Chapter 6 Summary

Sarah Carrier tells the reader about the court records from her mother's witchcraft trial of May 28, 1692 as transcribed by a clerk under hire to her husband. In all, there are seven complaints filed by several citizens against her as well as "Mary Toothaker and daughter" (Margaret). The first complaint, signed by Joseph Houlton and John Wallcott, accuses Martha of "sundry acts of witchcraft...to the hurt and injury of theire bodys." One deposition by John Roger accuses Martha of bewitching and stealing two "lusty sowes" after an argument with her. Another by Samuel Preston claims that he lost a cow "in a strange manner" after having differences with Martha Carrier. Allen Toothaker, Martha's nephew, says that she "clapped her hands at me and within a day or two, I lost a three-year-old heffer, next a yearling, and then a cow." Phoebe Chandler, one...