| Birth: | c. Sep. 30, 1621
Olney
Buckinghamshire, England | | Death: | Jul. 19, 1692
Salem
Essex County
Massachusetts, USA | 
Victim of the Salem Witch Trials. The youngest of four daughters of Richard North and Joan Bartram, her baptism is reported as September 30, 1621 at Olney, Buckinghamshire, England. Her mother died when she was a child and her father married Ursula Scott. In 1639, Richard North immigrated to New England and settled his family at Salisbury, Massachusetts. Susannah married the widower George Martin in 1646 at Salisbury. George and Susannah Martin moved to Amesbury, Massachusetts in 1654. George Martin is shown as one of the first settlers of Amesbury on a commemorative plaque in the Amesbury-Golgotha Burying Ground. Susannah and George were the parents of eight children. Through her daughter, Jane, Susannah is the 5th great grandmother of U. S. President Chester A. Arthur. In 1669, William Sargent accused Susannah of witchcraft. George Martin sued Sargent for slander against Susannah and a higher court dismissed the witchcraft charges. George Martin died in 1686 and Susannah remained in Amesbury. In 1692, at the age of 71, she was accused of being a witch by several residents of Salem Village (now the Town of Danvers), which is located about 25 miles south of Amesbury. Susannah was arrested and tried for witchcraft. None of the accused were represented by council and during her trial, she defended herself defiantly. She was found guilty and hanged on July 19, 1692, along with four other women. All were placed in a shallow unmarked grave. Over 400 people were accused during the Salem witchcraft hysteria. Of those convicted, twenty were executed and four died in prison. In May, 1693, all of the remaining accused that had been arrested were released, but only after their families had paid jail and court costs. In 1709, a petition was submitted requesting reversal of the convictions of 22 indiviuals. In October, 1711, this petition was approved by the General Court and in December, the Governor authorized monetary compensation to these individuals or their heirs. Susannah Martin's family did not sign this petition and she, along with others, were not included in this resolution. In 1957, an Act was passed pronouncing the innocence of "One Ann Pudeator and certain other persons." It was not until 2001 that an Act was passed amending the 1957 wording to include the names, "Ann Pudeator, Bridget Bishop, Susannah Martin, Alice Parker, Margaret Scott and Wilmot Redd.." (bio by: Eric)
Family links:
Spouse:
George Martin (1618 - 1686)*
Children:
Jane Martin Hadley (1656 - 1704)*
*Calculated relationship
Search Amazon for Susannah Martin | | | Burial:
Burying Point Cemetery
*
Salem
Essex County
Massachusetts, USA
*Cenotaph [?] |
Maintained by: Find A Grave
Record added: Jan 25, 2000
Find A Grave Memorial# 8292 |
|
|
|
|
(4.1 after 84 votes)
