A Descendant's Duty (Granddaughter Wants Ancestor Exonerated)

[icymist]

For the last few weeks, Debra Avery's dining room home has become the unofficial center for exonerating the women of Connecticut executed as witches.

Her 13-year-old daughter, Addie, pores over documents and occasionally corrects her mother on certain dates and names. Nearby is a short pile of books with such titles as "Damned Women" and "Entertaining Satan." Their e-mail and fax machines have been buzzing with correspondence from other descendants of those accused of witchcraft in the 17th century.For the past year Debra and Addie have, with increasing intensity, taken on a project to clear the name of their ancestor, Mary Sanford - one of four Hartford women accused of witchcraft and executed by hanging in 1662.

But this was more than 350 years ago, people tell her, and most people already take it for granted that these women were subjected to injustice. Why go to all this effort for an official apology?

Avery always knew that Mary was in her family tree somewhere. She just didn't realize that she was a direct descendant - she's Avery's great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandmother ("That's eight `greats' for me, and nine for Addie," Avery says). It was then that Avery felt an urge to right a wrong.
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[roguevalley]

1. Bridget Bishop of Salem, Mass is our lady. A rabble rousing,

iconoclastic hellion. I am so proud. :)