Background
Nothing is known about her early life.
(Excerpt from A General History of New England: From the D...)
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Nothing is known about her early life.
She was the widow of an Englishman named Moore. Then she became the wife of William Hibbins, a wealthy and prominent merchant of Boston, Massachussets, and with him she was admitted as a member of the Boston Church, July 28, 1639.
Hibbins was classed as a "gentleman, " was an assistant in the General Court from 1643 to his death in 1654, and also served as colonial agent in England. Before his death he lost much of his money, and these losses, together with his death, were said to have "increased the natural crabbedness of his wife's temper".
She became unpopular with her neighbors and fell under church censure. In 1655 she was accused of being a witch and was brought to trial. The jury found her guilty but the magistrates refused to accept the verdict and the case went to the General Court. One of her English sons hastened to Massachusetts to help her but arrived too late.
In spite of the fact that an examination of her papers and the usual humiliating examination of her body revealed no guilt, she was condemned and sentenced to be hanged on June 19, 1656. Governor John Endecott pronounced the death sentence. Her will, made on May 27, was a calm and sensible document and was executed by influential friends.
(Excerpt from A General History of New England: From the D...)
Reverend John Norton said that she was executed because she had "more wit than her neighbors. "
Ann was twice widowed, first by a man named Moore. Together they had three sons who were all living in England at the time of her death. One son, Jonathan, was particularly favored in her will.
Ann was widowed, secondly, by a wealthy merchant, William Hibbins whose first wife, Hester Bellingham (buried Stokesay, Shropshire on 3 Sep 1634), was the sister of Richard Bellingham, Governor of Massachusetts.
A wealthy widow, Hibbins was the sister-in-law by marriage to Massachusetts governor Richard Bellingham.
