Died In Prison
The following are people known to have died while in prison, however, there are at least 13 other people who are believed to have also died while in prison.
Ann Foster – died in prison December 3, 1692. Ann, her daughter Mary Foster-Lacey Jr., and granddaughter Mary Lacey Jr., were arrested July 1692. Ann was tortured and confessed after her daughter provided evidence against her. In an attempt to save her family, she said she was the only one however on September 22, Ann and her daughter were both found guilty and sentenced to hang.
Sarah Osborne – died in prison May 10, 1692, aged 49.
Lydia Dustin – died in prison March 10, 1693. Lydia was acquitted but was unable to pay her court fees and died 11 months later. Her daughters Sarah Dustin and Mary Coleson were also arrested and when her granddaughter, Elizabeth Coleson, fled when she was issued a warrant.
Roger Toothaker – died in Boston jail on June 16, 1692. Rodger was a doctor known for his homeopathic folk medicine. He referred to himself as a witch hunter, he claimed to be specialized in detecting and punishing witches and bragged to locals that he had taught his daughter and that she killed a witch. Rodger, his wife, Mary Allen Toothaker and their two daughters, Margaret Toothaker and Martha Toothaker Emerson, were also arrested.
Mercy Good, infant – was born in prison after her mother, Sarah Good, was arrested February 25, 1691. The infant died in prison sometime before her mother was executed on July 19, 1692.
Rebecca Addington Chamberlain- died in prison September 26, 1692, aged 67. There are no court records regarding her arrest warrant, however, it’s believed that she was arrested on suspicion of witchcraft.
John Durrant - died in Cambridge prison October 27, 1692. There are no court records regarding his arrest, however it’s believed that he was charged for witchcraft. John lived in Billerica during the trials and had multiple family members who were arrested for witchcraft with his wife's stepdaughter's husband, Samuel Cardwell Sr. hanged for witchcraft on September 22, 1692.
Infant Scargen - died in prison after the mother, Elizabeth Scargen, was imprisoned for 6 months on charges of witchcraft. She gave birth to an infant who died in prison prior to her release.
