taxes of the parish to establish its church. On 8 September, 1743, Ebenezer sold land in Windham, on the east side of Nauchaug River, to his son Samuel. In his will, dated 3 June 1750, and probated 14 December 1758, he named his wife Mary; children Ebenezer, Joshua, Nathan, Gideon, Samuel, Elizabeth Cross, Zeruiah Marsh, Jerusha Wood, Abigail Cary, Miriam Cross; grandson Jonathan Bingham, only surviving son and heir of his daughter Mary, deceased. (Windham Probate Records, Vol. 5, p. 513).
Ebenezer Abbe had twelve children. One of his sons, Joshua Abbey, was a large land-owner. His extensive holdings at North Windham, Connecticut, were generally called his "Kingtom, while he was known as King Abbe". Joshua Abbe was a man of large heart, generous impulses and liberal opinions; of great vigor of both mind and body and a match for anyone in shrewdness and wit. His strong religious feelings made him a conspicuous leader in a sect which arose from the Baptist denomination in Windham, Connecticut, and became known as Abbe - ites. His home was ever open for religious meetings or for the entertainment of guests. Among celebrated guests is the name of "Mother" Ann Lee, founder of the sect of shakers.
Ebenezer and Mary’s fourth child, Mary Abbey, was born September 21, 1712, in Windham, Connecticut. She married Jonathan Bingham May 9, 1734 in Windham, Connecticut. She died March 4, 1735 in Windham, Connecticut, less than two weeks after giving birth to her son, Jonathan. Grandpa Leslie Foy was their 6thgreat grandson.
Notes:
Salem Map and Pictures in the public domain: Found on Craig White's Literature Courses site.
To learn more about the trials go to http://www2.iath.virginia.edu/salem/17docs.html and
http://www.salemwitchtrials.org/home.html
http://www.salemwitchtrials.org/home.html
To
learn more about the Bingham line go to http://www.familyhistorypages.com/Bingham.htm#JonB2
And about the Abby line go to http://files.usgwarchives.org/ct/statewide/history/books/abbe001a.txt
