1 Revised 102018 LPC LICENSURE PROCESS HANDBOOK .docx

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Revised: 10/2018
LPC LICENSURE
PROCESS
HANDBOOK
VIRGINIA BOARD OF COUNSELING
The DHP mission is to ensure safe and competent patient care
by licensing health professionals,
enforcing standards of practice, and providing information to
health care practitioners
and the public.
PERIMETER CENTER
9960 MAYLAND DRIVE
SUITE 300
HENRICO, VA 23233-1463
T E L: (8 0 4) 3 6 7 – 4 6 1 0
F A X: (8 0 4) 7 6 7 – 6 2 2 5

NOTE: The information contained in this handbook is subject to
change at any time.
All current information can be found at
http://www.dhp.virginia.gov/counseling/
http://www.dhp.virginia.gov/counseling/
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR LICENSURE
PROCESS
LCP LICENSURE BY EXAMINATION
REQUIREMENTS……………………………………………………
…………………………………………...…...3
Step 1: EDUCATION
REQUIREMENTS……………………………………………………
……………...3
Step 2: APPLYING FOR AND GAINING SUPERVISED
RESIDENCY APPROVAL………………...…5
• Finding a
Supervisor……………………………………………………………
……………...5
• Supervisor
Requirements…………………………………………………………
……………5

• Gaining Board Approval for Residency (Registration of
Supervision) ……………………….6
• After You Application Has Been
Received……………………………………………………7
• Adding or Changing Registration of
Supervision……………………………………………...7
• Termination of
Supervision……………………………………………………………
………8
Step 3: COMPLETE THE SUPERVISED RESIDENCY
REQUIREMENTS……………………………....8
• Residency
Requirements…………………………………………………………
…………….8
• Out of State
Supervision……………………………………………………………
………….9
Step 4: SUMBIT APPLICATION FOR LICENSURE BY
EXAMINATION………………………………9
Step 5: TAKE AND PASS THE
EXAMINATION……………………………………………………
…….9
• Special Examination
Accommodations……………………………………………………..
..10
ENDORSEMENT LICENSURE
PROCESS……………………………………………………………
…………10
PREREQUISITES FOR APPLYING FOR LPC LICENSURE BY
ENDORSEMENT….………………………....10
APPLYING FOR LPC BY
ENDORSEMENT……………………………………………………

………………....11
Please read and become familiar with the Regulations
Governing the Practice of Professional Counseling
prior to submitting your application.
The board primarily communicates through email.
Please ensure that you add the board’s email address
([email protected]) to your safe recipient list
to ensure that you receive all email communication from board
staff.
http://www.dhp.virginia.gov/counseling/leg/LPC_03092017.doc
x
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Revised: 10/2018
LPC SUPERVISION AND EXAMINATION
LICENSURE PROCESS
You must hold the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
credential in order to practice professional
counseling in the Commonwealth of Virginia. There are two
avenues to obtain this credential:

1. Licensure by Endorsement
a. This process may be applicable to those who have held or
hold an independent,
equivalent professional counseling license in another
jurisdiction.
2. Licensure by Examination
a. This application process is for those who have never held a
professional counseling
license.
A DETAILED LOOK AT HOW TO BECOME LICENSED AS A
LPC IN VIRGINIA:
From start to finish, the process of becoming a LPC in Virginia
takes years to complete. Several forms
that you will need to complete and submit for consideration are
available on the Virginia Board of
Counseling website (www.dhp.virginia.gov/counseling). The
information provided in this document can
be a valuable tool to use throughout the process.
LPC LICENSURE BY EXAMINATION
ANY PERSON PURSUING A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL
COUNSELOR (LPC) BY EXAMINATION WILL NEED TO
COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING STEPS:
STEP 1. Complete the education requirements.
STEP 2. Apply for Initial Supervised Residency (Registration
of Supervision) and receive
Supervision Approval prior to obtaining supervised residency
experience in Virginia.
STEP 3. Complete supervised residency experience
requirements.
STEP 4. Apply for LPC Licensure by Examination.

STEP 5. Take and pass the NCMHCE examination.
STEP 6. Receive LPC License.
STEP 1: EDUCATION
To become a LPC in Virginia, your degree must be either
CACREP or CORE accredited or be a graduate
degree from a program that prepares individuals to practice
counseling, as defined in §54.1-3500 of the
Code of Virginia, which is offered by a college or university
accredited by a regional accrediting agency
and which meets the following criteria:
1. Academic study with the expressed intent to prepare
counselors;
2. Identifiable counselor training faculty (licensed LPC faculty)
with an identifiable body of
students; and,
3. Have clear authority and primary responsibility for the core
and specialty area.
Foreign Degrees:
The Board currently does not have the authority to approve
foreign degrees that are not offered by a
regionally accredited college or university. "Regional
accrediting agency" means one of the regional
accreditation agencies recognized by the U.S. Secretary of
Education responsible for accrediting senior
postsecondary institutions.
http://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Forms/counseling/LPC/Initial_ROS
.pdf
http://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Forms/counseling/LPC/LPC_Exam.
pdf

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Additionally, the regulations require you to complete 60
graduate semester hours or 90 graduate
quarter hours that must include the following 13 core content
areas:
1. Professional counseling identity, function and ethics -This
course provides a foundation in
professional counselor identity and ethical practice, including
the study of the history and philosophy of
the counseling profession, professional counselor function and
credentialing and ethical standards for
practice in the counseling profession.
2. Theories of counseling & psychotherapy - This course
provides an overview of the basic tenets
and applications of currently preferred theories of counseling
and psychotherapy including the study of
humanistic, cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic and post-
modern theoretical orientations. 3.
Counseling & psychotherapy techniques - This course provides
a didactic and experiential
overview of basic techniques used in the counseling process
including establishing the counseling
relationship, setting treatment goals, applying listening and
interviewing skills, initiating termination and
referral, and recognizing parameters and limitations of the
treatment process.
4. Human growth & development - This course provides an
overview of contemporary theoretical
perspectives regarding the nature of developmental needs and

tasks from infancy through late
adulthood, the influences of development on mental health and
dysfunction and the promotion of
healthy development across human life span.
5. Group counseling and psychotherapy, theories and
techniques - This course provides a didactic
and experiential overview of group counseling process and
dynamics, contemporary group counseling
theories, and group counseling leadership skills including group
selection, group formation, group
interventions and group evaluation.
6. Career counseling and development theories and techniques -
This course provides an
overview of career development and counseling including study
of factors influencing career
development, contemporary theories of career decision-making,
career assessment and group and
individual career counseling techniques.
7. Appraisal, evaluation & diagnostic procedures - This course
introduces students to the
selection, administration; scoring and interpretation of
contemporary psychological assessments used
by professional counselors and includes the study of formal and
information assessment procedures,
basic test statistics, test validity and reliability, and the use of
test findings in the counseling process.
8. Abnormal behavior and psychopathology - This course
provides students with an overview of
the major categories of mental disorders including study of their
etiology and progression, their
prevalence and impact on individuals and society, their
diagnosis according the DSM-V and the use of

diagnosis in treatment planning and counseling intervention.
9. Multicultural counseling, theories and techniques - This
course provides students with an
overview of the diverse social and cultural contexts that
influence counseling relationships (e.g., culture,
race, ethnicity, age, gender, SES, sexual orientation) including
the study of current issues and trends in a
multicultural society, contemporary theories of multicultural
counseling, the impact of oppression and
privilege on individuals and groups and personal awareness of
cultural assumptions and biases.
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10. Research - This course provides students with an overview
of the principles and processes of
performing counseling research including the study of
quantitative and qualitative research designs and
methods, methods of statistical analysis used in research, and
reading and interpreting research results.
11. Diagnosis and treatment of addictive disorders - This
course provides students with an
overview of addictive disorders including the study of
contemporary theories of addictive behavior,
pharmacological classification of addictive substances,
assessment of addictive disorders and currently
preferred models of addictions treatment.
12. Marriage and family systems theory - This course provides
students with an overview of

counseling with couples and families include the study of the
rationale for family therapy intervention,
the dynamics of general systems theory, the states of family
life-cycle development, and contemporary
theories of family therapy intervention.
13. Supervised internship of at least 600 hours to include 240
hours of face-to-face direct client
contact.
All coursework must be a minimum of 3 semester hours or 4.0
quarter hours. One course may count
for one content area only.
All coursework reviews are based on the regulations in effect
for applicants when they begin their first
residency. It is the applicant’s responsibility to stay aware of
regulatory changes that may affect the
results of the review.
The Board does not pre-approve schools, coursework or make
recommendations as to particular
classes or degree programs. The Board will review your
education, degree program, and coursework
as part of the Initial Supervised Residency for LPC
(Registration of Supervision) Application process.
STEP 2: APPLYING FOR AND GAINING SUPERVISED
RESIDENCY APPROVAL
Once you meet the education requirements as outlined above,
you must apply for and gain board
approval of your supervised residency prior to counting hours
toward licensure. Supervised residency
experience in all settings obtained in Virginia, without prior
written board approval, will NOT be
accepted toward licensure. Lost supervision hours due to not

registering a supervisor will not be the
responsibility of the Board. The approval date to begin a
supervised residency approval date reflects the
date the credential reviewer approves the application after
verifying that the application package is
complete and meets all requirements. The application review
process can take up to 30 days once your
application is considered complete. Supervised residency
approval will not be backdated.
Finding a Supervisor
In accordance with §54.1-3505(8), the Board of Counseling has
posted a registry of persons who meet
the requirements for supervision of residents. This list should
only be used as a tool to assist with your
search for a supervisor. Please note that the registry is updated
every quarter, and license statuses may
change between updates. It is your responsibility to ensure that
the supervisor has an active,
unrestricted license. However, if your proposed supervisor is
not on the list, the proposed supervisor
may still be approved if he/she meets the requirements to be a
supervisor as outlined below.
Supervisor Requirements
A licensee who provides supervision for a resident in
professional counseling shall:
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1. Document two years of post-licensure clinical experience;
2. Have received professional training in supervision, consisting
of three credit hours or 4.0

