facts about the salem witch trials

Titubas confession was the trigger that sparked the mass hysteria and the hunt for more witches in Salem. When Salem Villages new pastor,Reverend Samuel Parris, came to town, he denounced the secular behavior of the innkeepers and blacksmiths and others. Hope that helps with your bibliography. More than 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraft and 20 were killed during the hysteria. The Story of the Salem Witch Trials - Bryan F. Le Beau 2016-05-23 Between June 10 and September 22, 1692, nineteen people were hanged for practicing witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts. One of these days itll happen lol. The exact cause of the Salem Witch Trials is unknown but they were probably a number of causes. Why do you think there are so little primary sources on the Salem Witch Trials? Rebecca Nurses execution was a pivotal moment in the Salem Witch Trials. The two communities were three hours apart, by foot, which was the most common method of transportation at the time. Within minutes theyre led, hoods drawn over their heads, towards a rudimentary set of gallows, and their imminent executions. The preacher sad they could not kill the devil by shooting the dog but did anyway. I mean the whole cause was a wheat bacteria/fungi called ergot. What gave witches away were body marks, such as scars and moles. This really helped me on my essay, thank you so much. As a devout and strongly religious community living in near isolation in the mysterious New World, the community of Salem had a heightened sense of fear of the Devil and, as a result, it didnt take much to convince the villagers that there was evil among them. Boston, MA. During that time, 19 people were hanged and one person was pressed to death. Planting, cultivating, the care of houses, barns, roads, fences, were all forgotten. Did the Putnams purchase any of the land from those who were accused and killed? Massachusetts State Archives. Between 1692 and 1693, more than two hundred people were accused. Over 150 people were arrested for allegedly using witchcraft to inflict harm on their fellow townspeople, resulting in the executions of 20 people and the prison deaths of five more. The following are some facts about the Salem Witch Trials: The Salem Witch Trials were a series of witchcraft cases brought before local magistrates in a settlement called Salem which was a part of the Massachusetts Bay colony in the 17th century. The other two accused and arrested at the same time were Sarah Osborne and Tituba, the Parriss black slave. Tituba was known to have played fortune-telling games, which were strictly forbidden by the Puritans. The Salem Witch Trials of 1692 were a dark time in American history. Often, that conversation shifts over towardsSalem, Massachusetts, and the famous trial in 1692that resulted in twenty executions. Hi Sara, the last hangings of the Salem Witch Trials took place on September 22 and they include six women: Martha Corey, Mary Easty, Alice Parker, Ann Pudeator, Margaret Scott, Wilmot Redd and Mary Parker. Twenty people were put to death in Salem for the crime of witchcraft. It was last edited on September 8, 2013 at 4:52 pm, Thank you, Rebecca, recently I have been down and this is a paper for a class Im failing, Thank you for helping me get an A, What is the publisher for this website? Three Salem Women: The Stories of Alice Parker, Ann Pudeator and Bridget Bishop, Salem Witch Trials Weekly, produced by the Salem Witch Museum, Bewitchment in Salem, produced by the Salem Witch Museum in conjunction with SATV, The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siegeby Marilynne K. Roach (Jul 22, 2004), Cry Innocent: The People vs. Bridget Bishop, The Salem Witch Trials: Reckoning and Reclaiming at the Peabody Essex Museum. Presided over by William Stoughton . The clergy later held a meeting, on August 1, to discuss the trials but were not able to help Proctor before his execution. Other medical explanations have included encephalitis lethargica, a disease carried by birds and animals, and Lyme disease, an infection that produces skin rashes similar to those believed to have been administered by the Salem witches. I love this site! All witches are women, but not every woman is a witch. He knew the clergy did not fully approve of the witch hunts. Then after said the dog died so it must have been innocent. Im doing the Salem witch trials for my A-Level coursework, does anyone know the full names of any historians that have spoken about this topic? Encyclopdia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them. I really enjoy reading your blog! 9, 17181718, Chap. Witch hunts How many people (male and female) were killed in the Trials? I sincerely cant thank you enough! It disgusts me but at the same time interests me, and makes me want to learn more. I want to use this for my bibliograohy, Same but I cant find it. The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft