Випадок Чарльза Декстера Варда

           Theknowledgehedisplayedconcerninglong-deadpersonsandlong-forgotteneventswasconsidereddistinctlyunwholesome,andhedisappearedaboutthetimethewitchcraftpanicbegan,nevertobeheardfromagain.AtthattimeJosephCurwenalsodeparted,buthissettlementinProvidencewassoonlearnedof.SimonOrnelivedinSalemuntil1720,whenhisfailuretogrowvisiblyoldbegantoexciteattention.Hethereafterdisappeared,thoughthirtyyearslaterhisprecisecounterpartandself-styledsonturneduptoclaimhisproperty.TheclaimwasallowedonthestrengthofdocumentsinSimonOrne’sknownhand,andJedediahOrnecontinuedtodwellinSalemtill1771,whencertainlettersfromProvidencecitizenstotheRev.ThomasBarnardandothersbroughtabouthisquietremovaltopartsunknown.

           CertaindocumentsbyandaboutallofthestrangecharacterswereavailableattheEssexInstitute,theCourtHouse,andtheRegistryofDeeds,andincludedbothharmlesscommonplacessuchaslandtitlesandbillsofsale,andfurtivefragmentsofamoreprovocativenature.Therewerefourorfiveunmistakableallusionstothemonthewitchcrafttrialrecords;aswhenoneHepzibahLawsonsworeonJuly10,1692,attheCourtofOyerandTerminerunderJudgeHathorne,that:’fortieWitchesandtheBlackeManwerewonttomeeteintheWoodesbehindMr.Hutchinson’shouse’,andoneAmityHowdeclaredatasessionofAugust8thbeforeJudgeGedneythat:’Mr.G.B.(Rev.GeorgeBurroughs)onthatNighteputtyeDivellhisMarkeuponBridgetS.,JonathanA.,SimonO.