quarter hours in graduate-level coursework in supervision or at
least 20 hours of continuing
education in supervision offered by a provider approved under
18VAC115-20-106; and
3. Shall hold an active, unrestricted license as a professional
counselor or marriage and family
therapist in the jurisdiction where the supervision is being
provided.
Supervisor Responsibilities
The supervisor of a resident shall assume full responsibility for
the clinical activities of that resident
specified within the supervisory contract for the duration of the
residency. The supervisor shall
complete evaluation forms to be given to the resident at the end
of each 3-month period. These
evaluation forms are available on the Board website. It is
advisable that both the supervisor and the
resident keep copies of these evaluations. Additionally, on the
verification of clinical supervision form,
the supervisor must report the total hours of residency and must
evaluate the resident’s competency in
the six required competency areas. The resident should hold
both forms until the resident completes
the residency requirements and applies to sit for the
examination. Supervision by any individual whose
relationship to the resident compromises the objectivity of the
supervisor is prohibited. If supervision
terminates, the supervisor or the resident should submit a
Termination of Supervision form (available on
the Board website) to the Board.
Gaining Board Approval for Supervised Residency Experience
or “Registration of Supervision”
Once you have identified a supervisor and a worksite, submit

the Initial Supervised Residency for LPC
Licensure(Registration of Supervision) application packet,
along with the fee (in the form of a check or
money order, payable to the Treasurer of Virginia), to the Board
for approval. Specifically, submit the
following:
• Initial Registration of Supervision application
• Please NOTE, this application contains an ethics portion.
must submit a
statement regarding the circumstances and any court documents,
employment
records, etc. Please refer to Guidance Document 115-2.
have court
documentation. If the conviction is not available with the
courts, you may
provide a criminal history check from the Virginia State Police.
Please refer to
Guidance Document 115-2.
• $65 Fee for initial supervisor (each add or change in
supervisor application will require a $30
fee)
• Education and Internship Verification form to be completed by
your graduate program with an
original signature and sent to the Board within your application
packet.
• Official transcript
• Do NOT send undergraduate transcripts.
• Your transcript MUST show your master’s degree conferred.

• Your transcript must be official.
• Faxes and photocopies will NOT be accepted.
• Transcripts must be mailed with your application packet or
received directly from the
university by secured electronic methods such as eSCRIPT-
SAFE or Parchment.
• Verification of your supervisor’s training in clinical
supervision (this is only necessary if your
supervisor is not listed on the Supervisor Registry)
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We strongly encourage you to verify that your packet is
complete and includes all required forms. A
completed application packet provides the best opportunity to
avoid delays in approving your
information. You should make every effort to mail this
information in one complete packet to our
board office for consideration.
NOTE: Original signatures are required on all forms and
applications. Copies and digital signatures will
not be accepted.
AFTER YOUR APPLICATION HAS BEEN RECEIVED:
• When your packet is received, it is date stamped and your
check is processed.
• An administrative review is completed on your file to ensure it

is complete.
• Within 7-10 days, you are notified of any deficiencies found
in your application.
• Upon receipt of corrections and/or additional required
documentation your file then receives
another administrative review. This process continues until it
appears that your file is complete.
• When your file appears to be complete, it is reviewed for
approval to begin supervision. Please
allow 30 days, after receipt of your complete application packet,
for approval of initial
supervision.
• If approved for supervision, you and your supervisor will be
emailed an approval letter with an
effective and expiration date to begin counting hours toward
licensure. At this point, you will be
considered a “Resident in Counseling” and may begin
supervision!
NOTE: Incomplete applications will be kept active for one year
from the date of payment. If your
application is not completed in the one year timeframe, you will
be required to re-apply by submitting a
new application. (Applications that were deemed
administratively complete and reviewed by the
Credential Reviewer are not considered incomplete.)
If you application is denied, you will be given 60 days to
respond to the Board. You can provide
additional evidence that you meet the requirements or you may
request an Informal Conference with
the Board. Requesting an Informal Conferences is a lengthy

process and can take from several months to
a year to schedule. If after 60 days, you have not provided
additional information or requested an
Informal Conference your application will expire and you will
need to re-apply to be considered further.
IMPORTANT SUPERVISION NOTICES! Once supervision is
approved, your supervisor is responsible for
your counseling activities at the approved supervision location.
Residents may not call themselves professional counselors,
directly bill for services rendered, or in any
way represent themselves as independent, autonomous
practitioners or professional counselors. During
the residency, residents shall use their names and the initials of
their degree, and the title "Resident in
Counseling" in all written communications. Clients shall be
informed in writing of the resident's status
and the supervisor's name, professional address, and phone
number.
Residents shall not engage in practice under supervision in any
areas for which they have not had
appropriate education.
Adding or Changing Registration Supervision of your
Residency:
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A new application, documentation, and fee must be submitted
for approval for any change in
supervision (i.e. a worksite add/change or supervisor

add/change). There is no fee for worksite only
changes; however, if you have a change to your supervisor, you
will be required to submit a $30
application fee. If your residency was previously approved,
duplicate copies of your education
information is not required. The requested change still requires
a formal application review that can
take 15 days.
NOTE: Original signatures are required on all forms and
applications. Copies and digital signatures will
not be accepted.
Termination of Supervision:
If supervision terminates, you or your supervisor should submit
a Termination of Supervision form
(which can be found on the Board website) to the Board. Your
supervisor should also complete the last
Quarterly Evaluation and the Verification of Clinical
Supervision form at the end of your experience. You,
the resident, must keep this form in your records until you are
ready to apply to sit for the examination
toward licensure. This Verification of Clinical Supervision and
Quarterly Evaluation forms are necessary
pieces of your application and serves as documentation of your
supervision and residency hours.
Step 3: Complete the Supervised Residency Requirements
Once the Board approves your supervision, you have achieved
the status of “Resident in Counseling”
and you can count your supervised residency experience hours
towards licensure. To achieve licensure,
you must meet all of the residency requirements.
Residency Requirements:

1. A 3,400 hour supervised residency in counseling practice
with various populations, clinical
problems and theoretical approaches in the following areas:
• Assessment and diagnosis using psychotherapy techniques
• Appraisal, evaluation, and diagnostic procedures
• Treatment planning and implementation
• Case management and record keeping
• Professional counselor identity and function
• Professional ethics and standard of practice
2. 2,000 hours of face-to-face client contact must be
documented within this 3,400 hour
residency. The remaining 1,400 hours may be spent in the
performance of ancillary
counseling services. Graduate internship hours in excess of 600
hours, may count for up to
an additional 300 hours towards the total residency
requirements if the internship was
earned after the completion of 30 graduate semester hours.
3. A minimum of 200 hours of supervisory sessions, occurring
at a minimum of 1 hour and a
maximum of 4 hours of supervision per 40 hours of work
experience, during the period of
the residency. Up to 20 hours of the supervision received during
the supervised internship
may be counted toward the 200 hours of in-person supervision if
the supervision was
provided by a LPC.
4. You must complete your residency in no less than 21 months
and no more than four years.
Residents who began their residency before August 24, 2016
must complete the residency by
August 24, 2020. If you do not complete your residency after

four years, you must submit
evidence to the board showing why the supervised experience
should be allowed to continue
prior to August 24, 2020 and not before June 1, 2020.
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Group supervision hours are equivalent to individual
supervision hours, however, only half of the 200
required hours may be obtained in group supervision. 100 hours
of the 200 required hours must be
obtained under board-approved supervision with a Licensed
Professional Counselor.
NOTE: Supervision that is not concurrent with a residency will
not be accepted, nor will residency hours
be accrued in the absence of approved supervision.
What are clinical counseling services? The Board’s definition
means activities such as assessment,
diagnosis, treatment planning, and treatment implementation.
What is ancillary counseling services? It is the activities such as
case management, recordkeeping,
referral, and coordination of services. (Supervision sessions
with your supervisor can be considered
toward ancillary counseling services.)
What is in-person supervision? It is the supervision between
supervisor and resident in the consultation
and review of clinical counseling services provided by a
resident. In-person supervision may include the
use of secured technology that maintains client confidentiality

and provides real-time, visual contact
between the supervisor and the resident.
What is group supervision? The Board’s definition means the
process of clinical supervision of no more
than six persons in a group setting provided by a qualified
supervisor.
Out-of-State Supervision: Supervision completed in another
jurisdiction can possibly count toward
licensure if it meets the requirements outlined in Virginia’s
Regulations. The board will not approve this
supervision until you have completed your supervised
experience and apply for to sit for the
examination for licensure. You must have your past
supervisor(s) complete Virginia’s Verification of
Clinical Supervision form. You should keep this information
until you are ready to apply to sit for the
examination toward licensure. Additionally, you will be
required to submit your supervisor’s license
verification in order to verify that they meet the supervisor
requirements.
Step 4: Submit Application for Licensure by Examination
Once residency has been completed, submit the required
application and required documentation with
your check or money order, payable to the Treasurer of
Virginia, in the amount of $175 for the
application fee. Once this application is approved, you may sit
for the examination and obtain licensure.
Specifically, at this stage, submit the following:
• Application form by examination which must be signed and
notarized (Copies are not accepted)
• $175.00 fee (check or money order)
• Verification of Clinical Supervision form to be submitted by

each of your Board approved
supervisors. This form is available on our website and must be
sent with original signatures.
• Quarterly Evaluations which should have been completed by
your supervisors during your
residency must be submitted with original signatures.
• National Practitioners Data Bank (NPDB) query is required for
every licensure application.
• Supervision Summary Form.
Residents providing clinical counseling services in a non-
exempt setting must remain under Board
approved supervision until licensed. This means that you will
still need to meet with your Board
approved supervisor a minimum of one time per 40 hours of
work.
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Step 5. Take and Pass the Examination
To become licensed by the Board you must pass the National
Clinical Mental Health Counselors
Examination (NCMHCE), unless you are applying for licensure
by endorsement.
After your application is received, reviewed, and approved by
the Virginia Board of Counseling, you will
be notified that you are approved to sit for the exam. You will
then register with the testing agency by

