Elizabeth Emerson

Case record: Elizabeth Emerson

Elizabeth Emerson was hanged in Boston on June 8, 1693 for the murder of her two children.

The offence

Elizabeth Emerson was indicted for murdering her two bastard infants born on the night of Thursday May 7, 1691 before daybreak of Friday, in Haverhill in the house of Michael Emerson.

The indictment stated that Elizabeth brought forth “two Bastard Children alive” and that she “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.” The indictment further stated that the infants were “in a small Bagg or cloath sewed up, and concealed or hid them in sd Emmersons house untill afterwards,” and that “on sabbath day May the tenth 1691, the sd two Infants in the yard of sd Emmerson in Haverhill aforesd did secretly bury.”

Timeline

• May 7, 1691 — Elizabeth Emerson gave birth to twins in the house of Michael Emerson in Haverhill.
• May 10, 1691 — The two infants were secretly buried in the yard of Michael Emerson in Haverhill.
• May 11, 1691 — Elizabeth, Michael, and Hannah Emerson were questioned; Elizabeth was remanded to the custody of the Boston prison on May 13, 1691 after examinations.
• May 13, 1691 — Elizabeth Emerson was remanded to the custody of the Boston prison.
• September 1691 — Elizabeth Emerson was sentenced to hang for her crime.
• June 8, 1693 — Elizabeth Emerson was executed by hanging in Boston.

Background

Elizabeth Emerson was described as a single woman, the daughter of Michael Emmerson of Haverhill in the County of Essex.

The narrative described the Emerson household as experiencing frequent death in which only nine of fifteen children survived infancy. Michael Emerson’s daughter Hannah would marry Thomas Duston and later become famous for escaping Indian captivity by murdering and scalping ten captors. The daughter Elizabeth was born in 1664.

Twelve years later, Michael Emerson was brought to court “for cruel and excessive beating of his daughter with a flail swingle and for kicking her, and was fined and bound to good behavior.” The narrative noted that corporal punishment was not considered wrong in and of itself but that Michael’s beating of Elizabeth was criminally excessive.

In 1686, Elizabeth Emerson gave birth to an illegitimate daughter named Dorothy. The narrative reported that court records indicated Michael Emerson accused a neighbor, Timothy Swan, of being the father. Timothy’s father, Robert Swan, denied that Timothy was the father and said that Robert “had charged him not to go into that wicked house and his son had obeyed and furthermore his son could not abide the jade.” Robert Swan threatened to “carry the case to Boston” if Timothy was formally accused. Michael did not pursue the charges and the narrative stated that Dorothy remained fatherless.

The narrative described that five years later Elizabeth became pregnant again while Elizabeth and her daughter remained living at her parents’ house. Sometime during the night of May 7, 1691, Elizabeth gave birth to twins without waking her parents. The narrative stated the twins were either stillborn or murdered by their mother, and that Elizabeth hid the bodies in a trunk for three days then sewed them into a sack and buried them in the backyard.

The narrative also stated that two years elapsed between sentence and execution.

Investigation and arrest

After the twins were born, the narrative stated that on the Sunday following the birth, while Elizabeth’s parents were at church, neighbors who suspected her pregnancy came to the house with a warrant from the magistrates of Haverhill. Elizabeth was examined by women present while men went to the backyard and found the bodies buried in a shallow grave. Elizabeth was arrested for murdering her bastard infants.

The narrative stated that Elizabeth maintained that she kept the pregnancy and birth a secret out of fear, and that her mother had suspected Elizabeth was pregnant but whenever asked about it, Elizabeth denied she was pregnant.

A deposition process was described in which discovery of the bodies led to statements being taken by Nathaniel Saltonstall. The narrative stated that evidence against her included infant bodies and a physical examination in which women present discovered Elizabeth to be post partum.

Legal proceedings and trial

Indictment and plea

Elizabeth Emerson was indicted by “the Jurors for our Soveraigne Lord & Lady King William & Oueen Mary upon their Oathes” for murdering two bastard infants and burying them secretly.

The indictment text was reproduced as follows: “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.”

Elizabeth Emerson was arraigned on the indictment and “pleaded not guilty and put berselfe upon Tryal by God & the Country.”

A jury was impanelled, described as the first jury, with Richard Crisp as foreman. The prisoner made no challeng.

The proceedings included the reading of the indictment examination and evidences and Elizabeth’s defence, followed by a verdict. The jury returned a verdict that Elizabeth Emerson was guilty according to the indictment, and “sentance of Death he pronounced ag. her.”

Questioning and remand

The narrative provided details from questions asked on May 11, 1691.

Elizabeth was asked her husband’s name; she replied, “I have never [had] one.” When asked if she had given birth, she confessed that she did give birth to twins. When asked where they were born she replied, “On the bed at my father's beds feet....” When asked if she called for help during her travail because, she stated, “there was nobody near but my Father and Mother and I was afraid to call my mother for fear of killing her.” When asked if she told her father or mother afterwards, she replied, “No, not a word; I was afraid.”

Elizabeth was questioned about whether either of her parents knew of her pregnancy, birth, or burial. She replied they did not know of the pregnancy, birth or burial.

Michael Emerson was questioned on May 11, 1691 regarding his daughter’s crime. The narrative stated he did not even suspect that Elizabeth was with child and did not know of the birth or burial. The narrative stated that when asked who the father was, he stated for the first time on the record that the father of the children was Samuel Ladd.

The narrative stated that Elizabeth maintained Samuel Ladd was the father as well, and that she said that the “begetting” had taken place at an inn house. The narrative also stated that Elizabeth stated that Samuel Ladd was the only man with whom she had ever slept, implying Dorothy was also Ladd’s daughter.

