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     Martha Haffield was born about 1627 (based on her age of 8 when she came to New England).¹ She married Richard Coy in 1650.^2,1
     She came to New England from Sudbury, co. Suffolk, England, with her parents Martha and Richard Haffield in 1635 on the ship Planter.^1,3

     Richard Coy married Martha Haffield, daughter of Richard Haffield and Martha Mansfield, in 1650.^2,1

     Rachel Haffield was born about 1629 (based on her age of 6 when she came to New England).¹ She married Lawrence Clinton in December 1665.^2,1 They were divorced on 18 March 1681/82.¹ She died sometime before 7 January 1695, when her sister Ruth White was appointed administrator of her estate.³
     She came to New England from Sudbury, co. Suffolk, England, with her parents Martha and Richard Haffield in 1635 on the ship Planter.^1,4
     The story of Rachel Haffield's involvement with Lawrence Clinton reads like a modern-day soap opera. Instead of marrying in her early 20s like most women at the time, she stayed at home with her mother, perhaps because of her mother's declining mental condition. Clinton, who was 14 years younger than Rachel, first appears in the Ipswich records around 1665, working as an indentured servant to Robert Cross. He and Rachel soon became involved, but couldn't marry without first paying Cross £21 to buy out the remaining 3 1/2 years of Clinton's servitude. The money was supplied by Rachel, and the two were married in December 1665.
     Before long questions arose about whether or not Rachel had a right to the money, and if she was coerced into marrying Clinton. Even before the wedding, the local magistrate William Denison had investigated the matter. No written record from that meeting has been found, but in late 1666 Thomas White, Rachel's brother-in-law and guardian of Rachel's mother Martha, who had been declared legally insane, filed a suit against Robert Cross, claiming that the money had been illegally obtained. Testimony and depositions from those proceedings and subsequent appeals provide some fascinating details.
     During the initial trial Clinton stated that his master Cross had been initially hesitant to accept the money, that the two of them then met with Rachel, and that she assured Cross that the money was hers to dispose of. Others testified that at the Denison meeting they heard Rachel say that she had been given the money by her mother. Another witness stated that Rachel had told him that Thomas White was "a cheating rogue, and goes about to undo me," and that he had tried to get her to confess to stealing the money, or to claim that her husband Lawrence Clinton had stolen it.
     Testifying for the plaintiff, Thomas Fiske stated that Rachel had said that although the money was not given to her by her mother, she had control over it and thus felt justified in using it as she wished. He also testified that Martha Haffield had stated that she had never given money to Rachel, and that if Rachel had disposed of it for her own use it had been stolen.
     The jury found for the plaintiff, and Cross filed an appeal at the Court of Assistants in Boston, where the verdict was apparently overturned. White then appealed.
     During these proceedings, in late November 1667, witnesses claimed that before the Denison meeting Rachel had become hesitant about the upcoming marriage. During the meeting Cross tried to soothe her fears by praising Clinton, saying that he had wealthy friends back in England, and pressed her to make a decision about the marriage. Denison objected to these tactics and ordered them to leave. Rachel and her sister Ruth White went to their mother's house, and soon afterwards Cross arrived there claiming that Clinton had fallen ill and wanted Rachel to come to him, which she did. Ruth White then testified "And so at last she was got from me, and was married." Ruth White claimed that Cross seemed to be the one orchestrating the events.
     Rachel had apparently had a change of heart, and testified for the plaintiff:
Despite the above testimony, the jury found in favor of Cross. Thomas White filed another appeal, but ended up dropping the suit.
     Not long afterwards, according to a petition filed by Rachel, Thomas White, again acting as guardian of Rachel's mother Martha, sold the house where she and Rachel had been living, confiscated their household goods, and moved Martha into his own home. Rachel petitioned the court for assistance, saying she had no money or friends, and no place to live, other than moving into Thomas White's home "where she hath little welcome."
     Noteworthy by his absence in these later proceedings was Rachel's husband Lawrence Clinton. They may have separated by that time. Evidence indicates that Lawrence, and perhaps Rachel also, were unfaithful to each other. Court records of 26 March 1667 show that Rachel had complained that "John Clarke had lain with her." She was tried for the offense, which she then denied, but was ordered to be whipped. And in 1670 Lawrence was convicted of "attempting to abuse or ravish Mary Knowlton."
     From 1670 to 1676 both Rachel and Lawrence appear often in the court records. In 1670 Lawrence was ordered to provide two shillings per week support for Rachel, and to stay with her at least once a week. In 1671 Rachel complained that he was not providing support. He was sentenced to jail until he paid her 40 shillings, and at the same time Rachel was ordered to "entertain him as her husband when he comes to her." In 1672 Lawrence was charged with not living with her. In 1674 and 1676 both were charged with not living together, and both times Rachel charged Lawrence with not providing support for her.
     Lawrence also continued his affairs with other women. In September 1676 Mary Greeley was convicted of "committing fornication" with him, and gave birth to a boy, Jacob, on 1 April 1677. The court found that Lawrence was the father and ordered him to provide support of 20d/week. The following fall Lawrence confessed to an affair with Mary Wooden, and both were sentenced to be "severely whipped." Mary gave birth to his son, also named Lawrence, in 1678. Lawrence and Mary left Ipswich, and were married in Providence, Rhode Island, on 9 February 1680/81, even though Lawrence was still legally married to Rachel. Mary had two additional children, but died in January 1690/91. Lawrence then married (probably) the widow Margaret (Painter) Morris, and had six more children.
     Rachel was apparently also seeing other men. At one point she and John Ford were jailed for "suspicion of uncleanness and other evil practices." Witnesses, including Lawrence Clinton, stated that they had seen Ford in bed without a shirt, with Rachel standing nearby. The couple confessed only to "unlawful familiarity," and the court ordered them to stay away from each other unless some other person was with them.
     In the meantime, soon after Lawrence's initial affair with Mary Wooden, Rachel filed for divorce, which was not granted. The court did order Lawrence to pay 50 shillings for her support, however. In 1681, after Rachel filed another complaint asking for support, the court ordered that Lawrence pay 20 shillings, but that Rachel was to "demand no more of him." She then again filed for divorce, which was finally granted in October 1681 (or 18 March 1682, according to The Great Migration).^5,1,6
     About ten years later, poor Rachel was charged with witchcraft during the hysteria of 1692. At least three people testified against her. First, Mary Fuller stated that Rachel had come to her house and accused her of spreading lies about her. As the two women argued, Mary learned that a girl in a neighboring house had collapsed when Rachel walked by, and for three hours was unable to move or speak. When asked if Rachel had caused the collapse, the girl indicated that she had. Second, Thomas Boreman testified that some "women of worth and quality" accused Rachel of "hunching them with her elbow" at Sunday church services. The women asked Boreman to report it to the town authorities, which he did. While riding home Boreman saw a strange animal that looked like a cat, then like a dog. Later on his ride home he saw a "great turtle, that moved as fast as I rode." He then thought of Rachel, and the two animals disappeared. Finally, William Baker said that about ten years earlier, on a day when some beer was being brewed at his master's house, Rachel had appeared and was "met with some small affront." She walked up and down the path to the house six or seven times, after which the beer barrel was found to be empty and dry.
     She was convicted, spent several months in prison, and was released in January 1693, when most of those still being held had their convictions overturned.³ She reportedly lived out her remaining years alone in a hut on Hog Island, receiving support from the town of Ipswich.^7,3

