From John M. Taylor, The Witchcraft Delusion in Colonial Connecticut 1647–1697 (New York: Grafton Press, 1908).

Salem, Massachusetts, was not the only New England community to experience witchcraft trials in 1692. In Connecticut, an indentured servant named Katherine Branch accused Elizabeth Clawson and other women of being witches. The source of the accusations was Katherine’s strange “affliction,” which many historians believe may have been some form of epilepsy. Although Clawson was eventually found not guilty, largely due to the large number of citizens who were willing to attest to her good character, the ordeal went on for months. The testimony below may give us a clue as to the source of the accusations: Katherine was indentured to the Wescots, with whom Clawson had an ongoing feud. By accusing an enemy of her employers, Katherine probably hoped to maintain her position.

The Indictment

Elizabeth Clawson wife of Stephen Clawson of Standford in the country of Fairfield in the Colony of Connecticut thou art here indicted by the name of Elizabeth Clawson that not having the fear of God before thine eyes thou hast had familiarity with Satan the grand enemy of God & man & that by his instigation & help thou hast in a preternatural way afflicted & done harm to the bodies & estates of sundry of his Majesty’s subjects or to some of them contrary to the peace of or Sovereign Lord the King & Queen their crown & dignity & that on the 25th of April in the 4th year of their Majesty's reign & at sundry other times for which by the law of God & the law of the Colony thou deservest to die.

Testimony of Daniel Wescot

...Daniel Wescot saith that some years since my wife & Elizabeth Clawson agreed to change their spinning, & instead of half a pound Goodwife Clawson sent three quarters of a pound I having weight it, carried it to her house & cnvinced her of it that it was so, & thence forward she till now took occassion upon any frivolous matter to be angry & pick a quarrel with both myself & wife, & some short time after this carrying the flax, my eldest daughter Johannah was taken suddenly in the night shreiking & crying out, There is a thing will catch me, upon which I got up & lit a candle, & told her there was nothing, she answered, yes there was, there tis, pointing with her finger sometimes to one place & sometimes to another, & then said tis run under the pillow. I asked her where it was, she said a sow, & in a like manner continued disturbed a nights about the space of three weeks....

Testimony of Abigail Wescot

Abigail Wescot further saith that as she was going along the street Elizabeth Clawson came out to her and they had some words together and Elizabeth Clawson took up stone and threw at her; and at another time as she went along the street before the said Clausons dore Elizabeth Clauson called to me and asked me what I did in my chamber last Sabbath day night, and I do affirmed that I was not there that night; and at another time I was in her son Stephen's house being near her own house she followed me in and contended with me becase I did not come into her house calling of me proud slut what are you proud on your fine clothes and you look to be mistress but you never shall by me and several other provoking speeches at that time and at another time as I was by her house she contended and quarreled with me; and we had many words together and she twited me of my fine clothes and of my muff and she also contended with me several other times. Taken upon oath before us Standford September 12th [1692]