ANN PUTNAM, JR.
Ann Putnam, Jr. is one of the most famous girls of the Salem Witch Trials. Although, she was not the first one to be afflicted, she was one of the most ill girls. Her and her family made most of the accusations. She was the daughter of Thomas Putnam and Ann Carr. She was twelve years old during the Trials. It is possible that because she was so young and from a prominent family, she may have been influenced to accuse as many people as she did.
In 1706, Ann made a public confession in church to apologize for the deaths of the innocent people who were executed during the Trials:
"I desire to be humbled before God for that sad and humbling Providence that befell my father's family in the year about '92; that I, then being in my childhood, should by such a Providence of God be made an instrument for the accusing of several persons of a grievous crime, whereby their lives were taken away from them, whom now I have just grounds and good reason to believe they were innocent persons; and that it was a great delusion of Satan that deceived me in that sad time, whereby I justly fear I have been instrumental with others, though ignorantly and unwittingly, to bring upon myself and this land the guilt of innocent blood; though what was said or done by me against any person I can truly and uprightly say before God and man, I did it not out of any anger, malice, or ill-will to any person, for I had no such thing against any of them; but what I did was ignorantly, being deluded by Satan."
In 1706, Ann made a public confession in church to apologize for the deaths of the innocent people who were executed during the Trials:
"I desire to be humbled before God for that sad and humbling Providence that befell my father's family in the year about '92; that I, then being in my childhood, should by such a Providence of God be made an instrument for the accusing of several persons of a grievous crime, whereby their lives were taken away from them, whom now I have just grounds and good reason to believe they were innocent persons; and that it was a great delusion of Satan that deceived me in that sad time, whereby I justly fear I have been instrumental with others, though ignorantly and unwittingly, to bring upon myself and this land the guilt of innocent blood; though what was said or done by me against any person I can truly and uprightly say before God and man, I did it not out of any anger, malice, or ill-will to any person, for I had no such thing against any of them; but what I did was ignorantly, being deluded by Satan."