Abigail Faulkner

Not the same as wife of Francis Faulkner

Family

ABIGAIL DANE October 12, 1675 in Andover , Essex County , Massachusetts , daughter of FRANCIS DANE and ELIZABETH INGALLS. She was born October 13, 1652 in Andover , Essex County , Massachusetts , and died February 05, 1729/30 in Andover , Essex County , Massachusetts .

She married LIEUT. FRANCIS2 FAULKNER (EDMUND1) was born May 1651 in Andover , Essex County , Massachusetts , and died September 19, 1732 in Andover , Essex County , Massachusetts

Children of FRANCIS FAULKNER and ABIGAIL DANE are:

• i. ELIZABETH3 FAULKNER, b. July 04, 1676, Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts; d. July 11, 1735, Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; m. JOHN BUTRICK.
• ii. DOROTHY FAULKNER, b. February 18, 1679/80, Andover , Essex , Massachusetts ; d. Aft. 1740; m. SAMUEL NOURSE, JR., November 25, 1708, Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts; b. January 07, 1677/78, Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts; d. April 15, 1740, Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts.
• iii. ABIGAIL FAULKNER, b. August 12, 1683, Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts; d. December 26, 1746, Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts; m. THOMAS LAMSON, April 06, 1708, Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts; b. January 03, 1682/83, Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts.
• iv. FRANCES FAULKNER, b. April 19, 1686.
• v. PAUL FAULKNER, b. 1690, Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts; d. January 09, 1750/51, Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts; m. (1) HANNAH SHEFFIELD; m. (2) SARAH LAMSON, 1714; b. 1693; d. December 08, 1715, Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts.
• vi. AMMI RUHAMAH FAULKNER, b. March 20, 1692/93, Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts; d. August 04, 1756, Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; m. HANNAH INGALLS, June 07, 1726, Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts; b. January 02, 1696/97, Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts; d. June 11, 1781, Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

Biography

Individual:

Francis Faulkner II and Abigail Dane of the Salem Witch Trials:

Francis Faulkner was born in May 1, 1651 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts, the first of four children of Edmund and Dorothy Faulkner. The household also included a son of Dorothy's from an earlier marriage. Abigail Dane was born October 13, 1652, also in Andover. She was one of nine children of Francis and Elizabeth (Ingalls) Dane. Francis Faulkner and Abigail Dane were married in Andover on October 12, 1675. The couple led a fairly well-to-do life due to generous gifts of land from Francis' father before and shortly after the marriage. Francis received a further sizeable inheritance when his father died in 1687. Meanwhile, the couple had a number of children including two sons and daughters named Elizabeth, Dorothy and Abigail. Various sources provide conflicting information regarding details of the children.

Francis became ill at some point in the late 1680's. Although history shows that he continued to father children, he is reported to have suffered from convulsions, memory loss and impaired understanding. With no adult sons, it fell to Abigail to manage the family estate. In Puritan New England, it was an uncommon situation for a woman of relatively young age to have control of such wealth. This circumstance may well be at the root of the unfortunate events in Abigail's life that would unfold in the next several years. The area's famous witchcraft hysteria broke out in nearby Salem Village in 1692. Although people of the time undoubtedly held some belief in the concept of witchcraft, historians generally suggest that the episode was triggered by the restless imaginations of "afflicted" young girls and that accusations of witchcraft were, on some level, fueled by social and political motives. Frequently, those "cried down" as witches had the unfortunate distinction of differing in some respect from the general populace. Abigail Faulkner, being more financially powerful than many of the men in town, was among those accused of witchcraft when the furor spread to Andover. Also accused were two of her daughters, Dorothy and Abigail, and other relatives. All were arrested and jailed in Salem. Being accused of witchcraft was an impossible situation. The admission of "spectral" evidence into the trials essentially shifted the burden of proof onto the accused who could do little more than profess innocence. Facing death sentences, some of the accused chose to "confess" their guilt, an action that was interpreted as the first vital step to redemption and could spare one's life. Unfortunately, "confessed" witches were expected to name others involved with witchcraft, an action which fed the vicious circle. On Saturday, September 17, 1692, Abigail and eight other adults were brought to trial. Among the "evidence" presented against Abigail was the testimony of her daughters who, overwhelmed by their circumstances and presented with leading questions by their examiners, confessed that both they and their mother were witches. All nine of the accused were convicted within three or four hours and condemned to death. Abigail, pregnant at the time, was granted a reprieve until the birth of her child, but remained imprisoned. While most of the others were hanged five days later, Abigail's reprieve bought her enough time to save her life. Eventually, when reason returned to Salem and the witchcraft hysteria died down, Abigail left prison with her newborn baby in her arms. Being released from prison was merely the first step in recovering from the ordeal. Abigail had been convicted of a crime and sentenced to death; her release merely signified that the sentence was not to be carried out. In the eyes of the law, she was a dead woman. It would take years to fully restore her legal rights and protect the Faulkner estate.

