The story is about Susannah English, daughter of accused witches Phillip and Mary English and friend of Ann Putnam, Jr. This series of prosecutions and hangings of those accused of practicing witchcraft provoked a major backlash, and the event still haunts us today. 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. The bill cleared the names of: George Burroughs, John Proctor, George Jacobs, John Willard, Giles Corey, Martha Corey, Rebecca Nurse, Sarah Good, Elizabeth Howe, Mary Easty, Sarah Wildes, Abigail Hobbs, Samuel Wardwell, Mary Parker, Martha Carrier, Abigail Faulkner, Anne Foster, Rebecca Eames, Mary Post, Mary Lacey, Mary Bradbury and Dorcas Hoar. Between 1647 and 1688, 12 women had been sentenced to death for making covenants with the devil. The Salem jail was located at the corner of Federal Street and St. Peter Street. No one in America has ever been put to death this way. George Burroughs, a minister, was one of the few men accused of witchcraft during the trials. They were part of a long story of witch hunts that began in Europe in the 14th century. Found Guilty and Executed:Bridget Bishop (June 10, 1692)Sarah Good (July 19, 1692)Elizabeth Howe (July 19, 1692)Susannah Martin (July 19, 1692)Rebecca Nurse (July 19, 1692)Sarah Wildes (July 19, 1692)George Burroughs (August 19, 1692)Martha Carrier (August 19, 1692)John Willard (August 19, 1692)George Jacobs, Sr (August 19, 1692)John Proctor (August 19, 1692)Alice Parker (September 22, 1692)Mary Parker (September 22, 1692)Ann Pudeator (September 22, 1692)Wilmot Redd (September 22, 1692)Margaret Scott (September 22, 1692)Samuel Wardwell (September 22, 1692)Martha Corey (September 22, 1692)Mary Easty (September 22, 1692), Refused to enter a plea and tortured to death:Giles Corey (September 19th, 1692), Found Guilty and Pardoned:Elizabeth ProctorAbigail Faulkner SrMary PostSarah WardwellElizabeth Johnson JrDorcas Hoar, Pled Guilty and Pardoned:Rebecca EamesAbigail HobbsMary Lacy SrMary Osgood, Died in Prison:Sarah OsburnRoger ToothakerAnn FosterLydia Dustin, Escaped from Prison:John Alden Jr.Edward Bishop Jr.Sarah BishopMary BradburyWilliam Barker Sr.Andrew CarrierKatherine CaryPhillip EnglishMary EnglishEdward Farrington, Never Indicted:Sarah BassettMary BlackBethiah Carter, JrBethiah Carter, SrSarah CloyceElizabeth HartWilliam HobbsThomas Farrer, SrWilliam ProctorSarah ProctorSusannah RootsAnn SearsTituba, Evaded Arrest:George Jacobs JrDaniel Andrews. 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. Im trying to get my family to visit there- Id even give up my beach trip for it! The other two accused women, Sarah Good and Sarah Osbourne, werent well liked by the community either. Tituba was known to have played fortune-telling games, which were strictly forbidden by the Puritans. "The Salem Witchcraft Trials: A Legal History". Im going to put a note at the bottom of the article that says when it was last updated to make it easier for anyone doing reports and assignments. Even Sarah Goods four-year-old daughter Dorothy was arrested and interrogated by the magistrates. What is the legacy of the Salem witch trials? Anja Grar is a writer, based in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The witchcraft hysteria in Salem first began in January of 1692 when a group of young girls, who later came to be known as the afflicted girls, fell ill after playing a fortune-telling game and began behaving strangely. I see that you told someone quite a while ago but I dont think that is up to date. They screamed, made unearthly sounds, suffered convulsions and violently threw objects, and themselves, around their homes. Encyclopdia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them. An Account of the Life, Character, & C., of the Rev. William was happily a Calvinist, but not even that changed the fact New England theocracy was at an end. https://www.learnreligions.com/facts-about-the-salem-trials-2562897 (accessed March 5, 2023). When she is not traveling, you will find her reading, drinking coffee and chatting away with her many international friends. Other factors included a recent small pox epidemic in the colony, growing rivalries between families within the colony, a constant threat of attack from nearby Native-American tribes, and a recent influx of refugees trying to escape King Williams war with France in Canada and New York. 25 DISTURBING Facts About The Salem Witch Trials - YouTube The Catholic and Protestant churches fought for new followers. 1 Most of the accused were women but men were accusedand executedtoo. 