Back to Family Story outcomes, S22

by Emma Knight

Growing up, I have always known that my ancestry leads back to a few different places in Europe. Out of my four grandparents, one grandmother is Italian, and one is Dutch, and one grandfather is Irish and one is Czech. I have always known that I had some English though my Irish and Czech grandfathers, but never thought it was more than a few ancestors very far back. Through my Ancestry research, I learned that this was not the case. I have heard many stories about my mother’s family, but not as much about my father’s, so I decided to focus on this line. I found that my paternal grandfather, Marlin Knight (1948-present), comes from a prominent line of New England settlers through his father’s side. My grandparents live in Tolland, Connecticut, and I have found ancestors dating back to the early 1700’s living in the same place. Before that, his ancestors lived in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in Groton, Massachusetts.

One of these Groton ancestors is Elizabeth Knapp (1655-1728). In Googling her name, the second link to come up is a Wikipedia article titled “Possession of Elizabeth Knapp.” This immediately got my attention, and I started to research further. I found a site run by Dr. Robert J O’Hara, a Harvard University alumnus with research interests in many different areas, who also happens to be my 8th cousin once removed. Because of his connection to Elizabeth Knapp, he researched this possession and posted the account of Reverend Samuel Willard, a minister in the Church of Groton. Elizabeth lived in his house as a servant during the time of her possession. In 1671, at the age of 16 years old, Elizabeth went through fits of possession, described as “sometimes weeping, sometimes laughing, sometimes roaring, with violent Agitations” (Mather 1701). This event occurred almost 20 years before the Salem Witch Trials happened in 1692, but the account is quite similar to one seen from the Trials.

There is a bit of confusion over which Elizabeth Knapp was the one possessed and that married Samuel Scripture. There is one Elizabeth Knapp born to William Knapp and Margaret Dean, and another Elizabeth Knapp born to William’s younger brother James Knapp and his wife Elizabeth Warren. The Elizabeth born to James and Elizabeth seems to be born in 1655, so it seems as this is the correct Elizabeth because the account says that she was 16 years old in 1671. The other Elizabeth, daughter of William and Margaret, seems to have been born in 1657.

Sources:

Mather, Cotton (1701) Magnalia Christi Americana, Book VI, Chap. VII, pp. 66–67 (London)

Possession of Elizabeth Knapp (Wikipedia)

Kane, M. 2021. Precursors to Salem Part One: Elizabeth Knapp. Retrospect Journal