Manuscript document. Signed by Nathaniel Cary (Nathl Cary), as Justice of the Peace. [Charlestown, Massachusetts], 30 June 1721. 1 page, approx. 15 3/16 x 13 2/8 in. Handsomely presented in a modern wood frame. 

A rare colonial document bearing the signature of Justice of the Peace Nathaniel Cary (1645-1722), who is best remembered for his dramatic rescue of his wife, Elizabeth, who had been accused of being a witch during the infamous Salem Witch Trials. 

The present legal document records that Joseph Lynde (b. 1645) names his grandson, who bears the same name, as his heir, granting to him, "my house that I dwell in and all other the housings, Orchards, gardens, ...and land I bought of my Brother Samuel's wife" and additional parcels of land. 

At the height of the Salem Witch Trials craze, Elizabeth Cary was accused of witchcraft in early May 1692, in a complaint sworn against her by Thomas Putnam and Benjamin Hutchinson of Salem Village. The men claimed she was guilty of afflicting Mary Walcott, Abigail Williams, and Mercy Lewis.

Elizabeth was subjected to a trial in front of the so-called "affliected." Nathaniel recalled the ordeal: "being brought before the Justices, her chief accusers were two Girls; my Wife declared to the Justices, that she never had any knowledge of them before that day; she was forced to stand with her Arms stretched out. I did request that I might hold one of her hands, but it was denied me; then she desired me to wipe the Tears from her Eyes, and the Sweat from her Face, which I did; then she desired she might lean her self on me, saying, she should faint. Justice Hathorn replied, she had strength enough to torment those persons, and she should have strength enough to stand. I speaking something against their cruel proceedings, they commanded me to be silent, or else I should be turned out of the Room."

Afterwards, she was imprisoned in Boston for two months, but Nathaniel obtained a writ of habeas corpus to remove her to Cambridge Prison, which was in their home county of Middlesex. Once there, however, she was bound in heavy leg irons, causing her much suffering and develop "convulsion fits."

Nathaniel correctly perceived the deadly nature of the trials, and his fear for his wife grew. Knowing that he must prevent her from being taken to Salem at all costs, he attempted to have her trial in Middlesex County. When that was prevented, he resorted to planning her escape. He gave his life savings to the jailer and the two fled first to Rhode Island, and then to New York. They finally returned to Charlestown after the witch frenzy had concluded. 

This document bears the signature of Cary, who would die the next year of smallpox. A rare item related to the survivors of the Salem Witch Trials. 

References

"SWP No. 029: Elizabeth Cary." Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project. 

Robert Calef. More Wonders of the Invisible World. London, 1700, pp. 95-98. 

Eve LaPalnte. The Life and Repentance of Samuel Sewall. New York: HarperOne, 2007, pp. 177-178

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