John Proctor (Salem witch trials victim)

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John Proctor (30 March 1632 – 19 August 1692) was a farmer and tavern keeper in 17th-century Massachusetts. He was the son of John Proctor, (1594–1672) and MarthaHarper (1607–1667). During the Salem Witch Trials he was accused of witchcraft, convicted and hanged.

John Proctor was born in England. When he was just three years old, his parents brought their family to America. They sailed from London, England, on 12 April 1635 on a ship called the “Susan and Ellen”.

Upon arrival, they settled in the Chebacco area of Ipswich, Massachusetts. Proctor's father owned many properties and was considered to be one of the wealthiest residents in Ipswich and had two shares in Plum Island in 1664. He also held various offices within the colony.

Accusations and trial

Initial accusations were aimed at Proctor's third wife, Elizabeth. When he began to defend her and vocally express his disbelief in the girls, fingers were then pointed at him as well. Although Abigail Williams was John Proctor's chief accuser, he was also named by Mary Walcott, who stated he tried to choke her, and by his former servant Mary Warren on 21 April. Warren told magistrates that Proctor had beaten her for putting up a prayer bill before forcing her to touch the Devil's Book. Further allegations of an increasingly salacious nature followed. Proctor continued to challenge the veracity of spectral evidence and the validity of the Court of Oyer and Terminer, which led to a petition signed by 32 neighbors in his favor. The signatories stated that Proctor had lived a "Christian life in his family and was ever ready to help such as they stood in need"

The Proctors were tried on 5 August 1692, found guilty, and sentenced to death by hanging. While Proctor and his wife were still in jail, the sheriff seized all of their household belongings. The cattle were sold cheaply, slaughtered, or shipped to the West Indies. The beer barrels at the tavern were emptied. Their children were left with no means of support. Proctor was hanged on 19 August 1692, along with George Burroughs, John Willard, George Jacobs, Sr., and Martha Carrier. As Proctor stood on the scaffold he recited the Lord's Prayer without making the slightest hesitation. This made significant impression on the watching villagers as those convicted of witchcraft were not supposed to be able to perform such an act but did not save him. Elizabeth, who was then pregnant, was given a reprieve until she gave birth, which came after the trials ended.

Accusations Against other Proctor Family Members

In 1692, one hundred forty-one complaints were filed. Of those, twelve were against relatives or extended members of the Proctor family. John Proctor, Elizabeth Proctor, and Rebecca Nurse were convicted, and John and Rebecca were executed.

1.John Proctor, husband of Elizabeth Bassett aka Elizabeth Proctor and the father of Benjamin, William, and Sarah Proctor.

2.Elizabeth Bassett Proctor, third wife of John Proctor.

3.Benjamin Proctor, son of John Proctor and his first wife Martha Giddens.

4.William Proctor, son of John Proctor and his third wife, Elizabeth Bassett Proctor.

5.Mary Bassett DeRich was the sister of Elizabeth Bassett Proctor.

6.Henry Hood was the husband of Sarah Bassett, another of Elizabeth Bassett Proctor's sisters.

*Extended family:

1. Thomas Farrar, Sr., father-in-law of Elizabeth (Hood) Farrar, sister of Sarah Hood aka Sarah Bassett

2.Elizabeth Hutchinson, wife of Isaac Hart whose sister, Deborah Hart, was married to Benjamin Proctor, brother of John Proctor.

3.Elizabeth Proctor, daughter of John Proctor and Elizabeth Thorndike Proctor, married Thomas Very in 1681. His sister, Elizabeth Very was the second wife of John Nurse, the eldest son of Francis and Rebecca (née Towne) Nurse.

4.Rebecca Nurse, sister of Mary Eastey and Sarah Cloyce.

5.Mary Eastey, sister of Rebecca Nurse and Sarah Cloyce.

6.Sarah Cloyce, sister of Rebecca Nurse and Mary Eastey.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Proctor_(Salem_witch_trials_victim)