submitting the necessary form and your payment of $275.00 for
the examination fee. You will work
directly with the testing agency until you pass the examination.
Your scores will be forwarded to the
Board office in about four to six weeks following the
examination. Upon receipt of a passing score on the
examination, we will email you once your application is
reviewed for the final time and you are licensed.
The email contains helpful information regarding your license.
Staff will also mail your paper license and
certificate to you within 30 days at the address on record with
the board. Residents in Counseling must
remain under supervision until licensed. If the applicant fails
the exam, he/she must remain under
supervision until he/she is licensed.
You have two years from the exam approval date to pass the
NCMHCE. If you do not meet this
requirement, you will be required to file a completely new
application for examination toward licensure
(along with applicable fees) and meet the current requirements
if you wish to apply for LPC licensure. If
approved by the Board for the second time, you will have
another two years to pass the exam. If you do
not pass the exam within the additional two year period, a new
application will not be accepted.
If you fail the exam within your two year period, you will need
to contact NBCC/CCE directly to set up a
new exam date. You must wait three (3) months between each
test attempt.
If you were approved to sit for the exam prior to August 24,
2016, you will have until August 24, 2018 to
pass the exam. If you do not meet this requirement, you will be
required to file a completely new

application for licensure (along with applicable fees) and meet
the current requirements if you wish to
apply for LPC licensure.
NOTE: The Regulations do not prohibit you from taking the
NCMHCE prior to completing your residency;
however, you will not be taking the exam for Virginia and your
scores will not be transferred to the
Virginia Board after you pass. You will need to contact NBCC
for their requirements to sit for the
examination. If you pass the exam prior to receiving Board
approval, you will need to contact NBCC to
have your scores transferred to the Virginia Board of
Counseling after you have submitted the LPC by
Examination application packet.
SPECIAL EXAMINATION ACCOMODATIONS
All requests for special accommodations must be reviewed and
approved by the Virginia Board of
Counseling. A written request with a doctor’s note should be
submitted with your application for
licensure by examination.
LPC ENDORSEMENT LICENSURE PROCESS
Virginia does not have reciprocity with any state. All applicants
are required to complete the application
process. You may apply at any time. It is not required that you
have a Virginia address in order to apply
for licensure.
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PREREQUISITES FOR APPLYING BY ENDORSEMENT FOR
A VIRGINIA LPC CREDENTIAL:
To apply for licensure by endorsement, you must have or have
held an independent equivalent
professional counselor license in another U. S. jurisdiction and
meet one of the following:
1. Have 24 of the last 60 months of post-licensure active
practice with an independent clinical
counseling licensed.
a. Provide evidence of post-licensure clinical practice in
counseling for 24 of the last 60
months immediately preceding your application in Virginia.
i. Clinical practice shall mean the rendering of direct clinical
counseling services or
clinical supervision of counseling services.
b. Documentation of education and supervised experience that
met the requirements of
the jurisdiction in which you were initially licensed as verified
by an official transcript
and a certified copy of the original application materials
2. If you do not have 24 of the last 60 months of post-licensure
active practice with an
independent clinical counseling license, your education and
supervision experience must be
consistent with those required by Virginia Code and
Regulations. Please refer to the education
and residency requirements outlined previously in the
handbook.

APPLYING FOR LPC BY ENDORSEMENT:
To apply for LPC by Endorsement, you must submit the
following to the Virginia Board of Counseling:
1. A completed application;
2. $175 application processing fee;
3. Verification of all mental health or health professional
licenses, certificates or registration ever
held in any other jurisdiction.
• In order to qualify for endorsement, you must have no
unresolved action against a
license or certificate. The board will consider history of
disciplinary action on a case-by-
case basis.
4. Official transcript;
5. Documentation of having completed education and
supervision experience;
6. Verification of a passing score on an examination required
for counseling licensure in the
jurisdiction in which licensure was initially obtained;
7. Verification of post-licensure clinical active practice (if
applicable);
8. Certified copy of licensure application from the jurisdiction
where you were originally licensed (if
applicable);
9. Attest to having read and understood the regulations and laws
governing the practice of
professional counseling in Virginia; and
10. National Practitioners Data Bank (NPDB) query is required
for every licensure application.

GROUNDS TO DENY AN APPLICATION:
Grounds to deny a license may be found in Regulation
18VAC115-20-140 of the board’s Regulations
Governing the Practice of Professional Counseling. If grounds
exist to deny an application for licensure,
your application will not be approved by board staff, and you
will be so notified and offered an
opportunity to meet with an Special Conference Committee of
the board to determine if the license
should be denied, issued, or issued conditionally.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
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THE APPLICATION/REGISTRATION PROCESS IS NOT A
SHORT PROCESS. THE LENGTH OF TIME IT TAKES
VARIES FOR EVERY APPLICANT. THE MORE COMPLETE
YOUR APPLICATION IS UPON RECEIPT, THE
SMOOTHER THE PROCESS WILL GO. IT IS THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE APPLICANT TO FOLLOW ALL
DIRECTIONS AND COMPLETE ALL FORMS IN THEIR
ENTIRETY.
ALL FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE, NON-TRANSFERABLE
AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Incomplete applications/registrations and fees are valid for one
(1) year from the date of receipt. If your
application/registration is not complete within one (1) year, a
new application/registration and fee will

be required.
Document 1: The Trials of Elizabeth Godman, 1653 and 1655.
Excerpted from John M. Taylor, The Witchcraft Delusion in
Colonial Connecticut, 1647-1697 (New York: Grafton Press,
1908), 79-121.[footnoteRef:1] [1: Examine these as primary
sources because, although not published at the time of the
event, our definition asks when they were created. They are
transcriptions of court documents created by people who
witnessed the trials. ]
This first document can be a little confusing, because it is
actually three court cases. The first occurred because Elizabeth
Godman was requesting what we might call a cease and desist
order. Essentially, she wanted her neighbors and housemates to
stop saying she was a witch. Mrs. Godman was a widow who
lived with Stephen Goodyear’s family (often spelled
“Goodyeare” below). Goodyear was the Deputy Governor of
the Connecticut colony, and Mrs. Godman was either a boarder
or servant in his household. Her age is not given, but she died
in 1660, so was presumably somewhere in that vague range we
call “middle age.”
Mrs. Godman was told she hath warned to the court diverse
persons, viz: Mr. Goodyeare, Mrs. Goodyeare, Mr. Hooke, Mrs.
Hooke, Mrs. Atwater, Hanah and Elizabeth Lamberton,
Goodwife Larremore, Goodwife Thorpe, andc., and was asked
what she had to charge them with, she said they had given out
speeches that made folks think she was a witch, and first she
charged Mrs. Atwater to be ye cause of all, and to clear things
desired a righting might be read which was taken in way of
examination before ye magistrate, (and in here after entered,)
wherein sundry things concerning Mrs. Atwater is specified
which we now more fully spoken to, and she further said that

Mrs. Atwater had said that she thought she was a witch and that
Hobbamocke was her husband,[footnoteRef:2] but could prove
nothing, though she was told that she was beforehand warned to
prepare her witnesses ready, which she hath not done, if she
have any. After sundry of the passages in ye righting were read,
she was asked if these things did not give just ground of
suspicion to all that heard them that she was a witch. She
confessed they did, but said if she spoke such things as is in Mr.
Hooke’s relation she was not herself.... Beside what is in the
paper, Mrs. Godman was remembered of a passage spoken of at
the governors about Mr. Goodyeare’s falling into a
swonding[footnoteRef:3] fit after he had spoken something one
night in the exposition of a chapter, which she (being present)
liked not but said it was against her, and as soon as Mr.
Goodyeare had done duties she flung out of the room in a
discontented way and cast a fierce look upon Mr. Goodyeare as
she went out, and immediately Mr. Goodyeare (though well
before) fell into a swond, and beside her notorious lying in this
business, for being asked how she came to know this, she said
she was present, yet Mr. Goodyeare, Mrs. Goodyeare, Hanah
and Elizabeth Lamberton all affirm she was not in ye room but
gone up into the chamber. [2: Hobbamock is usually
remembered as a Native American who helped the Plymouth
Colony “pilgrims” – much like Squanto but more militant. His
particular association with witchcraft is unclear, but New
Englanders often associated “dark figures” in the forest with
Satan, and in their minds those dark figures often became
American Indians, especially as warfare between the cultures
increased. Hobbamock, however, had been dead at least a
decade before this hearing took place.] [3: People didn’t
“swoon” so much as they “swound” in older English. This is
still misspelled, but not as drastically as it may seem.]
First Case, May 12, 1653: Mrs. Elizabeth Godman Accuses
Several People of Slander.

Elizabeth Godman made complaint of Mr. Goodyeare, Mrs.
Goodyeare, Mr. Hooke, Mrs. Hooke, Mrs. Bishop, Mrs. Atwater,
Hanah and Elizabeth Lamberton, and Mary Miles, Mrs.
Atwater’s maid, that they have suspected her for a witch; she
was now asked what she had against Mr. Hooke and Mrs.
Hooke; she said she heard they had something against her about
their son.
Testimony of Mr. Hooke: Mr. Hooke said he was not without
fears, and he had reasons for it; first he said it wrought
suspicion in his mind because she was shut out at Mr. Atwater’s
upon suspicion, and he was troubled in his sleep about witches
when his boy was sick, which was in a very strange manner, and
he looked upon her as a malicious one, and prepared to that
mischief, and she would be often speaking about witches and
rather justify them than condemn them; she said why do they
provoke them, why do they not let them come into the church.
Another time she was speaking of witches without any occasion
given her, and said if they accused her for a witch she would
have them to the governor, she would trounce them. Another
time she was saying she had some thoughts, what if the Devil
should come to suck her, and she resolved he should not suck
her.... Time, Mr. Hooke’s Indian, said in church meeting time
she would go out and come in again and tell them what was
done at meeting. Time asking her who told, she answered
plainly she would not tell, then Time said did not ye Devil tell
you.... Time said she heard her one time talking to herself, and
she said to her, who talked you too, she said, to you; Time said
you talked to ye Devil, but she made nothing of it. Mr. Hooke
further said, that he hath heard that they that are addicted that
way would hardly be kept away from ye houses where they do
mischief, and so it was with her when his boy was sick, she
would not be kept away from him, nor got away when she was
there, and one time Mrs. Hooke bid her go away, and thrust her
from ye boy, but she turned again and said she would look on
him. Mrs. Goodyeare said that one time she questioned with

