At the end of the 17th century, after years of mostly resisting witch hunts and witch trial prosecutions, Puritans in New England suddenly found themselves facing a conspiracy of witches in a war against Satan and his minions. 1 Most of the accused were women but men were accusedand executedtoo. There is little doubt that some individuals did worship the devil and attempt to practice sorcery with harmful intent. Episode 44 Danvers State Mental Hospital & Salem Witch Trials: Carol checks herself in with the lunatics at the legendary Danvers asylum while Holly confesses to witchcraft on the stand in Salem, Massachusetts. Although it provided no answers, its baking outraged Parris, who saw it as a blasphemous act. The Salem Witch Trials that took place in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 was most defiantly a time when one could attribute "moral panic" to the deaths of 20 people who were hung for being what society deemed as witches. Bridget Bishop, a woman considered to have questionable morals, was the first to be tried and executed during the Salem witch trials. Dont feel too embarrassed if you happen to be from Massachusetts, you guys were not the first to do something like this. Around the end of WWII, he surprisingly converted, Its said that the customer is always right. It is not known why Abigail was living with the Parris family but many historians assume her parents . After her second husband died, Bishopwho had been married three timeswas accused of bewitching him to death, though she was later acquitted due to a lack of evidence. In these records you can find the year the accused stood trial, first and last name, town or village where the trial took place, and the outcome of the trial. The girls were having a type of epileptic fit and would scream out . One of the most notorious periods of American history, the Salem witch trials of 1692 resulted in the execution by hanging of fourteen women and five men who were accused of being witches during a period of mass hysteria. Children were also accused of witchcraft. Nineteen were hanged, and one-elderly Giles Corey-pressed to death. Salem Witch Hunt begins - HISTORY Millers famous play about the Salem witch trials is called The Cruciblebut what is a crucible anyway? It was believed that they employed demons to accomplish magical deeds, that they changed from human to animal form or from one human form to another, that animals acted as their familiar spirits, and that they rode through the air at night to secret meetings and orgies. So if witchcraft wasnt really happening in Salem, what actually caused those girls to have the fits? They screamed, made odd sounds, threw things, contorted their bodies, and complained of biting and pinching sensations. Many read Miller's play as a criticism of McCarthyism, the Red Scare, and intolerance. Our credibility is the turbo-charged engine of our success. Did you know this unbelievable witch trial fact: dogs were also major targets of the trials? Unlike the stereotype surrounding witchcraft that indicates that it is primarily done by women, the people of Salem did not discriminate on the basis of gender. In the midst of all this religious and political controversy, there was also a major racial incident. Thomas Maule, a Quaker who found himself at odds with the Puritan community at times, was beaten and imprisoned for speaking out against the trials, despite the fact that he himself believed in witches. Spooky stories abound at the Witch House in Salem, Massachusetts. 9 Things You Might Not Know About the Salem Witch Trials, The world's largest online family history resource - Start now, New England, Salem Witches and Others Tried for Witchcraft, 1647-1697, 6 Unusual Last Names You Wont Believe Exist, The Experience of an Ancestral Home Visit, Discovering African American Heroes in My Family Tree. The Start of the Salem Witch Trials. At Factinate, were dedicated to getting things right. However, after the dogs death, the local Minister reasoned that if the devil had possessed the dog, it would not have been so easily killed with a bullet. They began in 1692, a full 73 years before the start of the American Revolution and some 40 years before George Washington was even born. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. William Stoughton, who presided over the Salem witch trials, studied theology at Harvard College and Oxford, but never became a minister and chose to enter politics instead. From 1671 to 1687, he served on the Counsel of Assistants, a judicial and rule-making body for the colony. If a dog was fed a cake made with rye and the urine of an afflicted person, and it displayed the same symptoms as the victim, it indicated the presence of witchcraft. Regardless of the cause -- whether it was ergot poisoning, a teen prank, a vendetta against past wrongs, a grab for land or mass hysteria -- the Salem witch trials stand as a . One of the turning points in ending public support and enthusiasm for the trials was the conviction and execution of one of the towns former minsters, George Burroughs, who publicly recited the Lords Prayer at the gallows, which was believed to be impossible for witches to do. Were always looking for your input! Besides their descendants, the accused witches of Salem leave another legacy: a rich and fascinating history for us to explore today. The story goes that Corey and her husband, Giles, sat in on the trials early on, causing Martha to express scepticism about the legitimacy of the proceedings. The haphazard fashion in which the Salem witch trials were conducted contributed to changes in U.S. court procedures, including rights to legal representation and cross-examination of accusers as well as the presumption that one is innocent until proven guilty. Dorothy Good, the 4-year-old daughter of the previously accused Sarah Good, was the youngest to be accused of witchcraft. Pressured by Parris to identify their tormentor, Betty and Abigail claimed to have been bewitched by Tituba and two other marginalized members of the community, neither of whom attended church regularly: Sarah Good, an irascible beggar, and Sarah Osborn (also spelled Osborne), an elderly bed-ridden woman who was scorned for her romantic involvement with an indentured servant. The death warrant, signed on June 8, 1692, ordered for her death to take place by hanging on Friday, June 10, 1692, between 8 a.m. and noon. The punishment for witchcraft was death. Most importantly, Stoughton allowed spectral evidence during the trials, so that an accuser could claim that an accused witch had appeared to them in a vision or hurt them within a dream. The first accusations during the Salem Witch Trials were against people who were for various reasons marginalized by society. Apparently they felt that giving gifts took away from ones ability to focus on serious religious thought, and they did not like the pagan origins of some aspects of the holiday. Twenty people were put to death in Salem for the crime of witchcraft. In addition to the twenty people convicted and executed for witchcraft, two dogs were also accused of and executed for the same crime. As the trials continued, accusations extended beyond Salem Village to surrounding communities. 4. Accessed May 6, 2021. https://salemwitchtrials.com/accusedstats.html. The governor pardoned the rest of the accused witches and they were released from jail. People thought that witches used demons to do magic. She crafted a tale detailing how the devil had come to her and asked her to do his bidding. The Multitude of Salem Witch Trials Descendants. New England Historical Society. Here are 42 wicked facts about the Salem witch trials. After Governor Phipss wife was accused, he again interceded and ordered that a new court be established that would not allow so-called spectral evidence. Not even ministers could escape. They are fascinating as well as scary. The episode is heavily ingrained in American history and perpetuated through pop culture, but the souls lost and persecuted during that time aren't just present in our literature, media, and popular culture. However, witch trials are not a thing of the past. Its name comes from the Anglo-French phrase oyer et terminer, which literally translates to hear and determine.. Thomas Maule, a Quaker who found himself at odds with the Puritan community at times, was beaten and imprisoned for speaking out against the trials, despite the fact that he himself believed in witches. SALEM WITCH TRIALS CHRONOLOGY. Here are three notable facts about the Salem witch trials: About 42-50 people died being accused of witchcraft over the course of 300 years. Seventeenth century Salem also gave birth to stories of courageous stands for reason, hopeful births, and acts of clemency and mercy. Now that Tituba had confirmed that satanic work was afootand that there were other witches aroundthere was no stopping until they were all found. Even during the trials, there were many who objected to the whole procedure, even within the religious Puritan community. The Putnams, a prominent family hed borrowed money from, sued Burroughs for unpaid debts and later accused him of witchcraft. The trials came to an abrupt halt when the Governors wife was accused of witchcraft, causing him to immediately order an end to the trials. Log in or try Ancestry 14 days free to start finding the survivors, the outspoken, or the ones who did things differently in your family tree. It was a time of hysteria, when courts believed in the devil, spectral evidence and teenage girls. Although most of the accused witches were women, some men were also accused. Elizabeth Parris and Abigail Williams, the 9-year-old daughter and 11-year-old niece