The part performed in the witchcraft tragedy by the extraordinary child of twelve years of age, Ann Putnam, has been fully set forth.  As has been stated, both her parents (and no one can measure their share of responsibility, nor that of others behind them, for her conduct) died within a fortnight of each other, in 1699.  She was then nineteen years of age; a large family of children, all younger than herself, was left with her in the most melancholy orphanage.  How many there were, we do not exactly know:  eight survived her.  Although their uncles, Edward and Joseph, were near, and kind, and able to care for them, the burden thrown upon her must have been great.  With the terrible remembrance of the scenes of 1692, it was greater than she could bear.  Her health began to decline, and she was long an invalid.  Under the tender and faithful guidance of Mr. Green, she did all that she could to seek the forgiveness of God and man.  After consultations with him, in visits to his study, a confession was drawn up, which she desired publicly to make.  Upon conferring with Samuel Nurse, it was found to be satisfactory to him, as the representative of those who had suffered from her testimony.  It was her desire to offer this confession and a profession of religion at the same time.  The day was fixed, and made known to the public.  On the 25th of August, 1706, a great concourse assembled in the meeting-house.  Large numbers came from other places, particularly from the town of Salem.  The following document, having been judged sufficient and suitable, was written out in the church-book the evening before, and signed by her.  It was read by the pastor before the congregation, who were seated; she standing in her place while it was read, and owning it as hers by a declaration to that effect at its close, and also acknowledging the signature.

     "The Confession of Anne Putnam, when she was received to
     Communion, 1706.

“I desire to be humbled before God for that sad and humbling providence that befell my father’s family in the year about ’92; that I, then being in my childhood, should, by such a providence of God, be made an instrument for the accusing of several persons of a grievous crime, whereby their lives were taken away from them, whom now I have just grounds and good reason to believe they were innocent persons; and that it was a great delusion of Satan that deceived me in that sad time, whereby I justly fear I have been instrumental, with others, though ignorantly and unwittingly, to bring upon myself and this land the guilt of innocent blood; though what was said or done by me against any person I can truly and uprightly say, before God and man, I did it not out of any anger, malice, or ill-will to any person, for I had no such thing against one of them; but what I did was ignorantly, being deluded by Satan.  And particularly, as I was a chief instrument of accusing of Goodwife Nurse and her two sisters, I desire to lie in