I desire to be humbled before God for that sad and humbling providence
that befell my father's family in the year about '92; that I, then being
in my childhood, should, by such a providence of God, be made an instrument
for the accusing of several persons of a grievous crime, whereby their
lives were taken away from them, whom now I have just grounds and good
reason to believe they were innocent persons; and that it was a great delusion
of Satan that deceived me in that sad time, whereby I justly fear I have
been instrumental, with others, though ignorantly and unwittingly, to bring
upon myself and this land the guilt of innocent blood; though what was
said or done by me against any person I can truly and uprightly say, before
God and man, I did it not out of any anger, malice, or ill-will to any
person, for I had no such thing against one of them; but what I did was
ignorantly, being deluded by Satan. And particularly, as I was a chief
instrument of accusing of Goodwife Nurse and her two sisters, I desire
to lie in the dust, and to be humbled for it, in that I was a cause, with
others, of so sad a calamity to them and their families; for which cause
I desire to lie in the dust, and earnestly beg forgiveness of God, and
from all those unto whom I have given just cause of sorrow and offence,
whose relations were taken away or accused.
Ann Putnam
This confession was read before the congregation, together with her
relation, Aug. 25, 1706; and she acknowledged it.
