Ancestral Connection to the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 Explained

The ancestral connection to the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 is on my maternal great-grandfather, Charles Griner’s paternal side of his family tree on his great-grandmother, Eleanor “Nellie” Garrison’s paternal line. Eleanor Garrison’s father was Cornelius Garrison who died in December of 1794. Cornelius’s father was Daniel Garrison born in 1724 and died in Salem, County, NJ on December 4th 1799 at the age of 75.

Daniel Garrison (c. 1724-1799) was the son of Jacob Garrison Jr. (1678-1751) by his second wife, Mary Walling. Jacob Garrison Jr. and Mary Walling were married at Christ Church in Philadelphia, PA on February 4th 1720. It is on her mother’s side of her family that has strong ties to The Salem Witch Trials of 1692.

Mary Walling’s parents were Thomas Walling II (1669-1724) and Sarah Elwell (1676-1734). Sarah Elwell’s parents were Thomas Elwell I (1654-1706) and Sarah Bassett (1651-1707), one of the sisters of Elizabeth Proctor, wife of John Proctor, who was hanged on August 19th 1692. Sarah Bassett was the daughter of Capt. William Bassett Sr. of Lynn, Massachusetts (1624-1703) and Sarah Burt. (1628-1689).

Capt. William Bassett Sr. of Lynn, Massachusetts (1624-1703), was born in Dorking, Surrey, England was baptized on May 30th 1624, his parents were Roger Bassett and Ann Holland.