More Information / Background

• Salem Witch Trials
  
• Salem Witchcraft Trials 1692
  
• Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project
  
• Rachel Clinton.
  

     Lawrence Clinton was born about 1643.² He married first Rachel Haffield, daughter of Richard Haffield and Martha Mansfield, in December 1665.^3,1 They were divorced on 18 March 1681/82.¹ He married second Mary Wooden, daughter of John Wooden and Mary (?), on 9 February 1680/81 in Providence, Rhode Island.⁴ He probably married third Margaret Painter, daughter of Shubael Painter and Mercy Lamberton.⁵
     The story of Lawrence Clinton's involvement with Rachel Haffield reads like a modern-day soap opera, with incidents of possible fraud, insanity, infidelity, and multiple court appearances. See Rachel's narrative for details.⁶
     He and his second wife Mary had at least two children, Lawrence (b abt 1679, d 1757) and Mary. An NEHGR article lists an additional child, Jacob, who was "b. abt. 1681(?)" and died 17 October 1720. It's possible, however, that this is actually Lawrence's son Jacob (b 1 April 1677) from his earlier affair with Mary Greeley.^7,6
     He and his third wife Margaret had the following known children: Marcy, Shubael (d bef 5 October 1756), Thomas (bapt bef 1709, d 1761), Joseph, Martha (bapt 13 May 1711), George (d 27 March 1776).⁸

