Salem Witch TrialsSalem Witch Trials

Salem, MassachusettsSalem, Massachusetts

16921692

Salem—the Village HistorySalem—the Village History

1620: The Mayflower lands at 1620: The Mayflower lands at Plymouth Rock.Plymouth Rock.

1641: English law makes witchcraft a 1641: English law makes witchcraft a capital crime. capital crime.

November, 1689: Samuel Parris is November, 1689: Samuel Parris is named the new minister of Salem, named the new minister of Salem, and Salem Village Church is formed. and Salem Village Church is formed.

The Year-1692The Year-1692

JanuaryJanuaryParris’ daughter, Betty, and niece, Parris’ daughter, Betty, and niece,

Abigail Williams begin acting strangely Abigail Williams begin acting strangely and babbling incoherently. The village and babbling incoherently. The village physician can find no physical problems physician can find no physical problems with the girls.with the girls.The Physician therefore cites the culprit as a The Physician therefore cites the culprit as a

spiritual matter.spiritual matter.

The Devil’s WorkThe Devil’s Work

Parris soon learns that Tituba, his slave, has Parris soon learns that Tituba, his slave, has been exposing the girls to stories/religious been exposing the girls to stories/religious traditions from her homeland in Barbados. traditions from her homeland in Barbados.

Other girls begin acting strangely, fainting, Other girls begin acting strangely, fainting, screaming out in church, etc. screaming out in church, etc.

Soon, the girls claim to see the ‘specters’ of Soon, the girls claim to see the ‘specters’ of townspeople haunting them, in some cases townspeople haunting them, in some cases even torturing them. The first accusations even torturing them. The first accusations were directed towards Sarah Good and were directed towards Sarah Good and Sarah Osburne, both older women who Sarah Osburne, both older women who seldom attended church.seldom attended church.

The InvestigationsThe Investigations Magistrates John Hathorne Magistrates John Hathorne

and Jonathan Corwin:and Jonathan Corwin: physically examine Tituba, physically examine Tituba,

Sarah Good, and Sarah Sarah Good, and Sarah Osborne for "witch’s teats." Osborne for "witch’s teats."

““Witches teats” are Witches teats” are imperfections on the bodies of imperfections on the bodies of afflicted or possessed afflicted or possessed persons. persons.

George Beard’s description of George Beard’s description of medical instruments used medical instruments used include:include:

““examination with pins, all examination with pins, all over the body, in order to over the body, in order to detect the shriveled, callous detect the shriveled, callous and non-sensitive places, and non-sensitive places, which were supposed to be which were supposed to be diagnostic signs of diagnostic signs of bewitchment.bewitchment.[1]” ”

Indictments: Indictments: Rebecca Nurse and Martha Rebecca Nurse and Martha

CoreyCorey March 21, 1692: March 21, 1692:

Magistrates Hathorne Magistrates Hathorne and Corwin examine and Corwin examine Martha Corey. She is Martha Corey. She is sent to prison. sent to prison.

They accuse 71-year-They accuse 71-year-old Rebecca Nurse of old Rebecca Nurse of bewitching them. bewitching them. Rebecca Nurse is the Rebecca Nurse is the area nurse; she area nurse; she attended Parris’ attended Parris’ daughter bedside daughter bedside early in 1692.early in 1692.

A 4 year-old witchA 4 year-old witch

The daughter of Sarah Good is The daughter of Sarah Good is imprisoned for witchcraft after admitting imprisoned for witchcraft after admitting guilt. guilt. Many of those accused of witchery awaited Many of those accused of witchery awaited

their fates inside small prison cells, their fates inside small prison cells, approximately 6 by 4 feet.approximately 6 by 4 feet.

She is one of the four people who died in She is one of the four people who died in such prisons.such prisons.

ExecutionsExecutions

SoonSoon, t, twenty-three suspected Salem wenty-three suspected Salem witches are in jail.witches are in jail.These include John and Elizabeth These include John and Elizabeth

Proctor, Bridget Bishop, and Giles Corey.Proctor, Bridget Bishop, and Giles Corey.Bridget Bishop is the first to be hanged Bridget Bishop is the first to be hanged

on Gallows Hill.on Gallows Hill.

