Sparkes, who is now a soldier in Their Majesties’ Service at the Eastern Parts, and so hath been for a considerable time, humbly showeth, That your petitioner’s daughter hath lain in prison in Boston for the space of twelve months and five days, being committed by Thomas Danforth, Esq., the late deputy-governor, upon suspicion of witchcraft; since which no evidence hath appeared against her in any such matter, neither hath any given bond to prosecute her, nor doth any one at this day accuse her of any such thing, as your petitioner knows of.  That your petitioner hath ever since kept two of her children; the one of five years, the other of two years old, which hath been a considerable trouble and charge to him in his poor and mean condition:  besides, your petitioner hath a lame, ancient, and sick wife, who, for these five years and upwards past, hath been so afflicted as that she is altogether rendered uncapable of affording herself any help, which much augments his trouble.  Your poor petitioner earnestly and humbly entreats Your Excellency and Honors to take his distressed condition into your consideration; and that you will please to order the releasement of his daughter from her confinement, whereby she may return home to her poor children to look after them, having nothing to pay the charge of her confinement.

     “And your petitioner, as in duty bound, shall ever pray.

     “Nov. 1, 1692.”]

Margaret Jacobs had to remain in jail after the Governor’s proclamation had directed the release of all prisoners, because she could not pay the fees and charges.  Her grandfather had been executed, and all his furniture, stock, and moveable property seized by the marshal or sheriff.  Her father escaped the warrant by a sudden flight from his home under the cover of midnight, and was in exile “beyond the seas;” her mother and herself taken at the time by the officers serving the warrants against them; the younger children of the family, left without protection, had dispersed, and been thrown upon the charity of neighbors; the house had been stripped of its contents, left open, and deserted.  She had not a shilling in the world, and knew not where to look for aid.  She was taken back to prison, and remained there for some time, until a person named Gammon, apparently a stranger, happened to hear of her case, and, touched with compassion, raised the money required, and released her.  It was long before the affairs of the Jacobs’ family were so far retrieved as to enable them to refund the money to the noble-hearted fisherman.  How many others lingered in prison, or how long, we have no means of ascertaining.