By E. H. Smith

This book presents the Hale family genealogy and the descendants of Major Samuel Hale. He was a great grandson of Robert and Jane (or Joanna) Hale who came from England to America about 1630. They were among the founders of the first church in Charlestown, Mass. Samuel (father of Major Samuel Hale) was the son of Reverend John and Sarah Noyes Hale, (his second wife). John was an ordained minister in Beverly and when the witchcraft excitement began he was present at some of the trials and examinations of the accused, and apparently believed in the delusion. In 1692 his own wife was accused of being a witch. The whole community became convinced that the accusers, in crying out upon Mrs Hale, had perjured themselves, and from that moment their power was destroyed and the awful delusion was dispelled, and a close put to one of the most tremendous tragedies in history. The Hale name is of considerable antiquity in England 

(123p., Index, 1902)