| 词条 | Mary (Bliss) Parsons |
| 释义 |
Mary Bliss Parsons (1628-1712) was an American woman who was accused of witchcraft, but was exonerated, in 17th-century Massachusetts. BackgroundParsons was born to Thomas and Margaret (Hulins) Bliss in Gloucestershire, England in 1628. Her family later immigrated to Hartford, Connecticut, where she married Joseph Parsons on November 2, 1646. The couple later moved to Springfield, Massachusetts. In 1655, Joseph Parsons purchased a land tract from the local Native Americans in what would become Northampton. The Parsons became financially successful members of the Northampton community, owning property in Springfield, Hadley, Massachusetts and Boston as well as in Northampton. The FeudIn the early 1650s a feud developed between the Parsons and a neighboring family, the Bridgmans. Parsons was said to have a strong personality, which had led to rumors following her from Springfield. Unllike the Parsons, the Bridgmans were struggling financially. In addition, Mary Parsons had several healthy children while Sarah Bridgman had lost several children. People in the town started blaming Parsons for the death of livestock and injuries to people.[1] Bridgman began to spread rumours that about Parsons, claiming that she had threatened her son[2] and that she was a witch.[3] When Parson's mother confronted Bridgman, she claimed to have heard a story that Parsons had cursed a blind man’s daughter in Springfield, causing the girl to have fits.[4] The Slander TrialIn 1656 Joseph Parsons filed slander charges against Sarah Bridgman on behalf of his wife[5] in the trial Parsons v. Bridgman. He charged that Bridgman had spread rumors about Parsons, insinuating that she was a witch. Testimony from Bridgman and witness made it clear that rumours had been circulating, fueled by jealousy and resentment of the Parson family's success.[6] Mary Parson’s mother, Margaret Bliss, testified that Bridgman told her that Parsons was a witch.[7] The court ruled in favor of Parsons. Bridgman was ordered to make a public apology and pay a fine and court costs. The Witchcraft TrialIn 1674, Bridgman charged Parsons with witchcraft. After her slander lawsuit, the rumors in Northampton about Parsons being a witch had subsided. However, the sudden death of Sarah Bridgman’s daughter, Mary Bartlett in July 1674 prompted her mother to formally accuse Parsons of witchcraft. In September 1675, the local magistrates ordered a search of Parsons’ body for "Witches' marks". It is not known if any marks were found. The magistrates then decided to send her to Boston for trial at the Court of Assistants. After a trial, the court in Boston acquitted Parsons of witchcraft. AftermathDespite Parson's acquittal in Boston, the witchcraft rumors persisted in Northampton. In 1679 or 1680, the Parsons family moved back to Springfield. [8] However, the rumors followed the Parsons family back to Springfield. In 1702, someone told Parson's grandson that his grandmother was a witch. Mary Parsons lived for 30 years after her husband died in 1683. She was forced to face witchcraft rumors for the remainder of her life. Parsons died in Springfield at age 84 January 29, 1712. Children
References1. ^Parsons Witchcraft Trial Mock Up Site; University of Massachusetts http://ccbit.cs.umass.edu/parsons/hnmockup/witchcrafttrial.html {{DEFAULTSORT:Parsons, Mary}}2. ^Parsons, Henry. Parsons family; descendants of Cornet Joseph Parsons, Springfield, 1636--Northampton, 1655 b. 1835 Published 1912; https://archive.org/details/parsonsfamilyde00parsgoog 3. ^James Russell Trumbull, Seth Pomeroy. History of Northampton, Massachusetts: From Its Settlement in 1654, Volume 1 ; https://books.google.com/books?id=GNo_AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA42 4. ^James Russell Trumbull, Seth Pomeroy. History of Northampton, Massachusetts: From Its Settlement in 1654, Volume 1 ; https://books.google.com/books?id=GNo_AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA42 5. ^A Short Chronological Biography of Cornet Joseph Parsons; http://members.frys.com/~parsons/bio.html 6. ^. James Russell Trumbull , Seth Pomeroy. History of Northampton, Massachusetts: From Its Settlement in 1654, Volume 1 ; ,https://books.google.com/books?id=GNo_AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA42&lpg=PA42&dq=sarah+bridgman+witchcraft+slander+trial&source=bl&ots=UQhN0zTU08&sig=pnDAczK4od1qCJsa-iPdSvsRWfE&hl=en&sa=X&ei=jUxSVbu-HcraoASI0YCQDw&ved=0CCcQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=sarah%20bridgman%20witchcraft%20slander%20trial&f=false 7. ^Parsons Witchcraft Trial Mock Up Site; University of Massachusetts http://ccbit.cs.umass.edu/parsons/hnmockup/witchcrafttrial.html 8. ^History of Northampton, Massachusetts: From Its Settlement in 1654, Volume 1 By James Russell Trumbull, Seth Pomeroy; https://books.google.com/books?id=GNo_AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA42&lpg=PA42&dq=sarah+bridgman+witchcraft+slander+trial&source=bl&ots=UQhN0zTU08&sig=pnDAczK4od1qCJsa-iPdSvsRWfE&hl=en&sa=X&ei=jUxSVbu-HcraoASI0YCQDw&ved=0CCcQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=sarah%20bridgman%20witchcraft%20slander%20trial&f=false 9. ^Parsons Family Association Website; http://www.parsonsfamilyassn.org/Parsons-Families.html 4 : 17th-century American women|17th-century English people|18th-century American women|People acquitted of witchcraft |
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