Salem Witch Trials
The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693.
A special thank you to my cousin's Nancy Ross, Wendy Reynolds & Dorothy Ware Brown
Its always good when you have an ancestor – or at least family – involved in one of history’s Great Events. Not that you wish them harm, but it increases the likelihood of there being records regarding their life – or at the minimum proves that they were there. Its one of the reasons military-minded ancestors are such a treasure: not only do you get a shot at some personal info (height, weight, hair/eye color, etc) but also – if you’re lucky – you get a sense of the kind of person they were.
During my investigations into my families, and there is a frisson when you get back as far as the 1600s and can count the ‘Founding Fathers’ of certain townships in your ancestry. But leading back to New Hampshire in the late 17th century there is also another event that looms at the back of your mind: the Salem witch trials.
John Averell was married by Rev. Mr. Capen, June 8, 1710, at Topsfield, to Anne Greensleet, “both of Topsfield”. Her Christian name appears in records as Ann, Anne, Anna, and Hannah ; her surname – if she was of the Salem stock of Greensleets, appears in records as Greensled, Greenshed and Greenleaf. She may have been a granddaughter of Thomas Greensleet of Salem by one of his several sons whose names appear to the Right. The Averells and Greensleets had a common interest in the Salem witchcraft accusations and executions, as Ann Greensleet, wife and widow of the above Thomas Greensleet (and later the wife and widow of Jacob Pudeator (Pointdexter) of Salem), was accused of witchcraft, and, as Ann Pudeator, was executed at Salem in 1692, as was also John Averell’s aunt, Sarah (Averell) Wildes.
Sarah Averill Wilds
.
In general the procedure used inwitchcraft cases involved the afflicted person complaining to the Magistrate about a suspect sometimes doing so through another person. A warrant was then issued for the arrest of the accused who were brought before two or more Magistrates who examined the evidence and sent the accused to jail where they were re-examined. The case was then presented to the Grand Jury at which time depositions were introduced as evidence by the accusers. If the accused was indicted by the Grand Jury they were tried before a jury sitting with the Court of Oyer and Terminer, a special court commissioned on 25 May 1692 to try the witchcraft cases. This court was set up by Sir William Pitts the newly appointed governor of Massachusetts.
On the day of her arrest Sarah was examined by Justices Hathorne and Corwin at the Salem meetinghouse. When she entered the room the "afflicted" girls and women fell into their usual hysterical fits, stating that she was not at the bar but, "on the beam" which ran across the room. Abigail Hobbs, daughter of William Hobbs of Topsfield, a juvenile delinquent who had been arrested and examined and had "confessed" several days before, said that Sarah had brought her the Devil's book to sign. Sarah replied "I am not quilty (guilty), sir... I never saw the book in my life and I never saw these persons before".
The Salem Witch Trials were a terrifying time in American history. Twenty people were killed; nineteen hanged and one man pressed. These deaths were the result of accusations made by some young female villagers. The allegation? Witchcraft. Sarah Averill Wilds was one of the accused.
Warrant for the Arrest of Sarah Averill Wilds
Following document "was issued" April 21.1692
George Herrick arrested Sarah on the morning of 22 Apr. and her son Ephraim, who was constable of Topsfield, arrested William and Deliverance Hobbs, Mary Easty and Nehemiah Abbot
THE ACCUSER OF THE BRETHREN
In January 1692, 9-year-old Elizabeth (Betty) Parris and 11-year-old Abigail Williams (the daughter and niece of Samuel Parris, minister of Salem Village) began having fits, including violent contortions and uncontrollable outbursts of screaming. After a local doctor, William Griggs, diagnosed bewitchment, other young girls in the community began to exhibit similar symptoms, including Ann Putnam Jr., Mercy Lewis, Elizabeth Hubbard, Mary Walcott and Mary Warren. In late February, arrest warrants were issued for the Parris’ Caribbean slave, Tituba, along with two other women–the homeless beggar Sarah Good and the poor, elderly Sarah Osborn–whom the girls accused of bewitching them.
SALEM WITCH TRIALS: THE HYSTERIA SPREADS
The three accused witches were brought before the magistrates Jonathan Corwin and John Hathorne and questioned, even as their accusers appeared in the courtroom in a grand display of spasms, contortions, screaming and writhing. Though Good and Osborn denied their guilt, Tituba confessed. Likely seeking to save herself from certain conviction by acting as an informer, she claimed there were other witches acting alongside her in service of the devil against the Puritans. As hysteria spread through the community and beyond into the rest of Massachusetts, a number of others were accused, including Martha Corey and Rebecca Nurse–both regarded as upstanding members of church and community–and the four-year-old daughter of Sarah Good.
Like Tituba, several accused “witches” confessed and named still others, and the trials soon began to overwhelm the local justice system. In May 1692, the newly appointed governor of Massachusetts, William Phips, ordered the establishment of a special Court of Oyer (to hear) and Terminer (to decide) on witchcraft cases for Suffolk, Essex and Middlesex counties. Presided over by judges including Hathorne, Samuel Sewall and William Stoughton, the court handed down its first conviction, against Bridget Bishop, on June 2; she was hanged eight days later on what would become known as Gallows Hill in Salem Town. Five more people were hanged that July; five in August and eight more in September. In addition, seven other accused witches died in jail, while the elderly Giles Corey (Martha’s husband) was pressed to death by stones after he refused to enter a plea at his arraignment
SALEM WITCH TRIALS: CONCLUSION AND LEGACY
Though the respected minister Cotton Mather had warned of the dubious value of spectral evidence (or testimony about dreams and visions), his concerns went largely unheeded during the Salem witch trials. Increase Mather, president of Harvard College (and Cotton’s father) later joined his son in urging that the standards of evidence for witchcraft must be equal to those for any other crime, concluding that “It would better that ten suspected witches may escape than one innocent person be condemned.” Amid waning public support for the trials, Governor Phips dissolved the Court of Oyer and Terminer in October and mandated that its successor disregard spectral evidence. Trials continued with dwindling intensity until early 1693, and by that May Phips had pardoned and released all those in prison on witchcraft charges.
