MAYBE Relatives - John and Joane Carrington - Witch Trials

We are discussing the family of Lucius' Carrington's mother, Mary Montgomery Bartholomew Carrington. Even though the subjects have the name of "Carrington", there is no evidence of how John and Joane Carrington is related to that family. In fact there are many questions about how this couple is part of the Bartholomew family. I find the story fascinating, and perhaps someday, more information will be available. At this point, I'll assume that John Carrington is my 9th ggrandfather on the Bartholomew side.

I'll start with Rita Bryant's offering for RootsWeb.com. Subject: Connecticut Witch Trials. From an article titled "When CT Hanged Witches". Oh, do I have your interest now?

"It is difficult to find family records of people hung for witchcraft and it seems like some of the records have been concealed. In all, 33 persons are known to have been accused of witchcraft during the later half of the 17th century when the witchcraft delusion swept CT, 11 of these believed to have been executed.

John Carrington, a Wethersfield carpenter, and his (second) wife, Joan, were convicted of 'familiarity with Satan and works above the course of Nature' and were hanged at Hartford in 1651. John settled in Wethersfield prior to 1643 and his homestead was on the east side of Sandy Lane, just south of Thomas Standish. It is likely that Carrington was of a somewhat lawless nature, for in March 1648 he was fined 10 pounds for bartering a gun with an Indian.

Indictment: "John Carrington, thou art indicted by the name of John Carrington of Wethersfield, carpenter, that not having the fear of God before thine eyes thou hast Intertained familiarity with Satan, the great enemy of God and Mankind; and by his helps has done works above the course of nature for (?) both according to the laws of God and the established laws of this common wealth thou deservest to Dye. The Jury finds this Inditem against John Carrington the 6th of March 1650-1. The same court, time, and place, found an Indictment also against Joanne Carrington, wife of John Carrington, with the same verdict.: March 1652 Court Record.

There was pesented to this court and inventory of John Carrington's estate which is ordered to be filed but not recorded. The estate presented being 23 pounds, and the debts specified therein owing by the estate is summed up to 13 pounds." From History of Wethersfield

The execution of Carrington and his wife was the second known execution for witchcraft in New England. They were indicted at a court held Feb. 20, 1651, Gov. John Haynes and Edward Hopkins being present among other magistrates. They were found guilty on March 6, 1651. Both were executed.

Note: This was more than 40 years before the Salem, MA witchcraft.