Unlike the nineteen unfortunate souls who refused to confess and were hanged as witches, Francis and Abigail Faulkner lived well beyond the end of the Salem witchcraft trials. They remained in Andover and both died there, she on February 5, 1729/30 and he on September 19, 1732.

Source: Biographical Notes: Francis Faulkner and Abigail Dane http://www.geocities.com/soho/nook/9400/bioffad.html Webpage Author: Paul Krueger Jan 13, 1692, Bond for Dorothy & Abigail Faulkner, Faulkner, Francis & Marble, Joseph Page #95, Image #235-236, Document #104 http://etext.virginia.edu/salem/witchcraft/archives/MA135/79.html Massachusetts Archives, (SC1-45x), Volume 135: Witchcraft Papers, Index 1692-1759 http://etext.virginia.edu/salem/witchcraft/archives/MA135/ September 17 Margaret Scott, Wilmott Redd, Samuel Wardwell, Mary Parker, Abigail Faulkner, Rebecca Eames, Mary Lacy, Ann Foster, and Abigail Hobbs were tried and condemned. Faulkner, Abigail Convicted; Pleaded pregnancy Sources: "The Devil Discovered - Salem Witchcraft 1692" by Enders A. Robinson, Hippocrene Books, 1991 "The Devil in the Shape of a Woman - witchcraft in Colonial New England" by Carol F. Karlsen, Vintage Books, 1987 "The Devil in Massachusetts - A Modern Enquiry into the Salem Witch Trials" by Marion L. Starkey, originally published by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. in 1949

Historical Event: 1692, Salem Witch Trials - tried and condemned as a witch:

"The Jury find Abigail Faulkner, wife of Francis Faulkner of Andover, guilty of ye felony of witchcraft, comited on ye body of Martha Sprague, also on ye body of Sarah Phelps. Sentence of death passed on Abigail Faulkner." There are two indictments of Abigail Faulkner. She was examined August 11, 1692, before Mr. Hathorne, Mr. Corwin and Captain Higginson. This is the substance of Abigail Faulkner's examination as attested by SIMON WILLARD.

On September 17, 1692. Ann Putnam witnessed that she was "afflicted on the ninth day of August." "Also that on the eleventh day of August during the examination she had been grievously tormented by her or her appearance. Also that she had seen her or her appearance grievously afflict Mary Wallace and Sarah Phelps," etc. Sworn to before the Grand Jury. The sentence was delayed in execution through the influence of friends. She was kept in prison thirteen weeks and when released with a general jail delivery was yet legally liable to penalty. In the year 1700 she presented a petition or memorial to the General Court praying for defacing of this record against her, having received a pardon from Governor Phipps. Her petition says. "The pardon so far had its effect that I am as yet suffered to live but this only as a malefactor, convicted upon record of ye most heinous crimes, which besides its utter ruining and defacing my reputation will certainly expose myself to imminent danger of new accusations which will be ye more readily believed and will remain a perpetual brand of infamy upon my family. I do humbly pray that this high and honorable court will plan to take my case into serious consideration and order the defacing of ye record against me so that I may be freed from the evil consequences thereof." Not until eleven years, and after much petitioning was the attainder taken off.

