Sarah Bassett, Salem Witch Trials

Sarah Hood, daughter of Richard Hood and Mary Newhall, was born in August of 1657 in Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts. On 25 October 1675 she married William Bassett, Jr., who was the brother of Elizabeth Bassett Proctor, wife of John Proctor. In 1692 John and Elizabeth Proctor were accused and tried for witchcraft; John was hanged on 19 August 1692. Elizabeth was convicted, but due to her pregnancy, her execution was delayed until after the baby was born. While imprisoned and awaiting execution, the witchcraft trials were discredited and Elizabeth was eventually released - although still a convicted felon. Their daughter, Sarah Proctor, was also accused of witchcraft at age 16 on the same day as her aunt Sarah Bassett.

Sarah Basset was imprisoned in Boston on 23 May 1692, where she remained until her release on 3 December 1692. She had a young child, twenty-two months old, whom she took to prison with her. One month after her release another indictment was issued for afflicting Mary Walcott, but was returned “ignoramus,” meaning the charges were ignored due to lack of evidence.

Not long after the ordeal was over, Sarah gave birth to a daughter whom she named Deliverance in honor of her freedom. Sarah Bassett died at age 64 in 1721.

Although no burial record exists,she may be buried in the Western Burial Ground in Lynn, Massachusetts. This was the only operational burial ground in the town at the time of her death. Western Burial Ground also contains other Bassett graves, as well as Newhall, her mother’s maiden name.

There is a record of nine pounds allowed to Sarah Bassett as compensation for her imprisonment for witchcraft.

In her eighteenth year, on October 25, 1675 she married William Bassett, Jr., who was the brother of Elizabeth Bassett Proctor, wife of John Proctor. Both John and Elizabeth Proctor were accused and tried for witchcraft; John was hanged on August 19th, 1692, whereas Elizabeth escaped persecution due to her pregnancy. Their daughter, Sarah Proctor, was also accused of witchcraft at age 16 on the same day as her aunt Sarah Bassett. Thomas Putnam and John Putnam, Jr. issued this complaint on May 21, 1692, exactly one month after the examination of Mary Warren (John and Elizabeth Proctor’s hired girl) who claimed Elizabeth Proctor administered an ointment to her which she received from “Mrs. Bassits of Linn.” Only two days after the Putnam’s complaint against Sarah Basset she was brought to jail in Boston on May 23, 1692, where she remained until her release on December 3, 1692. One month after her release another indictment was issued for afflicting Mary Walcott, but was returned “ignoramus,” meaning the charges were ignored due to lack of evidence. Not long after the ordeal was over, Sarah gave birth to a daughter whom she named Deliverance as an ode to her freedom. Sarah Bassett died at age 64 in 1721.