Elizabeth Godman about ye boy’s sickness, and said what think
you of him, is he not strangely handled, she replied, what, do
you think he is bewitched; Mrs. Goodyeare said nay I will keep
my thoughts to myself, but in time God will discover ...
Mr. Hooke further said, that when Mr. Bishop was married,
Mrs. Godman came to his house much troubled, so as he thought
it might be from some affection to him, and he asked her, she
said yes; now it is suspicious that so soon as they were
contracted Mrs. Bishop fell into very strange fits which hath
continued at times ever since, and much suspicion there is that
she hath been the cause of the loss of Mrs. Bishop’s children,
for she could tell when Mrs. Bishop was to be brought to bed,
and hath given out that she kills her children with longing,
because she longs for everything she sees, which Mrs. Bishop
denies....
Testimony of Mrs. Atwater: Another thing suspicious is, that
she could tell Mrs. Atwater had figs in her pocket when she saw
none of them; to that she answered she smelt them, and could
smell figs if she came in the room, near them that had them; yet
at this time Mrs. Atwater had figs in her pocket and came near
her, yet she smelt them not; also Mrs. Atwater said that Mrs.
Godman could tell that they one time had peas porridge, when
they could none of them tell how she came to know, and being
asked she saith she see them on the table, and another time she
saith she was there in ye morning when the maid set them on.
Further Mrs. Atwater saith, that that night the figs was spoken
of they had strangers to supper, and Mrs. Godman was at their
house, she cut a sopp and put in pan; Betty Brewster called the
maid to tell her and said she was about her works of darkness,
and was suspicious of Mrs. Godman, and spoke to her of it, and
that night Betty Brewster was in a most miserable case, hearing
a most dreadful noise which put her in great fear and trembling,
which put her into such a sweat as she was all on a water when
Mary Miles came to go to bed, who had fallen into a sleep by
the fire which used not to do, and in ye morning she looked as

one that had been almost dead....
Mrs. Godman rejoins: Mrs. Godman accused Mr. Goodyeare for
calling her down when Mrs. Bishop was in a sore fit, to look
upon her, and said he doubted all was not well with her, and
that he feared she was a witch, but Mr. Goodyeare denied that;
upon this Mrs. Godman was exceeding angry and would have
the servants called to witness, and bid George the Scotchman go
ask his master who bewitched her for she was not well, and
upon this presently Hanah Lamberton (being in ye room) fell
into a very sore fit in a very strange manner....
Another time Mrs. Goodyeare said to her, Mrs. Elizabeth
[Godman] what think you of my daughter’s case; she replied
what, do you think I have bewitched her; Mrs. Goodyeare said if
you be the [culprit] look to it, for they intend to have such as is
suspected before the magistrate.
Mrs. Godman charged Hanah Lamberton that she said she
lay for somewhat to suck her, when she came in hot one day and
put off some clothes and lay upon the bed in her chamber.
Hanah said she and her sister Elizabeth went up into the garret
above her room, and looked down and said, look how she lies,
she lies as if somebody was sucking her, and upon that she
arose and said, yes, yes, so there is; after said Hanah, she hath
something there, for so there seemed as if something was under
the clothes; Elizabeth said what have you there, she said
nothing but the clothes, and both Hanah and Eliza[beth
Lamberton] say that Mrs. Godman threatened Hanah, and said
let her look to it for God will bring it upon her own head, and
about two days after, Hanah’s fits began, and one night
especially had a dreadful fit, and was pinched, and heard a
hideous noise, and was in a strange manner sweating and
burning, and some time cold and full of pain that she shrieked
out.
Elizabeth Lamberton responds: Elizabeth Lamberton saith that
one time ye children came down and said Mrs. Godman was

talking to herself and they were afraid, then she went up softly
and heard her talk, what, will you fetch me some beer, will you
go, will you go, and ye like, and one morning about break of
day Henry Boutele said he heard her talk to herself, as if
somebody had lain with her....
Mrs. Goodyear responds: Mrs. Goodyeare said when Mr.
Atwater’s kinswoman was married Mrs. Bishop was there, and
the room being hot she was something faint, upon that Mrs.
Godman said she would have many of these fainting fits after
she was married, but she saith she remembers it not....
Goodwife Thorp’s testimony:[footnoteRef:4] Goodwife Thorp
complained that Mrs. Godman came to her house and asked to
buy some chickens, she said she had none to sell, Mrs. Godman
said will you give them all, so she went away, and she thought
then that if this woman was naught as folks suspect, maybe she
will smite my chickens, and quickly after one chicken died, and
she remembered she had heard if they were bewitched they
would consume within, and she opened it and it was consumed
in ye gizard to water and worms, and divers others of them
dropped, and now they are missing and it is likely dead, and she
never saw either hen or chicken that was so consumed within
with worms. Mrs. Godman said Goodwife Tichenor had a whole
brood so, and Mrs. Hooke had some so, but for Mrs. Hookes it
was contradicted presently. This Goodwife Thorp thought good
to declare that it may be considered with other things. [4:
“Goodwife” was a female head of household – meaning she was,
at the moment, an unmarried adult woman. “Mrs.” Godman
was, as a widow, unmarried, but unqualified for the “Goodwife”
label because she lived with the Goodyears.]
As silly as some of the testimony against Elizabeth Godman
seems, the simple reality is that she had failed to bring any

witnesses to supply testimony for her good behavior. That
failure left the “court” (remembering that local court
proceedings were held in churches) to decide that while there
was not enough evidence to convict her of witchcraft, there was
enough evidence to consider her a suspicious character. Even
Mrs. Godman agreed that, had she done all those things people
said she had, there would be reasonable grounds for witchcraft
accusations. She was sent home with the warning that if she was
charged again, the preceding statements would be used against
her. Of course, she was charged again, just a little over two
years later, and those statements were used against her, which is
why they are included in this reading.
Second Case, August 7, 1655: Mrs. Elizabeth Godman is
Accused of Witchcraft.
Elizabeth Godman was again called before the Court, and
told that she lies under suspicion for witchcraft, as she knows,
the grounds of which were examined in a former court, and by
herself confessed to be just grounds of suspicion, which
passages were now read, and to these some more are since
added, which are now to be declared.
Testimony of Mr. Goodyear: Mr. Goodyeare said that the last
winter, upon occasion of God’s afflicting hand upon the
plantation by sickness, [before] the private meeting whereof he
had appointed to set a day apart to seek God, Elizabeth Godman
desired she might be there. He told her she was under
suspicion, and it would be offensive. She said she had great
need of it, for she was exercised with many temptations, and
saw strange apparitions, and lights about her bed, and strange
sights which affrighted her. Some of his family said if she was
afraid they would work with her in the day and lie with her in
the night, but she refused and was angry and said she would
have none to be with her for she had her spiritual armor about
her.
[The testimony was interrupted and Mrs. Godman] was asked

the reason of this; she answered, she said so to Mr. Goodyeare,
but it was her fancy [imagination] troubled her, and she would
have none lie with her because her bed was weak. She was told
that might have been mended; then she said she was not willing
to have any of them with her, for if anything had fallen ill with
them they would have said that she had been the cause.
Mr. Goodyeare further declared that about three weeks ago
he had a very great disturbance in his family in the night
(Elizabeth Godman having been the day before much
discontented because Mr. Goodyeare warned her to provide
another place to live in[footnoteRef:5]) his daughter Sellevant,
Hanah Goodyeare, and Desire Lamberton lying together in the
chamber under Elizabeth Godman. After they were in bed they
heard her walk up and down and talk aloud, but could not tell
what she said. Then they heard her go down the stairs and come
up again. They fell asleep, but were after awakened with a
great jumbling at the chamber door, and something came into
the chamber which jumbled at the other end of the room and
about the trunk and among the shoes and at the bed’s head. It
came nearer the bed and Hanah was afraid and called [for her]
father, but he heard not, which made her more afraid. Then
clothes were pulled off their bed by something, two or three
times. [The girls] held and something pulled, which frightened
them so that Hanah Goodyeare called her father so loud as was
thought might be heard to the meetinghouse, but the noise was
heard to Mr. Samuell Eatons by them that watched with
her[footnoteRef:6]. So after a while Mr. Goodyeare came and
found them in a great fright; they lighted a candle and he went
to Elizabeth Godman’s chamber and asked her why she
disturbed the family; She [Mrs. Godman] said no, she was
scared also and thought the house had been on fire, yet the next
day she said in the family that she knew nothing till Mr.
Goodyeare came up, which she said is true she heard the noise
but knew not the cause till Mr. Goodyeare came; and being
asked why she went down stairs after she was gone up to bed,
she said to light a candle to look for two grapes she had lost in

the floor and feared the mice would play with them in the night
and disturb ye family, which reason in the Court’s apprehension
renders her more suspicious. [5: The historian John Demos, in
The Enemy Within: A Short History of Witch-Hunting (2008),
makes the point that Godman was typical of many in New
England who were repeatedly charged with (but never convicted
of) witchcraft in that the charges seem, at least in part, to have
been a method of getting rid of unlikable housemates and
neighbors. Mr. Goodyear’s attempt to evict Mrs. Godman, then,
was not unexpected. Rather, it may have been the larger point.]
[6: Seemingly a neighbor, Mrs. Eaton, must have been ill or
dying. Friends and family keeping her company could hear the
shouting from the Goodyear house.]
Testimony of Allan Ball: Another time she [Elizabeth Godman]
came into his yard; his wife asked what she came for; she said
to see her calf. They had a suckling calf, which they tied in the
lot to a great post that lay on the ground, and the calf ran away
with that post as if it had been a feather and ran among Indian
corn and pulled up two hills and stood still, after he tied the calf
to a long heavy rail, as much as he could well lift. And one
time she [Mrs. Godman] came into the yard and looked on the
calf and it set a running and drew the rail after it till it came to
a fence and gave a great cry in a lowing way and stood still; and
in ye winter the calf died, do what he could, yet ate its meal
well enough.
Some other passages were spoken of about Mrs. Yale, that
one time there being some words betwixt them, with which
Elizabeth Godman was unsatisfied. The night following Mrs.
Yale’s things were thrown about the house in a strange manner.
And one time being at Goodman Thorpe’s, about weaving some
cloth, in which something discontented her, and that night they
had a great noise in the house, which much affrighted them, but
they know not what it was.
These things being declared the Court told Elizabeth

