“Whereas ye honored General Court has appointed a committee to consider what damage persons have sustained in their names and estates in the year 1692 by their sufferings in that as was called witch craft, ye odium whereof was as if they are one of ye worst of mankind, we Mary How and Abigail How: ye only survivers in this family also do groundedly believe that our honored mother Elizabeth How suffered as innocent of the crime charged with as any person in the world, and as to the damage done to our estate we can not give a particular account but this we know that our honored father went twice a week ye whole time of her imprisonment to carry her maintenance which was provided with much difficulty and one of us went with him because he could not go alone for want of sight also one journey to Boston for a replevey and for maintenance 5_s._ money left with her the first coming down 20_s._ the second time and 40_s._ so that sometimes more some less yt never under 5_s._ per week which we know for charge for her and necessary charge for ourselves and horses cannot be less than £20 money yet notwithstanding so that ye name may be repaired we are content if your honors shall allow £12. Yours to serve MARY HOW & ABIGAIL HOW.” * * * * * “This petition was presented to said Court by Capt. John How and Abraham How uncles of said Mary and Abigail for relief in the premises and pray that the petition may be allowed the same.” * * * * * The petition was referred to the committee referred to therein. * * * * * “The committee met at Salem, 13th, Sept. 1710, and the 14th reported allowing the Misses How the £12 asked for.” THOS. NOYES } JOHN BURRILL} _Committee_ NAH. JEWETT } “23 Oct., 1711. Read and accepted in House of Representatives, and sent up for concurrence. JOHN BURRILL, _Speaker_. “In Council, 28 Oct., 1711. “Read and concurred. JOHN ADDINGTON, _Sec’y_.” _State Archives_, _Room_ 434, _Vol._ 135: 131, 169. HOME OF MRS. HOWE LOCATED. THE CONCLUSION [Illustration: Map of the homestead] This map delineates a part of the homestead of Mrs. Eliza Howe Perley, now in her ninety-third year (May 15) whose residence is at “6.” The ascent of the estate is: Mrs. Perley’s father, Aaron Howe; his second cousin, Joseph Howe; Joseph’s father, Abraham Howe; his father, Abraham Howe, Jr.; his cousins, Abigail and Mary Howe; their father, James Howe, Jr.; his father, James Howe, Sr.,—a continuous Howe ownership of two hundred sixty years. The house pictured on the opposite page stood at “2,” and was built, probably, in 1711, since Abraham Howe, Jr., bought the land in February of that year, “to set a house upon.”