THE TOWN OF WESTCHESTER. 297 



The inhabitants of Westchester (like their New England forefathers) 

 appear to have been greatly troubled with the plague of witchcraft ; for, 

 in 1670, Katharine Harryson of England who had lived nineteen years 

 at Weathersfield, in Connecticut, where she had been tried for witchcraft, 

 found guilty by the jury, acquitted by the bench, and released out of 

 prison, on consideration that she would remove, appeared before the 

 council on the accusation of Thomas Hunt and Edward Waters, in be- 

 half of the town of Westchester, they praying that she might be driven 

 from the town. This affair was adjourned to the 4th of August, when 

 being heard, it was referred to the General Court of assizes. The wo- 

 man being ordered to give security for good behavior. The following 

 sentence was recorded by the Court, Oct., 1670 : " In the case of Catha- 

 rine Harryson, widow, who was bound to her good behavior, upon com 

 plaint of some of the inhabitants of Westchester, whilst ye holding of 

 this court : It is ordered, that in regard there is nothing appears against 

 her deserving the continuance of that obligation, she is to be released 

 from it, and hath liberty to remove from the town of Westchester were 

 she now resides, or any where else in the Government during her pleas- 

 ure." 



The humane efforts, however, of the court to protect the poor widow, 

 appear to have been ineffectual ; for soon after, an order was given for 

 Catharine Harryson, charged with witchcraft, to leave Westchester, " as 

 the inhabitants are uneasy at her residing there, and she is ordered to 

 go off."* 



Catharine Harryson was returned to Weathersfield, as the people of 

 Westchester were unwilling to keep a pauper belonging to the former 

 place. The following receipt, in her name, is recorded in the town 

 court records : — 



"Know all men by these presents, that I Katharen Harryson, doe own that 

 b Pallmar, hath fully and absolutely satisfied the said Katharen Harryson, 

 sarten bill of thirteen pounds and so used mony; and I the said 

 Katharen Harryson doe acquit the said Joseph Pallmar of all bills, books, dues 

 and demands from the beginning of the world to this present day. Given under 

 my hand, the fifth of September in the yeare one thousand six hundred and 

 seventy. The O mark of 



Witness, the R. P. marke of KATHAREX HARRYSON. 



i.ir.D Ponton, 

 \xci3 Yeats. 



In 1679, wolves appear to have been very numerous and destructive 



■. Albany. 



