Heroes of 1692
Peter Cloyse
One of the early detractors of the growing hysteria in 1692 was an
individual by the name of Peter Cloyse. Born in the year 1640 and a
settler of Wells, Maine, Peter married Hannah Littleton and raised a
family. It was after the death of his first wife that he moved to Salem and
married Sarah (Towne), sister to Rebecca Nurse and Mary Easty. When
elderly Rebecca was arrested, Peter signed a petition stating that
Rebecca had been ill and bed ridden for some time, in an effort to call
attention to her fragile health. Sadly, the petition was disregarded. Both
Rebecca and Mary were executed within months.
In May we find evidence that he may have taken in some of the children
of George Jacobs as George and his wife had both been arrested
leaving children ages 15, 13, 11 and 2 1/2 alone to fend for themselves.
He is also referenced in a memo dated August 1692 where his absence
from church has been noticed and the intent to counsel him regarding his
whereabouts is recorded.
Peter Cloyse proves to be demonstratively steadfast and loyal in his
attention to his wife’s plight while she is incarcerated. It is noted that he
is rarely to be found at home for visiting his wife in prison. A legend
exists that states he helped his wife escape from this prison and secreted
her away to a cave during the winter of 1692. A veteran of King Phillips
War, an able and proven frontiersman, he would have possessed the
skills necessary for their survival. The story has never been
substantiated.
What must be understood to appreciate his actions to support his wife
and family fully is how incredibly dangerous and volatile the Salem Village
community had become. When accusations began to fall upon neighbor,
spouse and outsider alike, those who did not visibly show support of the
“afflicted” were themselves viewed with suspicion. For Peter to sign
petitions attesting to the fragility and innocence of the “accused”,
essentially asking the officers of the court to rethink their actions, he was
exposing himself to grave consequences. Yet, he was not deterred. He
continued to express his dissatisfaction with the proceedings for a
considerable length of time afterwards.
The trials themselves were over by May of 1693. Peter built a home for
Sarah steps away from the cave they purportedly took shelter in. The
house still stands today, though in a ruinous state, on the outskirts of the
town of Framingham, a community that Peter himself helped establish.
He and Sarah both lived out their days in that house on Salem End Road.
Next...
Thomas Brattle
Lessons of 1692 |
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