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. Kinda sad after reading everything. I hope ill get the chance to read it some day! A large proportion of the case against Bishop also focused on her lifestyle, especially her rumoured promiscuity and un-Puritan ways. Thanks hopefully i get an A :). Salem Witch Trials Memorial at Proctor's Ledge Knowing that if he was convicted his large estate would be confiscated and wouldnt be passed down to his children, Corey brought his trial to a halt by refusing to enter a plea. what was the ratio of men to women. Getting the right to vote didn't come easy for women. Colonial America for Kids: Salem Witch Trials - Ducksters my question for the project was what was the history of the salem witch trials. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. I thought witchcraft only existed in Africa. A large brick building now stands on this spot with a memorial plaque dedicated to the old jail. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Keeping to yourself and minding your own business seemed suspicious. At the center of the Salem witch trials were a core group of accusers, all girls and young women ranging in age from nine to 20, who screamed, writhed, barked and displayed other horrifying. Best Books About the Salem Witch Trials - History Of Massachusetts Blog As sleet and snow heaped higher outside their door, Betty Parris and. But the particular brand of paranoia that was rife in Salem Village fed by a rivalry with neighbouring Salem Town, ongoing family feuds and attacks by Native Americans developed into mass hysteria. This series of prosecutions and hangings of those accused of practicing witchcraft provoked a major backlash, and the event still haunts us today. How did this conflict impact the trials? How inhumane! In January of 2016, the site where the Salem Witch Trials hangings took place was officially identified as Proctors Ledge, which is a small wooded area in between Proctor Street and Pope Street in Salem. The Salem Witch Trials were not a positive section of American history but have been used as a learning tool for the United States. Very interesting article; Im glad I came across it! Her apology states: I desire to be humbled before God for that sad and humbling providence that befell my fathers family in the year about 92; that I, then being in my childhood, should, by such a providence of God, be made an instrument for the accusing of several persons of a grievous crime, whereby their lives were taken away from them, whom now I have just grounds and good reason to believe they were innocent persons; and that it was a great delusion of Satan that deceived me in that sad time, whereby I justly fear I have been instrumental, with others, though ignorantly and unwittingly, to bring upon myself and this land the guilt of innocent blood; though what was said or done by me against any person I can truly and uprightly say, before God and man, I did it not out of any anger, malice, or ill-will to any person, for I had no such thing against one of them; but what I did was ignorantly, being deluded by Satan. Salem witch trials (1692-93), a series of investigations and persecutions that caused 19 convicted 'witches' to be hanged and many other suspects to be imprisoned in Salem Village in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Check them out below. Presided over by William Stoughton . Twenty-four people died during the Salem witch trials, though many more were accused of witchcraft. 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.. It was divided into two distinct and very different socioeconomic parts. One of the greatest tragedies of the Salem Witch Trials was the concept of the familiars. "Maleus Maleficarum Part I.". I also have an ancestor, Mary Parsons, who was accused of witchcraft but she was allowed to live. Rebecca Nurses execution was a pivotal moment in the Salem Witch Trials. In pre-echoes of what would later occur in Salem, panic took hold of the local community, with accusations flying in all directions. In June of 1692, the special Court of Oyer (to hear) and Terminer (to decide) sat in Salem to hear the cases of witchcraft. 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. Very well done! These five women Sarah Good, Elizabeth Howe, Susannah Martin, Rebecca Nurse and Sarah Wildes were the among the first to be tried and found guilty of witchcraft during a bleak nine-month period of New England history simply recalled as the Salem Witch Trials. 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. I sincerely cant thank you enough! The primary sources of the Salem Witch Trials offer a wealth of information on these infamous trials. Thank you, using this as a source! Hi Julanii, I am the writer and publisher of this article. 