| Notes |
- Elizabeth Dicer, born Elizabeth Austin around 1650, found herself in the midst of the Salem Witch Trials, a period that cast a shadow over her family and the entire community of Cape Ann, Massachusetts. Her life, intertwined with the Tarr family through her daughter's marriage to Richard Tarr, was deeply affected by the hysteria that swept through the region.
Elizabeth married William Dicer on November 20, 1664, in Salem, Massachusetts Bay Colony. The couple had two daughters, Elizabeth and Honnor. The family's life in Gloucester was typical of the era, marked by the hardships of colonial living and the ever-present fear of the unknown. This fear manifested dramatically in 1692 when the Salem Witch Trials began.
As the witchcraft hysteria intensified, Elizabeth Dicer was accused alongside another Gloucester woman, Margaret Prince. On September 3, 1692, a warrant for their arrest was issued, and they were taken into custody two days later. Elizabeth's reputation had been marred by previous fines for slandering Mary English's mother, calling her "a black-mouthed witch and a thief." This history only fueled the suspicions against her.
During this tumultuous period, Elizabeth's son-in-law, Richard Tarr, found himself in a challenging position. The Tarr family, like many others in Cape Ann, did not escape the widespread panic. In July 1692, Ebenezer Babson, a neighbor, and his family were tormented by mysterious nightly disturbances, leading to accusations of witchcraft against several local women, including Elizabeth Dicer.
Richard Tarr's courage and sense of justice were evident when he signed a bond on December 15 for Elizabeth and another local victim of the witch trials. This act, during a time of public hysteria, is the earliest surviving document confirming his residency in Gloucester and highlights his bravery in standing against the tide of fear and suspicion.
Elizabeth Dicer was eventually released on bond and never brought to trial, a stroke of luck in an era when such accusations often led to execution. She lived until February 9, 1704, witnessing the end of the witch trials and the release or acquittal of many of the accused.
Elizabeth's experience during the Salem Witch Trials serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of mass hysteria and the importance of justice and due process. The story of Elizabeth Dicer and the Tarr family remains a poignant chapter in the history of Cape Ann and the Salem Witch Trials.
|
1636 - 1704 (68 years)
Set As Default Person 
