JOHN ALDEN, JR.--Page 1

He was a successful sea captain, but something that doesn’t seem to come up often in genealogical works is that he was also an accused Salem witch. He was well-off and a bit elderly and lived in Boston at the time. After being accused by the Salem girls, he appeared before the magistrates. The girls cried out when he entered the room, and when he looked at them, they fell down. Alden turned to the magistrates and asked them why they did not fall down also, if he were indeed a witch. There was no answer, but Alden was detained anyway and imprisoned. He managed to make his escape about three months later, he was recaptured and brought back to Boston for trial, but by then the witch hysteria was just about over, and no one came forward against him and charges were dropped a month after that.

John Alden Jr. would be a formidable ancestor to have even if he hadn't been a Mayflower son or an accused witch. According to the book, Delusion Of Satan (see sources), Chapter 19, "A Bold Fellow With His Hat On", He was a church member, a merchant, owned property, had been a naval commander, had served in the French and Indian War, and had also spent some time in Canada redeeming some captives taken by the Indians. He led a varied and responsible life.

John Alden's ancestors:

John Alden m. Priscilla Mullins

John Alden was born about 1626 in Plymouth Co., MA. He died on 14 March 1701/2 in Boston, Suffolk, MA. He married Elizabeth Phillips (Mrs. Everill) on 1 April 1659/60 in Duxbury, Plymouth, MA.

John Alden's children:

Mary (17 December 1659 - Bef. 1667)
John (1660 - Bef. 1664)
Elizabeth (9 May 1662 - 14 July 1662)
John (12 March 1663 - 1 February 1729/30); m. (1) Elizabeth Gwinn, (2) Susanna Winslow.
William (16 March 1663/64 - 7 June 1664)
Elizabeth (9 April 1665 - Aft. 1 September 1739); m. (1) John Walley, (2)Simon Willard.
William (5 March 1665 - Abt. 1667)
Zachary (8 March 1667 - Bef. 18 February 1672)
Nathaniel (9 July 1668 - 17 February 1701); m. Hepsibah Mountjoy.
William (10 September 1669 - February 1728/29); m. Mary Drury.
Zachariah (18 February 1672 - Bef. August 1709); m. Mary Viall.

Sources (links may open in a new window)

There are many sources of information on the Salem Witchcraft trials. Any web search with "Alden" and "witchcraft" should turn up some source material for you.

The Alden Kindred Of America has the genealogy information.

Book sources:

Hill, Frances. A Delusion Of Satan: The Full Story Of The Salem Witch Trials. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo, 2002.

Hoffer, Peter Charles. The Devil's Disciples: Makers Of The Salem Witchcraft Trials. Baltimore, The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996.

Starkey, Marion. The Devil In Massachusetts: A Modern Enquiry Into The Salem Witch Trials. New York: Doubleday, 1989. This book is occasionally available used at abebooks.com. Also available new at Amazon.com