Escaping Salem

by

Richard Godbeer

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Abigail Wescot Character Analysis

Abigail Wescot was Daniel Wescot’s wife and Joana Wescot’s mother. Abigail enjoyed the privilege of being referred to by the honorific “Mistress” rather than the humbler title “Goodwife” or “Goody,” as most Puritan women were called. Abigail had, in the past, quarreled quite publicly with Goody Clawson, one of the women Abigail and Daniel’s servant girl Katherine Branch publicly accused of witchcraft. Because of this, many of Abigail and Daniel’s neighbors suspected them of encouraging Katherine to name their enemies as retribution for past conflicts. However, Abigail reportedly expressed concerns and doubts about the truth of Kate’s accusations—and perhaps believed that her husband and Kate were too close for comfort. Not much is known about Abigail’s life following the acquittals of Goody Clawson and Goody Disborough—though the Wescots moved to New Jersey sometime in the late 1690s, it is unclear what became of Abigail or her relationship to Kate.

Abigail Wescot Quotes in Escaping Salem

The Escaping Salem quotes below are all either spoken by Abigail Wescot or refer to Abigail Wescot. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Women, Witchcraft, and the Subversion of Gender Norms Theme Icon
).
Chapter 2 Quotes

It was on the following day that Kate first named one of the women afflicting her: Goody Clawson. This revelation came as no surprise to the Wescots. Elizabeth Clawson, a woman in her early sixties, had lived in Stamford with her husband Stephen ever since their marriage in 1655. Goody Clawson was suspected by many of having occult powers and of using them against her enemies. She was no friend of the Wescots. The Wescots had quarreled with Goody Clawson almost a decade before over the weight of some flax that she had supplied to them.

Related Characters: Richard Godbeer (speaker), Katherine (Kate) Branch, Elizabeth Clawson, Daniel Wescot, Abigail Wescot
Page Number: 35
Explanation and Analysis:
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Escaping Salem PDF

Abigail Wescot Quotes in Escaping Salem

The Escaping Salem quotes below are all either spoken by Abigail Wescot or refer to Abigail Wescot. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Women, Witchcraft, and the Subversion of Gender Norms Theme Icon
).
Chapter 2 Quotes

It was on the following day that Kate first named one of the women afflicting her: Goody Clawson. This revelation came as no surprise to the Wescots. Elizabeth Clawson, a woman in her early sixties, had lived in Stamford with her husband Stephen ever since their marriage in 1655. Goody Clawson was suspected by many of having occult powers and of using them against her enemies. She was no friend of the Wescots. The Wescots had quarreled with Goody Clawson almost a decade before over the weight of some flax that she had supplied to them.

Related Characters: Richard Godbeer (speaker), Katherine (Kate) Branch, Elizabeth Clawson, Daniel Wescot, Abigail Wescot
Page Number: 35
Explanation and Analysis: