William Way (1652–1725) and the accused witches

William Way (1652-1725)

11 William Way

William Way. Son of Aaron Way Sr. and Joanna Sumner. Born ca 1652 at Dorchester, Mass. Baptised 13 Nov 1652.80 Married at Mass. Persis Witt, born 1655, Lynn, Essex Co., Mass., daughter of John Witt.

William Way died 1725 at Dorchester, Berkeley Co., S. C.81 Will dated 2 Aug 1715 at Dorchester, S.C.82

He joined the Salem-Village (now known as Danvers) church with his wife in 19 Nov 1689. Three years later were the famous Salem Witchcraft Trials. During the course of the accusations by Rev. Samuel Parris against several people, several of the members, including Samuel Nurse, John Tarbell (Samuel’s next door neighbor83), and Thomas Wilkins, bore witness against the accusations. They were very careful.

“Their line of action was extremely narrow. It was necessary to avoid all personalities, and every appearance of passion or excitement; to make no charge against Mr. Parris that could touch the church, as such, or reflect upon the courts, magistrates, or any others that had taken part in the prosecutions. It was necessary to avoid Continue reading →

Drainage ditches finished, Quarterman Road 2025-05-01

Update 2025-05-06: And the west road ditches 2025-05-04.

Day before yesterday Lowndes County Public Works worked on the drainage ditches on Quarterman Road, after they made a mud puddle after the big rain. Yesterday they had finished all three ditches, including the one near Hambrick Road.

[Near Hambrick Road, 2025:05:01 11:56:53]
Near Hambrick Road, 2025:05:01 11:56:53

Continue reading →

Drainage ditches, Quarterman Road 2025-04-30

Update 2025-05-02: Drainage ditches finished, Quarterman Road 2025-05-01.

After they made a mud puddle after the big rain, Lowndes County Public Works came back three weeks later and worked on the drainage ditches on Quarterman Road yesterday.

They were making a lot of progress at 6431 Quarterman Road. Also at 6380. They hadn’t yet started at the ditch near Hambrick Road, although they said it needed it.

D6431

[Men Working, 6431 Quarterman Road]
Men Working, 6431 Quarterman Road

Continue reading →

Honeysuckle native and exotic 2025-04-17

Near the garden the fragrance of Japanese honeysuckle was suddenly overpowering. Where is it?

[Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)]
Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)

Oh, behind me, big bunches of Lonicera japonica.

Meanwhile, back near the farm workshop, the native Coral honeysuckle is also fragrant, just not so overpowering. Continue reading →

Drainage ditch on Quarterman Road 2025-04-08

Update 2025-05-01: Drainage ditches, Quarterman Road 2025-04-30.

Going to mow the niece’s driveway, I saw Glenda and Craig Palmer standing on the road.

Turns out they were actually Laurie and Denton Dye.

[Drainage Ditch with shadows of jsq, Glenda, and Craig Palmer]
Drainage Ditch with shadows of jsq, Glenda, and Craig Palmer

They were admiring Lowndes County Public Works’ attempt to open up the drainage ditch across the road.

Maybe try again not on the day after more than an inch of rain. Continue reading →

Steel Roof Boat Rack 2025-03-31

Tired of having boats taking up space under the tractor shed, I built a bigger boat rack.

[Rack full]
Rack full

As you can see, some patches were required. The steel roofing came from niece Peggy’s neighboring house, where she had some roof replaced after Hurricane Helene. The roofers were going to throw away the old roof. Nope, now some of it is boat rack roof, basically fancy sunshade.

The three canoes belong to WWALS, as does the jon boat and outboard.

The other boats are ours. Continue reading →

Salvillum, ancient Roman cheesecake 2025-04-07

Sweet, but not cloying like so much modern cheesecake. It’s tasty but very dense. I predict many days before we finish the other half.

Gretchen and I learned of this ancient Roman cheesecake on a YouTube video, Tasting History, with Max Miller.

She decided to make some Salvillum.
https://youtu.be/GP4VDh4HJm8?si=pmZzCdLQ-hKExGZf

[Salvillum, ancient Roman cheescake]
Salvillum, ancient Roman cheescake

In addition to a more modern version of the recipe, here’s what Cato wrote:

“Make the savillum this way. Take half a pound of flour and two and a half pounds of cheese, and mix together as for the libum. Add 1/4 pound of honey and 1 egg. Grease an earthenware dish with oil. When you have mixed the ingredients well, pour into the dish and cover it with an earthenware lid. See that you cook it well in the middle, where it is thickest. When it is cooked, remove the dish, coat with honey, sprinkle with poppy seeds, and put it back beneath the lid for a short while, then remove from the fire. Serve it in the dish with a spoon.”
— De Agri Cultura by Marcus Porcius Cato, 2nd Century BC

-jsq