From Jane Emerson James, "The Haverhill Emersons: Revised and Extended", (Jane Emerson James, Lake Winnebago, MO, 1983), p. 25:
"On 10 Apr 1686 Elizabeth Emerson, unmarried, gave birth to Dorothy of
whom no further record has been located by me. The father was Samuel Ladd, then
37, who was married to Martha (Corlis) Ladd, mother of their 6 children.
Elizabeth was 23 at the birth of Dorothy and at 28 she again gave birth, this
time to twin boys who did not survive. Again the father was Samuel Ladd, then
42. Whatever else may be thought of Elizabeth, she was not permiscuous [sic].
Doris Smith of Porterville, CA located the following record from Records of the
Court of Assistants of the Massachusetts Bay, Vol. 1:
'26th Sept. Elizabeth Emmerson single woman Daughter of Michael Emmerson of
Haverhill in the County of Essex being indicted by the Jurors for our Soveraigne
Lord & Lady King William & Oueen Mary upon their Oathes. For that the sd.
Elizabeth Emmerson being with child with two living Children or Infants on
Thursday night the 7th of May 1691 before day of Fryday morning at Haverhill
aforesd in the house of Michael Emmerson aforesd by the Providence of God two
Bastard Children alive did bring forth and the sd. Elizabeth Emmerson not
haveing the feare of Cod before her Eyes and being instigated by ye Devil of her
malice forethought, the sd two Infants did feloniously kill & Murther, and
them in a small Bagg or cloath sewed up, and concealed or hid them in sd
Emmersons house untill afterwards, that is to say, on sabbath day May the tenth
1691, the sd two Infants in the yard of sd Emmerson in Haverhill aforesd did
secretly bury contrary to the peace of Our Soveraign Lord 6 Lady the King &
Queen, their Crown & Dignity, the Laws of God, and the Lawes & Statutes
in that case made & provided. Upon which Indictment the sd Elizabeth
Emmerson was arraigned and to the Indictment pleaded not guilty & put
berselfe upon Tryal by God & the Country, * a Jury was impannelled being the
first Jury, whereof mr. Richard Crisp was foreman, and were accordingly sworne
(the prisoner making no challeng) The Indictment Examination & evidences
were read, & the prisoner made her defence, The Jury return their Verdict,
the Jury say, That she sd. Elizabeth Emmerson is guilty according to Indictment.
The Court Order, That sentance of Death he pronounced ag. her.' *Left blank in
the record
"She spent two years in prison and was hanged on Boston Common 8 Jun 1693.
Although the entire village knew that Samuel Ladd was the father he seems never
to have been officially censured."
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The following comes from the Diary of Cotton Mather:
"I had often wished for an Opportunity, to bear my Testimonies, against
the Sins of Uncleanness, wherein so many of my Generacon do pollute themselves.
A young Woman of Haverhil, and a Negro Woman also of this Town (Boston)were
under sentence of Death, for the Murdering of their Bastard-children. Many and
many a weary Hour, did I spend in the Prison, to serve the Souls of those
miserable Creatures; and I had Opportunities in my own Congregation, to speak to
them, and from them, to vast Multitudes of others. Their Execution, was ordered
to have been, upon the Lecture of another; but by a very strange Providence,
without any Seeking of mine, or any Respect to mee, (that I know of) the order
for their Execution was altered and it fell on my Lecture Day. I did then with
the special Assistance of Heaven, make and preach, a Sermon upon Job. 36.14.
Whereat one of the greatest Assemblies, ever known in these parts of the World,
was come together. I had obtained from the young Woman, a pathetical Instrument,
in Writing, wherein shee own'd her own miscarriages, and warn'd the rising
Ceneracon of theirs. Towards the close of my Sermon, I read that Instrument unto
the Congregation; and made what Use, was proper of it. I accompany'd the
Wretches, to their Execution; but extremely fear all our Labours were lost upon
them; however sanctifyed unto many others. The Sermon was immediately printed;
with another which I had formerly uttered on the like Occasion; (entitled,
Warnings From the Dead) and it was greedily bought up; I hope, to the Attainment
of the Ends, which I had so long desired. T'was afterwards reprinted at
London."
[In the referenced sermon, Mather read Elizabeth's confession which follows. It
may be found in his Magnalia Christi Americana.]
"I am a miserable sinner, and I have justly provok'd the holy God to leave
me unto that folly of my own heart, for which I am now condemmed to die. I
cannot but see much of the anger of God against me, in the circumstances of my
woful death. He hath fulfilled upon me that word of his, "Evil pursueth
sinners!" I therefore desire humbly to confess my many sins before God and
the world; but most particularly my blood guiltiness. Before the birth of my
twin-infants, I too much parlied with the temptation of the devil to smother my
wickedness by muthering of them. At length, when they were born, I was not
insensible that at least one of them was alive; but such a wretch was I, as to
use a murderous carriage towards them, in the place where I lay, on purpose to
dispatch them out of the world. I acknowledge that I have been more hard hearted
than the sea-monsters; and yet for the pardon of these my sins, I would fly to
the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is the only "fountain set open
for sin and uncleanness." I know not how better to glorifie God, for giving
me such an opportunity as I have had to make sure of his mercy, than by
advertising and entreating the rising generation here to take warning by my
example, and I will therefore tell the sins that have brought me to my shameful
end. I do warn all people and expecially young people, against the sin of
uncleanness in particular. 'Tis that sin that hath been my ruine. Well had it
been for me, if I had answered all temptations to that sin as Joseph did, 'How
shall I do this wickedness, and sin against God?' But, I see, bad company is
that which leads to that and other sins; And I therefore beg all that love their
souls to be familiar with none but such as fear Cod. I believe the chief thing
that hath brought me into my present condition, is my disobedience to my
parents. I dispised all their godly counsel and reproofs; and I was always of a
haughty, stubborn spirit. So that now I am become a dreadful instance of the
curse of God belonging to disobedient children. I must bewail this also, and
although I was baptized, yet when I grew up, I forgot the bonds that were laid
upon me to be the Lord's. Had I given my self to God, as soon as I was capable
to consider that I had been in baptism set apart for him, How happy had I been!
It was my delay to repent of my former sins, that provoked God to leave me unto
the crimes for which I am now to die. Had I seriously repented of my uncleanness
the first time I fell into it, I do suppose I had not been left unto what
followed. Let all take it from me: They little think what they do when they put
off turning from sin to God, and resist the strivings of the Holy Spirit. I fear
'tis for this that I have been given up to such "hardness of heart",
not only since my long imprisonment but also since my just condemnation. I now
know not what will become of my distressed, perishing soul. But I would humbly
commit it unto the mercy of Cod in Jesus Christ. Amen."
[Elizabeth at first pled not guilty, but after sessions with Cotton Mather, did
plead guilty. Whether or not Elizabeth could have fashioned the above confession
(or was guilty of anything more than fornication) is a subject of
speculation. It is to be noted that Elizabeth is the sister of Hannah
Emerson Dustin, about whom Cotton Mather also wrote.]