1892 Colonial History Hadley Massachusetts Witch Half Hanged Mary + Brooklyn CT

Description: 1. Old Hadley By Julia Taft Bayne plus 2. The Church in the GroveRecords of an Episcopal Church Parish During the RevolutionBy William Hoyt Coleman 22 pages in total from a 19th century periodical, published in 1892.6.75" x 9.75" Over 130 years old. ------ 15 page article on the colonial history (1600s-1700s) of Hadley , Massachusettsand7 page article on Old Trinity Church in Brooklyn , Connecticut 17 illustrations.( 16 Hadley illustrations and 1 illustration of Old Trinity Church in Brooklyn, CT ) ---------- The article on the history of Hadley, Massachusetts, begins with the purchase of the land from Native American Indians on Dec. 25, 1658, and the earliest buildings. The story of Hadley continues with events of King Philip's War in the 1670s, the legendary " Angel of Hadley " (a mysterious figure said to have saved Hadley when the town was attacked by Indians in 1675), the tight grip of Puritan control on the people, etc., etc., and other notable events up to the era of the American Revolution. Also includes a section on "the most notable witch in Hampshire County", Mary Webster, who lived in the 1680s on the corner of West Street and Cemetery Lane in Hadley. This is the famous " half hanged Mary ". According to testimony, Mary Webster performed a number of "remarkable feats" of witchcraft , including " casting a spell " on horses and cattle ( which became unruly ), levitated a small child , caused "scratchings" to appear on a wall , and transformed herself into the appearance of a black hen. She was accused of bewitching Lt. Philip Smith with "an hideous witchcraft ." Smith was said to have become "very valitudinarious" for some time before he died in 1685.At this time, Mary Webster was "hung up until she was nearly dead", rolled in the snow, and then left buried in the snow. However, Mary survived this abuse and lived a further 10+ years before finally dying in 1696. Includes a portrait of Elbridge Kingsley (1842-1918), a Hadley artist particularly known for his fine wood engravings.Also includes a photo of "Kingsley's Car", a small wagon which the artist would park in various locations when he was creating his sketches. The Hadley article was written by Julia Taft Bayne (1845-1933), an American author who wrote a memoir of the Abraham Lincoln White House entitled Tad Lincoln's Father (1931). Her family was friendly with the Lincolns and the memoir was based on her time visiting the household as a teenager with her younger brothers.Julia's half brother, Charles Sabin Taft, was a physician; he was one of the first doctors on the scene when President Lincoln was shot on April 14, 1865 at Ford's Theatre. He remained with the President until his death. ------- The second article is on the history of Old Trinity Church in Brooklyn, Connecticut, in the era on the American Revolution.This historic colonial era meetinghouse, built in 1771, is still standing. It is located at 60 Church Street, just south of the intersection with Brown Road, in Brooklyn, CT.The building is very little changed since it was completed in 1771, over 250 years ago. It is the oldest surviving Anglican church building in Connecticut. -------- Condition.Old staining in the margin of the pages.( see the photos )Otherwise good. Carefully packed for shipment to the buyer.

Price: 39 USD

Location: Coventry, Rhode Island

End Time: 2024-12-27T15:20:35.000Z

Shipping Cost: 5.38 USD