58 The Story of The Bronx 



towns of Long Island and Westchester the right to nominate 

 their own magistrates and to hold their own courts; "but 

 in dark and dubious matters, especially in witchcraft, the party 

 aggrieved might appeal to the Governor and council." That 

 the inhabitants of Westchester were as firm believers in the 

 practice of the black art as their fellow-Englishmen in New 

 England is shown by the case of Katherine Harryson, an 

 Englishwoman who had lived in Wethersfield for nineteen 

 years when she was accused of witchcraft, "found guilty by the 

 jury but acquitted by the bench," with the proviso that she 

 remove from the town. In 1670, she came to Westchester. 

 Thomas Hunt and Edward Waters, on behalf of the town, 

 appeared against her in court, praying that she be removed 

 from the town. The case was heard on the fourth of August, 

 the woman being released on bail for her good behavior. 

 In October, the court decided : 



"It is ordered, that in regard there is nothing appears 

 against her deserving the continuance of that obligation [i.e., 

 bail for good behavior], she is to be released from it, and 

 hath liberty to remove from the town of Westchester where 

 she now resides, or anywhere else in the Government during 

 her pleasure." 



Notwithstanding the humane efforts of the court to pro- 

 tect the poor widow, an order was issued soon after for 

 Katherine Harryson, charged with witchcraft, to leave West- 

 chester, "as the inhabitants are uneasy at her residing there 

 and she is ordered to go off." She was therefore returned 

 to Wethersfield, as Westchester did not propose to support 

 the paupers of other places. In the town records is her re- 

 ceipt to Joseph Palmer for thirteen pounds in money for her 

 expenses. 



