Lowell Bradley and Sarah Ann Button

Lowell S. Bradley married Sarah Ann Button June 29, 1856 in Essex, Vermont. There is a death record for their daughter Edna dated January 20, 1859. It lists her as the daughter of Lowell and Sarah Bradley age 3. Edna is buried in the Essex Common Burial Ground. In the Essex town records we find a 2nd marriage for Sarah dated Feb. 14, 1863 to (Curtis) Samuel Putnam. Sarah Ann Button is identified as the daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth Button. There is a death record for Sarah Ann Putnam dated Feb 14, 1911 in Elmore, Vermont. She is again identified as the daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth Button. In her 1st marriage record she is listed as being from Underhill. Her death record lists her place of birth as Westford. ----Reference the Blog April 2014 for the history of Lowell's father Theron.

Norman Samuel Bradley of Essex, Vermont

Norman Samuel Bradley was born in Essex, Vermont in August of 1833 the son of Theron Bradley and Amanda Ring. We find most of his personal data in his death record dated December 30, 1903, which is found in the Williston town records; Bradley Norman S., age 70 yrs, 4 mo and 23 days, Born in Essex, Parents Theron Bradley and Amanda Ring. Found in Volume-1 of the Essex town records is his marriage to Sarah McDonald on “on the 20th day of August A.D. 1854”. Reverend J. D. Lang of the Congregational Society performed the marriage. Norman’s grandfather Samuel Bradley had served as the Deacon in the Society for over thirty years. We find the name of his first two children in the Society records, Lois Carrie and Sylvia Elizabeth. According to family records Sarah C. McDonald was born in Canada her parents English immigrants. The 1900 census notes that she arrived in America in 1845. The same census lists her date of birth as May 1831. I am guessing that the “C” stood for “Carrie” a name she gave to her daughter. The last record we have of her is the 1910 census.------ In the 1860 census the family is living in Essex. The family consisted of Norman and Sarah and their two daughters Carrie age 4 and Silva age 1. In the 1870 census the family is living in Warren, Vermont the family now included five girls, Carrie L., Sylvia, Abby, Maria and Hattie.------- Starting in 1859 Essex began keeping detailed birth and death records. In those records we find the birth and death record for William N. Bradley. William’s birth is recorded on October 6th, 1862. His parents are identified at Norman and Sarah Bradley. His death record is dated August 26, 1863, “William N. Bradley, 10 mo 26 days, Dropsy on the Brain, Norman and Sarah Bradley.”--------- There is no birth record in Essex for Lois Carrie. Evidence suggests that she was born in January of 1856. The only mention of her full name is found in the Congregational records. Her marriage to Alonzo Bellus is found in the Essex town records dated May 5, 1880. His name is spelled Alonzo Bellus. the Bellus family later on used the spelling of Bellows. The marriage record lists the marriage as the first for both and both are listed at the age of 24. Carrie’s parents and listed as Norman S. & Sarah Bradley. The marriage was performed by her father’s first cousin, A. B. Halbert, the Justice of the Peace. In the 1880 census taken in Essex the Bellus family is living next door to the Norman Bradley family. The death record for Carrie is also found in the Essex records in 1889, “November 23, Carrie Bradley Bellus, age 33-10, female, married, Consumption, Born Essex, Norman S. & Sarah Bradley.” Found three lines above is the record of the death of her daughter; May 10, “Not named Bellus, 1-4 Female, Cholera Infantum, Born Westford, Alonzo and Carrie Bellus.”