In the tv show, Who Do You Think You Are? (March 5 2010), produced by Lisa Kudrow, season 1, episode 1, Sarah Jessica Parker learns that her tenth great grandmother, Esther (Dutch) Elwell, was found guilty of witchcraft in 1692. Her arrest was the last formal accusation recorded during the Salem witch trials. The grisly court was dissolved days prior to her sentencing because spectral evidence was banned. Esther lived to be 82 years old. Parker visited Danvers to meet with historians and inspect the original records, and then on to Salem to pay respects.
Did Sarah Jessica Parker come to Gloucester?
Well, not according to the final edit. The show could have filmed here.
Witches of Gloucester
Beckoned to Gloucester, Salem teenager and accuser, Betty Hubbard, officially confirmed the false suspicions in 1692. And just like that three women from Gloucester– Esther Elwell, Abigail Rowe and Rebecca Dike– were arrested for killing Gloucester resident, Mary Fitch, by witchcraft. Historians determined that nine women from Gloucester were caught up in the witchhunts, jailed, and released (by the spring of 1693). Accused were more often than not related and at odds with accusers, well off, and/or “trouble”. Collaborating institutions and collections have gathered and digitized 17th century documents. You can peruse them here: http://salem.lib.virginia.edu/17docs.html
Later history of witches in Gloucester revolve around Dogtown. In the 1896 book, In the Heart of Cape Ann, Charles Mann described Gloucester’s Dogtown as “practically the only ruined city in America.” By then Dogtown legends persisted about “witches” like Tammy Younger (died 1829), her aunt Luce George, Peg Wesson, and Judy Rhines. Percy Mackaye’s 1921 poem Dogtown Common acknowledged Mann’s book, “curious reader may learn many strange, half fogotten facts concerning the old Puritan life of that region…” Here’s the eerie opener setting a fitting scene for Halloween.
Inland among the lonely cedar dells
of old Cape Ann, near Gloucester by the sea,
Still live the dead–in homes that used to be.
All day in dreamy spells
They tattle low with toungues of tinkling cattle
bells,
Or spirit tappings of some hollow tree,
And there, all night–all night, out of the
dark–
They bark–and bark.
Apparently, when Sarah Jessica Parker starred in Hocus Pocus (1993), she did not know this family history. Some of the movie was filmed on location in Salem and Marblehead.
Good Morning Gloucester 
Yes, it’s amazing what one can find if one does some genealogical research. I, too, found a tenth great-grandmother from Rockport who was accused of witchcraft and locked up in Ipswich for a month… her name was Elizabeth Austin Dicer and she was the mother-in-law of Richard Tarr, the first settler of Rockport. Numerous letters and testimonies finally got her released to a very anxious (and relieved!), family! Another ancestor, Clement Coldham of Goose Cove was called as a witness against an Elizabeth Hubbard. He could not have been too convincing because Ms Hubbard (fortunately!), was acquitted.
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Thanks for reading and sharing your family history!
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Clement Coldham is my 10th great-grandfather. I have a lot of ancestors from Gloucester, Massachusetts and surrounding area as well as Maine. They arrived from England beginning in the 1620s.
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My husband’s family line goeAps back to Richard Tarr as well!
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Elizabeth Dicer was accused at the same time as Esther Ellwell (my ancestor) as an accomplice along with Esther and accused of the same charge.
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Interesting!! 🙂
Reminds me a lot of genealogy testing using the DNA results which may be surprising in ancestry this opens lots of doors for some, and surprises other’s not so happy. Sometimes you want to complete the circle of life connections. With the new technology and testing it also opens many doors a lot farther back than before. Interesting post! Thanks Catherine! Emit Smith said it! 🙂 Dave & Kim 🙂
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My grandfather james elwell came from gloucester mass my grandmother was a witch guess it flew in.the family im winfield elwell
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Hello there. I assume that we are related some how. My fathers name was Raymond Curtis Elwell. We’re probably distant relatives.
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I was born Curtis Elwell and Esther Elwell was my 9th great Grandmother. I found this information through ancestry.com.
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Thanks Curtis, yes we would be cousins how many times I don’t know without more information? Paul Elwell
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Elwell is my maiden name, Esther was my 8th great grandmother.
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I was born Curtis V Elwell myself and Esther was my 9th Great Grandmother.
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My name is Paul Elwell and Esther was my (8th) Grandmother. My father Gene Elwell was born in Malden MA area. I didn’t realize that I had so many distant cousins?
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Shes my 10th great grandmother & I was born in Malden.
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I am a direct descendant of Robert Elwell the father in-law Of Esther Dutch Elwell. I used to have the history all the way down to my dad Harold N. Elwell and his siblings. Lost all my info when the computer I had crashed a few years ago. have not been able to find the sight I originally found it on. So much lost.
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Thanks Sandra, I was having trouble signing in. My brother has been researching the Elwell family line for over 40 years? He ” may ” have information on Robert Elwell and your father Harolds line of history? I sure he would like to talk to you. I sure that is a public site and don’t know how to get my personal E mail or phone number to you? Also not on Twitter or face book. Please advise? Paul Elwell
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I wrote below I’m an 11th cousin of Sarah Jessica Parker thru Elwell. I came from the female daughters & Parker the men. 💚
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Was your father’s middle name Nelson born June 1st 1931 in Bennington Vermont?
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My niece has it I’m waiting, I’m 10th down from Ester too😘, the papers say I’m 11th cousins with S.J. Parker & my side came from a daughter & Parker a son.
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Hahaha
My tenth great grandmother was one of the three in cahoots with Esther Eswell 😂😂 oops
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Thanks Brenda for the information
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Mine was Ester too maybe we’re long lost pals🫣😉🙌🏻✨
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Hey I’m from Ester as well. She’s my great great great…Grandmother & I’m 11th cousins with Sarah Jessica Parker. Elwell had boys & girls & papers say Sarah came from the boys side & me from the girls. I’m still in Boston. Grew up fishing in Gloucester my father was a fisherman there. I have so many things inline with Ester & I had no idea & it’s kinda freaky…✨🙌🏻💚✌🏻~Rachel
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