History of Salem Witch Trials

“We cannot look to superstition in this. The Devil is precise; the marks of his presence are definite as stone.”

Reverend John Hale in The Crucible

  "Examination of a Witch" by Thompkins H. Matteson, 1853.

MAP OF SALEM VILLAGE IN 1692 ( W. P. UPHAM)

Cast of Characters

Reverend Samuel Parris’ 9 year old daughter, Elizabeth Parris, his 11 year niece, Abigail Williams and 12 year old Ann Putnam, Jr acted strangely.

John Proctor, a 60 year old man, claimed his innocence and was not involved with Abigail Williams.

Dr. Griggs could not find anything wrong with the girls.

Dr. Griggs stated that the girls were “under the evil hand.”

Key Facts

Location: Salem, MassachusettsDate: Winter of 1691-1692400 were accused of destroying the

Church of Christ in New England150 people were placed in jail19 People were hanged.The hysteria ended in May of 1693.

The Salem Witch House (1642), home of Jonathan Corwin

Cast of Characters: Tituba

Tituba was the West Indian slave who worked for Samuel Parris.

Tituba entertained the girls with her stories as witch.

Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne were viewed in low esteem in the community.

Tituba accused them of being witches.

Artist A. Fredericks, 1878

Sarah Good

Her daughter, Dorcas was accused of witchcraft and her baby son died in prison.

She was hanged on July 19, 1692. Her husband, William Good was asked if

he thought his wife could be a witch. He said yes.

He stated “and indeed, I may say with tears, that she is an enemy to all good.”

The Trial of Rebecca Nurse

Rebecca Nurse, 71 year old, was a respected member of the community.

The community signed petitions in her defense but was hanged on July 19, 1692.

The Hanging of the witches

19 people were hanged in the Gallows Hill in 1692

Women like Bridget Bishop, Rebecca Nurse were hanged.

Witch Hill," or "The Salem Martyr"

(Death Warrant for Sarah Good, Rebecca Nurse, Susannah Martin, Elizabeth Howe, and Sarah Wilds)

To Goerge: Corwine Gent'n High Sheriff of the county of Essex

Whereas Sarah Good Wife of William Good of Salem Village Rebecka Nurse wife of Francis Nurse of Salem Village Susanna Martin of Amesbury Widow Elizabeth How wife of James How of Ipswich Sarah Wild wife of John Wild of Topsfield all of the County of Essex in thier Maj'ts Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England Att A Court of Oyer & Terminer held by Adjournment for Our Severaign Lord & Lady Kind Wiliam & Queen Mary for the said County of Essex at Salem in the s'd County onf the 29th day of June [torn] were Severaly arrigned on Several Indictments for the horrible Crime of Witchcraft by them practised & Committed On Severall persons and pleading not guilty did for thier Tryall put themselves on God & Thier Countrey whereupon they were Each of them found & brought in Guilty by the Jury that passed On them according to their respective Indictments and Sentence of death did then pass upon them as the Law directs Execution whereof yet remains to be done: Those are

Therefore in thier Maj'ties name William & Mary now King & Queen over England &ca: to will & Command you that upon Tuesday next being the 19th day for [torn] Instant July between the houres of Eight & [torn] in [torn] forenoon the same day you Safely conduct the s'd Sarah Good Rebecka Nurse Susann Martin Elizabeth Howe & Sarah Wild From thier Maj'ties goal in Salem afores'd to the place of Execution & there Cause them & Every of them to be hanged by the Neck untill they be dead and of the doings herein make return to the Clerke of the said Court & this precept and hereof you are not to fail at your perill and this Shall be your sufficient Warrant given under my hand & seale at Boston th 12't day of July in the fourth year of Reign of our Soveraigne Lord & Layd Wm & Mary King and Queen &ca: *Wm Stoughton Annoq Dom. 1692 (Reverse) Salem July 19th 1692 I caused the within mentioned persons to be Executed according to the Tenour of the with[in] warrant *George Corwin Sherif

"Witchcraft at Salem Village."

Pioneers in the Settlement of America by William A. Crafts. Vol. I Boston: Samuel Walker & Company, 1876. Artists: F. O. C. Darley, Wm. L. Shepard, Granville Perkins, etc.

"Accused of Witchcraft."

Oil painting by Douglas Volk, 1884. Corcoran Gallery Washington, D.C.Source: Life Magazine, November, 1942.

"Arresting a Witch."

Artist Howard Pyle.Source: Harpers

New Monthly Magazine, Vol. 67, (June - November),

1883: 221.

What happened to the cast of characters? Tituba was jailed for 13 since Rev. Parrish

refused to pay her jail fees since she stated he beat her to confess to witchcraft. Someone else paid her fees and left the Salem and lived in Virginia.

Sarah Osborne died two months later in prison after being accused of witchcraft.

Sarah Good was hanged on July 19, 1692. Rev. Parrish was removed from his church

in 1697 and died in 1720.

Ann Putman, Jr

Many believed she was the ring leaders of the girls.

During church services, she apologized to the congregation.

She died poor and the age of 36.

Sources:

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/SA_NURST.JPG

http://www2.iath.virginia.edu/salem/generic.html