The Devil at Milner

In 1720, in the aftermath of the Salem witch trials, a young woman named Hannah Milner in Ipswich, Massachusetts, exhibited signs of demonic possession. Her case was handled more cautiously than the Salem cases, with emphasis on prayer rather than prosecution.

The Victim

Hannah Milner was a teenage servant in a respectable Ipswich household. She began experiencing fits, speaking in strange voices, and displaying knowledge she could not naturally possess. Her employers feared witchcraft but remembered Salem’s lessons.

The Symptoms

Hannah’s body contorted into impossible positions. She spoke in a deep masculine voice identifying itself as a demon. She displayed superhuman strength during episodes. Between fits, she was exhausted and confused.

The Response

Rather than accusing neighbors of witchcraft as at Salem, the community focused on prayer and fasting. Ministers were consulted. The emphasis was on spiritual healing rather than finding human culprits.

The Exorcism

Local ministers conducted an informal exorcism through sustained prayer and scripture reading. The demon reportedly identified itself and acknowledged defeat. Hannah recovered over several weeks.

The Aftermath

Hannah returned to normal life without further incident. No one was accused of causing her affliction. The case was considered a spiritual matter rather than a criminal one.

Assessment

The Milner case demonstrates how lessons from Salem changed Massachusetts’ response to alleged possession. The focus on healing rather than accusation prevented another witch hunt while still treating the phenomena as genuine spiritual affliction.