Hezekiah Dutch was born on 29 March, 1647 in Gloucester,Massachusetts. He became a fisherman in that town noted forthat industry. As the youngest son of Osmund and Grace, hefollowed the Dutch family's heritage and made the ocean hislivelihood. It may have cost him his life.Like most boys raised on Cape Ann they were smitten by the seaand usually followed their fathers either as fisherman ormariners. Apparently Hezekiah did both and in that order. Withevery fishing vessel that left the port of Gloucester, went aboy of ten or twelve to learn to be a skilled fisherman. He wascalled a "cut-tail," because he cut a wedge-shaped bit from thetail of every fish he caught, and when the fish were sorted outthe cut-tails showed the boy's share of the profit.The fishing industry required men with stout hearts and strongmuscles. Catching the valuable codfish and other "dun-fish" wasaccomplished with hand lines and small nets and by using pickledmackerel a bait. The "dun-fish" fish was then sent to Englandand to the Catholic countries of France and Spain, while thetrash fish would be sent to the West Indies to feed the slavesheld there.In 1663 he deposed in Ipswich court that he was "about eighteen"in a slander suit brought on against his father by the Dutchfamily's nemesis, John Meaghers [EQR 3:120]. In June of 1674 heand his father signed a petition opposing the granting of aliquor license to a tavern near the meetinghouse. They also hadsigned a paper that stated in part,' that the towne is growingto a pritty fullness of younge people." And they were concernedthat the youth of Ipswich were causing too much rowdiness anddestruction during training days held on the Sabbath [EQR5:361].Dutch made oath that he saw the mark of his sister EstherElwell, who with her husband Samuell, witnessed a bond signed byJoesph Elwell, a brother-in-law to Esther and husband of theirsister Mary, to a fisherman from Gloucester in Salem Court on 19March 1671[EQR 5:422]. Hezekiah married Martha Knight daughter of Robert1 and MaryKnight of Marblehead (Essex) about 1672. She was born about1653[ NEHGER 117:142]. Dutch is mentioned in a Salem courtrecord of 5 June, 1679 and he is also listed on the Salem taxrolls of 1683 and 1691[TR].Dutch was mentioned in an account book of Salemite Edward Flintfound in the Essex Historical Collections: on 21 February 1681,Flint recorded that he delivered "a half cord of would toHezekiah Dutch."[EHC 57:22]Martha Dutch aged about twenty-six, testified in Salem Court inJune of 1679 against the wife of William Dicer. Dicer wasaccused of "railing words against Mrs. Eleanor Hollingsworth,also for abusing and cursing." Martha and another young womenher age, deposed that 'they heard Dicer call Mrs. Hollingswortha blackmouthed witch and thief "[EQR 7:238]. This would not bethe last time Martha would be involved in such a trial.In what was one of the most sensational trials of the modernworld, Martha Dutch would play a part that forever will remain apart of history, the Salem witchcraft outbreak of 1692. Marthaand her sister-in-law Susanna Dutch would both be subpoenaed totestify at the trials of Alice Parker and Ann Pudeator. Thesummons reads in part:'that they appear at ye next Court of Oyer and Terminer holdenat Salem on ye next Tuesday at twelve of ye clock there totestify ye truth to ye best of theire knowledge on certainIndictments to be exhibited against Alice Parker and AnnPudeator, hereof make return fail not."Dated in Salem Septr. 5th. 1692 in ye fourth yeare of ourReigne.Stephen Sewall Clerc.[EHC 4:54]Martha's testimony in the trial of Alice Parker perhaps shedsome light on the disappearance of Hezekiah Dutch. The followingis the direct court testimony of Martha as recorded and attestedby Stephen Sewall, Clerk of the Salem Court:The testimony of Martha Dutch aged about thirty-six years ThisDeponent Testifieth and saith that about 2 yeers Last past JnoJarman of Salem Coming in from sea I this daponant & Aliceparker of Salem Both of us standing Together said unto her w't agreat mercy itt was for to see Them Come home well and Throughmercy I said my husband had gone & Came home well many Times & IThis deponant did saye unto the s'd parker that I did hope hewould Come whome This voyage well allso & the s'd parker madeanswer unto me & said no Never more in This world the w'ch Cameto pass as she then told me for he died abroad as I sertinlyheare Jurat in Curia (Sworn in Court) Sep'r 7. 92.The above testimony sheds some light on Hezekiah'sdisappearance. He had been at sea and possibly "abroad" for twoyears prior to the trial, but he never returned. Martha's was not the sole deposition against Parker, but one ofmany. How damaging was Dutch's testimony may never bedetermined. Alice Parker was convicted of witchcraft on 17September 1692 and was executed (by hanging) five days later. In a quote from Charles W. Upham's Salem Witchcraft, "PerhapsParker had information which had not reached the ears of Dutch,or she may have been prone to take melancholy views of thedangers to which seafaring people are exposed. It was a strangekind of evidence to be admitted against a person in a trial forwitchcraft."Was Martha Dutch an honest Puritan women or was she just one ofthe many townspeople caught up in this mass hysteriaand delusion? Under old Puritan laws, provision was given tospy on one's neighbors and duly report any transgressions totheir magistrates. Did she seek revenge and try to disclaimParker? This does not explain why she and her sister-in-lawSusanna Dutch also testified in the witchtrial of Ann Pudeator,who like Parker, was convicted and went to the gallows.It is amazing how such a relatively small family could have beenso deeply involved in this window of America's history.Sister-in-law, Esther Dutch Elwell, was also accused ofwitchcraft during these same trials and was fortunatelyacquitted. Hezekiah left Martha a widow with two young daughters, Marthaand Mary. Martha remarried William Jewell of Jewell's Island inCasco Bay (off Portland, Maine). Misfortune still plaguedMartha as Jewell drowned while on his way to the mainland andhis wife's two daughters inherited the island [YLR 34:123].