135, p. 112, No. 82 (Boston: Wright and Potter, 1902), pp. It was viewed as a sin against God, the church, and the Crown, and thus was treated as a crime. Local clergymen began speaking out against the witch hunt and tried to persuade officials to stop the trials. Although the witch hunt started in Salem Village, it quickly spread to the neighboring towns, including Amesbury, Andover, Salisbury, Topsfield, Ipswich and Gloucester, and numerous residents of those towns were brought to Salem and put on trial. Wiggin and Lunt, 1867.Crewe, Sabrina and Michael V. Uschan. In effect, theSalem Witch Trialswere over. Titubas confession was the trigger that sparked the mass hysteria and the hunt for more witches in Salem. . 11 Facts About the Salem Witch Trials | Mental Floss The Salem witch trials of the late 17th century were a formative episode in America's early history, and have remained at the forefront of the national consciousness ever since. 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. The exact cause of the Salem Witch Trials is unknown but they were probably a number of causes. 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. Hi Maria, I dont have a version number for this site. Ergot is a fungus found in bread, and has the same effect as hallucinogenic drugs. A strong belief in the devil, factions amongSalem Village familiesand rivalry with nearby Salem Town combined with a recent small pox epidemic and the threat of attack by warring tribes created a fertile ground for fear and suspicion. On October 29, 1692, Phips dissolved the Court of Oyer and Terminer, a decision that marked the beginning of the end for the Salem witch trials. The 17th century Salem has nothing on witch hunts that went down in Europe. Other evidence used in the trials included confessions of the accused, possession of certain items such as poppets, ointments or books on the occult, as well as the presence of an alleged witchs teat, which was a strange mole or blemish, on the accused persons body. Wigington, Patti. The preacher sad they could not kill the devil by shooting the dog but did anyway. 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. It disgusts me but at the same time interests me, and makes me want to learn more. Robbins, Rossell Hope. When we think of witches today, we think of girls with crystals and hats who like to listen to Stevie Nicks. This legal tactic was known as peine forte et dure which means strong and harsh punishment.. No one was burned at the stake in the Salem witch trials. Patti Wigington is a pagan author, educator, and licensed clergy. Although the afflicted girls were the main accusers during the trials, many historians believe the girls parents, particularly Thomas Putnam and Reverend Samuel Parris, were egging the girls on and encouraging them to accuse specific people in the community that they didnt like in an act of revenge. One of them was shot but I dont know how the other one died. It also silenced any opposition to the idea that the Devil had infiltrated Salem. Being burned at the stake was an occasionally used method of execution in Europe, when one was convicted of witchcraft, but was generally reserved for those who refused to repent of their sins. 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. A man of God literally planned out a witch genocide. In June, Nathaniel Saltonstall resigned and was replaced by Jonathan Corwin. Dr Griggs was a relative through my grandmother. 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. I just found this out. If there is anyone has found anymore supporting theories please share. 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. A fear-ridden society always finds scapegoats. I find the history interesting and would like to find more information on this matter. This was a dark time but it is good to see the court system advance. Second, everyone got their food from the same place, so symptoms would have occurred in every household, not just a select few. im doing a huge assessment in my language arts class called national history day and i love how into detail this went! 10 Interesting Facts about the Salem Witch Trials & Salem, Massachusetts The Witchcraft of Salem Village. The Salem Witch Trials: Real Facts That Will Haunt You Do you have a version number for this site? I need a bibliography for my class report. Wigington, Patti. Awesome Article. One other man, Giles Corey, was pressed to death after refusing to enter a plea, and at least five people . Estimates suggest that over 200 women were executed during this period as a direct result of the investigations of Hopkins and his associates. 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. At the same time, the accused would be denied legal representation. