Salem Witch Trials, Salem Witch Trials, 16921692

What Happened in Salem, What Happened in Salem, 1692?1692? The trouble in Salem The trouble in Salem

began during the cold began during the cold dark Massachusetts dark Massachusetts winter, January, 1692.winter, January, 1692.

Eight young girls began Eight young girls began to take ill, beginning with to take ill, beginning with 9-year-old Elizabeth 9-year-old Elizabeth Parris, the daughter of Parris, the daughter of Reverend Samuel Parris, Reverend Samuel Parris, as well as his niece, 11-as well as his niece, 11-year-old Abigail Williams. year-old Abigail Williams.

They displayed bizarre They displayed bizarre behavior, suffered from behavior, suffered from delirium, violent delirium, violent convulsions, convulsions, incomprehensible incomprehensible speech, trance-like speech, trance-like states, and odd skin states, and odd skin sensations. sensations.

According to the record, According to the record, these girls fell victim to these girls fell victim to "fits, outbreaks of obscene "fits, outbreaks of obscene babbling, and wild partying babbling, and wild partying in the local woodland.”in the local woodland.”

The worried villagers The worried villagers searched desperately for an searched desperately for an explanation. Their explanation. Their conclusion: the girls were conclusion: the girls were under a spell, bewitched -- under a spell, bewitched -- and, worse yet, by members and, worse yet, by members of their own pious of their own pious community. community.

Bewitched?Bewitched?The finger pointing began…The finger pointing began…

The first to be accused were Tituba, Parris's The first to be accused were Tituba, Parris's Caribbean-born slave, along with Sarah Good and Caribbean-born slave, along with Sarah Good and Sarah Osburn, two elderly women considered of Sarah Osburn, two elderly women considered of ill repute. ill repute.

All three were arrested on February 29, 1692.All three were arrested on February 29, 1692.

•Tituba: Black slave of Samuel Parris.•Sarah Good: Orphaned since young, was the town beggar, noted for her strange "muttering." •Sarah Osborne: A bedridden elderlywoman who had cheated her first husband's childrenout of their inheritance and gave it to her new husband.

Ultimately, more than 150 "witches" were Ultimately, more than 150 "witches" were taken into custody; The accused “witches” taken into custody; The accused “witches” werewere stripped of all possessions stripped of all possessions imprisoned imprisoned subjected to the most intrusive indignities on subjected to the most intrusive indignities on

their bodiestheir bodies By late September 1692, 20 men and By late September 1692, 20 men and

women had been put to death, and five women had been put to death, and five more accused had died in jail. more accused had died in jail.

The accused “witches” were carted to The accused “witches” were carted to Gallows Hill, a barren slope near Salem Gallows Hill, a barren slope near Salem Village, for hanging. Their bodies were Village, for hanging. Their bodies were dumped in the mass graves on Gallows Hill. dumped in the mass graves on Gallows Hill.

A man of over 80 years was pressed to A man of over 80 years was pressed to death under heavy stones for refusing to death under heavy stones for refusing to submit to a trial on witchcraft charges. submit to a trial on witchcraft charges.

None of the executed confessed to None of the executed confessed to witchcraft. Such a confession would have witchcraft. Such a confession would have surely spared their lives, but, they believed, surely spared their lives, but, they believed, condemned their souls. condemned their souls.

The Salem Witch Trials 1692The Salem Witch Trials 1692 What evil spirit have you familiarity with?None.None.Have you made no contract with the devil?No.No.Why do you hurt these children?I do not hurt them. I scorn I do not hurt them. I scorn

it.it.Who do you imploy then to do it?I imploy no body.I imploy no body.What creature do you

imploy then?No creature. I am falsely No creature. I am falsely accused.accused.

