They were a means of crowd control that gave way to changes in power structures. When was this site last edited? 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 proclamation suggested that there should be: observed a Day of Prayer with Fasting throughout the ProvinceSo that all Gods people may put away that which hath stirred Gods Holy jealousy against his land; that he wouldhelp us wherein we have done amiss to do so no more; and especially that whatever mistakes on either hand have fallen intoreferring to the late tragedy, raised among us by Satan and his instruments, through the awful judgement of God, he would humble us therefore and pardon all the errors and people that desire to love his name. How many people (male and female) were killed in the Trials? Sources:Upham, Charles W. Salem Witchcraft: With an Account of Salem Village and a History of Opinions on Witchcraft. It was divided into two distinct and very different socioeconomic parts. Here are 10 facts about the witch trials that will surely send chills down your spine. Europe, on the other hand, was super into dramatic flames. The pair had been bewitched. In mid-September, Corey was tortured this way for three days in a field near Howard Street until he finally died on September 19. The three women were thrown in jail to await trial for practicing witchcraft. 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. The Salem witch trials occurred in colonial Massachusetts between early 1692 and mid-1693. In Salem, they actually didn't do any burning at all. Often, that conversation shifts over towardsSalem, Massachusetts, and the famous trial in 1692that resulted in twenty executions. Thank you for the kind comments. "Examination and Evidence of Some Accused Witches in Salem, 1692. Thank-you for the great info you have shared. For years, Salem Village tried to separate itself politically from Salem Town. Children were also accused of witchcraft. A man of God literally planned out a witch genocide. It was last updated Sept 4, 2016. This court consisted of eight judges. The Salem Witch Trials officially began in February of 1692, when the afflicted girls accused the first three victims, Tituba, Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne, of witchcraft and ended in May of 1693, when the remaining victims were released from jail. A large brick building now stands on this spot with a memorial plaque dedicated to the old jail. Hi Julanii, I am the writer and publisher of this article. These unsettling facts will shed light. Was there some sort of compromise at the end? The history (both good and bad) is something we should all know about. 9 Men Also Died During The Trials In Germany alone, thousands of women died horrible deaths. Unlike some of the more notorious cases in Europe and England, such as that of the Pendle witch trial, there was no one among Salems accused who was known as a local witch or healer, with one exception. Massachusetts Only Apologized in 1957 Salem Witch Trials have haunted Salem, now known as Danvers and the entire state of Massachusetts for centuries. There is actually a compilation of all of the primary sources on the Salem Witch Trials. Very well done! By the end of the trials in 1693, 24 people had died, some in jail but most by hanging. 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. Thanks hopefully i get an A :). "5 Facts About the Salem Trials." Shortly after, two of the girls named the women they believed were bewitching them. At the same time, the accused would be denied legal representation. Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, Copyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. 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. They took place in a number of cities in Massachusetts Bay Colony in the years 1692 and 1693, but primarily in the town of Salem. By now, seven months on from the arrest of Sarah Good, the hysteria was decelerating. The others were either found guilty but pardoned, found not guilty, were never indicted or simply evaded arrest or escaped from jail. Even poor animals were not safe and they could actually get accused and executed as well. History of the Salem Witch Trials Salem Village began that slow decay which eventually erased its houses and walls, but never its name and memory.. More than 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraftthe devil's magic and 20 were executed . Salem Witch Trial Facts - Learn Religions Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Ever since those dark days ended, the trials have become synonymous with mass hysteria and scapegoating. This series of prosecutions and hangings of those accused of practicing witchcraft provoked a major backlash, and the event still haunts us today. He was later exonerated. A child pointed to a dog and said it bewitched me and shot the dog immediately. The Salem witch trials began because a group of girls claimed they were possessed by the devil. The leading independent voice for aviation news and insight. The trials were held in the Salem courthouse, which was located in the center of Washington Street about 100 feet south of Lynde Street, opposite of where the Masonic Temple now stands. There are many theories that explain why the witch trials began in Medieval Europe. While many modern-day Pagans cite the Salem trials as an example of religious intolerance, at the time, witchcraft was not seen as a religion at all. Salem Witch Trials Memorial at Proctor's Ledge 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. In May, as the number of cases grew, Governor William Phips set up a special court, known as the Court of Oyer and Terminer (which translate to hear and determine) to hear the cases. The day of prayer and fasting was held on January 15, 1698, and was known as the Day of Official Humiliation. By May 1693 . What were the witch trials in Salem actually about and how did it all start? This illustration shows him speaking at Witches Hill, the site of his execution. It was not difficult for the people of Salem to believe they were involved in witchcraft. [State v. Dustin, 122 N.H. 544, 551 (N.H. The new court released those awaiting trial and pardoned those awaiting execution. it was extremely helpful thank you so much! Learn Religions. In 1688, New England revolted and deposed the government of the Dominion of New England, and sent a representative back to London to report it, only to find that Parliament had deposed James II, and replaced him with William and Mary. Next: Spooky Places: 10 Destinations For Fans Of Witches. i would like to know more about the salem witch trials. Dr Griggs was a relative through my grandmother. 