Godman that they have considered them, with her former
miscarriages [charges against her], and see cause to order that
she be committed to prison, there to abide the Court’s pleasure,
but because the matter is of weight, and the crime whereof she
is suspected capital, therefore she is to answer it at the Court of
Magistrates in October next.
Our court system has obviously advanced a great deal since
1655. Mrs. Godman brought forth no witnesses on her behalf at
the first trial but, of course, she was not on trial in that case –
she was the plaintiff and proved her point as all those she
charged readily admitted they suspected her of witchcraft. It
was the court that decided they were not guilty of slander, as
they had grounds for suspicion. Fair enough. But as she was
not the one on trial the evidence against her, by today’s
standards, would need to be resubmitted by witnesses in the
second trial. Note that not only was that not done, but there
was no record of witnesses on Mrs. Godman’s behalf in the
second trial, either. It was not until the sentencing hearing,
which follows, that anyone spoke for Mrs. Godman – meaning
that they were hearing new evidence after the verdict, another
no-no by today’s standards.
Third Case, October 1655: Mrs. Elizabeth Godman is
Sentenced.
Was again called before the court and told that upon
grounds formerly declared which stand upon record, she by her
own confession remains under suspicion for witchcraft, and one
more is now added, and that is, that one time this last summer,
coming to Mr. Hookes to beg some beer, was at first denied, but
after, she was offered some by his daughter which stood ready
drawn, which she had, yet went away in a muttering
discontented manner, and after this, that night, though the beer
was good and fresh, yet the next morning was hot, sour and ill
tasted, yea so hot as the barrel was warm without side, and
when they opened the bung it steamed forth; they brewed again

and it was so also, and so continued four or five times, one after
another.
She brought divers persons to the court that they might say
something to clear her, and much time was spent in hearing
them, but to little purpose, the grounds of suspicion remaining
full as strong as before and she found full of lying, wherefore
the court declared unto her that though the evidence is not
sufficient as yet to take away her life, yet the suspicions are
clear and many, which she cannot by all the means she hath
used, free herself from, therefore she must forbear from going
from house to house to give offence, and carry it orderly in the
family where she is, which if she do not, she will cause the
court to commit her to prison again, and that she do now
presently upon her freedom give security for her good behavior;
and she did now before the court engage fifty pound of her
estate that is in Mr. Goodyeer’s hand, for her good behavior,
which is further to be cleared next court, when Mr. Goodyeare
is at home.
She was suffered to dwell in the family of Thomas
Johnson, where she continued till her death, October 9th, 1660.
(New Haven Town Records, Vol. ii, pp. 174,179.)
As long as we are admitting evidence after the verdict, there’s
another point to consider in this case, as revealed in Carol
Karlsen’s influential The Devil in the Shape of a Woman
(1987). Karlsen’s research indicates that Elizabeth Godman
died a fairly wealthy woman. In fact, Stephen Goodyear (who
died broke) owed her money.
Document 2: The Trial of Rebecca (and Nathaniel) Greensmith,
1662. Excerpted from John M. Taylor, The Witchcraft Delusion
in Colonial Connecticut, 1647-1697 (New York: Grafton Press,
1908), 79-121. [footnoteRef:7] [7: Examine these as primary
sources because, although not published at the time of the
event, our definition asks when they were created. They are

transcriptions of court documents created by people who
witnessed the trials. ]
Even one of our foremost colonial historians, John Demos, has
only questions after examining the case of Rebecca Greensmith,
so do not be surprised to find yourself similarly
befuddled.[footnoteRef:8] It was probably the most spectacular
trial of the Hartford witch scare of the 1860s which, were it not
for the events in Salem, Massachusetts some thirty years later,
would likely be the American benchmark for such scares.
Document 3 in these readings is also related to the Hartford
scare. Indeed, it is Rebecca Greensmith who accused Elizabeth
Seager, leading to that trial. [8: His questions are: “Why did
she admit so much? Was she delusional? Had she yielded to
intolerable social and legal pressures?” John Demos, The
Enemy Within: A Short History of Witch-Hunting (New York:
Penguin Books, 2008), 111.]
The Hartford scare started, sadly enough, when a dying
child blurted out the name of a neighbor. The grieving parents
took this as an accusation and notified the authorities. The
neighbors, a Mr. and Mrs. Ayres, proclaimed their innocence,
tried to divert suspicion to others – it was Mr. Ayres who named
Rebecca Greensmith – and then fled before their verdict, an act
that only caused the townsfolk to become more certain that
witchery was afoot. This feeling was heightened even further
when a respectable townswoman, Ann Cole, became possessed
and began naming those who tormented her. Rebecca
Greensmith’s name was among them. She was jailed to await
trial.
Nathaniel Greensmith was Rebecca’s third husband. The
couple were well off for the time and place but failed to elicit
the admiration of their neighbors. Rebecca, in particular, was
found lacking in the category of social graces and was
pronounced “lewd” and “ignorant” by one of the two ministers

who interviewed her while in jail. During that interview, the
ministers took notes, which became the bulk of the evidence
against Rebecca and, subsequently, Nathaniel. They were
formally charged on December 30, 1662, and Rebecca
confirmed the testimony on January 8, 1663. There is no record
of Nathaniel offering any defense.
The Confession of Rebecca Greensmith, 1662: She forthwith
and freely confessed [these] things to be true: that she (and
other persons named in the discourse) had familiarity with the
devil. Being asked whether she had made an express covenant
with him, she answered she had not, only as she promised to go
with him when he called (which she had accordingly done
several times). But that the devil told her that at Christmas they
would have a merry meeting, and then the covenant should be
drawn and subscribed. Thereupon the fore-mentioned Mr. Stone
(being then in court) with much weight and earnestness laid
forth the exceeding heinousness and hazard of that dreadful sin;
and therewith solemnly took notice (upon the occasion given) of
the devil’s loving Christmas.
A person at the same time present [one of the two
ministers] being desired the next day more particularly to
enquire of her about her guilt, it was accordingly done, to whom
she acknowledged that though when Mr. Haynes [one of the two
ministers] began to read she could have torn him in pieces, and
was so much resolved as might be to deny her guilt (as she had
done before) yet after he had read awhile, she was as if her
flesh had been pulled from her bones, (such was her
expression,) and so could not deny any longer. She also
declared that the devil first appeared to her in the form of a deer
or fawn, skipping about her, wherewith she was not much
affrighted but by degrees he contrived talk with her; and that
their meetings were frequently at such a place, (near her own
house;) that some of the company came in one shape and some
in another, and one in particular in the shape of a crow came
flying to them. Amongst other things she owned that the devil

had frequent use of her body.
That was more than enough to convict Rebecca, but she was not
through. During the interview, she bore witness against her
husband, who was indicted on December 30:
Nathaniel Greensmith thou art here indicted by the name of
Nathaniel Greensmith for not having the fear of God before
thine eyes, thou hast entertained familiarity with Satan, the
grand enemy of God and mankind—and by his help hast acted
things in a preternatural way beyond human abilities in a
natural course for which according to the law of God and the
established law of this commonwealth thou deservest to die.
Rebecca Greensmith testifies in Court January 8, 1662.
1. That my husband on Friday night last when I came to
prison told me that now thou hast confessed against thyself let
me alone and say nothing of me and I will be good unto thy
children.
2. I do now testify that formerly when my husband hath
told me of his great travail and labor I wondered at it how he
did it this he did before I was married and when I was married I
asked him how he did it and he answered me he had help that I
knew not of.
3. About three years ago as I think it; my husband and I
were in ye wood several miles from home and were looking for
a sow that we lost and I saw a creature a red creature following
my husband and when I came to him I asked him what it was
that was with him and he told me it was a fox.
4. Another time when he and I drove our hogs into ye
woods beyond ye [impound] that was to keep young cattle
several miles off I went before ye hogs to call them and looking
back I saw two creatures like dogs one a little blacker then ye
other, they came after my husband pretty close to him and one
did seem to me to touch him I asked him what they were he told
me he thought foxes I was still afraid when I saw anything

because I heard so much of him before I married him.
5. I have seen logs that my husband hath brought home in
his cart that I wondered at it that he could get them into ye cart
being a man of little body and weak to my apprehension and ye
logs were such that I thought two men such as he could not have
done it.
I speak all this out of love to my husband’s soul and it is
much against my will that I am now necessitated to speak
against my husband, I desire that ye Lord would open his heart
to own and speak ye truth.
I also testify that I being in ye wood at a meeting there
was with me Goody Seager Goodwife Sanford and Goodwife
Ayres; and at another time there was a meeting under a tree in
ye green by our house and there was there James Walkely, Peter
Grant’s wife, Goodwife Aires and Henry Palmer’s wife of
Wethersfield, and Goody Seager[footnoteRef:9], and there we
danced, and had a bottle of sack: it was in ye night and
something like a cat called me out to ye meeting and I was in
Mr. Varlet’s orchard with Mrs. Judith Varlett and she told me
that she was much troubled with ye Marshall Jonathan Gilbert
and cried, and she said if it lay in her power she would do him a
mischief, or what hurt she could. [9: The subject of Document
3.]
Remember that the residents of Hartford were already in “scare”
mode. They suspected witchcraft and now they had
confirmation of it. Rebecca had confessed, Nathaniel had not;
both were executed by hanging before January ended.
Reportedly, the possessed woman, Ann Cole, was no longer
being tormented by Satan’s minions. In total, four “witches”
were executed during the scare, the Greensmiths being half of
those. Add to Professor Demos’ questions: what went on in that
marriage to prompt what was essentially a murder-suicide? Or
even: what went on in that jail cell?

