Hi Richard, Some of us including Joyce Pendry in NEHGR July 2000 believe the poem refers to the marriage of Hannah Martin, Susannah's step-daughter who m. Ezekial Worthen, a Quaker, as his is very close to the name given to *Mabel's* husband in the poem. You may be correct that Susannah and Whittier were not related, at least as far as I know, although I certainly haven't charted all of Whittier's ancestors. However, I believe one of his ancestors was Judith Worthen, (daughter of Hannah Martin Worthen), m.. Abraham Page. At least two of Susannah's offspring besides Hannah into Quaker families. If I were looking for a connection between Greenleaf Whittier and Susannah I would examine these lines. Whittier's gggrandmother was Mary Peasley m. Joseph Whittier. One of Susannah's grandaughters married into the Peasley family--Mary Martin m. John Peaslee. However, I haven't charted to see if there is a direct relationship. Personally, I think the poem is meant to refer (loosely) to a amalgam of Hannah Martin Worthen and Mary Martin Peaslee. Mary's marriage was closer to the date of Susannah's execution than Hannah's. Leslie Hope -----Original Message----- From: Richard Burns [mailto:rnburns@mindspring.com] Sent: Sunday, September 29, 2002 1:38 PM To: SALEM-WITCH-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [SALEM-WITCH-L] Susannah Martin and John Greenleaf Whittier I am writing a study of the relationship between Susannah Martin and the 1875 poem "The Witch's Daughter" by John Greenleaf Whittier. As you probably know, the description in the poem of Susannah's arrest, trial and execution is quite accurate; but the "daughter" of the title, "Mabel" Martin, is a heavily fictionalized lass who does not bear much resemblance either to any of Susannah's three real daughters or to her one stepdaughter. Whittier had an expert's knowledge of the 17th-century Puritan culture; but it's clear that in this poem he was writing a romance, not a history lesson. I have read in several places that Susannah was related to Whittier. I am trying to pin down the specific relationship, but have had no luck so far. I am related to both of them -- she's my 9th great grandmother and he's my 4th cousin 6 times removed -- but I can't link the two of them up to each other. I'd be grateful to anyone who can point me in a productive direction. Richard