Mary ALDEN

Other Events and Attributes:

• Birth: Bef 1626, Plymouth
• Fact: 1648, Freeman at Boston
• Will: 17 Feb 1701
• Death: 14 May 1702

Notes:

Excerpt from "Mayflower Increasings": Capt. John Alden was a distinguished and respected citizen, having lived in Boston for over 30 years. He was an experienced mariner and had served as a naval commander. As a military officer he had served in the French and Indian wars and as late as 1690 served as commissioner in conducting negotiations with the natives. Imagine his amazement to find himself before the Salem magistrates, 31 May 1692, "upon the accusation of a company of poor distracted or possessed creatures or witches" on a charge of witchcraft! He was interrogated for many hours, during which time his sword was taken from him (he was accused of using it to afflict his accusers) and he was further degraded by one accuser who states, "he sells powder and shot to the Indians and French, and lies with the Indian squaws, and has Indian papooses". The evidence against him? During the interrogation he was said to pinch his accusers, strike them down with his look, and heal them with his touch. Capt. Alden was taken to Boston jail where he was held in custody for fifteen weeks and, in his own words,"....and then, observing the manner of trials, and evidence then taken, was at length prevailed with to make his escape". He made his escape about the middle of September and it was probable just in time as soon after this nine of the accused were executed. Alden probably made his way to Duxbury where relatives and friends hid him, but his experience was not yet over. In April 1693 when it appeared the witchcraft hysteria was over and people were coming to their senses, Alden turned himself in and was bound over to the Superior Court at Boston the last Tuesday of Apr. 1693. When no one came forward to prosecute, he and 150 others were released. The judicial proceedings were finally over, at the expense of 20 innocent lives.

John married Elizabeth ? before 1658. Elizabeth died in Dec 1659. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]