HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MEDFORD, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT, IN 1630, TO THE PRESENT TIME, 1855.
Charles Brooks, Ed.

[230] Where one relation is exactly according to truth, there are two, at least, that are wholly the fruit of wild imagination, or intolerably mixed with deceit and falsehood. Hence some have taken occasion to doubt of, and deny the existence of, spirits and an invisible world; and others, to turn all that wise men say or write about them into ridicule. 'Tis a pity the world has been so credulous, and furnished these sceptics with matters to make sport of. At the same time, it is a thing horrid to think of, that we should be imposed upon by false relations, and our understandings daily affronted by lies. It certainly would have been a singular kindness, if those who have been instrumental in detecting falsehoods of this nature, especially causes of pretended witchcraft, had been careful, and had taken and emitted authentic accounts of them, from time to time, which might have proved an happy means of preventing the like, or stopping the progress. When I consider this, and what every one owes to his own generation and to posterity, I reckon myself obliged to offer a story, full of remarkable circumstances, which was the subject of much discourse and debate in the day of it, and has lately, by the wonderful providence of God and his most powerful mercy, been brought to light, and unfolded. I trust it may be of some service to the world, and therefore commend it to the divine blessing.

E. T.

The book relates, minutely, the strange actions of two sisters, who wished to be considered witches, and who were sufficiently successful in feints and falsehoods to gain general credence of their claims. They lived at Littleton, and, after being discovered, refuted, and exposed, came to Medford. Here they conducted well, and all witchery was over. Sept. 14, 1728, the eldest, E----h, asked admission to the church. Her history was not known, and she was “propounded.” The next Sunday Mr. Turell preached on lying; and so graphically did he depict her former habits in this respect, that she was conscience-smitten, and came to him immediately and made confession of the whole. Her narrative is very interesting, and her penitence seemed to be sincere. Mr. Turell required her to make public confession of her sin before the church, and then to refer her case to the brethren. She made the public confession, assuring them of her sincere repentance, and her resolution to walk worthily of the holy vocation she now promised to adopt. The church believed in her sincerity; and she was admitted to full communion, and proved herself a humble, devout, and accepted follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.

At the close of the pamphlet, Mr. Turell gives two pages of excellent counsel to the churches, to parents and children,