Elizabeth Emerson, Sister of Hannah
From Jane Emerson James, "The Haverhill Emersons: Revised and
Extended", (Jane Emerson James, Lake Winnebago, MO, 1983), p. 25:
"On 10 Apr 1686 Elizabeth Emerson, unmarried, gave birth to Dorothy of whom no
further record has been located by me. The father was Samuel Ladd, then 37, who
was married to Martha (Corlis) Ladd, mother of their 6 children. Elizabeth was
23 at the birth of Dorothy and at 28 she again gave birth, this time to twin
boys who did not survive. Again the father was Samuel Ladd, then 42. Whatever
else may be thought of Elizabeth, she was not permiscuous [sic]. Doris Smith of
Porterville, CA located the following record from Records of the Court of
Assistants of the Massachusetts Bay, Vol. 1:
'26th Sept. Elizabeth Emmerson single woman
Daughter of Michael Emmerson of Haverhill in the County of Essex being indicted
by the Jurors for our Soveraigne Lord & Lady King William & Oueen Mary upon
their Oathes. For that the sd. Elizabeth Emmerson being with child with two
living Children or Infants on Thursday night the 7th of May 1691 before day of
Fryday morning at Haverhill aforesd in the house of Michael Emmerson aforesd by
the Providence of God two Bastard Children alive did bring forth and the sd.
Elizabeth Emmerson not haveing the feare of Cod before her Eyes and being
instigated by ye Devil of her malice forethought, the sd two Infants did
feloniously kill & Murther, and them in a small Bagg or cloath sewed up, and
concealed or hid them in sd Emmersons house untill afterwards, that is to say,
on sabbath day May the tenth 1691, the sd two Infants in the yard of sd Emmerson
in Haverhill aforesd did secretly bury contrary to the peace of Our Soveraign
Lord 6 Lady the King & Queen, their Crown & Dignity, the Laws of God, and the
Lawes & Statutes in that case made & provided. Upon which Indictment the sd
Elizabeth Emmerson was arraigned and to the Indictment pleaded not guilty & put
berselfe upon Tryal by God & the Country, * a Jury was impannelled being the
first Jury, whereof mr. Richard Crisp was foreman, and were accordingly sworne
(the prisoner making no challeng) The Indictment Examination & evidences were
read, & the prisoner made her defence, The Jury return their Verdict, the Jury
say, That she sd. Elizabeth Emmerson is guilty according to Indictment. The
Court Order, That sentance of Death he pronounced ag. her.' *Left blank in the
record
"She spent two years in prison and was hanged on Boston Common 8 Jun 1693.
Although the entire village knew that Samuel Ladd was the father he seems never
to have been officially censured."
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The following comes from the Diary of Cotton Mather:
"I had often wished for an Opportunity, to
bear my Testimonies, against the Sins of Uncleanness, wherein so many of my
Generacon do pollute themselves. A young Woman of Haverhil, and a Negro Woman
also of this Town (Boston)were under sentence of Death, for the Murdering of
their Bastard-children. Many and many a weary Hour, did I spend in the Prison,
to serve the Souls of those miserable Creatures; and I had Opportunities in my
own Congregation, to speak to them, and from them, to vast Multitudes of others.
Their Execution, was ordered to have been, upon the Lecture of another; but by a
very strange Providence, without any Seeking of mine, or any Respect to mee,
(that I know of) the order for their Execution was altered and it fell on my
Lecture Day. I did then with the special Assistance of Heaven, make and preach,
a Sermon upon Job. 36.14. Whereat one of the greatest Assemblies, ever known in
these parts of the World, was come together. I had obtained from the young
Woman, a pathetical Instrument, in Writing, wherein shee own'd her own
miscarriages, and warn'd the rising Ceneracon of theirs. Towards the close of my
Sermon, I read that Instrument unto the Congregation; and made what Use, was
proper of it. I accompany'd the Wretches, to their Execution; but extremely fear
all our Labours were lost upon them; however sanctifyed unto many others. The
Sermon was immediately printed; with another which I had formerly uttered on the
like Occasion; (entitled, Warnings From the Dead) and it was greedily bought up;
I hope, to the Attainment of the Ends, which I had so long desired. T'was
afterwards reprinted at London."
[In the referenced sermon, Mather read Elizabeth's confession
which follows. It may be found in his Magnalia Christi Americana.]
"I am a miserable sinner, and I have justly
provok'd the holy God to leave me unto that folly of my own heart, for which I
am now condemmed to die. I cannot but see much of the anger of God against me,
in the circumstances of my woful death. He hath fulfilled upon me that word of
his, "Evil pursueth sinners!" I therefore desire humbly to confess my many sins
before God and the world; but most particularly my blood guiltiness. Before the
birth of my twin-infants, I too much parlied with the temptation of the devil to
smother my wickedness by muthering of them. At length, when they were born, I
was not insensible that at least one of them was alive; but such a wretch was I,
as to use a murderous carriage towards them, in the place where I lay, on
purpose to dispatch them out of the world. I acknowledge that I have been more
hard hearted than the sea-monsters; and yet for the pardon of these my sins, I
would fly to the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is the only "fountain set
open for sin and uncleanness." I know not how better to glorifie God, for giving
me such an opportunity as I have had to make sure of his mercy, than by
advertising and entreating the rising generation here to take warning by my
example, and I will therefore tell the sins that have brought me to my shameful
end. I do warn all people and expecially young people, against the sin of
uncleanness in particular. 'Tis that sin that hath been my ruine. Well had it
been for me, if I had answered all temptations to that sin as Joseph did, 'How
shall I do this wickedness, and sin against God?' But, I see, bad company is
that which leads to that and other sins; And I therefore beg all that love their
souls to be familiar with none but such as fear Cod. I believe the chief thing
that hath brought me into my present condition, is my disobedience to my
parents. I dispised all their godly counsel and reproofs; and I was always of a
haughty, stubborn spirit. So that now I am become a dreadful instance of the
curse of God belonging to disobedient children. I must bewail this also, and
although I was baptized, yet when I grew up, I forgot the bonds that were laid
upon me to be the Lord's. Had I given my self to God, as soon as I was capable
to consider that I had been in baptism set apart for him, How happy had I been!
It was my delay to repent of my former sins, that provoked God to leave me unto
the crimes for which I am now to die. Had I seriously repented of my uncleanness
the first time I fell into it, I do suppose I had not been left unto what
followed. Let all take it from me: They little think what they do when they put
off turning from sin to God, and resist the strivings of the Holy Spirit. I fear
'tis for this that I have been given up to such "hardness of heart", not only
since my long imprisonment but also since my just condemnation. I now know not
what will become of my distressed, perishing soul. But I would humbly commit it
unto the mercy of Cod in Jesus Christ. Amen."
[Elizabeth at first pled not guilty, but after sessions with Cotton Mather, did
plead guilty. Whether or not Elizabeth could have fashioned the above confession
(or was guilty of anything more than fornication) is a subject of speculation.
It is to be noted that Elizabeth is the sister of Hannah Emerson Dustin, about
whom Cotton Mather also wrote.]