The chilling history of witchcraft accusations in colonial America includes the tragic case of John and Joan Carrington, a couple from Wethersfield, Connecticut, who faced capital charges in 1651. Their story serves as a stark reminder of the deep-seated fears and harsh realities of justice in 17th-century Puritan New England, where merely three years after the trial of Mary Johnson, another unsettling chapter in local history unfolded involving the Carringtons.
In the austere and often unforgiving landscape of early colonial America, John Carrington, Sr. embarked on his journey from England around 1610. Alongside his first wife, Mary, he set sail aboard the Susan and Ellen, making landfall in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1635. Records from their arrival indicate both were approximately 33 years old, traveling without children at that time. The couple eventually welcomed a son, John Carrington, Jr., into the world around 1640 in Simsbury, Connecticut, before ultimately establishing their roots in the tightly-knit Puritan community of Wethersfield, Connecticut.
Life and Status in Wethersfield
Life in the colonies was one of constant struggle and rebuilding. At some point, John Carrington’s first wife, Mary, passed away. He then married Joan (sometimes spelled Joann), a woman who hailed from Wethersfield itself. Together, John and Joan had a daughter named Rebecca in 1650, further intertwining their lives with the burgeoning settlement. John Carrington was primarily known as a carpenter, acquiring land in Wethersfield in 1643 and again in 1647, also receiving a small grant from the town in 1649. By then, it appears he had diversified his labors, also working as a farmer.
Despite his efforts to establish himself, John Carrington’s economic and social standing remained relatively low within the hierarchical Puritan society. He never held any public office in Wethersfield, a clear indicator of his marginal position. Furthermore, his record was not entirely unblemished; in 1644, he appeared as a defendant in a civil action in Hartford, and in 1650, he was fined ten pounds by the same court for the illicit act of bartering a gun with an Indian. Such transgressions, though minor by modern standards, could easily fuel suspicion in a community ever vigilant against perceived moral failings and unorthodox behavior.
The Gravest Accusation: Witchcraft
The lives of John and Joan Carrington took a terrifying turn when, for reasons largely unrecorded and unknown to history, they were both charged with witchcraft. The formal proceedings commenced at a court held on February 20, 1651. The indictment against John Carrington, which was mirrored for his wife Joan, laid bare the grave nature of the accusation:
“Thou art indicted by the name of John Carrington of Wethersfield, carpenter, that not having a fear of God before thine eyes thou hast entertained familiarity with Satan, the great enemy of God and Mankind; and by his help has done works above the course of nature, according to the laws of God and the established laws of this commonwealth thou deservest to Dye.”
This chilling statement encapsulated the Puritan belief that witchcraft was not merely a crime against society but an egregious sin against God, punishable by death. The charge of “familiarity with Satan” was among the most serious, implying a pact with the Devil and the use of supernatural powers for malevolent purposes. The lack of specific accusations or testimonies in surviving records makes their case particularly enigmatic and tragic, highlighting how quickly suspicion could escalate to a death sentence.
Conviction and Execution
The legal process against the Carringtons moved swiftly and decisively. Both John and Joan Carrington were convicted of witchcraft on March 6, 1651. On the very same day, they were sentenced to death and subsequently hanged at Hartford. The swiftness of their trial and execution underscores the intense fear and lack of due process that characterized many early American witchcraft accusations. There was little room for doubt or defense once the community’s consensus, often swayed by rumor and superstition, turned against an individual.
The aftermath of their deaths painted a grim picture of their economic reality. Their entire estate was valued at a mere 23 pounds, while their outstanding debts amounted to 13 pounds, leaving their heirs with little to inherit. This detail further reinforces their modest social standing and the profound destitution that could befall even industrious members of the community once accused of such a heinous crime. The Carringtons’ case illustrates the harsh consequences of social ostracization and legal condemnation in colonial New England.
A Lingering Shadow in Connecticut History
Following the execution of John and Joan Carrington, Wethersfield experienced a temporary reprieve, remaining free of formal witchcraft proceedings for more than a decade. However, their story, alongside other early Connecticut witchcraft trials, serves as a dark precursor to the more widely known and extensive Salem Witch Trials that would grip Massachusetts later in the century. The case of John and Joan Carrington reminds us of the fragility of life and liberty when fear and religious fervor combine, creating an environment where justice could be tragically perverted.
The Carringtons’ legacy is one of solemn remembrance, a poignant chapter in the broader history of colonial American legal and social structures. Their execution marked an early, brutal episode in Connecticut’s history of witchcraft hysteria, standing as a testament to the dangers of unchecked accusations and the profound impact of superstition on individual lives and community cohesion. Their story continues to fascinate and caution us about the powerful forces of fear and belief in shaping human destiny.