Dialogue based on the examination of Sarah Good by Judges Hathorne and Corwin, from The Salem Witchcraft Papers, Book II

 

The Accusers Age

Elizabeth Booth 18

Sarah Churchill 20

Elizabeth Hubbard 17

Ann Putman 12

Susanna Sheldon 18

Mary Walcott 17

Mary Warren 20

Abigail Williams 11 

The Accusers vs. The The Accusers vs. The AccusedAccused

The Accused Details

Sarah Cloyse jailed for witchcraft but not tried

Abigail Hobbs a confessed witch

Deliverance Hobbs a confessed witch

William Hobbs jailed for witchcraft but died before trial

Tituba a confessed witch

Elizabeth Procter convicted but saved by her pregnancy

Giles Corey pressed to death

Bridget Bishop hanged

George Burroughs hanged

Martha Carner hanged

Martha Corey hanged

Mary Esty hanged

Sarah Godd hanged

Elizabeth How hanged

George Jacobs Sr. hanged

Susanna Martin hanged

Rebecca Nurse hanged

Alice Parker hanged

Ann Pudeator hanged

Wilmot Reed hanged

Samuel Wardwell hanged

Sarah Wilds hanged

John Willard hanged

So...the witches had invaded So...the witches had invaded Salem??Salem??

Then, almost as soon as it had begun, the hysteria Then, almost as soon as it had begun, the hysteria that swept through Salem, Massachusetts, ended.that swept through Salem, Massachusetts, ended.

On October 29, by order of Massachusetts On October 29, by order of Massachusetts Governor Sir William Phips, the Salem witch trials Governor Sir William Phips, the Salem witch trials officially came to an end. officially came to an end.

When the dust cleared, the townsfolk and the When the dust cleared, the townsfolk and the accusers were at a loss to explain their own accusers were at a loss to explain their own actions. In the centuries since, scholars and actions. In the centuries since, scholars and historians have struggled as well to explain the historians have struggled as well to explain the madness that overtook Salem. madness that overtook Salem.

Why Did It Happened?Why Did It Happened?

Were the accused really witches?Were the accused really witches? Or were they merely victims of a widespread Or were they merely victims of a widespread

hysteria? hysteria? Why was the hysteria so widespread? Why was the hysteria so widespread? Was it a Was it a mass religion-induced hysterical mass religion-induced hysterical

delusion?delusion? Did it happen because of Did it happen because of sexual repression, sexual repression,

religious fanaticism, or simply adolescent religious fanaticism, or simply adolescent cruelty? How do we explain this contagious cruelty? How do we explain this contagious mass frenzy? mass frenzy?

Why did this travesty of justice occur? Why did it Why did this travesty of justice occur? Why did it occur in Salem, at this particular period of time?occur in Salem, at this particular period of time?

Why Did It Get So Out of Hand?

Reasons for this TragedyReasons for this Tragedy

Class Discussion:Class Discussion: Cultural Construction of the Cultural Construction of the

WitchesWitches

Cultural Imagination of the Cultural Imagination of the WitchesWitches

Salem Witch Trials & Salem Witch Trials & The The CrucibleCrucible

Arthur Miller’s Source: Two volume record of the witch trials located in the Essex County Archives in Salem, Massachusetts.

Fascinated because it is one of the most notorious examples of the hysteria about witches

The most disconcerting, most shameful episode in the American history.

These events were perpetuated by religious men; holy menprominent ministers

None of them called a halt to these suffering Injustice done in the name of the Lord

Salem in the 1760's (School Salem in the 1760's (School Street)Street)

Cover to Reverend John Hale's Cover to Reverend John Hale's BookBook

Samuel Sewall, trial judgeSamuel Sewall, trial judge

Arrest WarrantArrest Warrant

The Salem Witch Trials 1692The Salem Witch Trials 1692A Chronology of Events

January 20January 20 Nine-year-old Elizabeth Parris and eleven-year-Nine-year-old Elizabeth Parris and eleven-year-

old Abigail Williams began to exhibit strange old Abigail Williams began to exhibit strange behavior, such as blasphemous screaming, behavior, such as blasphemous screaming, convulsive seizures, trance-like states and convulsive seizures, trance-like states and mysterious spells. Within a short time, several mysterious spells. Within a short time, several other Salem girls began to demonstrate similar other Salem girls began to demonstrate similar behavior. behavior.