--------- Sylvia Elizabeth Bradley was born according to the 1900 census in June 1854. Other evidence suggests that the date was in 1859. Her official death record places her date of birth in August 1857. The marriage of “Sylvia E. Bradley” to William H. Curtis is dated August 9th 1893. The bride is listed as thirty-four years old, William was twenty years her senior. L. B. Tenney, the Congregational pastor, performed the marriage. Sylvia E. Bradley is buried in the Essex Common Burial Ground. Her headstone reads, “Feb 21, 1901, Wife of Wm. H. Curtis, Age 42.” Her death record, found in the Essex town records, is dated February 21, 1901; Sylvia E. Curtis age 43 yrs 6 mo, married, nephritis, Place of birth Essex, Vt, Parents Norman and Sarah Bradley”.-------- The birth record for Abby Luella Bradley is found in the Essex town records dated July 19, 1864. Her parents are listed as Norman and Sarah Bradley. For most of her life she is identified as “Abbie F.”. Her marriage to Albert S. Bellows age “fifty-one” is found in the Essex records dated May 13, 1885. The marriage is listed as the “third” for Albert. She is listed as ‘Abbie F. Bradley” born in Essex, age “twenty-one”, daughter of Norman and Sarah Bradley. There is another marriage record for Abbie dated November 30th, 1893. She is identified as Abbie F. Bellows age “twenty-nine” the daughter of Norman S. and Sarah Bradley. The groom is Albert M. Thomas age “sixty-one”. The marriage is listed as a second marriage for both. Abbie’s first marriage was performed by a justice of the peace her second by the Congregational pastor. Apparently Abbie and Albert Bellows divorced. Albert Bellow’s death is recorded in Colchester, Vermont, August 12, 1912. A daughter Susan Thomas was born according to Essex records April 10th 1896. The 1900 census finds the Thomas family living in the next County in Cambridge, Vermont. In his marriage record to Abbie, Albert Thomas’s place of birth is listed as Townsend, Vermont. His parents are listed as Amos and Cynthia Thomas. In the town records in Sterling, Massachusetts we find his death record, it is dated March 20, 1904; Albert Major Thomas, place of birth Townsend, Vt, Parents Amos Thomas of Townsend and Cynthia Walden of Townsend. In the 1810 census taken in the 12th Ward in Boston we find Abbie and Susan Thomas age 14.-------- Sarah Maria Bradley was born in Essex September 22, 1866 the daughter of Norman S. and Sarah Bradley. Maria Bradley was living in her sister Abbie’s household in Cambridge in 1900. On September 25, 1901 she became the 3rd wife of her sister Sylvia’s husband William H. Curtis. The marriage is recorded in Cambridge. The record lists her name as Maria S. Bradley, the marriage as her first, her age as 35 years, and her parents Norman and Sarah Bradley. William’s death is recorded in Cambridge August 27, 1905. The last record we have for Maria is the 1920 census taken in Cambridge. She is listed as a widow and a servant. She is living in the household of an older man I think the correct term should have been housekeeper.-------- Harriet Bradley was born in Essex November 27, 1868. According to the census records her family called her Hattie. Her detailed marriage record is found in Boston. Dated September 13, 1896 it records; “Harriet E. Bradley, living Boston, age 24, School teacher, born Essex, Vt, parents Norman and Sarah.” Her husband is listed as; John W. Hunter, residence Hopewell, NB (New Brunswick, Canada), age 36, master mariner, born Hopewell, NB, parents Capt James and Nancy”.-------- In the 1900 census taken in Essex, Norman Bradley is the only name listed in his household. The census records had usually listed him as a farm laborer. The 1900 census notes that he was living in his own home, which he had owned for seven years. Living about twenty-five miles away in Cambridge, Vermont in the household of Albert Thomas we find; Abbie Thomas, Sarah Bradley, mother in law, age 69, Maria Bradley age 33 and Hattie Hunter age 31. In the 1910 census also taken in Cambridge we find living in the household of Harriet Hunter; Sarah Bradley, widow, the mother of six, three still living, and Mariah Curtis, widow.------- Reference the Blog: April 2014 for Theron Bradley, April 2014 for Samuel and Abigail Bradley