and Demonology. Let me know if you are related to story too. Although spectral evidence, evidence based on dreams and visions, wasnt the only evidence used in court during the Salem Witch Trails, it was the most common evidence and the easiest evidence for accusers to fake. While Puritanism in New England demanded rigidly defined behaviour (hymns were the only permissible music, while childrens toys were outlawed), the colonys geographical isolation increased the insularity of these communities. It went all the way back to the Salem Witch trials. One major factor was that in 1684, King Charles II revoked the Massachusetts Bay Colonys royal charter, a legal document granting the colonists permission to colonize the area. A flurry of accusations from girls with afflictions similar to those of Betty Parris and Abigail Williams resulted in an avalanche of arrests and prosecutions. According to the official Salem website, the trials were shorter than most people believe, but they were still deadly. The Puritan way of life was strict, and even small differences in behavior made people suspicious. Crown Publishers Inc., 1959. Since the witch trials ended, the colony also began to suffer many misfortunes such as droughts, crop failures, smallpox outbreaks and Native-American attacks and many began to wonder if God was punishing them for their mistake. Keeping to yourself and minding your own business seemed suspicious. Judge Stoughton asked the jury to reconsider their verdict. We judge that, in the prosecution of these and all such witchcrafts, there is need of a very critical and exquisite caution, lest by too much credulity for things received only upon the Devil's authority, there be a door opened for a long train of miserable consequences, and Satan get an advantage over us; for we should not be ignorant of his devices. On October 31, 2001, the state amended the 1957 apology and cleared the names of the remaining unnamed victims, stating: Chapter 145 of the resolves of 1957 is hereby amended by striking out, in line 1, the words One Ann Pudeator and certain other persons and inserting in place thereof the following words:- Ann Pudeator, Bridget Bishop, Susannah Martin, Alice Parker, Margaret Scott and Wilmot Redd.. I hope ill get the chance to read it some day! How inhumane! Yes, it is loosely based on the Salem Witch Trials. I need a bibliography for my class report. Thank for the site it is so helpful for my project! 121, p. 108. This was a special type of court in English law established specifically to hear cases that are extraordinary and serious in nature. Not many people fled Salem, only a handful did, because Salem was their home and had been for a long time. 31. in journalism. One theory which could explain the apparent madness of the trial and judicial hangings may be found in the bread the settlers were eating. George Burroughs, a minister, was one of the few men accused of witchcraft during the trials. The Examination of Bridget Bishop, April 19, 1692. As if the class and religious differences werent bad enough, Salem was in an area that was under regular attack from Native American tribes. In June of 1692, the special Court of Oyer (to hear) and Terminer (to decide) sat in Salem to hear the cases of witchcraft. A week later, the jury changed their minds and declared Nurse guilty. William Stoughton is an ancestor of mine, sorry to say. During Titubas examination, she made a shocking confession that she had been approached by Satan, along with Sarah Good and Sarah Osburn, and they had all agreed to do his bidding as witches. Presumptions whereupon persons may be committed, and, much more, convictions whereupon persons may be condemned as guilty of witchcrafts, ought certainly to be more considerable than barely the accused person's being represented by a specter unto the afflicted; inasmuch as it is an undoubted and notorious thing, that a demon may, by God's permission, appear, even to ill purposes, in the shape of an innocent, yea, and a virtuous man. Getting the right to vote didn't come easy for women. Or maybe it was the 1711 bill that cleared the names of the accused witches. I think this was a great site and I also recommend the book the witches -salem, 1962 by stacey schiff. The Salem Witch Trials offered a salutary lesson not only to the colony of Massachusetts Bay but also to the new nation that would be forged in the following century. If these individuals had never written these books or helped record the proceedings, we wouldnt know half of what we know about the witch trials. The hysteria gripping Salem a settlement resonating with the incessant sound of accusation and counteraccusation showed that no-one was exempt from suspicion. King William's War (war in the America colonies against the French) ended with many people having to be relocated so there were many strangers moving into town. This is like the only website i found most helpful on Salem Witch Trial. Salem Witchcraft