Document 3: The Trial of Elizabeth Seager, 1662. From John
M. Taylor, The Witchcraft Delusion in Colonial Connecticut,
1647-1697 (New York: Grafton Press, 1908), 79-
121.[footnoteRef:10] [10: Examine these as primary sources
because, although not published at the time of the event, our
definition asks when they were created. They are transcriptions
of court documents created by people who witnessed the trials.
]
The following trial transcript was made previous to the one
featured in Document 2, but it was repeated in 1663 and,
apparently, in 1665. Elizabeth Seager was charged with
witchcraft on three separate occasions, but seemingly the same
evidence was used in each case. Document 3 is a combination
of those cases, then, accompanied by four verdicts.
In Document 2 we found that the town of Hartford was
experiencing a witchcraft scare in the 1660s, the results being
people fleeing the town, at least ten trials, six convictions, and
four executions. The Hartford scare started, sadly enough,
when a dying child blurted out the name of a neighbor. The
grieving parents took this as an accusation and notified the
authorities. The neighbors, a Mr. and Mrs. Ayres, proclaimed
their innocence, tried to divert suspicion to others – it was Mr.
Ayres who named Rebecca Greensmith, the woman featured in
Document 2 – and then fled before their verdict, an act that only
caused the townsfolk to become more certain that witchery was
afoot. This feeling was heightened even further when a
respectable townswoman, Ann Cole, became possessed and
began naming those who tormented her. Rebecca Greensmith’s
name was among them. She was jailed to await trial.
While in jail, Mrs. Greensmith gave a full confession and then
proceeded to accuse several other townspeople of being her
accomplices. Among those was Elizabeth Seager, who had
already been tried for witchcraft earlier in the year. This is the

transcript of that earlier trial:
The testimony of Robert Sterne: I saw this woman Goodwife
Seager in the woods with three more women and with them I
saw two black creatures like two Indians but taller. I saw
likewise a kettle there over a fire. I saw the women dance round
these black creatures and while I looked upon them one of the
women Goodwife Greensmith said look who is yonder and then
they ran away up the hill. I stood still and the black things came
towards me and then I turned to come away. He further saith I
knew the persons by their habits or clothes having observed
such clothes on them not long before.
The testimony of Mrs. Migat: Mrs. Migat sayth she went out to
give her calves meat, about five weeks since, and Goodwife
Seager came to her and shaked her by ye arm, and said she how
do you, how do you, Mrs. Migat.
2d Mrs. Migat also sayth: a second time goodwife Seager
came her towards ye little river, a little below ye house which
she now dwelleth in, and told her, that god was naught, god was
naught, it was very good to be a witch and desired her to be
one, she should not need fear going to hell, for she should not
burn in ye fire Mrs. Migat said to her at this time that she did
not love her; she was very naughty, and Goodwife Seager
shaked her by ye hands and bid her farewell, and desired her,
not to tell any body what she had said unto her.
3d Time. Mrs. Migat affirmeth that goodwife Seager came
to her at ye hedge corner belonging to their house lot, and their
spoke to her but what she could not tell, which caused Mrs.
Migatt (as she sayth) to (turn) away with great fear.
Mrs. Migat sayth a little before ye flood this spring,
Goodwife Seager came into their house, on a moon shining
night, and took her by ye hand and struck her on ye face as she
was in bed with her husband, whom she could wake, and then
goodwife Seager went away, and Mrs. Migat went to ye door
but darest not look out after her.

These particulars Mrs. Migat charged Goodwife Seager
with being face to face, at Mr. Migat’s now [current] dwelling
house.
Elizabeth Seager was acquitted of witchcraft in 1662. Then
came the Greensmith accusation early in 1663, and by mid-
January, Mrs. Seager was again on trial.
Elizabeth Seager thou art here indicted by the name of Elizabeth
Seager for not having the fear of God before thine eyes thou
hast entertained familiarity with Satan the grand enemy of God
and mankind, and by his help hast acted things in a
preternatural way beyond the ordinary course of nature, as also
for that thou has committed adultery, and hast spoken
blasphemy against God, contrary to the laws of God, and the
established laws of this corporation [colony] for all or any of
which crimes by the said laws thou deservest to die.
The prisoner pleaded not guilty of the indictment and referred
herself to the trial of jury.
In this version we have some additional evidence. There is the
issue of Elizabeth Greensmith’s accusation, but that has some
troubling logical problems, namely how far are you willing to
believe an admitted agent of evil? But at least one new
testimony was brought before the court:
The testimony of Daniel Garrett, Sr., and of Margaret Garrett:
Goodwife Garrett saith that goodwife Seager said there was a
day kept at Mr. Willis in reference to Ann Cole; and she further
said she was in great trouble even in agony of spirit, the ground
as follows that she sent her own daughter Eliza Seager to
goodwife Hosmer to carry her a mess a parsnips. Goodwife
Hosmer was not home. She was at Mr. Willis at the fast.
Goodman Hosmer and his son was at home. Goodman Hosmer
bid the child carry the parsnips home again he would not
receive them and if her mother desired a reason, bid her send

her father and he would tell him the reason. Goodwife Seager
upon the return of the parsnips was much troubled and sent for
her husband and sent him up to Goodman Hosmer to know the
reason why he would not receive the parsnips, and he told
Goodman Seager it was because Ann Cole was at the fast at
[which] Mr. Willis cried out against his wife as being a witch
and he would not receive the parsnips lest he should be brought
in hereafter as a testimony against his wife. Then Goodwife
Seager said that Mr. Haynes [a local minister] had written a
great deal of hodgepodge that Ann Cole had said that she was
under suspicion for a witch, and then she went to prayer, and
did adventure to bid Satan go and tell them she was no witch.
This deponent after she had a little paused said, who did you
say, then Goodwife Seger said again she had sent Satan to tell
them she was no witch. This deponent asked her why she made
use of Satan to tell them, why she did not beseech God to tell
them she was no witch. She answered because Satan knew she
was no witch. Goodman Garrett testifies that before him and his
wife, Goodwife Seager said that she sent Satan to tell them she
was no witch.
We underwritten do testify, that goodwife Seager said,
(upon the relating of goodwife Garrett’s testimony, in reference
to Seager sending Satan,) that the reason why she sent Satan,
was because he knew she was no witch, we say Seager said
Dame you can remember part of what I said, but you do not
speak of the whole you say nothing of what I brought to prove
that Satan knew that I was no witch. I brought that place in the
Acts, about the 7 sons that spoke to the evil spirits in the name
of Jesus whom Paul preacheth I have forgot their names.
And then we have some commentary made by a man who was
present at the second trial and who may have been a member of
the jury:
Commentary of John Talcott, present at the trial: January 16
1662. The causes why half the jury or more did in their vote

cast Goody Seager (and the rest of the jury were deeply
suspicious, and were at a great loss and staggering whereby they
were sometimes likely to come up in their judgments to the rest,
whereby she was almost gone and cast as the foreman expressed
to her at giving in of the verdict) are these:
First it did appear by legal evidence that she had intimate
familiarity with such as had been witches, viz Goody Sanford
and Goody Ayers. Secondly this she did in open court stoutly
deny saying the witnesses were prejudiced persons, and that she
had no more intimacy than they themselves, and when the
witnesses questioned with her about frequently being there [at
Mrs. Ayers’ house] she said she went to learn to knit; this also
she stoutly denied, and said of the witnesses they belie me, then
when Mr. John Allen said did she not teach you to knit, she
answered sturdily and said, I do not know that I am bound to
tell you and at another time being pressed to answered she said,
nay I will hold what I have if I must die, yet after this she
confessed that she had so much intimacy with one of them as
that they did change work one with another. Thirdly she having
said that she did hate Goody Ayers it did appear that she bore
her great deal more than ordinarily good will as appeared by
relieving her in her trouble, and was covert way, and was
troubled that is was discovered; likewise when Goody Ayers
said in court, this will take away my life, Goody Seager shushed
her with her hand and said hold your tongue with grinding teeth
Mr. John Allen being one witness hereto when he had spoken,
she said they seek my innocent blood; the magistrates replied,
who she said everybody. Fourthly being spoken to about trial by
swimming, she said the devil that caused me to come here can
keep me up.
About the business of flying [unmentioned in the
documents] the most part thought it was not legally proved.
Lastly the woman and Robert Sterne being both upon oath
their witness was judged legal testimony or evidence only some
in the jury because Sterne’s first words upon his oath were, I
saw these women and as I take it Goody Seager was there

though after that he said, I saw her there, I knew her well I
know God will require her blood at my hands if I should testify
falsely. Also because he said he saw her kettle, there being at so
great a distance, they doubted that these things did not only
weaken and blemish his testimony, but also in a great measure
disable it for standing to take away life.
Puzzled? Here’s the verdict, but it might not be illuminating:
The jury return that they find the prisoner guilty of the
indictment in that particular of adultery.
Elizabeth Seager had, in fact, been charged with adultery in
addition to the witchcraft charge. Remember Mrs. Migat? She
had been claiming Mrs. Seager was a witch, but the final line of
her testimony reveals what was possibly the real problem. So
Mrs. Seager was an adulteress (her punishment is unknown) but,
due to a hung jury, not a witch. Yet (and finally) Elizabeth
Seager’s troubles continued, for just two years later, in the
summer of 1665, she was hauled before the court again:
Elizabeth Seager thou art here indicted by the name of Elizabeth
Seager the wife of Richard Seager not having the fear of God
before thine eyes thou has entertained familiarity with Satan the
grand enemy of God and mankind and has practiced witchcraft
formerly and continue to practice witchcraft for which
according to the law of God and the established law of this
corporation thou deserves to die.
The prisoner answered not guilty, and refers herself to be
tried by God and the country.
The jury being called to return their verdict upon the
indictment of Elizabeth Seager the foreman declares that they
find the prisoner guilty of familiarity with Satan. June 26,
1665.
Finally! We’ve got the witch right where we want her!

Somebody fetch me a rope. But not so fast. No less than the
governor of the colony intervened before Seager could be
sentenced and demanded the case be postponed for further
evaluation. In 1666, an appeals court, called the Court of
Assistants, decided that Mrs. Seager was not guilty because the
evidence did not answer the indictment. No wonder, since
mostly the same evidence had resulted in an acquittal, a hung
jury, and a guilty verdict. It wasn’t long afterward that Mrs.
Seager moved to Rhode Island (although if it was with Mr.
Seager or Mr. Migat, the record does not show). Perhaps that
was what the people of Hartford had wanted all along.
Document 4: The Trial of Elizabeth Clawson, 1692. Excerpted
from John M. Taylor, The Witchcraft Delusion in Colonial
Connecticut, 1647-1697 (New York: Grafton Press, 1908), 79-
121. [footnoteRef:11] [11: Examine these as primary sources
because, although not published at the time of the event, our
definition asks when they were created. They are transcriptions
of court documents created by people who witnessed the trials.
]
This is an interesting case if for no other reason than the trial
begins just as the more infamous trials in Salem, Massachusetts,
were winding down. Like Salem, this case involves a teenage
girl, Katharine Branch, showing signs of being possessed and
making accusations against two older women, Elizabeth
Clawson and Mercy Disborough. However, Katharine Branch
was the only person to apparently suffer bewitchment and
neither of those accused confessed their guilt, while in Salem
several girls were afflicted and there was more than one
confession by older women.

