November 6, 1781

Essex Ss. At the Supreme Judicial Court begun and holden at Salem within and for the County of Essex on the first Tuesday of November in the year of our Lord Seventeen hundred and Eighty one

The Jurors for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts upon their oath present that Lucy Pernum wife of Scipio Pernum of Newbury Port in the County of Essex Labourer, not having the fear of GOD before her Eyes on the twenty first day of October in the year of our Lord Seventeen hundred and Eighty one at Rowley in the said County of Essex about the hour of Eight in the night of the same day with force and Arms a certain house and Barn with Hay and Grain in the same of one George Todd there scituate, feloniously, voluntarilly and maliciously did set fire to and the same house and barn with hay and Grain in it, then & there by such firing as aforsaid feloniously, voluntarily and maliciously did burn and consume, against the peace of the Commonwealth aforsaid & dignity of the same.

R T Paine Atty pr Repub a true bill Jonathan Ropes { Foreman

Essex Ss. Novr. Term at Salem 1781 Lucy Pernum is Set to the Bar & has this Indictment read to her, and being demanded how she will acquit herself thereof, she says that thereof she is not guilty & thereof for trial puts herself upon God & the Country

Attest Chas. Cushing Cler.

Essex Ss. June Term at Ipswich A.D. 17821

Now The Court assigns James Sullivan & Theophilus Bradbury Esqrs. as Counsell for the prisoner

att. Chas. Cushing Cler.

MS (Suffolk Files, no. 132775. Massachusetts Judicial Archives, Boston, Mass.); docketed: “Jury say not guilty.”

1.

The case was continued to the June 1782 session of the Supreme Judicial Court. The trial notes are published under that date (below).