of Reverend Parris, started having "fits" described as: "severe convulsions and other strange symptoms.". Witches could change from human to animal form or from one human form to another. Brooks, Rebecca Beatrice. Tituba initially denied the claim that she was a witch, but notoriously later decided to confess that it was true and accused two other women as well in the process. Corrections? Life, woman, life is Gods most precious gift; no principle, however glorious, may justify the taking of it.Arthur Miller, in The Crucible. Because of Philip Englishs wealth, he was allowed his freedom during the day and could rent rooms in the home of his jailer for himself, his wife, and daughter. Arthur Millers play The Crucible played a large role in popularizing many of the details of the Salem witch trials and dramatizing facts that he uncovered in historical records. An important minister in Boston named Increase Mather was one of these objectors, stating that It were better that ten suspected witches should escape than that one innocent person should be condemned.. For those who are unaware, Salem is located in Massachusetts, which, as you might remember from history class, was New Englands first established colony dating back to the arrival of the Pilgrims of the Mayflower at Plymouth in 1620. But by October 1692, his wife Mary found herself the target of sorcery accusations. This evidence was later banned bythe courts, leading to a sharp drop in accusations. Salem witch trials, (June 1692May 1693), in American history, 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 (now Danvers, Massachusetts). They had seizures, hid under chairs, talked in gibberish, and ran fevers. Learn about U.S. history, ancient Egypt, the deadliest wars, historical photos, and so much more. Perhaps some training in the law would have constrained Stoughtons more extreme actions. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. More than 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraftthe devil's magic and 20 were executed.. The Salem witch trials have gripped American imaginations ever since they occurred in 1692. Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter. One of the people who perished in prison was only an infant. These 10 lesser-known facts about the . Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. In May of 1693, Phips released from prison all remaining accused or convicted witches. Ergot causes hallucinations, convulsive fits, and sometimes death, and LSD derives from the substance. Probably stimulated by voodoo tales told to them by Tituba, Parriss daughter Betty (age 9), his niece Abigail Williams (age 11), and their friend Ann Putnam, Jr. (about age 12), began indulging in fortune-telling. Three presidents William Howard Taft, Chester Arthur, and Gerald Ford have been said to descend from one of Salems executed witches or their siblings. Learn about the Salem witch trials and their legacy. Interestingly, dogs role did not end here. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. Upon Governor William Phipss return from England, he realized the need for a new court for the witch trials. The Salem Witch Trials, 1692 17th Century Pocahontas Saves John Smith, 1608 Aboard the Mayflower, 1620 The First Thanksgiving, 1621 The Price of Adultery in Puritan Massachusetts, 1641 Living Among the Mohawks, 1644 The Execution of Charles I, 1649 The Great Fire of London, 1666 Inside the Court of Louis XIV, 1671 New York City, 1679 The salem witch trials hysteria of 1692 was caused by the Puritans strict religious standards and intolerance of anything not accepted with their scripture. Family History Proves Bewitching to Descendants of Salem Witches : Colonial America: Three Presidents, Clara Barton, Walt Disney, Joan Kennedy and One Unborn Child Are among Those Whose Ancestors Were Accused of Consorting with the Devil 300 Years Ago. Los Angeles Times. It seems that a shocking number of accusations were made by members of the Putnam family. What gave witches away were body marks, such as scars and moles. For example, the infamous Putnam family had been one of the earliest settler dynasties to come to the Massachusetts Bay colony and establish themselves there. They were also used for identifying witches in Salem, using the Witch Cake test. Animals were the "familiar spirits" of witches. Giles had actually been accused and found guilty of murdering one of his farm hands years earlier, but was let off with just a fine! For those who are unaware, Salem is located in Massachusetts, which, as you might remember from history class, was New Englands first established colony dating back to the arrival of the Pilgrims of the Mayflower at Plymouth in 1620. 10 Astonishing And Tragic Facts Of 17th-Century Salem. They soon spread to individuals regardless of their gender, class, or power in the community.