Horace Lawrence and Rachel Taylor

Horace Lawrence was born in Salt Creek, Wayne Count, Ohio, on August 10, 1829. He was one of six children born to Martin Lawrence and Submit Griffin. (Blog January 2014). By 1850 Horace’s mother had passed away and his father, Martin, and his two brothers, Martin Jr. and Chauncey were now living in Springfield, Clark County, Ohio. In the 1850 census Horace is living in Pleasant Valley, Madison County, Iowa with his cousin Chauncey Barlow. In the Union County marriage records we find a marriage recorded February 11, 1852 between Horace Lawrence and Rachael C. Taylor. Rachael was the daughter of William Taylor and Betsy Burdick. She was born August 20, 1833 in Jerome, Union County, Ohio. By the time of the 1860 census Martin Lawrence and his three sons, Martin Jr., Chauncey and Horace are all living in Sabula, Jackson County, Ohio. Sabula was a lumber town sitting on the Mississippi. Timber cut down in Minnesota and Wisconsin was floated down the Mississippi to towns like Sabula where it was processed into finished lumber or made into furniture. The Lawrence brothers were all listed as carpenters or cabinetmakers in the census records. All three Lawrence brothers served in the Civil War. Their brother Chauncey was killed at Vicksburg.------- Horace and Rachel were living in Sabula at the time of her death in 1874. Her headstone reads; Rachel C, wife of H Lawrence, died Mar. 26, 1874, 40y 07 m 06d.” Rachel/Rachael is buried in the Lawrence family plot in the Evergreen Cemetery in Sabula/Union next to her father in law, Martin, and her daughter, Mary Submit. Horace remarried taking Amanda as his second wife. Horace and Amanda Heckert were married in Clinton, Iowa May 31, 1876. The couple lived in Sabula until the turn of the century. Horace is buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in Red Oak, Montgomery County, Iowa. His headstone contains the dates; Aug 10, 1829—July 25, 1912.------- Four children were born to Horace and Rachael in Sabula. The first was Mary Submit named after her grandmother Submit Griffin Lawrence. The only record of her is her headstone, which is found in the Evergreen Cemetery in Sabula/Union, Iowa. She died on October 7, 1858 at the age of 5 years, 9 months and 9 days. --------- The 1860 census, taken in Sabula, shows Horace and Rachael and two children, Emma E., age 5, born in Iowa and Edward, age 5/12, born in Iowa. Emma married Alonzo Charles Wells in Jackson County, Iowa November 5, 1872. Wells family history lists her date of death as August 26, 1841 in Mason City Iowa. According to Wells family tradition her full name was Emma Elizabeth. In the early years of the marriage the couple lived in Sabula. The 1900 census finds them in Eagle Grove, Iowa. The 1900 census lists her date of birth as Aug 1856 and Alonzo’s as Feb. 1847 born in New Hampshire. The 1925 Iowa census finds the widowed Emma living in Cedar Rapids. The census record lists her parents as Horace Lawrence and Rachael Taylor. Living in the same household is her widowed sister Nellie McCone. In the 1930 census she is living with her son Harry Wells in Cedar Rapids. Her last known address was found in the 1940 city directory for Mason City. She is listed as Emma E. Wells widow of Alonzo C. Emma and Alonzo had a large family. She named her oldest son, Horace.------- Edward Lawrence is recorded in the 1860 census at the age of five months and the 1870 census at the age of ten. In the 1880 census there is an Edward Lawrence age 19, born Iowa, Carpenter, living in Muscatine, Iowa another lumber town setting on the Mississippi. The 1880 census is the last record of an Edward Lawrence.------- Nellie Lawrence is listed as age 8 in the 1870 census. In the 1880 census the 18-year-old Nellie is listed as a servant in Iowa Township, in Jackson County. Found in the 1885 Iowa census in the household of A. Charles and Emma Wells is Nellie Lawrence age 23. According to a very well documented McCone family history Nellie married Lewis McCone in Mason City, Iowa. Lewis was the son of William McCone he was born in Linn County, Iowa in 1871. Nellie was nine years older than Lewis. The family history includes the following, “Lewis was tall he said if he found a really short woman, he would marry her Nellie was 4’6”.” The couple spent most of their married years in Colorado where Lewis died July 13, 1922. Lewis is buried in the Fairmont Cemetery in Denver Colorado. The couple did not have any children. In the probate records, recorded in 1922, Nellie declared, “my age is 60”. In 1925 Nellie is living with her sister Emma in Iowa. McCone family history gives us a date of death January 18, 1930 in Mason City, Iowa. Again the two sisters, Nellie and Emma, are found living close to each other in the Mason City directory.------- Horace Lawrence / Submit Griffin / Edward / James / Samuel Griffin Of Killingworth Connecticut.------ Reference the Blog; January 2014, June and July 2013, March 2012.

