Martha Sparks: Chelmsford’s Accused Witch

By Ron Sykes

Certainly, there are many stories of injustice in Chelmsford’s past but, the story of Martha Sparks seems to be particularly cruel.

On July 10, 1676 Martha, the daughter of Thomas Barrett Jr., married Henry Sparks from Exeter, New Hampshire. Henry purchased 1 acre of land from Robert Parker located on the Gutt, a small piece of low lying land that drains Tadmuck Swamp. Most likely, this is the parcel of land located east of where Beaver Brook crosses Garrison Road today. He purchased an adjoining acre and a half a year later.

In 1691, she was a young mother, caring for her small children alone while, her husband was fighting in King Phillip’s War. He was in the “eastern parts” of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, fighting for the British crown, when he was killed in 1694.

While milking a cow one day, she was struck on the forehead by one of the horns of the cow. One of her neighbors saw the blood on her forehead and claimed “that while she was bleeding, a spectre of her likeness appeared “. This spectre is also known as a vision or ghost.

The neighbor claimed that Martha was a witch. Her reason was based upon the writings of Cotton Mather, a prominent Puritan minister in colonial Massachusetts. He was notably involved in the Salem witch trials, but his influence also extended to other witchcraft accusations in the region, including cases like Martha Sparks.

In one of his writings “Wonders of the Invisible World”, he played a part in trying to uphold judicial proceedings based on evidence, although his definition of evidence included things like spectral testimony (testimony about visions or ghosts), which were problematic. His works contributed to the Puritan worldview that validated the existence of witches, thus influencing accusations like those against Martha Sparks.

Although Mather did not play a role in the Chelmsford case, his writings and sermons helped create an environment where witchcraft accusations were taken seriously, leading to events like the accusations against Martha Sparks.

On October 28, 1691 Deputy Governor Thomas Danforth took Martha to Boston and committed her to Boston Gaol for suspicion of witchcraft.

Thankfully, Chelmsford’s minister, Reverend Thomas Clark came to Martha’s defense. His influence upon the authorities helped them to verify this grave mistake. After spending a year in jail Martha’s father went to Boston where he petitioned Governor Phipps and his governor’s council to release her. No formal evidence was ever produced against Martha.

Martha was released from Boston Gaol on December 6, 1692. She returned to Chelmsford to care for her family. She died a little more than two years later on February 28, 1697 leaving her two small children without parents.

Martha Sparks was the only person accused of witchcraft in Chelmsford.