Wanda Prosser (Santa Margarita Chapter) and Laverne Boyd (Monserate Chapter) attended the Linares Chapter meeting on October 1, where Daughter Gail Mewes gave a program about the Salem witch trials and her ancestor who was accused of witchcraft.

Wanda Prosser, member of the Santa Margarita Chapter, invited Laverne Boyd, member of the Monserate Chapter, to the Linares Chapter meeting, where Wanda is an Associate member. Gail Mewes, member of Linares, gave a talk about her multi-great grandmother, Frances Alcock Hutchins. Hutchins was one of the women accused in the witchcraft hysteria in the 1600’s.

Boyd and Mewes shared common stories of their grandmothers. Both were widowed women, one 71 years old and the other 80, and both were land holders. They were accused of witchcraft, jailed, and their land was taken. They both were victims, or martyrs, of superstition and possibly greed. Hutchins was bonded out and died a free woman. Boyd’s ancestor, Susannah North Martin, was the last accused witch to be hanged in Salem. A bronze tablet marker, affixed to a huge stone, was placed in Amesbury, MA to honor her.