Ann Putnam’s deposition (1692)

1. Ann Putnam’s deposition (1692)
2. Ann Putnam’s deposition (1692) what did Putnam explain in her deposition? 125-175

In her deposition, Ann Putnam explains how Martha Corey tortured her. She testified that at around noon on 18th March 1692, she was laying on the bed taking a rest when the spirit of Martha Carey immediately chocked and pressed her. Putnam reported that were it not by the grace of God the spirit ould have killed her. She explains that the spirit returned before she could recover from the shock. This time, the spirit of Martha Corey tortured her and tempted her to go with her. She reported that the spirit presented her with a red book and a black pen and urged her to write in the book forcefully. In her testimony, Ann testified that the spirit visited her several times a day torturing her to the extent of nearly killing her. She explained that Martha in the company of Rebecca Nurse, revisited her the following day and abused her again. She testified how on 24th March she was taken to the meetinghouse by her husband after she passed out.

2. John Winthrop, “A model of Christian Charity” (1630) Explain the symbolism of the “city upon a hill.” What does it tell us about the place these colonies hoped to hold in North America? 125-175

John Winthrop used the phrase “city upon a hill” to refer to the establishment of Boston city. During the colonial times, the town geographically comprised of three hills. The tallest hill was the Beacon Hill where the earliest colonies settled. The hill is currently one-third shorter. The colonies used hilltop as a beacon to alert them in case of danger from the native communities. On a theological point of view, Winthrop was referring to the sermon on mount passages mentioned in the New Testament. He could also have used the phrase to refer to the New Jerusalem or the Holy City of God’s chosen described in the book of Revelation. The city was illuminated by the presence of God for the others to see.

3. Describe the aspects of life throughout the colonies. 350-400

The colonial period had devastating conditions for both Native Americans and the settlers. Because of the different tribes of the native Indians, they perceived as allies against their enemies. This suspicion made it difficult for the natives to resist the European settlement. During the first year, the settlers were affected by disease and starvation with only thirty-eight out of a hundred surviving. In 1608, the first physician arrived at Jamestown, Virginia. During winter in 1609, the relationship between the natives and the colonists worsened when the Indians sieged Jamestown (Numhauser 221). The colonies had to eat anything they could. Only sixty colonists survived the starvation. Use of herbal medicine and bloodletting were some of the means used by the physicians to treat their sick (Numhauser 221). These medicines were ineffective, and to some point, the victims died from the medication rather than the disease. The natives, on the other hand, suffered in equal measure. There was very high infant mortality forcing them to name their babies if they survived for two years. People aged too fast due to poor diet and disease. Any form of sickness was life-threatening, and the victim would eventually die. There were a couple of “quack” doctors who lacked any idea of the disease they were treating.

The arrival of over a hundred women in 1617 helped the male settlers bond easily. The unwed boys bought these women as their wives. The women worked in the farms as well as performing their daily domestic roles (Numhauser 222). The first batch of slaves arrived in 1609 to work in the farms. The slaves were captured by the Dutch from Africa (Numhauser 222). The slavery system turned out to be torturous due to cruelty the slaves received from their owners. The next decade was full of periods of war and peace between the Indians and the colonists. Schooling was very unbearable with students sitting on wooden benches. The classrooms were damp and were only heated with a single fireplace. Ill-behaved students were punished through whipping and hanging cards with demeaning quotes on their necks.

Works Cited

Numhauser, Paulina. “Nicholas A. Robins. Of Love and Loathing: Marital Life, Strife, and Intimacy in the Colonial Andes, 1750–1825.” (2017): 221-222.