Dan Fleming (Newark Library) and Jack Morter have been doing some research for me. There are only two 13 year-old girls buried in the Concord Cemetery in the right time frame. They are Sarah Lavina Emerson, DOD August 4, 1846, age 13 years, 11 months, daughter of Jasper and Eliza.

The other girl is Mary Stockwell, daughter of Eli and Mary, DOD: Dec. 20, 1835, age 13 years, 8 days. That's what I have so far. Interestingly, I had a dream about it and in my dream her name was Sarah. I'll start with her.

One person responded to me saying that it was "impossible" for the tale to be true because no one was burned in the US, only hanged, drowned or pressed to death. True, burning was a European "sport," which makes this tale more horrific.

The other possiblity is she was odd or maybe had epilepsy, something to make her stand out. Then through the years, the tale got more skewed with each telling. All I know is I have to find out. Maybe she died in a fire. Couple that with any perceived oddity and you have the stuff of novels.

The old saying goes where there's smoke, there's fire, no pun intended. If it is false, wonderful. I grew up in Johnstown. If it's true, it will rewrite American history because there are no recorded witch burnings in the US. And herein lies our problem: no *recorded* burnings. Thank you for taking the time to write!