and Cotton Mather: A Reply. Another five were executed exactly a month later on 19 August, four of whom were men. I was wondering if there was a written document or agreement signed that ended the trials. Critics such as Proctor were quickly accused of witchcraft themselves, under the assumption that anyone who denied the existence of witches or defended the accused must be one of them, and were brought to trial. The infamous Salem witch trials lasted for approximately one year. The doctors diagnosis? Published in 1992, this novel is a fictionalized account of the afflicted girls of Salem Village. The Salem witch trials were a series of prosecutions in which over 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraft. We've rounded up some interesting facts about Salem so you can enjoy it from home this season. In pre-echoes of what would later occur in Salem, panic took hold of the local community, with accusations flying in all directions. I am looking forward to the challenge of uncovering a multitude of analysis on this matter. Meanwhile, those who lived further away clung to their rigid Puritan values. Her initial verdict was, in fact, not guilty, but upon hearing the verdict the afflicted girls began to have fits in the courtroom. Do you have a version number for this site? It is voluminous and comes in paperback and hardcover. As the cart bumps its way towards a hill on the outskirts, the five contemplate their mortality. Sources:Upham, Charles W. Salem Witchcraft: With an Account of Salem Village and a History of Opinions on Witchcraft. Court of Oyer and Terminer Judges:Jonathan CorwinBartholomew GedneyJohn HathorneJohn RichardsWilliam Stoughton, Chief MagistrateSamuel SewallNathaniel SaltonstallPeter SergeantWaitstill Winthrop, The number of people accused and arrested in May surged to over 30 people:Sarah DustinAnn SearsArthur AbbottBethiah Carter SrBethiah Carter JrMary WitheridgeGeorge Jacobs SrMargaret JacobsRebecca JacobsJohn WillardAlice ParkerAnn PudeatorAbigail SoamesSarah BuckelyElizabeth ColsonElizabeth HartThomas Farrar SrRoger ToothakerMary ToothakerMargaret ToothakerSarah ProctorMary DeRichSarah BassettSusannah RootsElizabeth CarySarah PeaseMartha CarrierElizabeth FosdickWilmot ReddElizabeth HoweSarah RiceJohn Alden JrWilliam ProctorJohn Flood. Its entirely possible that much of the blame placed upon Tituba during the trials was based on her racial and social class. Luckily ann putnum jr lived to apologize. The Salem Witch Trials began in spring 1692 and lasted for seven months, during which more than 150 people where arrested, 19 were hanged and one was tortured to death. The Salem witch trials, which resulted in several deaths in 1692 in the small town of Salem, Massachusetts, have never been adequately explained. 14 (in the history 201 course-pack compiled by S. McSheffrey & T. McCormick), Trans. By May 1693 . I read a paper several years ago that attributed much of the Salem Witch Trials to classism and arguments over land and land rights several years ago, but cant seem to remember its authors or publisher. The 52 remaining people in jail were tried in a new court, the Superior Court of Judicature, the following winter. All rights reserved, National Geographic book Witches! In addition to official court records there are also several books written by the ministers and other people involved in the trials: A Brief and True Narrative of Some Remarkable Passages Relating to Sundry Persons Afflicted by Witchcraft, at Salem Village: Which happened from the Nineteenth of March, to the Fifth of April, 1692 by Deodat Lawson circa 1692 The Wonders of the Invisible World: Being an Account of the Tryals of Several Witches Lately Executed in New-England by Cotton Mather circa 1692 More Wonders of the Invisible World by Robert Calef circa 1700 A Modest Enquiry Into the Nature of Witchcraft by John Hale circa 1702. The Carringtons were indicted Feb. 20, 1651, and convicted and executed two weeks later, the only husband and wife to be accused, tried and hanged as witches. Boyer, P., & Nissenbaum, S. The story is about Susannah English, daughter of accused witches Phillip and Mary English and friend of Ann Putnam, Jr. Learn Religions. The Salem witch trials began because a group of girls claimed they were possessed by the devil. Bridget was accused by five of the afflicted girls, Abigail Williams, Ann Putnam Jr., Mercy Lewis, Mary Walcott and Elizabeth Hubbard, who stated she had physically hurt them and tried to make them sign a pact with the devil. Oh well, live n learn, Its sad when you can pick out names of your relatives in every list. More than 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraft and 20 were killed during the hysteria. Did you know they executed 2 dogs?! If you want to learn more about the Salem Witch Trials, check out this article on the best Salem Witch Trials books. (2021, September 9). We know not whether some remarkable affronts given to the Devils by our