Deliverance (Hazeltine) Dane
Encyclopedia
Deliverance Dane was one of many women accused of witchcraft
during the time of the Salem Witch Trials
. The trials began in Salem
, but quickly began to spread. Dane was from Andover, Massachusetts
, and due largely to the work of her father-in-law, much of the hysteria that swept through Salem was halted in Andover.
Her husband, Nathaniel Dane, was the son of Rev. Francis Dane
. Francis Dane was outspoken against the trials, and his two daughters Abigail Faulkner
and Elizabeth Johnson were also accused of being witches. Abigail was convicted of witchcraft, but only escaped execution because she was pregnant
at the time.
Many of the records of Deliverance's examination have been lost, but on page 280 of Marilynne K. Roach's book The Salem witch trials: a day-by-day chronicle of a community under siege, she quotes Deliverance as saying that she and some other witches had brought her father-in-law's specter along with them to torment the afflicted. Fortunately, her testimony was ignored and Rev. Francis Dane was not arrested.
Deliverance Dane escaped execution. According to Andover, Massachusetts
records, she lived until 15 June 1735.
A fictional account of Deliverance Dane can be found in the book The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane
by Katherine Howe. In this book, Deliverance is an avowed and practicing witch.
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
during the time of the Salem Witch Trials
Salem witch trials
The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings before county court trials to prosecute people accused of witchcraft in the counties of Essex, Suffolk, and Middlesex in colonial Massachusetts, between February 1692 and May 1693...
. The trials began in Salem
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
, but quickly began to spread. Dane was from Andover, Massachusetts
Andover, Massachusetts
Andover is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. It was incorporated in 1646 and as of the 2010 census, the population was 33,201...
, and due largely to the work of her father-in-law, much of the hysteria that swept through Salem was halted in Andover.
Her husband, Nathaniel Dane, was the son of Rev. Francis Dane
Francis Dane
Francis Dane was baptized in Bishop's Stortford, England, and was probably born there.-Education and early career:...
. Francis Dane was outspoken against the trials, and his two daughters Abigail Faulkner
Abigail Faulkner
Abigail Faulkner was an American woman accused of witchcraft during the Salem witch trials in 1692. In the frenzy that followed, Faulkner’s sister Elizabeth Johnson, her sister-in-law Deliverance Dane, two of her daughters, two of her nieces, and a nephew, would all be accused of witchcraft and...
and Elizabeth Johnson were also accused of being witches. Abigail was convicted of witchcraft, but only escaped execution because she was pregnant
Pregnancy
Pregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets...
at the time.
Many of the records of Deliverance's examination have been lost, but on page 280 of Marilynne K. Roach's book The Salem witch trials: a day-by-day chronicle of a community under siege, she quotes Deliverance as saying that she and some other witches had brought her father-in-law's specter along with them to torment the afflicted. Fortunately, her testimony was ignored and Rev. Francis Dane was not arrested.
Deliverance Dane escaped execution. According to Andover, Massachusetts
Andover, Massachusetts
Andover is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. It was incorporated in 1646 and as of the 2010 census, the population was 33,201...
records, she lived until 15 June 1735.
A fictional account of Deliverance Dane can be found in the book The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane
The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane
The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane is the first novel written by Katherine Howe, published by VOICE, an imprint of Hyperion . Physick Book debuted at #2 on the New York Times Hardcover Fiction Bestseller list on June 20, 2009.- Setting :...
by Katherine Howe. In this book, Deliverance is an avowed and practicing witch.
External links
- http://etext.virginia.edu/etcbin/toccer-new2?id=BoySal1.sgm&images=images/modeng&data=/texts/english/modeng/oldsalem&tag=public&part=35&division=div1 Virginia
- http://www.salemwitchtrials.com/accused.html Salem Witch Trials
- http://books.google.com/books?id=DaHgBxgHTcwC&dq=rev.%20Francis%20dane&lr=&pg=PA423#v=onepage&q=rev.%20Francis%20dane&f=false Historical sketches of Andover: (comprising the present towns of North Andover and Andover)page 423