Decades before the infamous Salem Witch Trials, a wave of paranoia and accusations swept through colonial Connecticut. This period of intense fear, known as the Hartford Witch Panic, left an indelible mark on the young settlement, claiming the lives of several individuals accused of consorting with the Devil. Among the most prominent and tragic figures caught in this maelstrom were Nathaniel and Rebecca Greensmith, a couple whose lives ended on the gallows, forever linked to one of America’s earliest and most brutal witch hunts.
Their story exemplifies the devastating power of communal fear and the swift, unforgiving justice meted out in a society deeply rooted in Puritanical beliefs and a literal interpretation of evil.
The Genesis of Fear in Colonial Connecticut
Connecticut experienced intermittent witch hunts between 1647 and 1697, preceding the Salem events. This Puritan society, deeply concerned with the Devil’s influence, viewed misfortunes as signs of witchcraft, and its laws allowed for the prosecution of alleged witches. The most intense period was the Hartford Witch Panic, which peaked in the spring of 1662.
The Hartford Witch Panic of 1662
The panic was triggered by the death of eight-year-old Elizabeth Kelly, whose parents believed their neighbor Goody Ayres used magic to cause it. This unleashed widespread fear in Hartford. Over the next year, ten people were accused, and four were executed. It was in this atmosphere of terror that Nathaniel and Rebecca Greensmith became targets.
Who Were Nathaniel and Rebecca Greensmith?
Nathaniel Greensmith’s origins are largely unknown. He married Rebecca around 1655 in Hartford. Rebecca, born Rebecca Steele in 1629 in Devon, England, had immigrated to America after having two previous marriages and children. She was first married to Abraham Elson (two children), then Jarvis Mudge (three children), before marrying Nathaniel. The couple appears to have had no children together.
A Reputation for Disdain
The Greensmiths lived on Nathaniel’s twenty-acre plot in Hartford. Nathaniel was generally disliked, perhaps due to envy over his land or his contentious personality. He had several run-ins with authorities for theft, perjury, and battery. Rebecca was also poorly regarded; her minister, Reverend John Whiting, described her as “lewd, ignorant and considerably aged.” Their already tarnished reputations made them easy prey for accusations when the witch panic erupted.
The Unraveling: Accusations Take Hold
Following Elizabeth Kelly’s death, a young woman named Ann Cole became “afflicted,” experiencing violent shaking and blasphemous outbursts. Ann, a pious woman, spoke for hours about evil spirits harming her, often lapsing into gibberish. Ministers Joseph Haynes and John Whiting witnessed her remarkable ability to speak with a precise Dutch accent, despite her unfamiliarity with the language. Her public and private fits were considered compelling evidence of bewitchment.
Crucially, Ann Cole explicitly accused her neighbor, Rebecca Greensmith, of bewitching her. This accusation, from a woman of good standing, held significant sway in the fear-stricken Puritan community. Soon, more residents claimed possession, with Ann and others suffering attacks in church. During a special day of prayer, Ann also denounced Elizabeth Seager, an accusation bolstered by Goodwife Miggat, who claimed Seager had attacked her.
Rebecca’s Confession and Nathaniel’s Implication
Under the immense pressure of Ann Cole’s accusations and escalating hysteria, Rebecca Greensmith was jailed. During interrogations by Reverends Haynes and Whiting, Rebecca confessed to “familiarity with the devil,” claiming he appeared as a deer. Her confession implicated others: Elizabeth Seager, Mary Barnes, Andrew and Mary Sanford, William and Goody Ayres, and members of the Dutch family including James Wakely, Katherine Palmer, and Judith Varlet.
Nathaniel Accused by His Wife
Most tragically, Rebecca implicated her own husband, Nathaniel Greensmith. She claimed he possessed unnatural strength and was followed by wild animals, suggesting a supernatural connection. She also expressed fear of him due to rumors heard before their marriage. Whether coerced or genuinely believed, her testimony sealed Nathaniel’s fate.
On December 30, 1662, both were formally indicted for “familiarity with the devil.” Nathaniel’s indictment read:
“Nathaniel Greensmith thou art here indicted by the name of Nathaniel Greensmith for not having the fear of God before thine eyes, thou hast entertained familiarity with Satan, the grand enemy of God and mankind – and by his help, hast acted things in a preternatural way beyond human abilities in a natural course for which according to the law of God and the established law of this commonwealth thou deservest to die.”
Rebecca’s indictment was likely identical.
The Trial, Verdict, and Tragic End
In early January 1663, the trial of Nathaniel and Rebecca Greensmith commenced in Hartford. Rebecca, having confessed in jail, reiterated her admissions. Nathaniel, however, maintained his innocence. Despite his pleas, the court, swayed by Rebecca’s testimony and his own poor reputation, delivered a damning verdict for both. The judgment declared:
“According to the law of God and the established law of this commonwealth, thou deservest to die.”
Execution and Aftermath
Rebecca and Nathaniel Greensmith, along with Mary Barnes of Farmington (also convicted of witchcraft), were hanged on Gallows Hill in Hartford on January 25, 1663. This event marked a grim climax of the Hartford Witch Panic. Afterward, Ann Cole reportedly recovered fully, marrying Andrew Benton and remaining free of fits for decades.
The fates of others Rebecca implicated varied: William and Goody Ayres fled. Elizabeth Seager was convicted in 1665 but later had her verdict reversed. Mary Sanford was found guilty and likely executed; Andrew Sanford was acquitted. James Wakely escaped, Judith Varlet was imprisoned and released, and Katherine Palmer was exonerated and successfully sued for slander.
Conclusion: A Legacy of Warning
The story of Nathaniel and Rebecca Greensmith stands as a chilling reminder of the dangers of mass hysteria and unchecked religious fervor in early America. Their execution, part of the Hartford Witch Panic, predated Salem but mirrored its tragic patterns of suspicion, coerced confessions, and profound injustice. Marginalized by their community, the Greensmiths became scapegoats for anxieties and a fervent belief in the Devil’s presence.
Their narrative is a powerful historical warning, illustrating how fear, when unmitigated by reason, can unravel societal trust and lead to the persecution of the innocent. Their names are etched into Connecticut’s history, not as practitioners of evil, but as victims of a society consumed by the darkest superstitions of its era.
