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Archiver > SALEM-WITCH > 1999-05 > 0925708629


From: <>
Subject: Re: [SALEM-WITCH-L] Death warrants
Date: Mon, 3 May 1999 01:17:09 EDT


In a message dated 05/02/99 9:02:24 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
writes:

<< I had read that their were death warrants signed from those who were
accused
of being witches. If this is so, is a person able to get a copy of that
document. I am interested in one for Rebecca Nurse.
Thanks for your time. Jeen >>

Jeen,

My understanding is that the original records of the Salem witchcraft trials
are housed at:

Peabody Essex Museum
East India Square
Salem, MA 01970
http://www.pem.org

If you cannot easily visit this museum, the LDS Family History Center (FHC)
does have a microfilm of some of the original records. I suggest that you
visit your local FHC and order the following roll of microfilm: # 0877465.
I have copied the information contained on this roll from the Family History
Library Catalogue that can be found at http://www.familysearch.org/. To get
to the Family History Library Catalogue, click on "Browse Categories" from
the menu on the left of the screen. Scroll down until you get to the link
for the Family History Library Catalogue.

Film or fiche number:
877465

Film/fiche search results:

Item 1, Court Records 1648-1681, Massachusetts. County Court (Norfolk
County): Microfilm of original records in the Essex County Courthouse, Salem,
Massachusetts. Court records, v. 1-2, 1648-1681, have special title: Records
of the County Court of the County of Norfolk, Salisbury and Hampton Court.
Old Norfolk County (1643-1680) contained the towns of Haverhill, Salisbury,
Hampton, Exeter, Dover and Portsmouth. Haverhill and Salisbury became part of
Essex County in 1680. The other towns became part of New Hampshire.

Item 2, Witchcraft papers 1655-1750, Massachusetts. Court of Assistants:
Microfilm of original records in the Essex County courthouse, Salem,
Massachusetts. Contains cases of persons accused of witchcraft. Contains also
records of the Court of Assistants, 1673-1692, and the Superior Court of
Judicature, 1692-1695.

Item 3, Court records 1638-1692, Massachusetts. County Court (Essex County):
Microfilm of original records in the Essex County courthouse, Salem,
Massachusetts. Additional indexes are found at the beginning of some
volumes.

Item 4, Massachusetts. County Court (Essex County): Records of births,
marriages, and deaths, 1636-1795. Microfilm of original records in the Essex
County Courthouse, Salem, Massachusetts. Births, marriages, and deaths were
recorded by the County Court until 1692, and by the Court of General Sessions
of the Peace thereafter. Indexes are included at the beginning of some
volumes

Items 5-6, Court records 1686-1726, Massachusetts. Inferior Court of Common
Pleas (Essex County): Microfilm of original records in the Essex County
Courthouse, Salem, Massachusetts

I did peruse this film some time ago, and I am pretty sure that I saw some
documents pertaining to Rebecca Nurse.

You may have to be patient if you try to access the Family History Library
Catalogue. This site is still a work in progress. After obtaining the
information above, I was unable to access the catalogue because it was "under
construction." Good luck with your search. :~)

Kathy Smith
Ventura, CA
Descended from Susanna Martin, Mary Bradbury, and John Proctor

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