Mary Ann Warren (25 may 1675-10 sep 1732) was an accuser and later confessed witch during the 1692 Salem witch trials.^[1] She was a servant for John and Elizabeth Proctor. Renouncing her claims after threats of beating from her master, she was later accused and arrested for allegedly practicing witchcraft herself, after which she again became afflicted and accused others of witchcraft. Her life after the trials is unknown.

Warren was kept hard at work at the Proctor home and was told that if she ran into fire or water during one of her fits, she would not be rescued. When her seizures did stop, she posted a note at the Meeting House one Sabbath eve to request prayers of thanks. That night, Warren stated that John Proctor woke her to torment her about posting the note. On April 3, 1692, Samuel Parris read Mary's note to the church members, who began to question Warren after the Sunday services. Some took her answers to their questions to mean that the girls had lied. Warren told them she felt better now and could tell the difference between reality and visions. The other girls became angry with Mary and began accusing her of being a witch because she had told the high court that all the girls were lying that they saw the devil. She was formally accused of witchcraft on April 18, 1692.^[2] Under questioning she continued to have fits, confessing under duress to witchcraft and began to accuse various people, including the Proctors, of witchcraft.^[1]

Having confessed to witchcraft herself, she was eventually released from prison in June 1692. It is not known what happened to Warren after the trials ended, though John Hale’s book "A Modest Inquiry Into the Nature of Witchcraft" (written in 1697 and published in 1702) mentions an afflicted girl who suffered from "diabolical manifestation" until her death and died a single woman. Since all but three of the accusers had married or were alive by the book's publication, it is possible he was talking about Warren.^[3]

The Crucible

Mary Warren is a character in the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller. True to the historical record, she is a maid for John Proctor, and becomes involved in the Salem witch hunt as one of the accusers, led by Abigail Williams. Mary Warren has a very weak character, giving in to pressure a number of times. Proctor manages to convince her to reveal that she and the other accusers have been fabricating their stories and "supernatural experiences" that have resulted in the arrest of many innocents. However, Warren’s confession comes to nothing. Williams accuses Warren of witchcraft, which leads Warren to renounce her confession and accuse Proctor of forcing her to make it. Proctor is later hanged as he renounces his confession to save his heart and soul. In the 1957 and 1996 film adaptations of Miller's play, she was depicted by Pascale Petit^[4] and Karron Graves,^[5] respectively.

Parents

Mary's parents are John Abraham Warren and Michal Jennison. Mary Married Joseph Pierce and they both had Isaac Pierce 1700-1773, Mary Pierce 1702-1783, Elizabeth Pierce 1703-1799, Sarah Pierce 1705-1747, Lydia Pierce 1706-1708, Eunice Pierce 1708-1793, Grace Pierce 1711-1747, Prudence Pierce 1713-1803, Lois Pierce 1715-1778, Ruhaman Pierce 1717-1778. Mary Warren was one of 7 children Margaret Warren 1668-1742, Sarah Warren 1670-1702, Elizabeth Warren 1673-1774, John Warren V 1678-1726, Grace Warren 1679-1767, Samuel Warren 1683-1759.https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/163528115/family?cfpid=252127144885

References