The Possession of Mercy Short

Mercy Short was a seventeen-year-old servant in Boston who displayed signs of demonic possession in 1692-1693. Her case was documented by Cotton Mather, who used her suffering to demonstrate the reality of the invisible world.

The Background

Mercy had been captured by Native Americans during a raid in New Hampshire. She witnessed her parents’ murder and was enslaved before being ransomed. The trauma may have contributed to her condition.

The Possession

After mocking an accused witch in Boston jail, Mercy began experiencing torments. She was pinched by invisible hands, saw demonic figures, and entered trances. Unlike Salem cases, no one was accused of causing her affliction.

Cotton Mather’s Involvement

Mather attended to Mercy personally, documenting her experiences in detail. He organized prayer sessions and fasts. His account of her possession was published as a demonstration of demonic activity.

The Resolution

After months of suffering, Mercy reportedly recovered following intense prayer and spiritual intervention. Mather considered her deliverance a victory for the godly against Satan.

Assessment

Mercy Short’s case occurred at the height of the Salem witch trials but did not result in accusations. Her documented symptoms match other possession cases across cultures. Whether genuine possession, trauma response, or attention-seeking, her suffering was real.