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. He is recorded to have recited a prayer uttered with such composedness from many, so that it seemed to some that the spectators would hinder the execution. It's unlikely that anyone in Salem was actually practicing witchcraftmost of the community consisted of devout and pious Christians. Although I just found it, it has helped me with what I needed on my Salem Witch Trials report for History. The Examination of Sarah Good, March 1, 1692. More than 200 people were accused. I guarantee Im not related to any putnum. Related: The 10 Best Witch Things To Do In Salem. The three women were thrown in jail to await trial for practicing witchcraft. Luckily ann putnum jr lived to apologize. Upon hearing about the Parris girls behavior, much of the Puritan community agreed that the duo had been victims of witchcraft. Questions VII & XI. Text adapted from the National Geographic book Witches! Acts and Resolves, Public and Private, of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, vol. The day of prayer and fasting was held on January 15, 1698, and was known as the Day of Official Humiliation. The European witch trials took place in the 15th century. The Salem Witch Trials. The trials are believed to have been the reason why the US constitution recognizes witchcraft as a legal religion. She was hanged on June 10, 1692 at a place now called Proctors Ledge, which is a small hill near Gallows Hill, making her the first official victim of the witch trials. As if the lonely and misunderstood didn't have a hard enough life on its own, they seemed the most suspicious to the crowds. The Salem Witch Trials: Facts & History. The Salem Witch Trials: Facts & History. I am the author and publisher of this blog. 10 Spine-Chilling & Captivating Facts About Salem, Massachusetts Twenty people were put to death in Salem for the crime of witchcraft. There are many theories that explain why the witch trials began in Medieval Europe. [State v. Dustin, 122 N.H. 544, 551 (N.H. Proctors wife managed to escape execution because she was pregnant, but Proctor was hanged on August 19 along with five other people. Was there some sort of compromise at the end? When visiting Salem, there are so many entertaining shows that were inspired by the real-life tragedies that took place in this spooky town. 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. Salem Witch Trials Top Facts | Go City The first of the girls to start experiencing symptoms was Betty Parris, followed by Abigail Williams, Ann Putnam Jr., Mary Walcott and Mercy Lewis. Most of the accusers were Puritans who lived on the farms. Salem Witchcraft and Cotton Mather: A Reply. Alden spent 15 weeks in jail before friends helped break him out and he escaped to New York. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. According to Plouffe, Jr., the trials were the largest of . One of the most popular theories as to what could have caused the mass hysteria of Salem in 1692 is that of ergot poisoning. Instead, in 1692, hanging was the preferred form of punishment. And insularity bred paranoia, as Schiff sharply explains. Eventually, after seeming to realize how unfair the trials were to the accused, the court refused to hear any more charges of witchcraft. What Were The Salem Witch Trials? Explore The Facts And History 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. 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 1706, afflicted girl Ann Putnam, Jr., also issued a public apology for her role in the Salem Witch Trials, particularly in the case against her neighbor Rebecca Nurse. The 52 remaining people in jail were tried in a new court, the Superior Court of Judicature, the following winter. She is the author of Daily Spellbook for the Good Witch, Wicca Practical Magic and The Daily Spell Journal. 5 Facts About the Real Salem Witch Hunt - History No one cared about minorities or "loners" anyway. Two days before the court convened, a Puritan minister from Boston named Cotton Mather wrote to one of the judges expressing his concern over the admissibility of such evidence. Through the loss of 20 lives, the episode continues to warn of the dangers of insularity and isolationism, of intolerance, of religious extremism. In January 1692 Salem Village was dealing with a lot. Or maybe it was the 1711 bill that cleared the names of the accused witches. It is pretty sad. More than 200 people were a.. Read the article free on Booksie. Next: Spooky Places: 10 Destinations For Fans Of Witches. When was this site last edited? As if the class and religious differences werent bad enough, Salem was in an area that was