24. Testimony of Giles Corey v. Martha Corey

The evidence of Giles Corey [who] testifies and says that last Saturday, in the evening, sitting by the fire, my wife asked me to go to bed. I told [her] I would go to pray, and when I went to prayer, I could not utter my desires with any sense, not open my mouth to speak.

2 My wife did perceive it and came towards me, and said she was coming to me. After this, in a little space, I did according to my measure, attend the duty.

Sometime last week, I fetched an ox well out of the woods, and he, laying down in the yard, I went to raise him to yoke him, but he could not rise, but dragged his hinder parts as if he had been hipshot, but after did rise.

I had a cat sometimes last week strangely taken of the sudden, and did make me think she would have died presently. My wife bid me knock her in the head, but I did not, and since, she is well.

Another time going to duties, I was interrupted for a space, but afterward I was helped according to my poor measure.

My wife has been wont to sit up after I went to bed, and I have perceived her to kneel down on the hearth, as if she were at prayer, but [I] heard nothing.

At the examination of Sarah Good and others my wife was willing

March 24th 1692

[Reverse]

John

Essex County Court Archives, vol. 1, no. 43, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Judicial Archives, on deposit James Duncan Phillips Library, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA.
Modernized transcription by Margo Burns, 3/10/13: Editorial Principles


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