On Trial for LifeOn Trial for Life

July 23, 1692. Several convicted July 23, 1692. Several convicted “witches” write petitions to the “witches” write petitions to the magistrates for release. magistrates for release. John Proctor writes of about the John Proctor writes of about the

atrocities that led to their confessions. atrocities that led to their confessions. An excerpt reads, An excerpt reads, ““my son, William Proctor, when he was my son, William Proctor, when he was

examined, because he would not confess that examined, because he would not confess that he was guilty, when he was innocent, they he was guilty, when he was innocent, they tied him neck and heels till the blood gushed tied him neck and heels till the blood gushed out of his nose, and would have kept him so out of his nose, and would have kept him so 24 hours24 hours.”.”

John Proctor at his confessionJohn Proctor at his confession

““Because it is my Because it is my name! Because I name! Because I cannot have cannot have another in my life! another in my life! (…) How may I live (…) How may I live without my name? without my name? I have given you I have given you my soul; leave me my soul; leave me my name!” my name!”

~John Proctor in ~John Proctor in Miller’s Miller’s CrucibleCrucible

Puritan’s often believed in a “good name,” as an endeavor of a good Christian life.

Testimony of ConfessionsTestimony of Confessions

Some of those admitted that they Some of those admitted that they were in league with the devil; that were in league with the devil; that they had signed the devil’s book.they had signed the devil’s book.

““These confessions, were mostly These confessions, were mostly insincere, and were wrung and insincere, and were wrung and pressed out of the victims in order pressed out of the victims in order that they might save their lives.” that they might save their lives.” ~George Beard~George Beard

The sentences are carried The sentences are carried out.out.

August 19: George Burroughs, John August 19: George Burroughs, John Proctor, John Willard, George Jacobs, Proctor, John Willard, George Jacobs, and Martha Carrier are hanged. and Martha Carrier are hanged. Elizabeth Proctor is spared because Elizabeth Proctor is spared because she is pregnant.she is pregnant.

September 9: Six more tried and September 9: Six more tried and sentenced to death, including Martha sentenced to death, including Martha Corey.Corey.

September 17: Nine more are tried September 17: Nine more are tried and sentenced to death. Giles Corey and sentenced to death. Giles Corey refuses to stand trial.refuses to stand trial.

September 19: Corey is pressed to September 19: Corey is pressed to death. This tortuous and inhuman death. This tortuous and inhuman punishment involves a stone to be punishment involves a stone to be placed on the chest of a man. As a placed on the chest of a man. As a result, the stone crushes a man’s result, the stone crushes a man’s heart and cavity.heart and cavity.

Giles Corey’s deathGiles Corey’s death Giles Corey refused to give Giles Corey refused to give

testimony at the 1692 testimony at the 1692 Witch Trials. Witch Trials.

He would neither confess He would neither confess nor deny the charges nor deny the charges brought upon him. brought upon him.

So, in order to obtain a So, in order to obtain a statement, he was taken statement, he was taken outside, a board placed outside, a board placed across his body, and heavy across his body, and heavy stones piled on top. stones piled on top. It is said that his It is said that his only words before he was only words before he was crushed to death were: crushed to death were: "More weight!" "More weight!"

The trials end…in 1693The trials end…in 1693

January 1693: 49 of the 52 surviving January 1693: 49 of the 52 surviving people brought into court on witchcraft people brought into court on witchcraft charges are released because their arrests charges are released because their arrests were based on spectral evidence.were based on spectral evidence.

April 25: The court sits in Boston. None April 25: The court sits in Boston. None found guilty.found guilty.

May: Sir William Phipps orders the release May: Sir William Phipps orders the release of all accused witches remaining in jail, on of all accused witches remaining in jail, on payment of their fees. payment of their fees.

A total of 19 townspeople are A total of 19 townspeople are hanged; 156 imprisoned.hanged; 156 imprisoned.

ConclusionConclusion

1697: Samuel Parris is ousted from 1697: Samuel Parris is ousted from Salem Village Church and leaves the Salem Village Church and leaves the village.village.

Proctor’s petition before death:Proctor’s petition before death: The innocency of our case with the enmity of our accusers and The innocency of our case with the enmity of our accusers and

our judges and jury, whom nothing but our innocent blood will our judges and jury, whom nothing but our innocent blood will serve their turn, having condemned us already before our serve their turn, having condemned us already before our

trials…makes us bold to beg and implore favourable assistance trials…makes us bold to beg and implore favourable assistance of this our humble petition to his Excellency, that if it be of this our humble petition to his Excellency, that if it be

possible our innocent blood may be spared.”possible our innocent blood may be spared.”

~The Salem Witch Trial: Reader ~The Salem Witch Trial: Reader