Mid-FebruaryMid-February Unable to determine any physical cause for the Unable to determine any physical cause for the

symptoms and dreadful behavior, physicians symptoms and dreadful behavior, physicians concluded that the girls were under the concluded that the girls were under the influence of Satan. influence of Satan.

Late FebruaryLate February Prayer services and community fasting were Prayer services and community fasting were

conducted by Reverend Samuel Parris in conducted by Reverend Samuel Parris in hopes of relieving the evil forces that plagued hopes of relieving the evil forces that plagued them. In an effort to expose the "witches", them. In an effort to expose the "witches", John Indian baked a witch cake made with rye John Indian baked a witch cake made with rye meal and the afflicted girls' urine. This meal and the afflicted girls' urine. This counter-magic was meant to reveal the counter-magic was meant to reveal the identities of the "witches" to the afflicted girls. identities of the "witches" to the afflicted girls.

Pressured to identify the source of their Pressured to identify the source of their affliction, the girls named three women, affliction, the girls named three women, including including TitubaTituba, Parris' Carib Indian slave, as , Parris' Carib Indian slave, as witches. On February 29, warrants were witches. On February 29, warrants were issued for the arrests of issued for the arrests of Tituba, Sarah Good Tituba, Sarah Good and Sarah Osborneand Sarah Osborne..

March 1March 1

Tituba, Sarah Good, and Sarah Osborne were Tituba, Sarah Good, and Sarah Osborne were examined in the meeting house in Salem Village. examined in the meeting house in Salem Village. Tituba confessed to practicing witchcraft. Over Tituba confessed to practicing witchcraft. Over the next weeks, other townspeople came forward the next weeks, other townspeople came forward and testified that they, too, had been harmed by and testified that they, too, had been harmed by or had seen strange apparitions of some of the or had seen strange apparitions of some of the community members. As the witch hunt community members. As the witch hunt continued, accusations were made against many continued, accusations were made against many different people.different people.

Frequently denounced were Frequently denounced were women whose women whose behavior or economic circumstances were behavior or economic circumstances were somehow disturbing to the social order and somehow disturbing to the social order and conventions of the timeconventions of the time. Some of the accused . Some of the accused had previous records of criminal activity, had previous records of criminal activity, including witchcraft, but others were faithful including witchcraft, but others were faithful churchgoers and people of high standing in the churchgoers and people of high standing in the community.community.

March 12March 12 Martha Corey is accused of witchcraft. Martha Corey is accused of witchcraft.

March 19March 19 Rebecca Nurse was denounced as a witch. Rebecca Nurse was denounced as a witch.

March 21March 21 Martha Corey was examined before Martha Corey was examined before

Magistrates Hathorne and Corwin. Magistrates Hathorne and Corwin. March 24March 24

Rebecca Nurse was examined before Rebecca Nurse was examined before Magistrates Hathorne and Corwin. Magistrates Hathorne and Corwin.

March 28March 28 Elizabeth Proctor was denounced as a witch. Elizabeth Proctor was denounced as a witch.

April 3April 3 Sarah Cloyce, Rebecca Nurse's sister, was Sarah Cloyce, Rebecca Nurse's sister, was

accused of witchcraft. accused of witchcraft.

April 11April 11 Elizabeth Proctor and Sarah Cloyce were Elizabeth Proctor and Sarah Cloyce were

examined before Hathorne, Corwin, Deputy examined before Hathorne, Corwin, Deputy Governor Thomas Danforth, and Captain Governor Thomas Danforth, and Captain Samuel Sewall. During this examination, Samuel Sewall. During this examination, John John Proctor was also accused and imprisonedProctor was also accused and imprisoned. .

April 19April 19 Abigail Hobbs, Bridget Bishop, Giles Corey, and Abigail Hobbs, Bridget Bishop, Giles Corey, and

Mary Warren were examined. Only Abigail Mary Warren were examined. Only Abigail Hobbs confessed. Hobbs confessed.

