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Sarah Wildes (née Averell/Averill; baptized March 16, 1627 – ) was wrongly convicted of witchcraft during the Salem witch trials and was executed by hanging. She maintained her innocence throughout the process, and was later exonerated. Her husband's first wife was a member of the Gould family, cousins of the Putnam family, the primary accusers, and court records document the family feuds which led to her persecution. ==Family== Sarah was one of seven children born to William Averell〔William is known to have spelled his name Averell, with a second "e", notably in the signature on his will, although his children and descendants often spelled the name Averill. He was also called "Avery" in some town records.〕 and Abigail Hynton, immigrants from Chipping Norton, England who settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts. William was a bailiff in Chipping Norton in 1634, and the first mention of him in Ipswich town records is 1637, so they migrated within that time period. Sarah married English immigrant John Wildes (born ca. 1615-1618〔John self-reported his age as 17 as of 11 Apr 1635, when he registered for his voyage to New England. Later, 30 Nov 1677, he was said to be 62 years of age.〕), a widower with eight children, and had a son, Ephraim. Ephraim held the positions of town treasurer and constable during the period of the conspiracy. They were residents of Topsfield, a neighboring town of Salem, in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. John held several positions in the town government and was affectionately called "Old Father Wildes". Two of John's daughters, Sarah (Wildes) Bishop and Phoebe (Wildes) Day, and a son-in-law, Edward Bishop Jr., were also accused of witchcraft. One of Sarah's stepsons, Jonathan, was known for strange behavior, which local ministers theorized could be mental distraction, possession by the devil, or fakery, a story that Rev. John Hale related during Sarah's trial, retrospectively considering it to be possible evidence of Sarah's witchcraft. Jonathan died in King Philip's War, and no resolution was ever reached.〔(- Salem Witchcraft Trials: The Convicted and Executed: 19 Victims Who Did Not Survive ), NationalGeographic.com; accessed July 30, 2015.〕 Hale also related the story of another stepson, John,〔In those days, John and Jonathan were distinct names and it was not uncommon for siblings to have these names.〕 who had also died young (and was, therefore, not around to substantiate or refute the story). John, portrayed as "an honest young man" went to the house of his uncle and aunt, the Reddingtons, to confide in them his belief that his stepmother was, indeed, a witch.〔 Sarah's older brother, William Averill, Jr., who had held several prominent positions in Ipswich and Topsfield, died the year before Sarah's arrest, and was therefore unable to come to her defense. William and John Wildes (Sr.) had served together as selectmen. Sarah and John had also been the witnesses to William's will, demonstrating a relationship of trust.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Sarah Wildes (Salem witch trials)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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