Head Daniel Wicom searched as the central figure one of the accusers. Due to the fact popular member of Rowley, people witchcraft condition you to inside Wicom, whom filled of several urban area management ranks, would have contributed to suit up against Scott.twelve According to depositions displayed facing Scott, the newest people regarding Rowley guessed the woman to be a beneficial witch having up to twenty years however, no action try removed up until their de- afflicted by their.
Several points could have led Frances Wicom so you’re able to attest to help you such as for instance a bad feel together with their home environment as well as connection with Indian issues
New Wicoms just weren’t the only well-known category of Rowley in it for the accusations facing ily and starred an active role for the the fresh new demonstration. Thomas and you may Phillip Nelson was indeed brothers; Sarah was Philip’s wife. Their dad, Captain Philip Nelson, died within the 1691 making a property regarding five hundred weight recommending you to both Thomas and Philip was in fact well off by themselves. Sadly, information fail to distinguish between Philip the father and you can Philip new guy. However, new stature of your own title off Philip Nelson around information signifies that the household try wealthy and you will effective.thirteen
What is well known among styles off Nelsons and you can Wicoms from the Essex County info is largely what don’t occur
As several group appear in of a lot home problems, they never ever arrive as competitors. When you find yourself one cannot simply assume that each other group was in fact members of the family, it’s secure to declare that they were perhaps not opposition. Philip Nelson gave testimony one to offered Daniel Wicom when you look at the an effective 1679 trial plus in 1680 the 2 people sided together with her an additional court case. 14 The relationship between the Wicoms and the Nelsons because the Margaret Scott’s head accusers went on on the deposition out of Philip and you can Sarah Nelson just who testified towards condition out of deceased Robert Shillito, exactly who lived in Daniel Wicom’s tithing region. Wicom will have accumulated Shillito’s taxation, experienced exposure to him, and then have come really regularly his supposed condition. The past partnership occurred in new deposition out of Thomas Nelson. At the conclusion of his testimony, the fresh new checklist indicated him because the a member of the fresh grand jury providing your the benefit to choose Margaret Scott’s fate extending the brand new Nelson-Wicom connection to nearly all regions of the fresh trial. 15
This new depositions considering up against Margaret Scott emphasize the new rumors throughout the the lady reputation plus the preferred viewpoints that released about witches at the beginning of The fresh new England. Of your own half a dozen depositions shown before Salem Judge toward September 15th, four explained the brand new spectral image of Margaret Scott tormenting anyone else. Some depositions provided revealed that we thought Scott is a great witch long before 1692. The new spectral facts originated from the fresh new depositions of ladies exactly who might have been determined by its paranoia nearby Indian hostilities, societal pressures, and you may faith.
With respect to the evidence, Margaret Scott’s specter first assaulted Frances Wicom at the beginning of this new examples within Salem within 10th from ination on August fifth. The brand new seventeen year dated Frances provided their deposition to your judge during the Salem toward Sep 15, 1692. Detailing illnesses that have been thought to be common Frances stated you to definitely age to me and most grievously torment me personally by choacking and you may nearly presing me to dying”.sixteen
She positively could have heard first hand membership away from bloody problems that have Indians. The latest evidence implies that a direct correlation can be acquired anywhere between nervousness over Indian Conflicts getting fought when you look at the Maine and you will witchcraft allegations. Such nostringsattached app a demanding environment in which New England try suffering from Satan courtesy witches and you can Indians, who had been recognized as servants of devil, little girls would-have-been prepared to accuse anyone which was remotely doubtful and also make Scott, which currently had a shady reputation, a straightforward target.17