(References: Records of Salem Witchcraft, Vol. 2; History of Andover or Historical Sketches of Andover, Mass.)

children also accused

"Mrs. Abigail Faulkner, daughter of the Rev. Mr. Dane, the senior pastor of the church, who for forty-three years ministered to the people, was accused of being a witch. She was a well educated, beneficient, most estimable and pious woman. Her two little girls, Dorothy (10 years), and Abigail (8 years) were also accused with her of the same terrible crime. They were arrested, and mother and children were taken to Salem and cast into the common jail. When brought before the examiners Mrs. Faulkner was urged to make confession of her crime, confession being received by them as evidence of penitence, served to palliate the offense and modify the sentence. This she modestly but firmly refused to do, but the closing act in the tragic trial of this sorely afflicted woman was the bringing forward of her two little girls as witnesses against their mother. Under the influence of the excitement which they breathed, and the universal opinion of those around them, and the leading questions of the examiners, who seemed to have had no doubt as to the guilt of the accused, they testified that they were themselves witches, made such by their own mother. This worthy woman and loving mother was condemned to death September 17, 1692. She received a reprieve, and after lingering thirteen weeks of intolerable mental and physical suffering in a felon's prison, she was set free, not by a reversal of judgement but by the general jail delivery, brought about by a reaction from the frenzy which for a year had ravaged the country."

From Bailey's "History of Andover", p. 216:

Abigail Faulkner's trial is one of the most noteworthy. ...she was the first who had been condemned in town of those in high social standing."

From Upham's "History of Witchcraft in Salem", Vol. 2, pp. 330-332, 459, 460 and 476-482:

"Sir William Phipps ordered a reprieve, and, after she had been thirteen weeks in prison, he directed her to be discharged on the ground of insufficient evidence. This, I think, is the only instance of a special pardon granted during the proceedings."

"On the 13th of June, 1700, Abigail Faulkner presented a well expressed memorial to the General Court, in which she says that her pardon 'So far had its effect, as that I am suffered to live, but this only as a malfactor convict upon record of the most heinous crimes that mankind can be supposed to be guilty of;' and prays for 'the defacing of the record' against her. She claims that it is no more than an act of simple justice. The House of Representatives voted that 'the prayers of the petitioner be granted.' The Council declined to concur. Several petitions by Francis Faulkner, and others, followed until in 1710 the General Court passed an Act that 'The several convictions, judgements and attainders be, and hereby are, reversed and declared to be null and void.' In simple justice they ought to have extended the Act to all who had suffered; but they confined its effect to those in reference to whom petitions had been presented.

Since the presentation of Abigail Faulkner's petition in 1700, the Legislature, in the popular branch at least, and the Governor, appear to have been inclined to act favorably in the premesis; but some power blocked the way. There is some reason to conjecture that it was the influence of the Home Government. On December 17, 1711, Governor Dudley issued his warrant to pay the sum of 578 Pounds, 12 Shillings to such persons as are living, and to those that legally represent them who are dead; ...In this distribution Abigail Faulkner received 20 Pounds, 'nearly twice as much was allowed for Abigail Faulkner who was pardoned, as for Elizabeth How who was executed.' The sums allowed in some cases were 'shamefully small.'"

Abigail Faulkner, on being sentenced to death, pleaded pregnancy under the Old English Common Law with its writ 'de ventre inspiciendo,' which did not permit the execution of a female felon until after the birth of her child. Her child was born in Andover on March 20, 1693. In thankfulness for her escape, or perhaps to show that she dared to refer to Holy Writ, she named the boy Ammi Rhuammah meaning "Having obtained mercy." See Hosea I; 6,9.

