Redd's Pond is a pond located in

Marblehead, Massachusetts Marblehead is a coastal New England town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, along the North Shore (Massachusetts), North Shore. Its population was 20,441 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. The town lies on a small peninsu ...

. It was named after

Wilmot Redd Wilmot Redd (a.k.a. Wilmot Read and Wilmot Reed) (early 17th century – September 22, 1692) was one of the victims of the Salem witch trials of 1692. She was born in Marblehead, Massachusetts, and executed by hanging on September 22, 1692. Her h ...

Salem Witchcraft Trials

In 1692, in Salem Village (now Danvers), several hysterical girls were said to have been "afflicted" by witchcraft. Wilmot Redd was among those accused. She was a crusty old woman, not popular with the womenfolk. Married to fisherman Samuel Redd, local fisherman knew her as “Mammy History of Essex County, Massachusetts : With biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men : Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed. n 85042884-1 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming. (1888, January 01). Retrieved June 03, 2020, from https://archive.org/details/historyofessexco00hurd/page/1067/mode/1up Red.” A warrant for her arrest was issued in Salem, signed by Magistrates

Jonathan Corwin Jonathan Corwin (also Curwin, Curwen or Corwen, November 14, 1640 – June 9, 1718) was a New England merchant, politician, and magistrate. He is best known as one of the judges involved in the Salem witch trials of 1692, although his late ...

and

John Hathorne John Hathorne (August 1641 – May 10, 1717) was a merchant and magistrate of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and Salem, Massachusetts. He is best known for his early and vocal role as one of the leading judges in the Salem witch trials. Hatho ...

. On May 31, Wilmot was taken to Salem Village for a preliminary examination. She was indicted and then placed in the Salem jail. Four months later, the trial was held in Salem Towne. She denied the charges, but was allowed no defense counsel. On September 17, she was condemned to hang. Four days later, she and seven others were executed in Salem, on Gallows Hill or a nearby hill. Wimot Redd was the only Marblehead citizen executed for witchcraft. Her small house was next to Old Burial Hill, on the southeast corner of the pond that now bears her name.

References

{{Massachusetts lakes and ponds Ponds of Massachusetts Bodies of water of Essex County, Massachusetts