Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 4

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177

Lucy Pernam was brought before the grand jury for Ipswich in November 1781, accused of setting fire to a house and barn belonging to her neighbor George Todd. She was charged with arson and brought to trial at the June 1782 session of the Supreme Judicial Court in Ipswich. Several neighbors testified that she had, in fact, burned the barn and several other structures but also testified to her mental instability. The jury found Pernam not guilty.

Grand Jury notes

RTP

Supr. J. Ct. Salem: Novr. 1781

Cor: Grand Jury

Commonwealth vs. Lucy Pernum Wife of Scipio Pernum1 of Newbury Port, Laborer

Huldah Todd fortnight from Sunday the barn burnt. Monday morning I saw Lucy Purnham ~~said after~~ with Geo. Todd she sd. after I came out of meeting in Evning I got the fire to burn. I sd. I heard she came out of meeting before it was burnt Betty Cressy I was with Huldah Todd. she sd. as before & turning to our barn sd. it is a wonder that barn has not been burnt Lucy Todd after this wn. she got to Mr. Todd she sd. she was glad the barn was burned ~~but seing it was not~~ intended the house shd. have been burnt but seing it was not she wished every person in the house had been in the barn & sent to Hell before morning: 2 hours after she sd. you see wt. I have done it is not so bad as wt. I will do. Sarah Saunders I was coming from Evng. meeting & met Lucy abt. 40 Rods from Barn walking from the barn & in a few minutes the barn was in flames I spoke to her she sd. she was in a hurry Wm. Todd in July we catch’d her, our Dog barked. she sd. I had you alone &c Ill burn your barn Eben Todd in July wn. she was catched I heard the same &c 178 George Todd in July the same &c 21st at night my barn burned; the morning after wn. I took her she said she had the most glorious frolick last night.

MS .

Scipio Pernam of Ipswich and Lucy Robin of Newbury were married at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Newburyport on Apr. 16, 1761. The 1790 census of Newburyport listed Scipio Purnam as the head of a household consisting of two “other free persons.” He died in the Newburyport almshouse in 1815 (Vital Records of Newburyport, Massachusetts [Salem, Mass., 1911], 2:845).

Lucy’s origins are uncertain, but she may have been the Lucy, servant of John Little, who married Robbin, servant of the late Rev. Matthias Plant, at St. Paul’s on Mar. 2, 1755. Robert, alias Robin, servant of the Rev. Mr. Plant, was buried at St. Paul’s on Feb. 1, 1761. A black woman named Lucy was buried at Newbury in Mar. 1793, but identification with Lucy Pernam cannot be made definitively (Vital Records of Newbury, Massachusetts [Salem, Mass., 1911], 2:530, 758).