Career
Very little is recorded of Alse Young. Her existence is only known through her reputation as a witch. She is believed to have been the wife of John Young, who bought a small parcel of land in Windsor in 1641, sold it in 1649, and then disappeared from the town records.
There is no further record of Young"s trial or the specifics of the charge, only that Alse Young was a woman.
Early historical record hints at the possibility that there may have been some sort of epidemic in the town of Windsor in early 1647. Alse Young was hanged at the Meeting House Square in Hartford, Connecticut, on what is now the site of the Old State House.
A journal of then Massachusetts Bay Colony Governor John Winthrop states that "One.. of Windsor arraigned and executed at Hartford for a witch." The second town clerk of Windsor, Matthew Grant also confirms the execution with the May 26, 1647 diary entry, "Alse Young was hanged."
This capital offense was backed by references to the King James version of the Bible: Exodus (22:18) says, Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. And Leviticus (20:27) says, A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood (shall be) upon them.
Historian Clarence F. Jewett included a list of other people executed in New England in The Memorial History of Boston: Including Suffolk County, Massachusetts.
1630–1880 (Ticknor and Company, 1881). He wrote,
lieutenant is possible that the list is not complete. But I have included all of which I have any knowledge, and with such details as to names and dates as could be ascertained: —
1647, — "Woman of Windsor", Connecticut (name unknown), at Hartford.
1648, — Margaret Jones, of Charlestown, at Boston.
1648,— Mary Johnson, at Hartford. 1650? — Henry Lake"s wife, of Dorchester.
1650?—Mistress Kendall, of Cambridge.
1651, — Mary Parsons, of Springfield, at Boston. 1651, — Goodwife Bassett, at Fairfield, Connecticut
1653,—Goodwife Knap, at Hartford. 1656, — Ann Hibbins, at Boston.
1662, — Goodman Greensmith, at Hartford.
1662,— Goodwife Greensmith, at Hartford. 1688,— Goody Glover, at Boston.".