under regular attack from Native American tribes. Now that spectral evidence was not allowed, most of the remaining prisoners were found not guilty or released due to a lack of real evidence. I am no more a witch than you are a wizard. Please be respectful of copyright. Does that mean they couldnt have been practicing witchcraft? No way to fight its power. The jail was a small wooden structure with a dungeon underneath. Farms were mortgaged or sold, first to pay prison fees, then to pay taxes; frequently they were abandoned. You can check out my article on books about the Salem Witch Trials here:https://historyofmassachusetts.org/best-books-about-salem-witch-trials/ or you could search the court records online on the University of Virginia website. 5 Facts About the Salem Trials. After Bishops execution and the courts endorsement of the indictments against Rebecca Nurse and John Willard, a local constable who, doubting the allegations, refused to bring the accused to court the grand jury adjourned for almost three weeks. an A on my report i mean >< Due to overcrowding in the jails, the accused witches were kept in multiple jails in Salem town, Ipswich and Boston. On September 22, eight people were hanged. Wow. Rebecca, how long did this take you? A secondary source would be a book, journal or article written long after the event by someone who didnt experience it first hand. 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. 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? Secondary sources would be Charles Uphams book Salem Witchcraft which was published in 1867, Emerson Bakers book A Storm of Witchcraft which was published in 2014 and etc. The Salem witch trials started with two girls having unexplainable fits. Church was all powerful in those days. In mid-January 1692, Elizabeth "Betty" Parris, the 9-year-old daughter of the local Reverend Samuel Parris, and. Did you know they executed 2 dogs?! A total of 19 accused witches were hanged at Proctors Ledge, near Gallows Hill, during the witch trials. ", What does that mean, in laymans terms? When James II, unspeakably Catholic, became the titular head of the Church of England (itself considered evil), it was proof that the mother country had come under diabolical control When James II created the Dominion of New England, ordering the New England theocracy to allow the C of E inside, it was the end of their holy mission in the wilderness. Meanwhile, those who lived further away clung to their rigid Puritan values. Im glad it was helpful. Learn Religions, Sep. 9, 2021, learnreligions.com/facts-about-the-salem-trials-2562897. Proctor told them about the torture inflicted on the accused and asked that the trials be moved to Boston where he felt he would get a fair trial. They all died on the same day so its hard to pinpoint who you are talking about. The people had been so determined upon hunting out and destroying witches that they had neglected everything else. It seems like an easier thing to do than just sit there and be accused. I need to make a bibliography for my English report. The clergy later held a meeting, on August 1, to discuss the trials but were not able to help Proctor before his execution. Most of the accused really had nowhere else to go and many of them didnt have the money to leave even if they wanted to. The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. How should I cite this? Salem was . More significant were admissions of attending a witches meeting on Pendle Hill. They did so in order to gather the observations of the colonys most senior ministers, to hear their reflections upon the state of things as they then stood. English law at the time dictated that anyone who refused to enter a plea could be tortured in an attempt to force a plea out of them. Bernard Rosenthal, "Medievalism and the Salem Witch Trials," in: Protests against early modern witch trials, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Cultural depictions of the Salem witch trials, Medical and psychological explanations of bewitchment, List of wrongful convictions in the United States, "Six Victims of 1692 Salem Witch Trials "Cleared" by Massachusetts", "Massachusetts Clears 5 From Salem Witch Trials", "Salem may pardon accused witches of 1692", "On 325th anniversary, city dedicates Proctor's Ledge memorial to Salem Witch Trials victims", "Memorable Providence, Relating to Witchcraft and Possessions", "Examination of Dorothy Good, As Told by Deodat Lawson", "Religiosity and the political economy of the Salem witch trials", Virginia.edu Salem witch trials (archives), "Massachusetts Archives: Superior Court of Judicature Witchcraft Trials (JanuaryMay 1693), Cases Heard".