What was Sarah Good's birth surname?

Sarah Good’s birth surname was Solart.

She was born Sarah Solart in Wenham, Massachusetts, in 1653, the daughter of John Solart, a prosperous tavern owner. Her family’s circumstances changed dramatically after her father died in 1672 without leaving a will.

The estate was divided mainly among Sarah’s mother and brothers, while Sarah and her sisters received little. She eventually married Daniel Poole, whose debts further damaged her finances. After his death, she married William Good, and the couple became impoverished and dependent on neighbors.

A common mix-up is to treat “Good” as her birth name. It was her married surname from her second marriage. “Solart” identifies her family of origin, while “Good” connects her to the Salem accusations and her daughter Dorothy Good.