Henry Herrick

Henry Herrick (30)

  • Birth: (baptized) 1/16/1639/40 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts
  • Death: 6/1/1702 in Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts

Father: Henry Herrick(29)
Mother: Editha

Spouse: Lydia (Woodbury) about 1660 in Beverly

Spouse: Sarah (Alcock) (Giddings)

https://gedbas.genealogy.net/person/show/1170197812

  • Sex: M

Biography Notes…

Settled on Cape Ann-Syde of Bass River (now Beverly). His farm was bounded by Bass River. He purchased several farms at Birch Plains and Cherry Hill. He inherited the homestead at lower Beverly, a pleasant and valuable farm. (from Lord- Locke 1836). Henry Herrick served as a jurer of the Court of Oyer and Terminer between May 27, 1692-October 29, 1692. (“The Salem Witchcraft Papers”)  and was partly responsible for the 19 hangings, he later co- wrote an apology:

‘” We, whose names are under written, being in the year 1692 called to serve as jurors in court at Salem on trial of many, who were by Some suspected guilty of doing acts of witchcraft upon the bodies of sundry persons: .

‘” We confess that we ourselves were not capable to understand, nor able to withstand, the mysterious delusions of the powers of darkness, and the prince of the air; but were, for want of knowledge in ourselves, and better information from others, prevailed with us to take up with such evidence against the accused, as, on further consideration and better information, we justly fear was insufficient for touching the lives of any, (Deut. XVII, 6 [On the testimony of two or three witnesses a person is to be put to death, but no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.]) whereby we fear we have been instrumental, with others, though ignorantly and unwittingly, to bring upon ourselves and this people of the Lord the guilt of innocent blood; which sin the Lord saith, in scripture, he would not pardon. (2 Kings, XXIV, 4 [including the shedding of innocent blood. For he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the LORD was not willing to forgive.]) that is, we suppose, in regard to his temporal judgments. We do therefore hereby signify to all in general (and to the surviving sufferers in special) our deep sense of, and sorrow for, our errors, in acting on such evidence to the condemning of any person; and do hereby declare, that we justly fear that we were sadly deluded and mistaken; for which we are much disquieted and distressed in our minds; and do therefore humbly beg forgiveness, first of God for Christ’s sake, for this our error; and pray that God would not impute the guilt of it to ourselves, nor others; and we also pray that we may be considered candidly, and aright, by the living sufferers, as being then under the power of a strong and general delusion, utterly unacquainted with, and not experienced in, matters of that nature …. We do heartily ask forgiveness of you all, whom we have justly offended; and do declare, according to our present minds, we would none of us do such things again on such grounds for the whole world; praying you to accept of this in way of satisfaction for our offence, and that would bless the inheritance of the Lord, that he may be entreated for the land.

Foreman, THOMAS FISK, 

JOHN DANE, THOMAS PERKINS, SAMUEL SAYER, ANDREW ELIOT, WILLIAM FISK, JOSEPH EVELITH, JOHN BACHELOR, TH. PEARLY, sen., THOMAS FISH, jun., JOHN PEABODY, H. HERRICK, sen.’ 

See also Henry’s brother Joseph Herrick (who was the acting constable) for more details.


Next: Samuel Herrick (31)