Mercy Disborough decided to prove her innocence through
the water test. A townsman pushed her under water, but Mrs.
Disborough proved to be of a buoyant nature and, unfortunately
for her and Justice, did not sink enough to satisfy the crowd of
onlookers. As this was a sign that Satan did not want her dead,
Mrs. Disborough was deemed guilty and received the death
sentence. Fortunately, some of the town leaders turned the case
over to outside judges, who granted a reprieve before the
execution was carried out.
Mrs. Clawson elected to stand trial, the transcript of which
follows. Essential to understanding the intricacies of the
situation is the knowledge that Katharine Branch was a servant
girl working for the Westcott family. The Westcotts and the
Clawsons did not like each other.
For the most part these document sets are presented to students
in much the way they are found in the publication they were
excerpted from. However, other sources claim that Katherine
Branch was examined (physically and otherwise) prior to the
trial by Johnathan Selleck, a local official who would also serve
as one of the judges at the trial. For that reason, Selleck’s
statement is brought to the top.
June 28th 1692. Sergeant Daniel Westcott brought his maid
Katharine Branch to my house to be examined, which was done
as is within mentioned, and the said Katharine Branch being
dismissed was got about 40 or 50 rods from my house, my
Indian girl running back saying said Kate was fallen down and
looked black in the face so my son John Selleck [Jr.] and cousin
David Selleck went out and fetched her in, she being in a stiff
fit—and coming out of that fit fell a shrieking, crying out “You
kill me, Goody Clawson you kill me,” two or three times she
spoke it and her head was bent down backwards almost to her
back; and sometimes her arm would be twisted round the said
Kate crying out you break my arm and with many such fits
following, that two men could hardly prevent by all their
strength the breaking of her neck and arm, as was thought by all

the standers by; and in this manner said Kate continued all the
night, and never came to her senses but had some little respite
between those terrible fits and then said Kate would be talking
to the appearances and would answer them and ask questions of
them too many to be here inserted or remembered. They asked
her to be as they were and then she should be well and we heard
said Kate say “I will not yield to you for you are witches and
your portion is hell fire to all eternity” and many such like
expressions she had; telling them that Mr. Bishop had often told
her that she must not yield to them, and that that day a Norwalk
minister told her the same therefore she said “I hope God will
keep me from yielding to you.” Said Kate said Goody Clawson
“Why do you torment me so; I never did you any harm neither
in word nor action;” saying “why are you all come now to
afflict me.” Katherine told their names, saying Goody Clawson,
Mercy Disborough, Goody Miller, and a woman and a girl, five
of you.
There are actually six, enough to make this statement rather
confusing and worthy of interruption. Goody Clawson is, of
course, Elizabeth Clawson, with “Goody” being slang for
“Goodwife.” Mercy Disborough, as already mentioned,
underwent a separate trial. Goody Miller had moved to New
York – not, apparently, to avoid prosecution, but because she
had relatives there. Then there’s Mary “Goody” Staples and her
daughter and granddaughter Mary and Hannah Harvey. For
some reason, Staples and the Harvey women were not formally
charged with witchcraft. Mrs. Staples had faced charges before
and had been cleared, so that might be the reason she was not
indicted in this case, but there is no apparent reason why Mary
Harvey and Hannah Harvey were named but not indicted. Back
to the investigation:
Then the said Kate spoke to the girl whom she called Sarah, and
said is Sarah Staples your right name; I am afraid you tell me a
lie; tell me your right name; and so urged it much; and then

stopped and said, tell; yes I must tell my master and Capt.
Selleck if they ask me but I’ll tell nobody else. So at last said
Kate said, Hannah Harvy once or twice out is that your name
why then did you tell me a lie before; Well then said Kate what
is the woman that comes with you; and so stopped and then said
I tell you I must tell my master and Capt. Selleck if he asks me,
but I’ll tell nobody else, and said you will not tell me then I
will ask Goody Crump and she said Goody Crump what is the
woman’s name that comes with Hannah Harvy; and so urged
several times, a then said Mary Mary what, and then Mary
Harvy; well said Kate is Mary Harvy ye mother of Hannah
Harvy; and then said now I know it seeming to rejoice, and
saying Hannah why did you not tell me before, saying there was
more cats come at first and I shall know all your names; and
Kate said what creature is that with a great head and wings and
nobody and all black, saying Hannah is that your father; I
believe it is for you are a witch; and said Kate said Hannah
what is your father’s name; and have you no grandfather and
grandmother; how come you to be a witch and then stopped, and
said again a grandmother what is her name and then stopped,
and said Goody Staples what is her maiden name and then again
fell into terrible fits which much affrighted the standers by,
which were many persons to behold and hear what was said and
done by Kate. She fell into a fit singing songs and then tunes as
Kate said gigs for them to dance by each taking their turns; then
said Kate rehearsed a great many verses, which are in some
primers, and also ye dialogue between Christ ye young man and
the devil, the Lord’s prayer, all the [ten] commandments and
catechism, the creed and several such good things, and then
said, Hannah I will say no more; let me hear you, and said why
do I say these things; you do not love them and a great deal
more she said which I cannot well remember but what is above
and on ye other side was heard and seen by myself and others as
I’ve attested to it.
To add one thing more to my relation as is within of what I saw
and heard, is that some persons attempted to cut off a lock of

the said Kate’s hair, when she was in her fits but could not do
it, for although she knew not what was said and done by them,
and let them come never so privately behind her to do it yet she
would at once turn about and prevent it; At last David
Waterbury took her in his arms to hold her by force; that a lock
of hair might be cut; but though at other times a weak and light
girl yet she was then so strong and so extremely heavy that he
could not deal with her, nor her hair could not be cut; and Kate
crying out bitterly, as if she had been beaten all ye time. When
said Kate come to herself, was asked if she was willing her hair
should be cut; she answered yes—we might cut all of it we
would.
Johnathan Selleck, Commissioner
Selleck was apparently undecided on what course of action to
follow, and so started an investigative committee, the members
of which all have military rank, indicating their offices in the
colony’s militia. The investigation took up most of the summer
and included an examination of the bodies of the accused
women in a search for moles or other marks which were
commonly associated with witches. Any marks they found were
considered inconclusive evidence. But the committee’s findings
give us an overview of Katharine Branch’s bewitching.
Upon ye information and sorrowful complaint of Sergeant
Daniel Westcott in regard of his maid servant Cateran Branch
whom he suspects to be afflicted of witchcraft, under which
sore affliction she hath now labored upwards of five weeks, and
in that lamentable state yet remains. In order to inquire and
search into (the) matter were then present Major Nathan Golde,
Capt. John Burr, Capt. Jonothan Selleck, Lieutenant Jonathan
Bell.
Being in ye fields gathering of herbs, she was seized with
a pinching and pricking at her breast; she being come home fell
a crying, was asked ye reason, gave no answer but wept and
immediately fell down on ye floor with her hands clasped, and

with like actions continued with some respite at times ye space
of two days, then said she saw a cat, was asked what ye cat said
she answered ye cat asked her to [go] with her, with a promise
of fine things and that if she should go where there were fine
folks; and still was followed with like fits, seeming to be much
tormented, being asked again what she saw said cats, and that
they told her they would kill her, and with this menacing
disquieted her several days; after that she saw in ye room where
she lay a table spread with variety of meats, and they asked her
to eat and at ye table she saw ten eating, this she positively
affirmed when in her right mind, after this was exceeding much
tormented, her master asked her what was ye matter, because
she as she said in her fit run to sundry places to abscond
herself, she told him ‘twas because she saw a cat coming to her
with a rat, to fling in her face, after that she said they told her
they would kill her because she told of it. These sort of actions
continued about 13 days, and then was extremely afflicted with
fits in ye night, to ye number of about 40 crying out a witch, a
witch, her master running to her asked her what was ye matter
she said she felt a hand. Ye next week she saw as she said a
woman stand in ye house having on a silk hood and a blue
apron, after that in ye evening being well composed going out
of doors run in again and caught her master about ye middle, he
asked her ye reason, she said that she met an old woman at ye
door, with 2 firebrands in her forehead, he asked her what kind
of clothes she had on, answered she had two homespun coats,
one tucked up round her ye other down. The next day she named
a person calling her Goody Clawson, and said there she is
sitting on a [fence] rail, and again said she saw her sit on ye
pommel of a chair, saying I’m sure you are a witch, else you
could not sit so and said she saw this person before named at
times for a week together. One time she said she saw her and
described her whole attire, her [master] went immediately and
saw ye woman named exactly attired as she was described of ye
person afflicted. Again she said in her fits Goody Clawson let’s
have a turn at heels over head, withal saying shall you go first,

or shall I. Well said she if I do first you shall after, and with
that she turned over two or three times heels over head, and so
lay down, saying come if you will not I’ll beat your head and ye
wall together and having ended these words she got up looking
about ye house, and said look she’s gone, and so fell into a fit.
These two investigations provided enough grounds for the men
to make formal charges, and in October a trial of Elizabeth
Clawson was able to begin.
Indictment: Elizabeth Clawson wife of Stephen Clawson of
Stamford in the country of Fairfield in the Colony of
Connecticut thou art here indicted by the name of Elizabeth
Clawson that not having the fear of God before thine eyes thou
hast had familiarity with Satan the grand enemy of God and man
and that by his instigation and help thou hast in a [unnatural]
way afflicted and done harm to the bodies and estates of sundry
of his Majesty’s subjects or to some of them contrary to the
peace of or Sovereign Lord the King and Queen their crown and
dignity and that on the 25th of April in the 4th year of their
Majesties reign and at sundry other times for which by the law
of God and the law of the Colony thou deserves to die.
Then follows the testimony of the witnesses, some of whom are
only providing evidence that Elizabeth Clawson is a good
person, others that Katharine Branch cannot be trusted, and still
others who witnessed Branch’s possession episodes. Note that
“Katharine” is spelled in a variety of ways, and that sometimes
she is referred to as “Kate” or even “the French girl.”
Testimony of Joseph Garney: Joseph Garney saith that being at
Daniel Westcott’s upon occasion since he went to Hartford
while he was gone from home Nathaniel Wyatt being with me
his maid being at work in the yard in her right mind soon after
fell into a fit. I took her up and carried her in and laid her upon
the bed it was intimated by some that she dissembled. Nathaniel

