Frances ALCOCK
Biography

Frances was arrested for Witchcraft in 1692. See below.

Frances Alcock was born in 1612 in Hampshire, England.

She came to America in 1638 at age 26 on the ship Bevis as a servant to Richard Dummer.

Her husband John Hutchins was another servant to the same family, the Dummers who were from the Southampton area of England.

In 1653 Francis was in court. Around 1650 the General Court had passed a law prohibiting the display of finery by persons "of meane condition" defined as persons whose property was valued under £200.

Francis was arrested on 17 Sep 1653 for wearing a silk hood, as was her friend, Mrs. Joseph Swett. Francis Hutchins was acquitted because "upon testimony of her being brought up above the ordinary way," while Mrs. Swett was found guilty and had to pay ten shillings. [Considering Frances arrived as an indentured servant, I wonder what was the basis for her "being brought up above the ordinary way"]

In 1692 Francis was arrested again 18 Aug 1692 for witchcraft as a result of a witchcraft complaint filed by Timothy Swan, Ann Putnam, Jr., and Mary Walcott.

The charge was not pressed because her son Joseph and his wife (Joanna Corliss Hutchins) and Joanna's brother-in-law Samuel Kingsbury (Huldah Corliss Kingsbury's husband) posted sufficient bond to satisfy the accusers and gain her release on 21 Dec 1692. No trial records have been found.

Children of John and Frances:

1. Elizabeth Hutchins c. 1636
2. William Hutchins c. 1638
3. Ensign Samuel Hutchins 1640 or 1645
4. Joseph HUTCHINS 15 Nov 1640
5. John Hutchins 10 Oct 1641
6. Benjamin Hutchins 15 May 1643
7. Love Hutchins 16 Jul 1647
8. Thomas Hutchins 1649

Frances died 5 Apr 1694, aged 82.

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