David Brainerd Griffin's Civil War Widow's Pension

David was killed at the battle of Chickamauga in September of 1863. The application for a widow’s pension filled by his wife Philinda Minerva Griffin is found in the national archives. In order to qualify for the pension Minerva was required to provide evidence of her marriage to David. She was also required to supply evidence of their children and their birth dates. The dates were important because the children were only eligible to the age of sixteen. The entire pension file contains 28 pages of documents. For those of us researching family history they hold valuable information. The dates of birth and full name for the children are give in the documents:--------- Alice Jane, born February 27, 1854. Ida May, born July 28, 1856. Edgar L., born February 27, 1861. Died April 28, 1870.------------- Several people in the extended family testified that they attended the marriage of David and Minerva in the house of her father, Almon Griffin, in Essex, Vermont on the 13th day of January 1852. The marriage was conducted by the Reverend O. Osborn. One of the people giving evidence for the marriage was David’s brother Henry F. Griffin. A court clerk in Howard County, Iowa certified his testimony.--------- There would have been a large gathering of Griffins for the marriage. In Minerva’s family there would have been all of her siblings and her grandfather David Almon Griffin and her uncle Joel. In David’s family there would have been his father Orlo’s whole family plus his grandmother Sylvia Bradley Griffin. Also in attendance would have been David’s uncle Samuel’s family, Electa, Sylvia, Rosetta and Harrison. From their Uncle John’s family there would have been Mary, Malinda and Jane (Bentley). In addition there would have been a number of people from the in law families. David was close to his Thompson grandparents. Minerva’s Chase grandparents belonged to a large family in Essex.--------- Minerva’s family had lived in nearby Westford, Vermont since the early 1800s. By 1850 her father had moved to Essex were he was working as a butcher. In the 1850 census both David and Minerva’s families are listed in Essex.

Griffin deeds from Essex, Vermont

Because Samuel Griffin's will involved the transfer of some of his property it was also recorded in the Land Deeds Ledger. We also see deeds between the estate of Samuel Griffin and his son in law, Electa's husband, Chauncey Wollcott and on the next page is a deed to Hannah Griffin, Orlow's widow. Note the signature of "Harrison Griffin Guardian of Sylvia Griffin".The third deed is also to Orlow's widow Hannah. Click on images to enlarge.

Humphrey Varney and Sarah Starbuck

Humphrey Varney, as a young man, relocated from Ipswich, Massachusetts, the home of his father William, to Dover in Strafford County, New Hampshire. There are family traditions that contend that he took as his first wife Ester Starbuck daughter of Edward Starbuck. There are no surviving original documents to support the existence of that marriage. There is ample evidence of his marriage to Esther’s sister Sarah. The commonly held dates of birth for Humphrey’s children seem to indicate that they were the issue from his marriage to Sarah Starbuck who he married after the death of her first husband Joseph Austin. In the compilation of marriage records for the town of Dover we find the following, “Humphrey Varney d. 1713/14 m. March 2, 1664 Sarah Austin, wid of Joseph.”-------- In the deed records is a wonderful document signed by Edward Starbuck in which he names as his son in laws Joseph Austin and Humphrey Varney both of whom had married his daughter Sarah.--------- In the second generation of Varney’s we are again left without any clear decisive documentation for the children of Humphrey and Sarah. What is available are collections that are purported to be based on the original records. The problem is that time and human error has introduced a level of uncertainty.------ The New England Historical Genealogical Society in their collections, Vol-1 pages 124-125 published in 1894, recorded the following data from Dover. Note they included the incorrect Sorer/Story reference. NOTE: See story “Sarah Starbuck was not married to William Story”. “Varney. Humphrey Varney married Sarah Storer, 2nd March 1664. Children: Peter, their son, born 29 March 1666. John, their son, died 14 August 1666. Joseph, their son, born 8th October 1667. Abigail, their daughter, born June 10th, 1669.” --------- Tradition adds two more sons to the list, Ebenezer and a second John. The separate nature of these two boys is used to support the idea of a second marriage to Ester Starback. However their accepted dates of birth argue that there mother was Sarah. In his will Humphrey names; his “beloved wife Sarah”, “beloved sonne Ebenezer”, daughter Abigail Brackston, “sonne” Peter. Peter is made the executor of his fathers will. ----------- John Varney in his will notes that he had received a “lot of Land” from his father. Having already received his inheritance may explain why his name is not found in his father’s will. In John’s will proved May 28, 1716 he wrote, “also I Give and bequef to my brother Peter varney one half of ye Seven Pound that he ose me; and I give and beguef the other half to my Sister Abgil Brackston; also I Give and bequef thirty Akers of Land at Seaterwit to brother Ebenezers Son John varny also a lot of Land at oster River my father Gave me by ded of Gift I Give the res of the Estait To my brother Ebenezer varny.”------------Reference the Samuel Griffin Genealogy Blog. ---- Documents: 1- Marriage records from Dover. 2- Edward Starbuck deed. 3- Humphrey’s will. 4- Court record admonishing Humphrey. 5- Deed, “Humphrey Varney of Dover”, “Sarah Varney my now wife” and son in law William Brackston. 6- Deed, “Bought of Ebenezer Varney this land is part of forty acres that was granted unto his father Humphrey Varney”.