After examinations, Elizabeth was remanded to the custody of the Boston prison on May 13, 1691. An accompanying letter explained the facts and said Elizabeth had been examined for “whore-dom.”

Role of Samuel Ladd and other named individuals in the background

The narrative described Samuel Ladd as a married man older than Elizabeth and said he had been previously found guilty of a misdemeanor and fined for an earlier episode involving sexual advances on a younger woman, though the narrative also stated that Ladd was never questioned in Elizabeth Emerson’s case.

The narrative stated that Michael Emerson had accused Timothy Swan of being Dorothy’s father, and Robert Swan denied the accusation, threatening to “carry the case to Boston” if Timothy was formally accused.

The narrative also included an account that Elizabeth’s mother Hannah was questioned and “suspected her daughter was pregnant but as she was big, she could not tell and Elizabeth would not confess to it,” and that Hannah was accused of being the one to sew them up in a bag but denied knowledge of it. Hannah named Samuel Ladd as the father of the children.

Examination findings by women

The narrative stated that the women who examined Elizabeth gave testimony that one of the children had its navel string twisted about its neck. The narrative stated that there were apparently no signs of violence and that in their opinion one or both of the children died “for want or caer att the time of travell.”

Sentencing

The narrative stated that Elizabeth Emerson was sentenced to hang and was remanded to the custody of the Boston prison on May 13, 1691.

The narrative also stated that Elizabeth was sentenced to hang for her crime in September 1691 and was hanged on June 8, 1693.

Aftermath

Cotton Mather ministered to Elizabeth while the Salem witch trials were underway, and before execution Elizabeth confessed.

The narrative stated that Elizabeth was executed in Boston on June 8, 1693 “along with a black indentured servant named Grace.”

Elizabeth’s confession and declaration

Before the execution Cotton Mather preached a sermon during which he read a declaration written by Elizabeth. The declaration was reproduced verbatim: “I am a Miserable Sinner; and I have Justly Provoked the Holy God to leave me unto that Folly of my own Heart, for which I am now Condemned to Dy … I believe, the chief thing that hath, brought me, into my present Condition, is my Disobedience to my Parents: I despised all their Godly Counsils and Reproofs; and I was always an Haughty and Stubborn Spirit. So that now I am become a dreadful Instance of the Curs of God belonging to Disobedient Children.”

The narrative reproduced Cotton Mather’s diary entry, including his quoted statements about the sermon and the women under sentence of death.

Cotton Mather wrote: “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.”

The narrative also reproduced Elizabeth’s confession as read by Cotton Mather: “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.”

The narrative also included an account by Peg Goggin Kearney describing that on June 8, 1693 Cotton Mather delivered a sermon based on Job 36:14, with Elizabeth Emerson present in Boston, and that Dorothy “also diseappeared from the record.”

Other details

The narrative reported that Elizabeth was imprisoned during the height of the Salem witch trials and that Cotton Mather “worked on her soul” before her execution.

The narrative stated Elizabeth confessed that when the infants were born, “at least one of them was alive,” and that she used a “Murderous Carriage towards them,” in the place where she lay.

The narrative stated an accompanying letter from Nathaniel Saltonstall commanded the prison keeper to safely keep Elizabeth in prison until she “shal be thence delivered by due order of Law,” and that Saltonstall had her before him on May 11th and 13th “upon examination for whore-dom.”

The narrative also described a view on law that concealment of the death of a bastard child had been punishable by execution in Massachusetts Bay even if repealed in England.

The narrative stated that there was a sermon printed after the execution and that it was reprinted at London.

The narrative stated Elizabeth “spent two years in prison and was hanged on Boston Common 8 Jun 1693,” and mentioned that Samuel Ladd was not officially censured despite being identified as the father.

The narrative contained an additional discussion of Elizabeth’s birth date as January 26, 1664/65, and described her as the sixth of fifteen children of Michael and Hannah Webster Emerson, with only nine surviving infancy. Another account stated that Elizabeth was 23 at the birth of Dorothy on 10 Apr 1686, and that she was 28 when she again gave birth to twin boys who did not survive, with father Samuel Ladd.

The narrative included a court record excerpt dated “6th Sept.” (with duplication of the indictment) and another dated “26th Sept.” referencing the indictment and plea of not guilty.

The narrative also stated Michael Emerson’s last will dated 1709 left distributions of a few shillings to at least some grandchildren, but Dorothy was absent from that distribution.

The narrative included a description of evidence from examination of the infants and that one had “its navel string twisted about its neck.”

The narrative included the text: “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.”

The narrative further included a discussion that Elizabeth’s age at the time of beating was disputed, stating Charles Henry Pope gave her age as nine at the time of the beating and that at the time of the court hearing she would have been eleven.

The narrative included Cotton Mather’s diary statement that Elizabeth “confessed that 'when they were born, I was not unsensible, 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.'”

The narrative stated that Cotton Mather believed Elizabeth “has more to confess, I fear...” and claimed “there never was Prisoner more Hard-Hearted, and more Unfruitful than you have been...”.

The narrative contained a detailed discussion of Samuel Ladd and a separate misdemeanor case in which Samuel Ladd was described as being fined for misdemeanors. It included an account of testimony by Frances Thurla and Ane Thurla and described that Samuel Ladd of Haverhill and Thomas Thurla’s man Edward Baghott came to the Thurla house at about nine or ten o’clock, went into the leanto where their daughter Sarah lay, and urged her to rise and go to her aunt’s.