John Choate (1624-1695)

Sgt. John Choate was born 6 June 1624 in Groton, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom to Robert Choate (1589-1638) and Sarah Todd (1593-1695) and died 4 December 1695 Chebacco, Essex County, Massachusetts, United States of unspecified causes. He married Anne Carrama (1637-1727) 1660 in Massachusetts, United States.

Biography

Salem Witch Trials

300px-SalemWitchcraftTrial — 1876 illustration of the courtroom; the central figure is usually identified as being Mary Walcott

The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. More than 200 people were accused, nineteen of whom were found guilty and executed by hanging (fourteen women and five men). One other man, Giles Corey, was pressed to death for refusing to plead, and at least five people died in jail. It was the deadliest witch hunt in the history of the United States.

Petition of Chebacco Oldtimers

During that horrible period of the Salem Witchcraft John Andrews again comes into creditable public notice. John Proctor (1631-1692), who was born in Chebacco, but moved to Salem; heand his wife, Elizabeth, had the awful misfortune to be charged of being witches. His servant girl was one of the first accused of witchcraft and John was one of the first to step forward and call it a terrible lie. But then he and his wife were arrested, cast into prison, tried, convicted and executed.

Most persistent efforts in their behalf for clemency were made. While in prison Proctor addressed Rev. Cotton Mather and others imploring their assistance that if possible, their innocent blood might be spared. Their neighbors joined in a petition to the court to save them. Rev. John Wise drew up a petition which was signed by the men of old Chebacco, whose names were: John Wise, William Cogswell, William Story, Sr., Jonathan Cogswell, Reginalds Foster, John Cogswell, Jun., Thomas Choate, John Cogswell, John Burnham, Sr. Thomas Andrews, William Thompson, Joseph Andrews, Thomas Low, Sr. Benjamin Marshall, Issac foster, John Andrews, Jr., John Burnham, Jr., William Buslin, William Goodhue, William Andrews, Isaac Perkins, John Andrews, Nathaniel Perkins, John Choate, Sr., Thomas Wilkins, Joseph Proctor, William Cogswell, Samuel Giddings, Thomas Varney, Joseph Eveleth, John Fellows, James White.

It appears that the names of several members of this family signed to this petition, to their eternal honor and credit.

Children

Offspring of Sgt. John Choate and Anne Carrama (1637-1727)^¢
Name	Birth	Death	Joined with
Margaret Choate (c1691-1692)
John Choate II (1661-1733)
Samuel Choate (1663-1713)
Sarah Choate (1671-1757)
Thomas Choate (1671-1745)	1671 Chebacco, Essex County, Massachusetts, United States	31 March 1745 Hog Island, Essex County, Massachusetts, United States	Mary Varney (1669-1733)
Joseph Choate (1678-1778)