William Varney Ipswich, Massachusetts

William Varney was the first of his line to come to the Americas. Most genealogies list his birth in 1608 in Claydon, Buckinghamshire, England. William died in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts March 1, 1653/54. William joined the great migration from England to the New World. There where three major destination points for the migration; Virginia, New England and the West Indies. William ended up in Barbados where he had acquired an interest in a plantation. In Barbados he met and married Bridget Knight on May 4, 1629. Tradition suggests that all of their children were born there. William later moved his family to Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts. Williams’ name is prominent in the land and town records in that community The oldest child was Thomas. His birth date is generally listed as 1630. Thomas died in Ipswich in 1692. The children are generally listed as Rachael 1632-1707/8, William 1632-1645, Walter 1635-1650, Humphrey 1642-1713. There are many genealogies that list another daughter, Sarah, the wife of Jeffery Parsons. While there are good records for some of the births and most of the deaths of the children but there is not that one definitive document that clearly identifies the family. William died intestate. The probate record for his estate is found in, “Ipswich Quarterly Court Records, vol-1. In dividing up his estate the Probate Court noted that it was to be divided between his wife, Bridgett, three sons and a daughter.--------- “Administration of the estate of William Varney, intestate, granted Mar. 28, 1654, to his widow, Bridgett Varney. He left three sons and one daughter. Ordered that the eldest son have 8 pounds within three months, and the other children 4 pounds each at the age of twenty-one.”-------- The Inventory for William’s estate is found in the deed records. At first glance it seems to be very humble. But we need to remember he had only been in Massachusetts for about a dozen years. Given a family history of four sons how do we reconcile that with the probate record? The surviving death dates indicate that William and Walter had died before their father. Did one of them have a surviving interest? Also note that the court record only notes one daughter. Many genealogies include a second daughter Sarah.------ We get some clarity from the surviving will left by Bridgett Varney dated November 10, 1671. In the will she names three of her children, Thomas, Humphrey and Rachael.-------- “I Bridgett Verney of Glocester in ye County of Essex in New England being by Gods Providence Cast upon my Bed of Sickness & weakness & not knowing how near the time of my death & departure out of this world may be at hand yet knowing that all men are borne to dye & depart out of this world doe therefore declare & make knowne this my last will & Testament in manner and forme following. And first I commit & command my Soule into the hands of God the Father of Spirits & my Body to the Grave to be decently buryed by my Surviving Friends. And for my Goods and Estate I give & bequeath in the first place unto my Sonne Humfrey Verney the Summe of twenty Pounds to be payd by my sonne Jeffery Parsons of this Towne in foure years, five pounds per Annum during the space of foure yeares after my decease. Item I give & bequeath unto my Daughter Rachael Vinson, the wife of William Vinson, twenty Pounds to be payd out of my estate according as thee sayd William vinson my sonne in Law Can best order it for Her And this to be for my sayd Daughter after my decease. Item I give and bequeath unto my sone Thomas Verney Seaven Sheepe after my decease. And for the rest of my goodes or estate besides what is above mentioned and bequeathed I leave in the hands of my Sonne in Law William vinson as he shall see meet And to the end this my Last will & Testament may be duely & truly performed in manner and forme above sayd I doe hereby appoint constitute & ordayne my sayd Sonne in Law William vinson to be sole Executor. In wittnesse whereof I the sayd Bridget had hereunto Set my Hand & Seale the tenth day of this instant November Anno Dom, one thousand Six hundred & Seventy one. Bridget Varney”----------- The will takes a little translating. After the death of her husband, Bridgett moved to nearby Gloucester to live with her daughter Rachael and her husband William Vincent. It seems evident from the will that she had intermingled her estate with that of her son in law. On her death she named William Vincent to be the executor of her will. The naming of Jeffery Parsons in her will has created a great deal of confusion. Many have suggested that he was after some fashion actually her son. Many suggest that he was married to another daughter in the family a supposed Sarah Varney. The explanation, although a little unconventional, is quite straightforward. There is ample evidence for the marriage and family of Jeffery Parsons and Sarah Vincent who he married November 11, 1657. Sarah was the daughter of the William Vincent in Bridgett’s will.