     Mary Cobbett was born 5 or 25 August 1640 in Salisbury, Massachusetts.¹ She married first John Bennett by about 1660.¹ She married second Richard Meades on 2 November 1678 in Roxbury, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.¹

     John Bennett married Mary Cobbett, daughter of Josiah Cobbett and Mary Haffield, by about 1660.¹

     Richard Meades married Mary Cobbett, daughter of Josiah Cobbett and Mary Haffield, on 2 November 1678 in Roxbury, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.¹ He died before 2 June 1712.¹

     Josiah Cobbett was born on 12 April 1642 in Salisbury, Massachusetts.¹ He married Deborah (?) by 1672.¹ He died before 2 June 1712.¹

     Deborah (?) married Josiah Cobbett, son of Josiah Cobbett and Mary Haffield, by 1672.¹

     Martha Cobbett was born on 3 July 1643 in Salisbury, Norfolk Co. (now Essex Co.), Massachusetts.¹ She married (?) Ogletree between 9 August 1678 and 1697.¹
     On 15 March 1701/2 she was excommunicated from the church in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts, for drunkenness. She repented, and was restored to the church on 31 April 1704.¹

     (?) Ogletree married Martha Cobbett, daughter of Josiah Cobbett and Mary Haffield, between 9 August 1678 and 1697.¹

     Moses Cobbett was born on 3 November 1645 in Salisbury, Norfolk Co. (now Essex Co.).¹ He died between 11 November 1678, when he took the oath of allegiance, and 9 December 1678, when his father was named administrator of his estate.¹

     Sarah Cobbett was born on 25 August 1646 in Salisbury, Norfolk Co. (now Essex Co.), Massachusetts.¹ She married John Strange by 1681.¹ She died before 19 November 1711, when James Bennet was appointed administrator of her estate.²
     On 11 February 1687/88 her parents deeded to her and her husband John Strange the house and garden in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts, where they (John and Sarah) were then living. The deed was acknowledged by Josiah on 24 June 1689.^1,2 She and John had at least one child, Sarah, named in her grandfather Josiah Cobbett's will.²

     John Strange married Sarah Cobbett, daughter of Josiah Cobbett and Mary Haffield, by 1681.¹ He died before 19 February 1697/98, when his father-in-law Josiah Cobbett made his will.²
     On 11 February 1687/88 his wife's parents deeded to him and his wife Sarah the house and garden in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts, where they (John and Sarah) were then living. The deed was acknowledged by Josiah on 24 June 1689.^1,2 He and Sarah had at least one child, Sarah, named in her grandfather Josiah Cobbett's will.²

     Joshua Cobbett was born on 15 March 1647/48 in Salisbury, Norfolk Co. (now Essex Co.), Massachusetts.¹ He married Elizabeth (?) by 1686.¹ He died before 21 March 1691/92.¹
     He and Elizabeth had at least two daughters, Elizabeth and Hannah.¹

     Elizabeth (?) married first Joshua Cobbett, son of Josiah Cobbett and Mary Haffield, by 1686.¹ She married second Samuel Hill before 21 March 1691/92.¹
     On 21 March 1691/92, for love and affection, Josiah Cobbett, father of her first husband Joshua Cobbett, deeded a house in Boston to her and her daughters (and his grand-daughters) Elizabeth and Hannah.¹ She and her first husband Joshua had at least two daughters, Elizabeth and Hannah.¹

     Marah Cobbett was born on 21 May 1652 in Salisbury, Norfolk Co. (now Essex Co.), Massachusetts.¹ She married first Joseph Bruning.¹ She married second John Rogers, son of John Rogers, shortly after 22 March 1692/93.^1,2
     She and her first husband Joseph lived in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.¹
     On 22 March 1692/93, before her second marriage, her fiancé John Rogers gave her £800, under the condition that she make no further claim to his estate.¹

     Joseph Bruning married Marah Cobbett, daughter of Josiah Cobbett and Mary Haffield.¹ He died before 25 August 1691 when his widow Marah was appointed administrator of his estate.¹
     He was a bookseller.¹ He and his wife Marah lived in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.¹

     John Rogers married as his third wife Marah Cobbett, daughter of Josiah Cobbett and Mary Haffield, after 22 March 1692/93.^1,2
     On 22 March 1692/93, before their marriage, he gave his fiancée Marah Cobbett £800, under the condition that she make no further claim to his estate.¹

     Ruth Cobbett was born on 6 August 1657 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.¹