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Rebecca Fowler

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Rebecca Fowler (killed October 9, 1685) was a woman convicted and executed for witchcraft in 17th-century Maryland. Around a dozen witch trials were conducted in Maryland during the 17th and 18th centuries, with most being acquitted. Fowler is the only documented legal execution of an alleged witch in Maryland history.[1][2]

Life

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Rebecca Fowler is believed to be the same Rebecca Logan who was transported from England to the Province of Maryland as an indentured servant in 1656. Logan was indentured to George Collins, a shoemaker and tobacco farmer. Once freed from her servitude, she married John Fowler, a fellow former indentured servant who had worked on the Collins slave plantation. The Fowler newlyweds purchased a parcel of land they named Fowler's Delight. The Fowlers became successful and eventually kept indentured servants of their own, including Francis Sandsbury. The evidence against Rebecca Fowler was not presented to the public during her witchcraft trial. Only Francis Sandsbury is named as an accuser, however, the court records mention "Several others" who were unnamed. Despite Rebecca's status as a landowner and Sandsbury's status as an indentured servant, the jurors believed Sandsbury's account. The jury stated its view that Fowler was guilty, but left the final determination of guilt to the judge.[3]

The Prince George's County Court concluded that Rebecca Fowler, on or about 31 August 1685, "having not the feare of God before her eyes, but being led by the instigation of the Divell certain evill & dyabolicall Artes called witchcrafts inchantments charmes & sorceryes wickedly divelishly and feloniously at Mount Calvert ... & several other places ... did use practice & exercise in upon & against one Francis Sandsbury & Several others ... and their bodyes were very much the worse, consumed, pined & lamed ...." The judge ordered that Fowler be "hanged by the neck until dead." Fowler was executed by hanging on October 9, 1685, in St. Mary's City, Maryland. Mount Calvert is now maintained as the Mount Calvert Historical and Archaeological Park by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.[4]

Despite being the only person legally executed as a witch by a Maryland court, several other women and one man were accused of being witches in Maryland history, some of who were murdered. Other accused people included Mary Lee, Elizabeth Richardson, Elizabeth Bennet, John Cowman, and Hannah Richards. Moll Dyer may or may not have been an actual person. Lee and Richardson were both murdered at sea while on route to Maryland.[3]

Legacy

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In October, 2022, the Maryland State Library Agency produced a podcast titled "WitchesBrew", which discussed Rebecca Fowler and other accused witches in Maryland.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Only person to be convicted and executed for witchcraft in MD died 337 years ago". The Southern Maryland Chronicle. 12 October 2022. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
  2. ^ "Double, Double Toil and Trouble: Witchcraft in Maryland". Maryland Center for History and Culture. 8 August 2013. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  3. ^ a b Thompson, David W. (2019). Haunted Southern Maryland. Charleston, South Carolina: Haunted America, The History Press. ISBN 9781439667897.
  4. ^ "What's in a Name? Why Should We Remember?". Maryland State Archives. Retrieved 2022-08-13.
  5. ^ "WitchesBrew" (PDF). Maryland State Library Agency. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
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