Are there any descendants of Ann Greenslade Pudeator on this list or someone who can help with ideas on researching the disposal of real estate after the 1692 trials? Ann Greenslade Pudeator, whose second husband was Jacob Pudeator, a Salem blacksmith, was one of those hung in Sept. 1692. Ann was about 70 years old and had been twice widowed. When her second husband Jacob Pudeator died, in his will he gave Ann life possession of his Salem property, i.e. she could live on it until she died. I am still confused (and perplexed) about what happened to Pudeator's land, house, smithy, and orchard after Ann was hung in 1692. In 1694, Salem merchant Phillip English inventoried Pudeator's estate which then consisted mainly of land, house, orchard, smithy etc. which was the house-lot where Ann Pudeator lived prior to her arrest and hanging. The records which listed Pudeator's real estate were found in Philip English's papers. According to "Salem in 1700" by Sidney Perley, the land and house where Ann lived came into the possession of William Browne. But how? Some years ago I hired a local Salem historian experienced in researching historic properties to research deeds to see if the Pudeator real estate was sold or transferred to Browne or to anyone else. No deeds or conveyances for the Pudeator property were found. Second perplexing property issue: In 1681, prior to his death c. 1682, Jacob Pudeator transferred a lot with a house to his wife's son John Greenslade (my ancestor). This house and property was adjacent to Pudeator's smithy, house, and land (which is where his widow Ann lived until she was arrested). John Greenslade, his wife, and children must have lived in this house after 1681. John Greenslade died between 1689-1690 leaving a young widow and small children. Wouldn't his wife inherit their home? What happened to John Greenslade's house and house lot? His widow married Thomas Mason in 1693; they continued to live in Salem, probably on Mason's property.The historian could find no deed, no transfer, no conveyance of John Greenslade's property to anyone. However, by 1697, Bertholomew Gedney had acquired John Greenslade's house and house lot. How did he get it? If not in deeds, where should I be looking to find out how the ownership of these properties changed hands? -- Helen Greenslit Graves

Was Ann's property perhaps confiscated by the authorities? Convicted witches, like Ann, were required to pay for the costs of their imprisonment. In addition, in many cases an accused witch's property was confiscated by the authorities before they were even convicted. Philip English, for instance, estimated that he lost 1,183 pounds in property. The legality of these confiscations was very questionable, and there were allegations that the Essex County sherriff, George Corwin, illegally kept some of the assets he seized. I don't know what records are available -- perhaps some other list-member would know. But I would look for lists of confiscated lands and/or of witches' property that was forwarded to the Colony. Jenny (jenny@panix.com)