Wyatt said with leave he would make trial of that leave was
granted and as soon as she was laid upon ye bed then Wyatt
asked me for a sharp knife which I presently took into my hand
then she immediately came to herself and then went out of ye
room into ye other room and so out into ye hen house then I
heard her presently shriek out I ran presently to her and asked
her what is ye matter, she was in such pain she could not hew
and presently fell into a fit stiff. We carried her in and laid her
upon ye bed and then I got my knife ready and fitting under
pretense of doing some great matter then presently she came to
herself and said to me Joseph what are you about to do I said I
would cut her and seemed to threaten great matters, then she
laid her down upon the bed and said she would confess to us
how it was with her and then said I am possessed with ye devil
and he appeared to me in ye hen house in ye shape of a black
cat and was earnest with her to be a witch and if she would not
he would tear her in pieces, then she again shrieked out now
saith she I see him and looked wistfully and said there he is just
at this time to my appearance there seemed to dart in at ye west
window a sudden light across ye room which did startle and
amaze me at that present, then she told me that she see ye devil
in ye shape of a white dog, she told me that ye devil appeared in
ye shape of these three women namely Goody Clawson, Goody
Miller, and ye woman at Compo [Disborough]. I asked her how
she knew that it was ye devil that appeared in ye shape of these
three women she answered he told me so. I asked her if she
knew that these three women were witches or not she said she
could not tell they might be honest women for ought she knew
or they might be witches.
Testimony of Sarah Kecham: She saith that being at Daniel
Westcott’s house Thomas Asten being there Kateran Branch
being there in a fit as they said I asked then how she was they
saith she hath had no fits she had been a riding then I asked her
to ride and then she got to riding. I asked her if her horse had
any name and she called out and said Jack; I then asked her to

sing and then she sung; I asked her that if she had sung with
English she could then sing French and then she sung that which
they called French. Thomas Astin said he knew that she was
bewitched I told him I did not believe it, for I said I did not
believe there was any witch in the town, he said he knew she
was for said he I have heard say that if a person were bewitched
take a naked sword and hold over them and they will laugh
themselves to death and with that he took a sword and held over
her and she laughed extremely. Then I spoke something
whereby I gave them to understand that she did so because she
knew of ye sword, whereupon Daniel made a sign to Thomas
Astin to hold ye sword again that she might not know of it,
which he did and then she did not laugh at all nor change her
countenance. Further in discourse I heard Daniel Westcott say
that when he pleased he could take her out of her fits. John
Bates, Jr. being present at ye same time witnessed to all ye
above written.
Testimony of Abigail Cross: Upon some discourse with Daniel
Westcott about his girls dissembling said Daniel said that he
would venture both his cows against a calf that she should do a
trick tomorrow morning that nobody else could do. Said Abigail
said to morrow morning, can you make her do it when you will;
and he said yes when I will I can make her do it.
Nathaniel Cross being present at ye same time testifieth ye
same with his wife.
The testimony of Mrs. Sarah Bates: She saith that when first ye
girl was taken with strange fits she was sent for to Daniel
Wescott’s house and she found ye girl lying upon ye bed. She
then did apprehend that the girl’s illness might be from some
natural cause; she therefore advised them to burn feathers under
her nose and other means that had done good in fainting fits and
then she seemed to be better with it; and so she left her that
night in hopes to here she would be better ye next morning; but
in ye morning Daniel Westcott came for her again and when she

came she found ye girl in bed seemingly senseless and
speechless; her eyes half shut but her pulse seemed to beat after
ye ordinary manner her mistress desired she might be let blood
on ye foot in hopes it might do her good. Then I said I thought
it could not be done in ye capacity she was in but she desired a
trial to be made and when everything was ready and we were
going to let her bleed ye girl cried; the reason was asked her
why she cried; her answer was she would not be blooded; we
asked her why; she said again because it would hurt her it was
said ye hurt would be but small like a prick of a pin then she
put her foot over ye bed and was ready to help about it; this
carriage of her seemed to me strange who before seemed to lie
like a dead creature; after she was blooded and had laid a short
time she clapped her hand upon ye coverlid and cried out; and
on of ye girls that stood by said mother she cried out; and her
mistress was so affected with it that she cried and said she is
bewitched. Upon this ye girl turned her head from ye folk as if
she would hide it in ye pillow and laughed.
Testimony of Daniel Westcott: Saith that some years since my
wife and Goodwife Clawson agreed to change their spinning,
and instead of half a pound Goodwife Clawson sent three
quarters of a pound I having weighed it, carried it to her house
and convinced her of it that it was so, and thence forward she
till now took occasion upon any frivolous matter to be angry
and pick a quarrel with both myself and wife, and some short
time after this earning ye flax, my eldest daughter Johanna was
taken suddenly in ye night shrieking and crying out, There is a
thing will catch me, upon which I got up and lit a candle, and
told her there was nothing, she answered, yes there was, there
‘tis, pointing with her finger sometimes to one place and
sometimes to another, and then said ‘tis run under the pillow. I
asked her what it was, she said a sow, and in a like manner
continued disturbed at nights about ye space of three weeks,
insomuch that we were forced to carry her abroad sometimes
into my yard or lot, but for ye most part to my next neighbor’s

house, to undress her and get her to sleep, and continually when
she was disturbed she’d cry out there’s my thing come for me,
whereupon some neighbors advised to a removal of her, and
having removed her to Fairfield it left her, and since then hath
not been disturbed in like manner.
Testimony of Abigail Westcott: Abigail Westcott further saith
that as she was going along the street Goody Clawson came out
to her and they had some words together and Goody Clawson
took up stone and threw at her; and at another time as she went
along the street before said Clawson’s door Goody Clawson
called to me and asked me what I did in my chamber last
Sabbath day night, and I do affirm that I was not there that
night; and at another time as I was in her son Stephen’s house
being near her one house she followed me in and contended
with me because I did not come into her house calling of me
proud slut what are you proud on your fine clothes and you look
to be mistress but you never shall by me and several other
provoking speeches at that time and at another time as I was by
her house she contended and quarreled with me; and we had
many words together and she [berated] me for my fine clothes
… and also contended with me several other times.
Testimony of Abraham Finch, Jr.: The deponent saith that he
being a watching with ye French girl [Katharine Branch] at
Daniel Westcott’s house in the night I being laid on the bed the
girl fell into a fit and fell across my feet and then I looking up I
saw a light about the bigness of my two hands glance along the
[wall] of the house to the hearthward, and afterwards I saw it no
more; and when David Selleck brought a light into the room a
little space after the French girl came to herself again. We
asked her why she screamed out when she fell into her fit. She
answered Goodie Clawson came in with two fiery eyes.
Furthermore the deponent saith that David Selleck was that
same night with him and being laid down on the bed nigh the
girl and I lay by the bed side on the chest and David Selleck

started up suddenly and I asked what was ye matter with him
and he answered she pricked me and the French girl answered
no she did not it was Goodie Crump and then she put her hand
over the bed side and said give me that thing that you pricked
Mr. Selleck with and I catched hold of her hand and found a pin
in it and I took it away from her. The deponent saith that when
the girl put her hand over the bed it was open and he looked
very well in her hand and could see nothing and before she
pulled in her hand again she had gotten that pin that he took
from her.
Testimony of Ebenezer Bishop: Ebenezer Bishop aged about 26
years saith one night being at Daniel Westcott’s house Cateran
Branch being in one of her fits I sat down by ye bed side next to
her she then calling earnestly upon Goody Clawson Goody
Clawson several times now Goody Clawson turn heels over head
after this she had a violent fit and calling again said now they
are going to kill me and crying out very loud that they pinched
her on ye neck and calling out that they pinched her again I
sitting by her I took ye light and look upon her neck and I see a
spot look red seeming to me as big as a piece of eight
afterwards it turned blue and blacker than any other part of her
skin and after ye second time of her calling I took ye light and
looked again and she pointed with her hand lower upon her
shoulder and I see another place upon her shoulder look red and
blue as I saw upon the other place before and then after that she
had another fit.
Hannah Knapp testified the same to the above written and
further added that she saw scratches upon her; and is ready to
give oath to it if called to it.
Testimony of Samuel Holly: The testimony of Samuel Holly, Sr.
aged about fifty years saith that he being at ye house of Daniel
Westcott in ye evening I did see his maid Cateran Branch in her
fit that she did swell in her breasts (as she lay on her bed) and
they rise as like bladders and suddenly passed into her belly,

and in a short time returned to her breast and in a short time her
breasts fell and a great rattling in her throat as if she would
have been choked; All this I judge beyond nature.
Daniel Westcott testified to ye same above written and
further added that when she was in those fits rattling in her
throat she would put out her tongue to a great extent I conceive
beyond nature and I put her tongue into her mouth again and
then I looked in her mouth and could see no tongue but as if it
were a lump of flesh down her throat and this often times.
Testimony of Daniel Westcott: The testimony of Daniel
Westcott aged about forty nine years saith that sometime this
spring since his maid Cateron Branch had fits and with many
other strange actions in her, I see her as she lay on the bed at
her length in her fit, and at once sprang up to the chamber floor
without the help of her hands or feet; that’s near six feet and I
judge it beyond nature for any person so to do.
Testimony of Lidia Penoir: She saith that she heard her aunt
Abigail Westcott say that her servant girl Cateran Branch was
such a lying girl that not anybody could believe one word what
she said and saith that she heard her aunt Abigail Westcott said
that she did not believe that Mercy nor Goody Miller nor
Hannah nor any of these women whom she had impeached was
any more witches than she was and that her husband would
believe Cateran before he would believe Mr. Bishop or
Lieutenant Bell or herself.
Testimony of Elezer Slason aged 51 year: He saith that he lived
near neighbor to Goodwife Clawson many years and did always
observe her to be a woman for peace and to counsel for peace
and when she hath had provocations from her neighbors would
answer and say we must live in peace for we are neighbors and
would never to my observation give threatening words nor did I
look at her as one given to malice; and further saith not.

1 Revised 102018 LPC LICENSURE PROCESS HANDBOOK .docx

1 Revised 102018 LPC LICENSURE PROCESS HANDBOOK .docx

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1 Revised 102018 LPC LICENSURE PROCESS HANDBOOK .docx