--------- The term “sonne” held a number of different meanings in 1672. A son or a brother could actually refer to a son, a son in law or a brother in law. In the case of Jeffery Parsons, Bridgett was either expressing a close relationship in an extended family or making reference to the fact that he was Rachel’s brother in law. But Jeffery Parson’s was not her actual son.-------- The most famous or infamous town in Essex County is Salem, to be ever remembered for its witch trials. The witch hysteria also caught the Varneys in its trap. Thomas Varney married Abigail Proctor the daughter of John Proctor, the main character in Arthur Miller’s play “The Crucible” who was hanged on August 19, 1692. Rachel Varney, her name appearing as the “Widow Vincent”, and her daughter Rachael, referred to as the “wife of Hugh Row”, was accused by her grand daughter and arrested. She was released on bond in October 1692. Her name is found in the collection of documents from the witch trails. The death records for Thomas and Abigail are found in the records of the Chebacco Parish; Thomas, Dec 4th, 1692 and Abigail, March 1st, 1731, age 92.------ “Petition of Ten Prisoners at Ipswich. To the Honourable Governor and Councell and Generall Assembly now sitting in Boston. The humble petition of us whose names are subscribed hereunto now prisoners at Ipswich humbly sheweth, that some of us have Lyen in the prison many monthes, and some of us many weekes, who are charged with witchcraft, and not being conscious to our selves of any guilt of what nature lying upon our consciences; our earnest request is that seing that winter is soe far come on that it can not be exspectd that we should be tried during this winter seson, that we may be released out of prison for the present upon Bayle to answer what we are charged with in the Spring. For we are not in this unwilling nor afrayed to abide the tryall before any Judicature apoynted in convenient season of any crime of the nature: we hope you will put on the bowels of compassion soe far as to consider of our suffering condition in the present state we are in, being like to perish with cold in lying longer in prison in this cold season of the yeare, some of us being aged either about or nere four score some though younger yet being with Child, and one giving suck to a child not ten weekes old yet, and all of us weake and infirme at the best, and one fetterd with irons and halfe year and all most destroyed with soe long and Imprisonment: Thus hoping you will grant us a releas at the present that we be not left to perish in this miserable condition we shall always pray &c. Widow Penny, Widow Vincent, Widow Prince, Goodwife Green of Havarell, the wife of Hugh Roe of Cape Anne, Mehitabel Dowing, the wife of Timothy Day, Goodwife Dicer of Piscataqua, Hannah Brumidge of Havarell, Rachel Hafield besides thre or foure men.”---------- The petitioners were granted bail in October of 1692. The following spring the Courts took up the cases for adjudication. By 1693 the general consensus was that the witch trial had been a miscarriage of justice. All of the Ipswich petitioners were cleared of the charges thanks to the support they received from the local ministers in Essex County, “Petition of Eleven Ministers from Essex County To his Excellency the Governor , Council and Representatives of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, In General Court Assembled Whereas in the year 1692 some of our neighbors of a good conversation, were apprehended and imprisoned upon the suspicion of Witchcraft, upon the complaint of some young persons under Diabolicall molestations; and upon their Tryall at the Court at Salem condemned; great weight being layd upon the evidence of the Afflicted persons, their Accusers Sentence of Death was Executed on severall of them other were Reprieved. But since it is apparent and hath been Acknowledged, that there were Errors and mistakes in the aforesaid Tryals; and notwithstanding the care and conscientious endeavors of the Honorable Judges to do the thing that is right: yet there is great reason to fear that Innocent persons then suffered, and that God may have a controversy with the Land upon that account. We would therefore humbly propose to the consideration of this Honored Court, whether something may not, and ought not, be publickly done to clear the good name and reputation of some who have suffered as aforesaid, against whom there was no as is supposed sufficient evidence to prove the quilt of such a crime and for whom there are good grounds of charity. Some of the condemned persons aforesaid, and others in behalf of the Relations who have suffered, have lately Petitioned this Honoured Court upon this Account. We pray that their case may be duely considered.” Over the coming years the Courts reversed the findings of the Salem Courts although to late for those who were executed. The Court then set up a commission to pay reparations to those damage by the miscarriage of justice.------ Reference the Samuel Griffin Genealogy Blog-------- Documents: 1-Court Record for William Varney’s estate 2-Inventory for William’s estate 3 and 4- Bridget Varney’s will 5-Inventory of Bridgett’s estate 6- Court record for Bridget’s estate 7- Death of Thomas Varney 8- Death of Abigail Varney