April 22April 22 Nehemiah Abbott, William and Deliverance Nehemiah Abbott, William and Deliverance

Hobbs, Edward and Sarah Bishop, Mary Easty, Hobbs, Edward and Sarah Bishop, Mary Easty, Mary Black, Sarah Wildes, and Mary English Mary Black, Sarah Wildes, and Mary English were examined before Hathorne and Corwin. were examined before Hathorne and Corwin. Only Nehemiah Abbott was cleared of charges. Only Nehemiah Abbott was cleared of charges.

May 2May 2 Sarah Morey, Lydia Dustin, Susannah Martin, and Sarah Morey, Lydia Dustin, Susannah Martin, and

Dorcas Hoar were examined by Hathorne and Dorcas Hoar were examined by Hathorne and Corwin. Corwin.

May 4May 4 George Burroughs was arrested in Wells, Maine. George Burroughs was arrested in Wells, Maine.

May 9May 9 Burroughs was examined by Hathorne, Corwin, Burroughs was examined by Hathorne, Corwin,

Sewall, and William Stoughton. One of the Sewall, and William Stoughton. One of the afflicted girls, Sarah Churchill, was also examined. afflicted girls, Sarah Churchill, was also examined.

May 10May 10 George Jacobs, Sr. and his granddaughter George Jacobs, Sr. and his granddaughter

Margaret were examined before Hathorne and Margaret were examined before Hathorne and Corwin. Margaret confessed and testified that her Corwin. Margaret confessed and testified that her grandfather and George Burroughs were both grandfather and George Burroughs were both witches. Sarah Osborne died in prison in Boston.witches. Sarah Osborne died in prison in Boston.

May 14May 14 Increase Mather returned from England, bringing Increase Mather returned from England, bringing

with him a new charter and the new governor, Sir with him a new charter and the new governor, Sir William Phips. William Phips.

May 18May 18 Mary Easty was released from prison. Yet, Mary Easty was released from prison. Yet,

due to the outcries and protests of her due to the outcries and protests of her accusers, she was arrested a second time.accusers, she was arrested a second time.

May 27May 27 Governor Phips set up a special Court to try Governor Phips set up a special Court to try

the witchcraft cases. These magistrates in the witchcraft cases. These magistrates in the trials, however, based their judgments the trials, however, based their judgments and evaluations on various kinds of and evaluations on various kinds of intangible evidence, including direct intangible evidence, including direct confessions, supernatural attributes (such confessions, supernatural attributes (such as "witchmarks"), and reactions of the as "witchmarks"), and reactions of the afflicted girls. Spectral evidence, based on afflicted girls. Spectral evidence, based on the assumption that the Devil could assume the assumption that the Devil could assume the "specter" of an innocent person, was the "specter" of an innocent person, was relied upon despite its controversial nature.relied upon despite its controversial nature.

May 31May 31 Martha Carrier, John Alden, Wilmott Redd, Martha Carrier, John Alden, Wilmott Redd,

Elizabeth Howe, and Phillip English were Elizabeth Howe, and Phillip English were examined before Hathorne, Corwin, and examined before Hathorne, Corwin, and Gedney. Gedney.

June 2June 2 Bridget Bishop was pronounced guilty of Bridget Bishop was pronounced guilty of

witchcraft and witchcraft and condemned to death. condemned to death. June 10June 10

Bridget Bishop was hanged in SalemBridget Bishop was hanged in Salem, the first , the first official execution of the Salem witch trials. official execution of the Salem witch trials.

Following her death, accusations of witchcraft Following her death, accusations of witchcraft escalated, but the trials were not unopposed. escalated, but the trials were not unopposed. Several townspeople signed petitions on behalf Several townspeople signed petitions on behalf of accused people they believed to be of accused people they believed to be innocent.innocent.

June 29-30June 29-30 Rebecca Nurse, Susannah Martin, Sarah Wildes, Sarah Rebecca Nurse, Susannah Martin, Sarah Wildes, Sarah

Good and Elizabeth Howe were tried for witchcraft and Good and Elizabeth Howe were tried for witchcraft and condemned. condemned.