An Act for Reversing the Attainder of Abigail Faulkner & Others passed at the session begun and held at Boston on the 26th day of May, 1703.

"Whereas Abigail Faulkner, Wife of Francis Faulkner of Andover in the County of Essex, Sarah Wardel, Wife of Samuel Wardel of the same place, Elizabeth Proctor, Wife of John Proctor of Salem Village within the said County

--- In the Court of Oyer and Terminer and Goal Delivery holden in Salem within the said County of Essex in the year One Thousand Six Hundred Ninety-Two were arraigned, convicted and attained of Felony for practising Witchcraft who have now humbly petitioned this Court, That said Attainders may be set aside and made void.

--- Wherefore be it Declared and Enacted by his Excellancy the Governor and Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That the said Attainders of the said Abigail Faulkner, Sarah Wardel, Elizabeth Proctor evry one of them be, and are repealed, reversed, made and declared null and void to all intents, constructions and purposes whatsoever; as if no such convictions,

• *********************************************

Francis's daughter Abigail Dane (707) was examined for witchcraft by the court on August 11, 1692. On August 30 she was brought out of jail for more proceedings and sentenced to death as a witch on September 17. Like Rebecca Nourse, she refused to save her life by falsely saying she was a witch. She insisted that God would not require her to confess something for which she was not guilty. Her daughters, 12 year old Dorothy Faulkner (353) and Dorothy's little sister Abigail, were also jailed as witches. After 13 weeks of imprisonment, and many efforts by Rev. Dane and Abigail's husband Francis Faulkner (706), Gov. William Phipps reprieved Abigail, releasing her because of insufficient evidence and her pregnancy. Hers was the only special pardon he issued. But the record still listed her as a convicted, pardoned witch, and on June 13, 1706 she appealed to the General Court for her record to be erased.

Francis Dane's daughter, Abigail (Dane) Faulkner Sr., was convicted and condemned in September 1692, but given a temporary stay of execution because she was pregnant. Although his extended family had the most accused of any other family, in the end, none of his family members were executed.

• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Apr 1 2019, 19:32:40 UTC
• Reference: Full text https://archive.org/details/descendantsofwil00lams/page/32 "Descendants of William Lamson of Ipswich, Mass 1634-1917" by Dr. William Judson Lamson, M.D. 1644. pp 32-38
• Reference: ibid-Full digital text: https://archive.org/stream/descendantsofwil00lams/descendantsofwil0...

♦Abigail (Dane) Faulkner, wife of Lieutenant Francis Faulkner, was the granddaughter of John Dane of Berkhamstead, England, who came to New England before 1641, and died in Roxbury, Mass., in 1658, and the daughter of Rev. Francis and Elizabeth (Ingalls) Dane. She was the first person of high social standing in the town of Andover who was condemned to death for witchcraft. In the State Archives may be seen the record of her sentence: "The Jury find Abigail Faulkner, wife of Francis Faulkner of Andover, guilty of ye felony of witchcraft, comited on ye body of Martha Sprague, also on ye body of Sarah Phelps. Sentence of death passed on Abigail Faulkner."

There are two indictments of Abigail Faulkner. She was examined August II, 1692, before Mr. Hathorne, Mr. Corwin and Captain Higginson. Mr. Higginson said, "You are here apprehended for witchcraft." She answered, "I know nothing of it." Her accusers were mostly young girls. (Ann Putnam, one of them, was only twelve years old at the time and lived to bitterly repent. Some years afterward she made public confession of her sin, begging forgiveness of God and all who had suffered from her accusations.) Upon her (Abigail's) entrance, some of those who were present fell down in fitts ; her attention being called to it, she said, "Yes, but it is the devil does it in my shape." . . . She was urged to confess, but replied, "God would not have her confess that yt she was not guilty of." She had a cloth in her hand and when she squeezed it caused the afflicted to fall "into grievous fitts" at which she said, "She was sorry they were afflicted," but was told and it was observed that she did not shed a tear. "Mary Warin was pulled under the table and was helped out of her fitt by a touch of said Faulkner." She said she had "looked on some of those afflicted when they came to Andover and hurt them not," but was told it was before she began to afflict them.

