Proctor Family in the
Salem Witch Hunt of 1692

I live at Mr. Downing's farm which is in the common roadway, which occasioneth several travels to call in for some refreshment as they pass along and finding it like to be very chargable in case I should continue to accomodate such upon free cost, do therefore earnestly request you that you would be pleased to grant me liberty to set up a house of entertainment to sell beer, cider, liquors," etc. He was granted the license but could only entertain stangers, not the local townspeople.

His wife and older children managed the tavern, while he and his oldest son, Benjamin, managed the rest of his properties. [DD]

John Proctor was the first male accused. 185 people were accused and arrested for witchcraft. The first 26 trials ended in convictions and sentences of death but only 19 executions (14 women & 5 men plus Giles Cory who was pressed to death because he refused to enter his plea) were carried out. At this point the Governor suspended the executions and established a new courtroom procedure for the remaining trials. The next 33 trials ended with not guilty verdicts and the Governor finally put an end to the trials, released the remaining prisoners, pardoned those who were awaiting execution, and gave amnesty to those who had fled before they could be arrested. [DIM]

In 1692 there were 5 children [in the home of John Proctor], 3 old enough "to speak their mind", the youngest where age 3 and 7. His wife Elizabeth was pregnant with another child, which saved her from hanging. Even before he was convicted, the sheriff confiscated all of his property, leaving his children without parents or possessions. The farm was leased, so the sheriff couldn't take that. Appearantly his eldest son, Benjamin, raised the younger children. [DIM]

Our Samuel was seven when his father was executed at Salem. He may have lived with relatives in Ipswitch until his mother & older siblings were released from prison. After which, the family appears to have lived with the oldest brother, Benjamin, who was settled at Lynn by 1694. Samuel had many neighbors and relatives at Lynn & Salem whose families had been at Casco Bay before 1690. He surely grew up listening to their tales of Indian raids & the lawless Maine frontier. [NL]

• PROCTOR, Elizabeth (Bassett)
• 4 Apr 1692 she was accused of witchcraft on complaint #6
• 11 Apr 1692 she was examined
• 5 Aug 1692 she was tried, convicted, and condemed to death
• Jan 1693 she was pardoned by the Governor
• PROCTOR, John
• 11 Apr 1692 he was accused of witchcraft on complaint #7 during the examination of his wife
• 5 Aug 1692 he was tried, convicted, and condemed to death
• 19 Aug 1692 he was hung by the neck until dead
• PROCTOR, Benjamin (only son of John by his 1st wife)
• 23 May 1692 he was accused of witchcraft on complaint #21
• PROCTOR, William (oldest son of John & Elizabeth)
• 28 May 1692 he was accused of witchcraft
• PROCTOR, Sarah (oldest daughter of John & Elizabeth)
• 23 May 1692 she was accused of witchcraft on complaint #20
• BASSETT, Elizabeth (mother of Elizabeth Proctor)
• DE RICH, Mary (Bassett), (sister of Elizabeth Proctor)
• 23 May 1692 she was accused of witchcraft in complaint #21
• BASSETT, Sarah (Hood), (sister-in-law of Elizabeth Proctor)
• PROCTOR, Elizabeth (Hutchinson/Hart), (sister-in-law of John Proctor)
• BUCKLEY, Mary (later the wife of Benj. Proctor)
• 14 May 1692 she was accused of witchcraft on complaint #17 along with her mother
• LILLY, Jane (mother-in-law of Elizabeth Proctor's sister)