disbelieving those testimonies whose whole force and strength is from them alone, may not put a period unto the progress of the dreadful calamity begun upon us, in the accusations of so many persons, whereof some, we hope, are yet clear from the great transgression laid unto their charge. It's unlikely that anyone in Salem was actually practicing witchcraftmost of the community consisted of devout and pious Christians. As if the lonely and misunderstood didn't have a hard enough life on its own, they seemed the most suspicious to the crowds. To complicate matters further, within Salem Village itself, there were two separate social groups. The Absolutely True Tale of Disaster in Salem. My fathers family have lived in this area for centuries. It seems like an easier thing to do than just sit there and be accused. Related: 10 Scary Churches From Around The World That Will Creep You Out. What was this witchery actually about and how did it all start? Rebecca is a freelance journalist and history lover who got her start in journalism working for small-town newspapers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire after she graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a B.A. It was divided into two distinct and very different socioeconomic parts. No more restricting property ownership and voting rights to only church members. Salem Witch Trials: The Hysteria Spreads Salem Witch Trials: Conclusion and Legacy The infamous Salem witch trials began during the spring of 1692, after a group of young girls in Salem. Thank you for this amazing article! One of the greatest tragedies of the Salem Witch Trials was the concept of the familiars. Thirteen womenand five men from all stations of life followed her to the gallows onthree successive hanging daysbefore the court was disbanded by Governor William Phipps in October of that year. In 2017, on the 325th anniversary of the Salem Witch Trials, the newly built Proctors Ledge Memorial was unveiled at the base of the ledge on Pope Street. No one was burned at the stake in the Salem witch trials. I know that the accusers, at least some of them were aligned with the Putnam family who was known to have land disputes with several of the villagers. An elderly woman accused of witchcraft is taken to the courthouse by an officer of the law. Nige Tassell is a freelance journalist specialising in history, This content first appeared in the January 2016 issue of BBC History Revealed, Save up to 49% AND your choice of gift card worth 10* when you subscribe BBC History Magazine or BBC History Revealed PLUS! The European witch trials took place in the 15th century. The two communities were three hours apart, by foot, which was the most common method of transportation at the time. A prolific pamphleteer railing against the spread of witchcraft (or molestations from the invisible world), Mather was nonetheless keen for due diligence to occur inside the courtroom. In April, more women were accused, as well as a number of men:Sarah CloyceElizabeth ProctorJohn ProctorGiles CoreyAbigail HobbsDeliverance HobbsWilliam HobbsMary WarrenBridget BishopSarah WildesNehemiah Abbott Jr.Mary EastyEdward BishopSarah BishopMary EnglishPhillip EnglishReverend George BurroughsLydia DustinSusannah MartinDorcas HoarSarah Morey. When Nurse was first arrested, many members of the community signed a petition asking for her release. Many of the accusers were adults and more than a few of them were people who had themselves been accused. The Trials Salem had become a hotbed for accusations of witchcraft. Nige Tassell explains how hysteria in the village of Salem, Massachusets, gave rise to a horror that bedazzled the world Published: June 10, 2020 at 4:45 pm They accused other townspeople of torturing them, and a few of the so-called witches on trial even named others as witches. As the trials and executions continued, colonists began to doubt that so many people could actually be guilty of this crime. The three women were thrown in jail to await trial for practicing witchcraft. It is sad where the mind-set was back then. The governor released the last few prisoners the following May. Nor can we esteem alterations made in the sufferers, by a look or touch of the accused, to be an infallible evidence of guilt, but frequently liable to be abused by the Devil's legerdemains. Rebecca, how long did this take you? Where did theses trials take place were there anymore places then Massachusetts Bay. Tried and found guilty within the course of a single day, Bishop was hanged a week later on 10 June, the first execution of the trials. Despite its power as a cautionary tale, Salem remains an enigma that continues to fascinate and beguile more than three centuries later. Unfortunately, I do not have any information on her family tree but you might want to check out a genealogy site like ancestry.com to find out more. If the accused was indicted, they were not allowed a lawyer and they had to decide to plead guilty or not guilty with no legal counsel to guide them. In 1711, the colony passed a bill restoring some of the names of the convicted witches and paid a total of 600 in restitution to their heirs. