Death Warrant of Bridget Bishop, 1692

From Records of Salem Witchcraft, copied from the Original Documents, vol. I. Roxbury, Mass.: Privately Printed for W. Elliot Woodward, 1864. 170-172.

Death Warrant v. Bridget Bishop

To George Corwin Gent^m high Sheriffe of the County of Essex. Greeting.

Whereas Bridgett Bishop als Oliver the wife of Edward Bishop of Salem in the County of Essex, Sawyer, at a speciall court of Oyer and Terminer held at Salem the second Day of this instant month of June for the Countyes of Essex' Middlesex' and Suffolk before William Stoughton Esq^r and his Associate Justices of the said Court was Indicted and arraigned upon five severall Indictments for useing practiceing and exercising on the nyneteenth day of April last past and divers other dayes and time before and after certain acts of Witchcraft in and upon the bodyes of Abigail Williams Ann puttnam Jun^r Mercy Lewis Mary Walcott and Elizabeth Hubbard of Salem Village Singlewomen whereby their bodyes were hurt afflicted pined, consumed Wasted and tormented contrary to the forme of the Statute in that Case made and provided.

To which Indictm^ss the said Bridgett Bishop pleaded not guilty and for tryall thereof put herselfe upon God and her Country whereupon she was found guilty of the felonys and witchcrafts whereof she stood Indicted and sentence of Death accordingly passed ag^t her as the Law, directs.

Execution where of yet remains to be done.

These are therefore in the name of their Maj^ties William and Mary now King and Queen over England &c to will and Comand you That upon Fryday next being the Tenth day of this instant month of June betweene the hours of Eight and twelve in the aforenoon of the same day you safely conduct the sd Bridget Bishop als Oliver from their Maj^ties Goal in Salem aforesd to the place of Execution and there cause her to be hanged by the neck untill she be dead. and of your doings herein make returne to the Clerke of the sd Court and p^scept.

And hereof you are not to faile at your peril.

And this shall be your sufficient Warrant. Given under my hand and seal at Boston the Eighth day of June in the fourth yeer of the Reigne of our Sovereigne Lord and Lady William and Mary now King and Queen over England &c Annoq Dom 1692.

Wm. Stoughton

June 10th ==1692

According to the within Written precept I have taken the body of the within named Boigett Bishop out of theire Majesties Goale in Salem and Safely Conveighed her to the place provided for her Execution and caused y^e sd Brigett to be hanged by the neck until shee was dead all which was according to the time within Required and So I make Returne by me

George Corwin Sheriff.