With the risk of putting my foot in my mouth again... LOL, I would like to enlist the help of this list in my quest for knowledge regarding the Witch Trials and the testimony of my ancestors Joseph Ring and his wife Mary Brackett. I would like to share the following information I have about this family, and ask for your input as to his possible motive. If you have any ideas, please let me know. (3) 1676, 9 Aug: The family of Anthony Brackett were taken prisoner at Back Cove (near Portland) by a group of Indians led by Symon, a "converted" Indian who had lived among the settlers at Haverhill, MA. (NOTE: See Philip Eastman Rin 1390 for more about Symon.) (4) 1691: Mary's Brackett grandparents were living at Sandy Beach when they were killed and many unnamed members of their family taken prisoner by the Indians. According to further mention in the Genealogy Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire Mary's son, Seth Ring may have been conceived during her captivity. Mary Brackett who m. 1st Joseph Ring of Salisbury, 2d in 1710 Nathaniel Whittier of Salis. among Seth's desc. a strong and early tradition persists that he was on Indian blood. If Mary was taken at Falmouth in 1690 or was with her Brackett grandparents at Sandy Beach in 1691 when they were killed and many unnamed members of their family were taken prisoner, it is not impossible that she had a child by an Indian father during her captivity. Joseph Ring was at Fort Loyal in 1690 and was probably that captive J.R. tortured and burned at the stake in 1704 by Indians in revenge for their losses in the attack on Berwick. See 3 Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll. VI. S.R's will 5 Feb. 1756-30 May 1757 names his children. Joseph, bp. 5 Jan, 1717-18 exec, Scarbory, Mariner. Benjamin. Eliphalet, and Seth and Mary, w. of one Huntress (all three in Halifax). In 1692 Joseph Ring testified against Susannah Martin. My goal is to try to track this family and write a family book about them. I am especially trying to figure out what the motive may have been for Joseph's testimony. I wonder if the fact that the birth date given for Seth is 1692 and the fact that Mary was taken captive in 1691 may have had some bearing on his state of mind. From what I have been able to find, Joseph and Mary Brackett married in 1690. Thoughts? As I mentioned in my posting, I am most eager to learn all I can about this period of history and truly appreciate any incite I may gain from those of you who have a better knowledge of this than I. Smiles Darlene