Francis Dane
Encyclopedia
Francis Dane was baptized in Bishop's Stortford
, England, and was probably born there.
Dane became the second pastor of the North Parish Andover, Massachusetts
in 1649. During that time, he founded a school for Andover youth.
He married twice more. His second wife was Mary Thomas (m. 1677-1689), and his third wife was Hannah Abbot (m. 1690-his death 1697).
Shortly following Barnard's arrival, Francis Dane's salary was stopped. Dane petitioned the General Court in Boston to have it reinstated. The town complied, but split the salary of 80 pounds a year so that Dane received thirty pounds and Barnard received fifty. Neither man was pleased with the solution.
began.
On October 18, 1692 Francis Dane, Thomas Barnard, and twenty-three others wrote a letter to the governor and to the General Court public condemning the witch trials. Dane and his family were in danger as half a dozen family members stood accused, including Francis Dane himself. Another minister, George Burroughs
, had been hanged, and thus Dane's status did not guarantee protection. He warned that his people were guilty of blood for accepting unfounded accusations against covenanted members of the church.
Two of Francis Dane's daughters, Elizabeth Johnson and Abigail Faulkner
, and his daughter-in-law, Deliverance Dane
were all arrested. Abagail Dane Faulkner's two daughters, Abagail Faulkner and Dorothy Faulkner were also accused of witchcraft.
, was convicted and condemned in September 1692, but given a temporary stay of execution
because she was pregnant. Although his extended family had the most accused of any other family, in the end, none of his family members were executed.
Bishop's Stortford
Bishop's Stortford is a historic market town and civil parish in the district of East Hertfordshire in the county of Hertfordshire in England. It is situated just west of the M11 motorway, on the county boundary with Essex and is the closest large town to London Stansted Airport and part of the...
, England, and was probably born there.
Education and early career
Francis Dane matriculated from King's College at the University of Cambridge in Easter term 1633 and emigrated to Massachusetts with his parents, John Dane and Frances (Bowyer) Dane in 1636.Dane became the second pastor of the North Parish Andover, Massachusetts
Andover, Massachusetts
Andover is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. It was incorporated in 1646 and as of the 2010 census, the population was 33,201...
in 1649. During that time, he founded a school for Andover youth.
Family
By his first wife, Elizabeth Ingalls (1590–1676), Francis had two sons,- Nathaniel Dane
- Francis Dane, and four daughters,
- Elizabeth Dane Johnson,
- Hannah Dane Goodhue,
- Phebe Dane Robinson, and
- Abigail Dane FaulknerAbigail FaulknerAbigail Faulkner was an American woman accused of witchcraft during the Salem witch trials in 1692. In the frenzy that followed, Faulkner’s sister Elizabeth Johnson, her sister-in-law Deliverance Dane, two of her daughters, two of her nieces, and a nephew, would all be accused of witchcraft and...
.
He married twice more. His second wife was Mary Thomas (m. 1677-1689), and his third wife was Hannah Abbot (m. 1690-his death 1697).
First Murmurings of Witchcraft
In 1658 when the subject of witchcraft first came to his attention, he came down decidedly against the concept. When John Godfrey was charged with injuring the wife of Job Tyler by "Satanic acts," Francis Dane judged against the probability.A New Minister
Around 1680, when Francis Dane was about sixty-five years of age, church members became concerned about his ability to fulfill his role leading the church and requested that a younger minister be sent to them. In January 1682, Rev. Thomas Barnard, a recent graduate of Harvard, arrived.Shortly following Barnard's arrival, Francis Dane's salary was stopped. Dane petitioned the General Court in Boston to have it reinstated. The town complied, but split the salary of 80 pounds a year so that Dane received thirty pounds and Barnard received fifty. Neither man was pleased with the solution.
Salem Witch Trials Begin
Dane had lived in Andover for forty-four years, and he was seventy-six years old when the Salem Witch TrialsSalem witch trials
The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings before county court trials to prosecute people accused of witchcraft in the counties of Essex, Suffolk, and Middlesex in colonial Massachusetts, between February 1692 and May 1693...
began.
On October 18, 1692 Francis Dane, Thomas Barnard, and twenty-three others wrote a letter to the governor and to the General Court public condemning the witch trials. Dane and his family were in danger as half a dozen family members stood accused, including Francis Dane himself. Another minister, George Burroughs
George Burroughs
George Burroughs , American Congregational pastor, graduated from Harvard College in 1670, and became the minister of Salem Village in 1680, a charge which he held until 1683. He lived at Falmouth until it was destroyed by natives in 1690. Burroughs then moved to Wells, Maine...
, had been hanged, and thus Dane's status did not guarantee protection. He warned that his people were guilty of blood for accepting unfounded accusations against covenanted members of the church.
Two of Francis Dane's daughters, Elizabeth Johnson and Abigail Faulkner
Abigail Faulkner
Abigail Faulkner was an American woman accused of witchcraft during the Salem witch trials in 1692. In the frenzy that followed, Faulkner’s sister Elizabeth Johnson, her sister-in-law Deliverance Dane, two of her daughters, two of her nieces, and a nephew, would all be accused of witchcraft and...
, and his daughter-in-law, Deliverance Dane
Deliverance (Hazeltine) Dane
Deliverance Dane was one of many women accused of witchcraft during the time of the Salem Witch Trials. The trials began in Salem, but quickly began to spread. Dane was from Andover, Massachusetts, and due largely to the work of her father-in-law, much of the hysteria that swept through Salem...
were all arrested. Abagail Dane Faulkner's two daughters, Abagail Faulkner and Dorothy Faulkner were also accused of witchcraft.
Reprieve
Francis Dane's daughter, Abigail (Dane) Faulkner Sr.Abigail Faulkner
Abigail Faulkner was an American woman accused of witchcraft during the Salem witch trials in 1692. In the frenzy that followed, Faulkner’s sister Elizabeth Johnson, her sister-in-law Deliverance Dane, two of her daughters, two of her nieces, and a nephew, would all be accused of witchcraft and...
, was convicted and condemned in September 1692, but given a temporary stay of execution
Stay of execution
A stay of execution is a court order to temporarily suspend the execution of a court judgment or other court order. The word "execution" does not necessarily mean the death penalty; it refers to the imposition of whatever judgment is being stayed....
because she was pregnant. Although his extended family had the most accused of any other family, in the end, none of his family members were executed.