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. Top 10 Dark Truths About the Salem Witch Trials - TheTopTens When it came to religion, Salem Village was as devout as any other settlement in the area; one visitor observed that the residents of New England could neither drive a bargain, nor make a jest, without a text of Scripture at the end of it. Planting, cultivating, the care of houses, barns, roads, fences, were all forgotten. I have countless ancestors out of Massachusetts Bay Colony and one of my grandmothers was Martha Carrier. As the weeks passed, other young girls claimed to have been infected by witchcraft too. 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. Oh well, live n learn, Its sad when you can pick out names of your relatives in every list. To identify witches, authorities used the "touching test", in which victims of witchcraft would become calm upon touching the culprit. Finally, many of the symptoms described by witnesses stopped and began again based on external circumstances, and that simply doesnt happen with physiological illness. 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. George Burroughs, a minister, was one of the few men accused of witchcraft during the trials. 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. There were no clear-cut rules besides that: either they were after women for being single, having too many friends, no friends or being too poor. I am no more a witch than you are a wizard. Anja Grar is a writer, based in Ljubljana, Slovenia. 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. More than 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraft and 20 were killed during the hysteria. What Were The Salem Witch Trials? Explore The Facts And History 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. The governor released the last few prisoners the following May. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. The torture consisted of laying the prisoner on the ground, naked, with a board placed on top of him. All would await trial for a crime punishable by death in17th-century New England the practice of witchcraft. Due to overcrowding in the jails, the accused witches were kept in multiple jails in Salem town, Ipswich and Boston. Nobecause certainly there are some Christians who dobut theres no historical evidence that anyone was really working any kind of magic in Salem. In addition to this constant sense of fear, Salem residents were also under a great deal of stress during this period due to a number of factors. Brooks, Rebecca Beatrice. Alden was accused of witchcraft by a child during a trip to Salem while he was on his way home to Boston from Canada. The Story of the Salem Witch Trials is a history of that event. Curious to know the Publisher of this article. In mid-January 1692, Elizabeth "Betty" Parris, the 9-year-old daughter of the local Reverend Samuel Parris, and. I dont know what compromise youre referring to. Lines going back to Salem and Colonial New England in general are usually well documented. Patti Wigington is a pagan author, educator, and licensed clergy. Does anyone know who was the last one to be accused of witchcraft and died , all she did was healing and someone who she knew turned her in. Many people lived in a constant state of fear, tension, and paranoia. And particularly, as I was a chief instrument of accusing of Goodwife Nurse and her two sisters, I desire to lie in the dust, and to be humbled for it, in that I was a cause, with others, of so sad a calamity to them and their families; for which cause I desire to lie in the dust, and earnestly beg forgiveness of God, and from all those unto whom I have given just cause of sorrow and offence, whose relations were taken away or accused.. (1977). The bibliography at the bottom of this article list a number of secondary sources. From unbelievable witch swimming tests to th. Witch hunts Lienhard says, In recent years, though, the ergot theory has been questioned. As if the lonely and misunderstood didn't have a hard enough life on its own, they seemed the most suspicious to the crowds. Luckily ann putnum jr lived to apologize. At the time, Salem Village was a small New England town populated mostly by Puritans, or religious individuals with a belief in the devil. Thanks! I see that you told someone quite a while ago but I dont think that is up to date. In June of 1692, the special Court of Oyer (to hear) and Terminer (to decide) sat in Salem to hear the cases of witchcraft. Salem Witchcraft and Cotton Mather. One theory which could explain the apparent madness of the trial and judicial hangings may be found in the bread the settlers were eating. It has so many details that I need. 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. I just found this out. The Salem Witch Trials - History Do you have a version number for this site? Although I just found it, it has helped me with what I needed on my Salem Witch Trials report for History. You have been so helpful! Wigington, Patti. One person was pressed to death, and over 150 others were jailed, where still others died. Its pretty hard to show any sort of concrete, tangible evidence that someone is in league with the Devil or fiddling around with spirits. 42 Wicked Facts About the Salem Witch Trials - factinate.com They were during the Colonial times. The devil had won. Church was all powerful in those days. The Salem witch trials started with two girls having unexplainable fits. 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!