Featured Novel 'Weave a Web of Witchcraft' -Jean M Roberts
'Weave a Web of Witchcraft ' is a kindle novel by Jean M. Roberts, available via Amazon and also 'Kindle Unlimited' . Recreating a documented case of one Hugh Parsons living in Springfield , Massachusetts from 1645-1651. Hugh ends up being committed and sent for trial on a charge of witchcraft . His wife Mary, is one of his main accusers. Mary in turn gets charged with the murder of one of their children.
It has been a great pleasure to ask a few questions view email to Jean in respect of her book. I gave 'Weave a Web of Witchcraft ' a glowing review on 'Amazon Co. UK' and 'Goodreads' :
Thought this was marvellous. Fair to state that is psychological horror fiction , though based on trial dispositions, concerning Hugh and Mary Parsons in Springfield , Massachusetts..... The book is not study of dramatic claims of possession like Salem in 1692 or and the story does not draw on heavy occultism. And that probably adds to the book's power.
It is a slowburner. Hugh and Mary meet, there is a courtship, a sexual attraction, they marry and start a family. There is an incredible contrast between the vast notion of a new world of supposed opportunity compared with insular life in small 17th century puritan community. The author shows how the community functioned, how soap was made, a cow butchered , the crops that were grown, but the reader never feels that they are being lectured.
Hugh and Mary's marriage becomes stormy, various tensions emerge in the wider community . Though genuinely pious-and the author never tries to deride their faith- the populace somehow can not come to grips with the unexpected elements of life . Whether it is a valuable tool goes missing and found again , a pudding getting spoilt, an accident sawing a tree, the heartbreak of a child dying. Egged on by Mary who gradually becomes delusional, the community finds a scapegoat in Hugh Parsons, a hard working member of the community but who somehow does not quite fit in . And accusations of witchcraft are levelled. It's a great study of love and hate within a marriage, and how trust between neighbours can deteriorate into loathing. Most impressed by this book.
An obvious question, but how did you discover the case of Hugh and Mary Parsons?
I am an avid genealogist/family historian. I was researching Hugh Parsons who lived in Watertown, Massachusetts. Some older histories conflate him with the Hugh Parsons of Springfield. I came to realise that they were not the same man. In fact there were three contemporary Hugh Parsons living at the same time. By the time I discovered I'd gone down the wrong rabbit hole, I'd become fascinated by Hugh and Mary of Springfield and done an enormous amount of research into their tragic lives. Surprisingly, there is quite a bit of information on them from the time period.
Someday, I might go back and write about Hugh of Watertown, who also had a terrible life.
What do you think caused the accusation of witchcraft to be levelled against Hugh Parsons and to be believed by many members of the community?
Hugh Parsons, by all accounts was not a 'nice' man. He was argumentative and as a businessman, difficult to deal with. According to the town tax rolls, Hugh was financially in the top third in his little community. He was the only brickmaker in town and angered many of his neighbours with his questionable deals.I believe that his neighbours disliked him and were jealous of his success. It didn't take much to set off a complaint of witchcraft. The people of that day really believed that the devil walked amongst them. Massachusetts was a wild land, heavily forested, who knew what demons lurked in the bush. I think, like a wildfire, the accusations spread quickly as people sought to blame Hugh for their misfortunes, and the they could exact a bit of revenge at the same time.
Generally speaking, the Salem with trial is quite well known but were witch trials quite prevalent in the 17th century? Can you give examples of others?
There were quite a few witchcraft trials both before and after the Parsons' case. Mentioned in my book was a couple named Carrington who were accused, their depositions and details are lost. Several years after Mary was tried, a Springfield woman, oddly also named Mary Parsons was accused and tried but found not guilty. The earliest recorded accusations were of a Boston woman accused in 1638. Between 1647 and 1663 79 persons were accused of witchcraft and 15 hanged. Several Quaker women were accused and were expelled from the Colony of Massachusetts.
Have historians covered the subject of New England witch accusations- Salem apart? If so, can you recommend any particular non-fiction work?
There are quite a few books on the subject. One of the very best is by Carol F. Karisen called The Devil in the Shape of a Woman. I used this book as a reference when writing Weave a Web of Witchcraft I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the subject. Witch Hunting in 17th Century New England by David Hill is also a super resource and really goes into individual cases, including the Parsons.
Do you intend to return to the subject for future fiction?
I thoroughly enjoyed writing Weave a Web of Witchcraft and researching the case. I love writing about New England and putting my ancestors in my novels, even if they only play a bit part. I will probably return to the subject in some form in the future.
Ends
Hope that all blog readers are as safe and well as can be expected during these worrying times.
Michael Bully
Brighton , England 27th January 2021
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