the dust, and to be humbled for it, in that I was a cause, with others, of so sad a calamity to them and their families; for which cause I desire to lie in the dust, and earnestly beg forgiveness of God, and from all those unto whom I have given just cause of sorrow and offence, whose relations were taken away or accused.

     [Signed] [Illustration:  [signature]]

     “This confession was read before the congregation, together
     with her relation, Aug. 25, 1706; and she acknowledged it.

     “J.  GREEN, Pastor.

This paper shows the baleful influence of the doctrine of Satan then received.  It afforded a refuge and escape from the compunctions of conscience.  The load of sin was easily thrown upon the back of Satan.  This young woman was undoubtedly sincere in her penitence, and was forgiven, we trust and believe; but she failed to see the depth of her iniquity, and of those who instigated and aided her, in her false accusations.  The blame, and the deed, were wholly hers and theirs.  Satan had no share in it.  Human responsibility cannot thus be avoided.

While, in a certain sense, she imputes the blame to Satan, this declaration of Ann Putnam is conclusive evidence that she and her confederate accusers did not believe in any communications having been made to them by invisible spirits of any kind.  Those persons, in our day, who imagine that they hold intercourse, by rapping or otherwise, with spiritual beings, have sometimes found arguments in favor of their belief in the phenomena of the witchcraft trials.  But Ann Putnam’s confession is decisive against this.  If she had really received from invisible beings, subordinate spirits, or the spirits of deceased persons, the matters to which she testified, or ever believed that she had, she would have said so.  On the contrary, she declares that she had no foundation whatever, from any source, for what she said, but was under the subtle and mysterious influence of the Devil himself.

She died at about the age of thirty-six years.  Her will is dated May 20, 1715, and was presented in probate June 29, 1716.  Its preamble is as follows:—­

“In the name of God, amen.  I, Anne Putnam, of the town of Salem, single woman, being oftentimes sick and weak in body, but of a disposing mind and memory, blessed be God! and calling to mind the mortality of my body, and that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make this my last will and testament.  First of all, I recommend my spirit into the hands of God, through Jesus Christ my Redeemer, with whom I hope to live for ever; and, as for my body, I commit it to the earth, to be buried in a Christian and decent manner, at the discretion of my executor, hereafter named, nothing doubting but, by the mighty power of God, to receive the same again at the resurrection.”

She divided her land to her four brothers, and her personal estate to her four sisters.