On August 30, 1692, she again denied witchcraft before the justices. She owned, however, that she "was angry at what folks said when her cousin, Elizabeth Johnson, was taken up." Folks had laughed and said her sister Johnson would come out next and she did look with an evil eye on ye afflicted persons consenting that they should be afflicted because they were the cause of bringing her kindred out and she did wish them ill, that, her spirit being roused, she did pinch her hands together. She knew not but that the devil might take advantage, but it was the devil, not she, that afflicted them."

This is the substance of Abigail Faulkner's examination as attested by

Simon Willard.

On September 17, 1692, Ann Putnam witnessed that she was "afflicted on the ninth day of August." "Also that on the eleventh day of August during the examination she had been grievously tormented by her or her appearance. Also that she had seen her or her appearance grievously afflict Mary Wallace and Sarah Phelps," etc.

Sworn to before the Grand Jury.

The sentence was delayed in execution through the influence of friends. She was kept in prison thirteen weeks and when released with a general jail delivery was yet legally liable to penalty.

In the year 1700 she presented a petition or memorial to the General Court praying for defacing of this record against her. having received a pardon from Governor Phipps. Her petition says, "The pardon so far had its effect that I am as yet suffered to live but this only as a malefactor, convicted upon record of ye most heinous crimes, which besides its utter ruining and defacing my reputation will certainly expose myself to imminent danger of new accusations which will be ye more readily believed and will remain a perpetual brand of infamy upon my family. I do humbly pray that this high and honorable court will plan to take my case into serious consideration and order the defacing of ye record against me so that I may be freed from the evil consequences thereof." Not until eleven years, and after much petitioning was the attainder taken off. (References: Records of Salem Witchcraft, Vol. 2; History of Andover or Historical Sketches of Andover, Mass.)

Abigail Faulkner, daughter of the above, wife of Thomas Lamson, when a mere child of eight years of age. was brought before the Alagistrates of Salem in the craze of 1692, accused of witchcraft and made to testify that her mother had made her a witch, thereby assisting in that mother's condemnation.

Lieutenant Francis Faulkner was the son of "Mr." Edmund Faulkner, who came to America from Kingscleare, Southampton County, England, and was married in Salem, Mass., Feb. 4, 1657/8, by Mr. John Winthrop, to Dorothy Robinson, the marriage being the first on record of an Andover citizen. He was one of the ten Freeholders required by law to organize the Church there Oct. 24, 1645. He, with Mr. Woodhridge, the first pastor, negotiated the purchase of the Plantation from the Indians. He was one of the few honored with the title of "Mr." In a surprise by Indians, April 18, 1676, "at Edmund Faulkner's they wreaked their vengeance on dumb animals, — they knocked off the horns of a cow, cut out her tongue, and so left her in great misery. They put an horse, an ox and cow into a hovel and then set it on fire."

A journey two hundred years ago from one town to another was made slowly and with many liabilities of delays from Indians, wild beasts, bad roads (if there were any at all), swollen streams, or dangers of being lost in storms or misled by imperfect landmarks of trees, stakes, and stones. "Entertainment for man and beast" was a frequent necessity in these wearisome journeys. The first man in a town frequently took in travelers as a courtesy; thus it often occurred that the Inn-Holder was one of the principal citizens. He was often also a "Vintnor." As the sale of liquor or strong drink to Indians made much trouble, the Court ordered that only the most trustworthy men should he licensed. The first on record to whom this license was granted in Andover was Mr. Edmund Faulkner in 1648. The Inns were frequently the resort for marriage, being the largest houses in the town.

Lieutenant Francis Faulkner's son, Francis, was the Colonel Francis Faulkner who led the Company to the fight at Concord Bridge in 1775. He also commanded the regiment that guarded General Burgoyne's army when prisoners of war.