The Emerson family of Haverhill, Massachusetts colony in the late 1600s consisted of nine children and the parents; Michael and Hannah Webster Emerson. The couple had lost six infants at or shortly after birth. In this harsh New World community, survival was difficult especially for the very young.
Birth and Life of Elizabeth
One of the Emerson children was named Elizabeth Emerson and born January 26, 1664 in Haverhill. She was thought of as the difficult and unruly child. Children in these Puritan times were subject to their father’s complete control and had to be seen and not heard. Physical punishment to have the child mind was quite common.
The Emerson family had moved in 1666 to the center of Haverhill, onto Mill Street. Very soon afterward, they moved two miles out in what were the woodlands area.
One time in May 1676, Elizabeth’s father went too far in his punishment, severely beating and kicking young Elizabeth. So outraged was the community, charges of "cruel and excessive beating … and kicking" were placed on Michael Emerson. Even for or this Puritan community, this behavior was too cruel and Michael was fined three shillings for his actions.
Rebellious Elizabeth
As Elizabeth grew into a young woman, she remained rebellious, doing as she pleased. She found Samuel Ladd attracted to her and her to him. Before long, Elizabeth also found she was pregnant. Samuel couldn’t marry Elizabeth, he was already married to Martha Corliss, who he married December 1, 1674 and with whom he had several children. He was also several years older than Elizabeth.
Elizabeth had given birth to a daughter, who she named Dorothy Emerson. The baby was born April 10, 1686 and Elizabeth continued to live with her parents, in spite of the shame she brought on the family. She also continued to spend stolen moments with Samuel Ladd. He was the son of one of Haverhill’s founders and was a wealthy landowner in his own right.
Elizabeth and the Twins
By 1690, Elizabeth was pregnant again, only this time she did not tell her parents. She had already experience their anger at the illegitimate birth of Dorothy. She managed to conceal her condition from the townspeople.
On May 7, 1691, during the night, while everyone was asleep, she gave birth to a set of twin boys. Without her parents' knowledge she had just given birth and thinking the babies were stillborn she hid the babies bodies in a chest near her bed. The bodies remained hidden for three days. When Elizabeth had the opportunity, she then sewed the bodies into a bag and buried them in the backyard of the Emerson home.
What Elizabeth was not aware of was that there were some community people who were suspicious of Elizabeth and had been observing her for some time. Within a few days, while her parents were out of the house and Elizabeth at home, several people came to the Emerson house. Several women were present to do a physical exam of Elizabeth. The men searched the house and then outside.
It was the conclusion of the exam that Elizabeth had recently given birth and then the bag with the babies was located in a shallow grave behind the house. It appeared one of the babies had it’s umbilical cord twisted about its neck. Elizabeth denied any knowledge of the babies.
Arrest of Elizabeth
She was taken from her home to be further questioned. She eventually stated that she had given birth to the twins, but claimed the babies were stillborn and they had not cried and woken anyone in the household. She did not kill the babies, but also had not told her parents out of fear, especially after the first birth.
Elizabeth’s parents were questioned about what they knew and both stated they did not know Elizabeth was pregnant. One person who was never questioned was Samuel Ladd, even though everyone did assume he was the father. Possibly because of his station in the community, no type of punishment or blame was given to Samuel.
Puritan Trial
Instead Elizabeth stood trial for infanticide, the killing and concealing of babies born out of wedlock. She continued to plead innocent to the murder of the twins and that her only crime was concealing the babies, again out of fear. The Puritan male jury found her guilty and ordered her execution. By September 1691 she was sent to the Boston prison to wait for the hanging.
Two Years in Prison
Elizabeth remained in prison for nearly two years. During that time while in prison she was counseled by Rev. Cotton Mather. To Rev. Mather she did plead guilty. She claimed to be a stubborn spirit and not listening to her parents. She stated it was being in bad company that got her into problems.
Her punishment was carried out on June 8, 1693, when she was hung in Boston Common. As fate would have it, Samuel Ladd was killed in an Indian raid on February 22, 1697, just three miles outside of town while gathering hay. He had been struck in the head.
Elizabeth - A Puritan Example
The Puritans saw Elizabeth Emerson’s behavior as moral decay and wanted to use her as an example. Only there had already been numerous infanticides before 1691 and even more after Elizabeth’s death. Just three years later, in 1696, Susanna Andrews, of the same region, was also hung for killing her illegitimate twins.
Sources:
Elizabeth Emerson
Emerson Family
Alice Luckhardt - As a social science teacher in Florida for 18 years, office manager for the family business, historical and genealogical researcher and ...
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