The William Hollingworth buried here was the son of Ellianor Hollingworth. William Hollingworth Sr. was lost at sea in 1677.

In Nov. 1675 William Hollingworth Sr. was sued for debt by Mathew Nixon. Writ: Mathew Nixon v. William Hollingworht; debt, for wages upon a voyage to Verginea with said Hollingworht and one hogshead of tobacco: dated 24:9:1675; 36

Salem Quarterly Court: Nov. 1677 "Ellinor Hollingworth informed the court of several uncertain reports of the death of her husband Wm. Hollingworth and having wasted some time and not being able to get any certain information from all the vessels that have arrived, court ordered that the estate be placed in her hands and that she should act in the improvement of it as if her husband were yet alive until more information be received or the court order otherwise. Said Elenor was given power of attorney." A William Hollingsworth appears as a witness on a receipt in Aug. 29, 1684 but this may be their son, William Jr.. 36

In June 1676 Ellinor Hollingworth had her license renewed for keeping an ordinary (pub). 36

In 1684 Ellinor is the only (if not one of very few) woman listed who paid taxes for the Country and Ministers rates.

Salem Quarterly Court: Nov. 1684 "Copy of protest entered with John de Trobica, public notary, by Daniell Javerin of ye English natun, Captain an downer of seven parts of the ship Daniel and Elizabeth now anchored at Bilboa, against William Hollingsworth, inhabitant in Virginia, who freighted one-eight part of Tho. Mudgett of New England, that he should supply also one-eighth part of provisions and wages of seamen for the present. Voyage to the Island of Jersey.
Copy of notification, dated Bilbao, Mar 11, 1682, to William Hollingsworth, resident at present in Bilbao, by Lawrance Hayne, interpreter of the English nation in the town, in answer to which Hollingsworth declared that he was under no such obligation and went away without saying the answer.
Copy of Charter-party, dated Salem, Oct. 22, 1681, between Thomas Mudgett of Salisbury, shipwright, and William Hollingsworth of Salem, merchant, said Mudgett being owner of one-eighth part of the ship Daniell and Elizabeth, 200 tons, which he lately built for Daniell Jeanverin of Jerzey Said Hollingsworth was to pay to Mudgett at the rate of 150li. in money for twelve months run, etc., and to pay his part for provision and wages of the seamen, etc." 35

The William involved in the court case with Thomas Mudgett was apparently the son of Ellinor and William Sr. When Phillip Fowler, the constable of Salem at the time tried to take him into custody, "his mother came into the yard and rescued him out of his hands and sheltered him in one of her chambers." She later claimed that she did not know Phillip Fowler was the constable and was ordered to pay costs. According to a complaint filed by Phillip Fowler, William Hollingsworth threatened to "stave out his brains" and hit him four times. 35

Ellinor was accused of witchcraft by the wife of a Gloucester mariner. Her daughter, Mary English and her husband merchant Philip English, were both accused as witches during the Salem Witchcraft Hysteria. They fled to New York and their estate was confiscated. 37

They were lucky to escape with their lives. In one court document found here they were testified against by Susannah Sheldon who claimed that Mary and Phillip English, as well as Bridget Bishop and Giles and Martha Corey all tormented her. Out of the five people all but Phillip and Mary English were executed. You can read all the documents from the trials in which Mary and Phillip's name appear here.