Dane became the second pastor of the North Parish
Andover, Massachusetts in 1649. In 1658 when the subject of witchcraft first came to his attention, he came down decidedly against the concept. When John Godfrey was charged with injuring the wife of Job Tyler by "Satanic acts", Dane judged against the probability. Shortly following Barnard's arrival, Francis Dane's salary was stopped. Dane petitioned the General Court in Boston to have it reinstated. The town complied, but split the salary of 80 pounds a year so that Dane received thirty pounds and Barnard received fifty. Dane and his family were in danger as half a dozen family members stood accused, including Francis Dane himself. Another minister,
George Burroughs, had been hanged, and thus Dane's status did not guarantee protection. He warned that his people were guilty of blood for accepting unfounded accusations against covenanted members of the church. Two of Francis Dane's daughters, Elizabeth Dane Johnson and
Abigail Dane Faulkner, and his daughter-in-law,
Deliverance Dane, were all arrested. Deliverance was in prison for 13 weeks. Abigail Dane Faulkner's two daughters, Abigail Faulkner (Lamson) and Dorothy Faulkner (Nurse), were also accused of witchcraft. All of these survived the trials. Dane's daughter,
Abigail Faulkner Sr., was convicted and condemned in September 1692 but given a temporary
stay of execution because she was pregnant. She was later pardoned by the governor and released. Although Dane's extended family had the most accused of any family, none of his immediate family members was executed, except
Elizabeth Jackson Howe (executed July 19, 1692), wife of James Howe, Jr. (or How). ==Personal life==