FTM CD194, Mass. & Maine Genealogies, Mass. & Maine Families Vol. I, Brown (George) of Salisbury, Ancestry of Lydia Harman of Standish, Maine by Walter Goodwin Davis, 1924, pg 219 in a court deposition about his wife's affliction:

"The deposition of William Brown of Salisbury, aged seventy years, who testifying, saith: That about one or two and thirty years ago Elizabeth, his wife, being a very rational woman and sober, and one that feared God, as was well known to all that knew her, and as prudently careful in her family, which woman going upon time from her own house towards the mill in Salisbury, did there meet with Susanna Martin, the then wife of George Martin, of Amesbury. Just as they came together the said Susanna Martin vanished away out of her sight, which put the said Elizabeth into a great fright; after which time the said Martin did many times appear to her at her house, and did much trouble her in many of her occasions; and this continued until about February following, and then, when she did come, it was as birds pecking her legs or prickling her with the motion of their wings; and then it would rise up into her stomach, with pricking pain, as nails and pins; of which she did bitterly complain and cry out like a woman in travail; and after that it would rise up to her throat in a bunch like a pullet's egg, and then she would turn back her head and say "Witch, ye sha'n't choke me."

In the times of this extremity the church appointed a day of humiliation, to seek God on her behalf, and thereupon her trouble ceased, and she saw goodwife Martin no more for a considerable time, for which the church, instead of a day of humiliation, gave thanks for her deliverance. She came to meeting and went about her business as before. This continued till April following, at which time the summonses were sent to the said Elizabeth Brown and goodwife Osgood by the court, to give evidences concerning said Martin*; and they did, before the grand jury, give full account. After which time the said Elizabeth told this deponent that, as she was milking her cow, the said Susanna Martin came behind her and told her that she would make her the miserablest creature for defaming hername at the court, and wept grievously as she told it to this deponent.

About two months after this deponent came home from Hampton, and his said wife would not own him, but said they were divorced, and asked him whether he did not meet with one Mrs. Bent of Albury, in England, by whom he was divorced. Andfrom that time to this very day she has been under a strange kind of distemper and frenzy, incapable of any rational action, though strong and healthy of body. He further testifyeth that when she came into that condition this deponent (got) Doctors Fuller and Crosby to come to her for her release, but they did both say that her distemper was supernatural, no sickness of body, butthat some evil person had bewitched her. Sworn the 11th of May, Anno Domini 1692, before me, Robert Pike, Assistant

16:3:1692

Concerning the truth of what is sworn by William Brown concerning his wife, with respect to her being a rational woman before she was so handled, and of her now present condition, and her so long continuance, all that then knew her and now know her can testify to the truth of it, for she yet remains a miserable creature, of which myself is a witness. Robert Pike."

*Susanna Martin was accused of bewitching her. Susanna was tried, convicted, and executed for witchcraft. Finally her physical and mental troubles ceased and she resumed her duties in her home and church.