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Alden was accused of witchcraft by a child during a trip to Salem while he was on his way home to Boston from Canada. It is pretty sad. First, there are a number of ergot poisoning symptoms which were not reported by those who claimed to be afflicted by witchcraft. It was viewed as a sin against God, the church, and the Crown, and thus was treated as a crime. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. A newer, more anti-religious charter replaced the original one in 1691 and also combined the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Plymouth Colony and several other colonies into one. More significant were admissions of attending a witches meeting on Pendle Hill. Got the movie and became more interested in what really happened. Historians and sociologists have examined this most complex episode in our history so that we may understand the issues of that era and view subsequent events with heightened awareness. Corbis/VCG via Getty Images / Getty Images. 135, no. Salem Village was populated mostly by poor farmers, and Salem Town was a prosperous port full of middle-class and wealthy merchants. I last updated this article on March 26, 2016. There is no documentation of where she may have gone after the trials. Shortly after Sir William Phips appointment as Governor, he was forced to establish a court to deal with those who had been locked up in jail and were awaiting trial. Hemmed in by the ocean to the east and by an untamed wilderness to the west, settlers were completely disconnected from both the mother country on the other side of the Atlantic and the remainder of the American continent. William was happily a Calvinist, but not even that changed the fact New England theocracy was at an end. Her son Richard is one of my 8th great grandfathers and I keep waiting for a DNA match to pop up with one of his other descendants. Other diagnoses have focused more on the mental wellbeing of the Salem girls. This site helped a lot for me to understand the history of Salem. The less-than-thorough procedures of the Salem courtroom also prompted tighter, more rational legal processes that would later be enshrined in the US Constitution. Daily chores, business matters and other activities were neglected during the chaos of the witch trials, causing many problems in the colony for years to come, according to the book The Witchcraft of Salem Village: The whole colony, moreover, had suffered. Random House, 1956Fowler, Samuel Page. That same month, four more women were accused and arrested:Rebecca NurseMartha CoreyDorothy GoodRachel Clinton (from Ipswich). On July 23, John Proctor wrote to the clergy in Boston. They left an 11-year-old son, John Jr . The others were either found guilty but pardoned, found not guilty, were never indicted or simply evaded arrest or escaped from jail. Porters never forgot about this n intermarried with many of the families afterwards. When asked who it was that had afflicted them, they named Good a homeless woman who had fallen destitute after denying the inheritance of her wealthy fathers estate as one of the three culprits. In mid-September, a further group went to the gallows Eight Firebrands of Hell in the words of Rev Noyes. In short, Spanos and Gottlieb believe that the ergotism theory is off-base for several reasons. The Salem Witch Trials Victims: Who Were They? Get 6 issues for 19.99 and receive a 10 gift card* PLUS free access to HistoryExtra.com, Save 70% on the shop price when you subscribe today - Get 13 issues for just $49.99 + FREE access to HistoryExtra.com. Wow. One of the best known of the accused has been the focus of some conjecture regarding whether or not she was practicing folk magic, because she was believed to be a "fortune teller." One bitterly cold evening, Betty Parris and Abigail Williams the daughter and niece of the local Puritan minister Samuel Parris began displaying disturbing behaviour described as being beyond the power of epileptic fits or natural disease to effect. Estimates suggest that over 200 women were executed during this period as a direct result of the investigations of Hopkins and his associates. When was this site last edited? By now, seven months on from the arrest of Sarah Good, the hysteria was decelerating. hope you in joy it was really helpful to my students and i, Thankyou this helpedme a lot for my 3 page essay in english 11 class. A Reply. I need to make a bibliography for my English report. Also, In 17th century Massachusetts, people often feared that the Devil was constantly trying to find ways to infiltrate and destroy Christians and their communities. Patti Wigington is a pagan author, educator, and licensed clergy.

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