July 19July 19 Rebecca Nurse, Susannah Martin, Elizabeth Howe, Sarah Rebecca Nurse, Susannah Martin, Elizabeth Howe, Sarah

Good, and Sarah Wildes were executed. Good, and Sarah Wildes were executed. August 2-6August 2-6

George Jacobs, Sr., Martha Carrier, George Burroughs, George Jacobs, Sr., Martha Carrier, George Burroughs, John and Elizabeth Proctor, and John Willard were tried for John and Elizabeth Proctor, and John Willard were tried for witchcraft and condemned. witchcraft and condemned.

August 19August 19 George Jacobs, Sr., Martha Carrier, George Burroughs, George Jacobs, Sr., Martha Carrier, George Burroughs,

John Proctor, and John Willard were hanged on Gallows John Proctor, and John Willard were hanged on Gallows Hill. Hill.

September 9September 9 Martha Corey, Mary Easty, Alice Parker, Ann Pudeator, Martha Corey, Mary Easty, Alice Parker, Ann Pudeator,

Dorcas Hoar, and Mary Bradbury were tried and Dorcas Hoar, and Mary Bradbury were tried and condemned.condemned.

September 17September 17 Margaret Scott, Wilmott Redd, Samuel Margaret Scott, Wilmott Redd, Samuel

Wardwell, Mary Parker, Abigail Faulkner, Wardwell, Mary Parker, Abigail Faulkner, Rebecca Eames, Mary Lacy, Ann Foster, and Rebecca Eames, Mary Lacy, Ann Foster, and Abigail Hobbs were tried and condemned. Abigail Hobbs were tried and condemned.

September 19September 19 Giles Corey was pressed to death for refusing Giles Corey was pressed to death for refusing

a trial. a trial. September 21September 21

Dorcas Hoar was the first of those pleading Dorcas Hoar was the first of those pleading innocent to confess. Her execution was innocent to confess. Her execution was delayed. delayed.

September 22September 22 Martha Corey, Margaret Scott, Mary Easty, Martha Corey, Margaret Scott, Mary Easty,

Alice Parker, Ann Pudeator, Wilmott Redd, Alice Parker, Ann Pudeator, Wilmott Redd, Samuel Wardwell, and Mary Parker were Samuel Wardwell, and Mary Parker were hanged. hanged.

October 8October 8 After 20 people had been executed in the Salem After 20 people had been executed in the Salem

witch hunt, Thomas Brattle wrote a letter witch hunt, Thomas Brattle wrote a letter criticizing the witchcraft trials. This letter had great criticizing the witchcraft trials. This letter had great impact on Governor Phips, who ordered that impact on Governor Phips, who ordered that reliance on spectral and intangible evidence no reliance on spectral and intangible evidence no longer be allowed in trials. longer be allowed in trials.

October 29October 29 Governor Phips dissolved the Court of Oyer and Governor Phips dissolved the Court of Oyer and

Terminer. Terminer. November 25November 25

The General Court of the colony created the The General Court of the colony created the Superior Court to try the remaining witchcraft Superior Court to try the remaining witchcraft cases which took place in May, 1693. This time no cases which took place in May, 1693. This time no one was convicted. one was convicted.

"Examination of a Witch" "Examination of a Witch"

Trial of an accused witch in SalemTrial of an accused witch in Salem

The Trial of George JacobThe Trial of George Jacob

The Trial of Rebecca NurseThe Trial of Rebecca Nurse

The June 10, 1692 hanging of Bridget The June 10, 1692 hanging of Bridget BishopBishop

The Hanging of George Burroughs

The June 10, 1692 hanging of Bridget The June 10, 1692 hanging of Bridget BishopBishop

Repentance of Judge Samuel Sewall, Repentance of Judge Samuel Sewall, 16971697

Salem Witch Trials Salem Witch Trials MemorialMemorial

http://www.salemweb.com/memorial/stonesintro.shtmlhttp://www.salemweb.com/memorial/stonesintro.shtml

Stones dedicated to the victims of the Salem Witch Stones dedicated to the victims of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Executions took place on June 10, July Trials of 1692. Executions took place on June 10, July 19, August 19, September 19 and September 22, 19, August 19, September 19 and September 22, 1692.1692.