As we continue to enjoy a hauntingly entertaining October here in our little New Hampshire towns, we embrace all that is autumn. The taste of cold fresh cider, the warmth of bonfires and hiking the foliage-clad forests nearby brings autumn home each and every fall. We do love this time we call fall and all that it brings, but it wasn’t always this way. Travel back with me over 300 years to the village of Hopkinton, New Hampshire and explore the concerns of those that walked our streets many years ago.
Our local ancestors, still governed by England, were a very superstitious lot indeed. New England was the epicenter of superstition, hauntings and strange occurrences as the 17th century concluded. Things that could not easily be explained were simply viewed through superstitious eyes and referred to as witchcraft. There was hysteria to the south where the Salem Witch Trials held in Salem, Massachusetts during the colonial period resulted in extreme sadness for so very many. There were over 200 souls accused of witchcraft between February, 1692 and May, 1693. A very sad chapter in our early history that captures so much attention each and every October.
Here in the village of Hopkinton there were two known witches living locally, simply referred to as Witch Webber and Witch Burbank. The local people believed witchcraft was being practiced and very evident in at least four forms; occult influences over livestock, hidden danger on paths travelled, specter that visited you when you slept and apparitions of ghosts that were witnessed during the night and at times during the day too. Our forefathers felt the livestock was affected by either disposition or the food they produced. If a witch cursed a person, it might very well be seen with less milk or sickly animals within your barn. A local woman walked a path in Hopkinton alone one day and was approached by an old woman that was not known in these parts. The old woman requested items from the local traveler, the request was denied and the traveler was told that she would suffer one day for her refusal. The Hopkinton traveler traveled the same path weeks later while upon her horse. The horse refused to cross the exact location of the encounter with the old woman.
It was the witchcraft of the midnight hour that seemed to be most troubling for many. As our local Hopkinton ancestors slept soundly in the middle of the night it was said they observed unpleasant things in their dreams. Images were seen and symbols were most relevant until the sun arose the next morning. Then there were the known haunted places within the village of Hopkinton too.
It was said the northern brow of Putney’s Hill was a very haunted place. Today it is known as Gould’s Hill. There was a nearby forest in the area of Gould Hill that was known as the Lookout. People often spoke of their visits to this area where they witnessed the appearances of ghosts. These spectral appearances took many shapes and forms and were said to be seen during day and night. There were at least two accounts of respectable gentlemen passing near the forest on Putney’s Hill that claimed to have seen balls of fire and images standing in front. Both local gentlemen simply continued to walk toward the village in great fear.
Our two local witches enjoyed their simple lives in Hopkinton over three centuries ago. Witch Webber and Witch Burbank were very well known locally. Witch Burbank lived in her home near the Contoocook Village while Witch Webber lived on the southern part of Beech Hill. History tells us that Witch Webber actually embraced her role as a witch. She never denied her occult gifts and her exploits are said to be more remarkable and in character as a witch. She actually visited Lynn, Massachusetts, during the witch hysteria to attend a convention of sisters.
A local gentleman confirmed that he was aware of Witch Webber’s journey to Lynn. In fact he saw her leave Hopkinton, flying in the general direction of Massachusetts. The gentleman said he saw her near Diamond Hill where she stubbed her toe on a barn roof as she passed over in flight. He said she actually dislodged a few shingles from the roof, this was confirmed by the farmer that owned the barn. The farmer climbed to the roof of his Diamond Hill barn and in fact found missing shingles.
Compared to the mass witch hysteria in Massachusetts we find little opposition here in the village of Hopkinton. Witch Webber and Witch Burbank lived their final days as witches, people seemed to steer clear of them just in case. Sometimes fear can be a friend, especially if you are a witch.
It has been three centuries since the Hopkinton witches roamed the local cobbled streets of our little town. Tread so ever carefully this Hallowed Eve as you venture the streets of the Hopkinton Village and certainly beware. Perhaps Witch Webber and Witch Burbank will venture back into town this eve to visit with those that roam in darkness as they did so very long ago.