The painting Witch Hill (The Salem Martyr) by Thomas Satterwhite Noble, 1869

Abigail Barker (née Wheeler; born 1656 – died October 1743) was among those accused of witchcraft during the Salem witch trials of 1692.[1][2][3]

Biography

Barker was born in 1656 and resided in Andover, Massachusetts.[4] In May 1686, she married Ebenezer Barker, a carpenter. They had three children.[5]

Witch trial

A number of Barker's immediate and extended family members were embroiled in the hysteria of the Salem witch trials. In August 1692, Barker's brother-in-law, Daniel Eames, and his mother, Rebecca Blake Eames, both were imprisoned after accusations of witchcraft. In the same month, her husband Ebenezer's brother, William Barker Sr., and his niece, Mary Barker, were also imprisoned for witchcraft. Barker's nephew, William Barker, Jr, was also arrested on September 1.[6]

One week later, on September 8, 1692, Abigail Barker was herself accused of being a witch by Rose Foster.[7] Her husband Ebenezer joined the newly formed Andover resistance and signed petitions in October and December to Governor William Phips and the Superior Court of Judicature.[8]

Barker is mentioned in the petition presented to the Court when it opened on January 3, 1693, which was signed by Dudley Bradstreet, Reverend Dane, Reverend Barnard, and 50 Andover residents.[2][9] Despite the petition, the Superior Court indicted Abigail of witchcraft.[10]

In a subsequently jury trial on January 6, 1693, Abigail was found not guilty. The 12 jurors included Nathaniel Howard, Reverend John Hale, Samuel Morgan, James Sanders, Richard Gross, John Witt, Nathaniel Emerson, John Emery, Benayah Tidcomb, John Platts, John Lamson, and James Friend. Barker was released, having been imprisoned for 4+1⁄2 months in Salem.[7]

Later life and death

After the trial, Abigail went back to her life in Andover and was 87 years old when she died there in 1743.[2] She is buried in the Old North Parish Burying Ground in North Andover.

Legacy

Barker's Farm was established by the Barker family in 1642 and has been run by each subsequent generation of the family, making it one of the oldest continuously owned and operated family farms in the United States.[2][11]

References

  1. ↑ Cutter, William Richard (1911). Genealogical and family history of the state of Connecticut : a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation. University of Connecticut Libraries. New York, Lewis Historical Pub. Co.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Barker Family, Site(s) of". Salem Witch Museum. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  3. ↑ "SWP No. 170: Superior Court of Judicature: Witchcraft Trials (January – May 1693) – New Salem – Pelican". salem.lib.virginia.edu. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  4. ↑ "The Accused of the Salem Witch Trials". www.salemwitchtrials.com. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Our Royal, Titled, Noble, and Commoner Ancestors & Cousins (over 193,000 names). – Person Page". our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  6. ↑ Massachusetts Archives Collection, vol. 135, no. 54.
  7. 1 2 "SWP No. 007: Abigail Barker – New Salem – Pelican". salem.lib.virginia.edu. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  8. ↑ Records of the Superior Court of Judicature (1692/3), pp. 10 & 11, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Judicial Archives, Massachusetts State Archives. Boston, MA.
  9. ↑ "SWP No. 139: Sarah Wilson, Sr. – New Salem – Pelican". salem.lib.virginia.edu. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Manuscripts". www.17thc.us. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Family Business – The World's Oldest Family Companies". www.griequity.com. Retrieved October 24, 2022.

Further reading

  • Upham, Charles (1980). Salem Witchcraft. New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., v. 2
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