Charles County Court Proceedings, 1658-1662. Liber A. Pages 69-70. At A Court held in Charleses Countie the 14th of Nouember Ao1659...

Thomas MICHEL [MITCHELL] desiereth, that Mr Thomas LOMAX and Elisabeth ATWICKS might haue thear oaths giuen them concerning the abusful reproaches offered unto his wife by Mis HATCHE

Thomas LOMAX Sworne & examined in open Court sayeth, that goodie MICHEL asking Mis HATCHE how She did Mis HATCHE replied that she thaught she had bewitched her face whearupon goodie 138 Michell asked her if She wear in earnest or no, and She replied Shee was for shee enduered abundance of Miserie by the soarnes of her mouth and did verilie beleeue that shee was bewitched whearupon thear ware divers other circumstances past betweene the too parties which this deponant can not at presant call to rememberance onlie goodie MICHELL tould her She woold Arest her to the Court about it, and Mis HATHCE Replied that she thanght she durst not but if she durst she woold endeauor to make it appear so or els she woold acknowledge she had wronged her in open Court & bee liable to their censnir & further this deponant at presant remembereth not

Elisabeth ATWICKS sworne and examined in open Court sayeth that goodie MICHEL Asking Mis HATCHE how she did Mis HATCHE replied that She thaught the sayd goodie MICHEL had bewitched her face whearupon the sayd goodie MICHEL asked Mis HATCH wheather she wear in earnest or no & the sayd Mis HATCH replied she did verilie thinck she the sayd MICHEL had bewitched her this is all to the best of this deponants rememberance at this time onlie thear ware divers other circumstances past which this deponant at presant cannant Remember

(Archives of Maryland, Vol. 53, pages 54-5.)


    


10 Oct 1665. Provincial Court Proceedings, 1665. Page 64. Att a Prouinciall Court held att St Maries on Twesday the Tenth day of Octobr 1665

The Court being mett & Oyes proclaymed, The Grand Jury of Enquest called (Vizt)

foreman
  Richard SMYTH          ffrancis CARPENTER     John BOWLES
Robert BLINKHORNE        Michael BAYSEY         Thomas SMOOTE
William EUANS            Henry TRIPP            George MACALL
Arthure LUDFORD          Thomas INNIS           James WALKER
George COLLINS           Peter MILLS            Thomas THOROWGOOD
James VEITCH             Robert HENLY           John CAGE

Who being all sworne The Chancelor deliuered their Charge; As Concerning witchcraft, Burglary, felony, murther, & other Trespases where a Penalty or ffine is imposed by the Law of the Prouince. (Archives of Maryland, Vol. 49, page 476.)


    


NOTES

Unquestionably the wife of John Hatch, one of Governor Fen dali’s Council, had brought abuseful reproaches upon Joan, his wife, in having declared that Goodie Mitchell had bewitched her face so that “shee endureth abundance of Misery by the soarness of her mouth ...” and two depositions were filed attesting to the fact that Mrs. Hatch had spread such evil reports. The matter seems to have been dropped, however, until nearly two years later when at the September 24, 1661, at court, Joan Mitchell, now a widow, brought suits for defamation against four prominent residents of Charles County, including Francis. Doughtie, the minister, for having “raysed schandalous reports of mee . . . that I salluted a woman at church and her teeth fell a Acking as if shee had been mad.” It was also testified that Mrs. Long, one of the others sued for defamation, had said that “the hene and Chickens that she had of Goodie Mitchell ... did die in such a strang manner that she thaught sum old witch or other had bewitched them” (pp. 54-55, 139, 142, 144-145, 155, 156).