The Margaret Jones Case

  • Witchcraft
  • 2 mins

By Crusader1307

 Margaret Jones.....a 17th Century Colonial American Midwife or Witch? Jones would have the dubious ''honor'' of being recorded as the first Person in The New World to be executed as a Witch. The punishment was carried out in The Township of Boston and would perhaps serve as the ''starting point'' for the hysteria known as The Salem Witch Trials. Jones practiced as a Midwife, which was not seen as an ''evil''. But as a woman in the 17th Century, One who had skill and made money from it, was viewed often with disdain. Much of this was associated with the rigid Puritanism religious system which was the dominant form of both Worship and Social norm. Jones was also said to have ''great skills'' with Herbal Medicine and cures. This was no doubt seen as a threat by ''trained'' Physicians.

Charges were leveled against Jones in 1648, by several leading Citizens. Brought before Colonial Governor John Winthorp, no records remain of specific evidence, only hearsay and rumor. Some of those surviving documents of The Case state that Jones used ''Witchcraft and Magics gifted to Her by Satan to create Spells and Potions'' of which She ''gave out to certain persons''. Further, these ''potions did not cure but drove to unnatural acts by those who consumed them''. Winthrop was ''guided in His Judgments'' by the infamous book by Matthew Hopkins – which as we have discussed earlier was England's ''Witchfinder General''. The information was helpful and within one day of being brought before Him, Jones was tried and executed. Her method of punishment.....''Death by Hanging''.

In a side note, Jones too had a Husband. He had been imprisoned as a possible accomplice. After Her death, He was exiled back to England. On the voyage back, The Ship's Captain – upon learning just ''who'' is passenger was, began to harass Him. Some saw that Jones's Husband ''cursed'' The Captain and His Ship. Not long after this, a severe storm developed and threatened to sink the vessel. It was only after the Captain put Jones's Husband ''in Irons'' and ''threatened to throw Him overboard'' did the storm mysteriously stop. It is possible that The Captain made good on His threat, for when the Ship reached England, Jones's Husband was NOT aboard.