In January 1697, the Massachusetts General Court declared a day of fasting for the tragedy of the Salem witch trials; the court later deemed the trials unlawful, and the leading justice Samuel Sewall publicly apologized for his role in the process. The damage to the community lingered, however, even after Massachusetts Colony passed legislation restoring the good names of the condemned and providing financial restitution to their heirs in 1711. Indeed, the vivid and painful legacy of the Salem witch trials endured well into the 20th century, when Arthur Miller dramatized the events of 1692 in his play “The Crucible” (1953), using them as an allegory for the anti-Communist “witch hunts” led by Senator Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s.
On 13 May, 1692, 65 year-old Sarah was sent to the Boston Jail in fetters and handcuffs to await further trial. During her imprisonment her husband and their son travelled back and forth to see that Sarah was fed and clothed and to give her such comfort as they could. There were a number of people during her trial or in depositions that provided testimony against her including Humphrey Clark, Thomas Dorman, John Andrew John Gould, Zacheus Perkins, Elizabeth Symonds, Nathaniel Ingersoll, and the Reverend John Hale.
Sarah Averill Wildes was condemned for the practice of witchcraft. She was executed by hanging on 19 July, 1692.
The witch trials themselves are often held up as an example of mass hysteria and the dangers of isolationism and religious zealotry. In total 19 people were hanged for witchcraft, one man was pressed to death and four people died in prison. One of the accused, Dorothy Good, was just 4 years old when she was interrogated by a magistrate and imprisoned for 9 months. She was never indicted or tried, but suffered from insanity as a result.
Four years old.
The cause of witch trials in general is difficult to pinpoint, but Salem wasn’t unique – and neither was America: European witch hunts peaked between 1580 and 1630 but continued until the late 18th century. In 1675, the Torsåker witch trials took place in Sweden, where seventy-one people were executed for witchcraft in a single day. The Salzburg witch trials in Austria led to the death of 139 people between 1675 and 1690. The last execution for witchcraft in England took place in 1716, when Mary Hicks and her daughter Elizabeth were hanged. Janet Horne was executed for witchcraft in Scotland in 1727. Helena Curtens and Agnes Olmanns were the last women to be executed as witches in Germany, in 1738. In Austria, the last capital trial took place in Salzburg in 1750.
New England saw the start of the witch trials in at least 1647, with 12 people being executed in the colony before 1692.
WILDES
1. JOHN
b.c.1618
m.1. 1645 Priscilla Gould (b.c.1625, d. 16 Apr. 1663 Topsfield, MA)
2. 23 Nov. 1663 SARAH (5) AVERILL (b.c.1635, executed 19 July 1692 Salem, MA)
3. 26 June 1693 Mary ______ (m.1. George Jacobs, hanged for witchcraft 19 Aug. 1692)
d. 14 May 1705 Topsfield, MA
John and his brother William emmigrated from England on the Elizabeth and settled in Rowley, MA before moving to Ipswich. John gave his age as seventeen when he registered with the authorities of the port of London for the voyage to New England on 11 Apr. 1635. Also on the Elizabeth was William Whitredd, his wife, son, and three other young men. Whitredd was a carpenter as were the Wildes brothers. Perhaps John was Whitredd's apprentice.(1) In 1646 William Whitred sued Michael Cartrick and the verdict was that the plaintiff should pay John Wild 30/, the defendant 30/, and that John Wild was to pay the other 20/ to himself.(2)
About 1645 he moved to Topsfield probably due to the influence of his wealthy father-in-law Zaccheus Gould. His house stood on Perkins Row at the fork in the road coming from Mile Brook Bridge at a pear orchard. The house was demolished in 1835. In 1660 he bought a 100 acre lot adjoining his land from Richard and Jane Swaine of Hampton. Jane's first husband had been John Bunker of Topsfield.(3)
In 1698/9 John testified that he had sold a parcel of land to Francis Bates fifty years before (1649). He granted 20 acres of land to Robert Andrews in 1654. In 1663 John sold to William Acie of Rowley 32 acres at Bushy Hill and 8 acres of meadow, formerly Thomas Dorman's, at Snookes Hole in Topsfield for £35. John French purchased 30 acres from him in 1672, Thomas Perkins 20 acres "in the first division of lots" in 1674, and William Perkins Sr., 4 acres in 1685/6.(4) given the above and the lack of many deeds to John, he must have had grants from the town, but, the earliest book of town records was destroyed by fire in 1658. However, on 7 Mar. 1664 the town ordered that 500 acres of common land "on the other side of the river which is to remaine common to perpetuity" be divided "by John Wiles Willi Averill Thomas Baker & Edmond Towne or either three of them" into three equal proportions. (5)
In 1637, before the move to Topsfield, John was involved in the Pequot war and received 3/ for his service from the town of Ipswich. In 1639 he received 12/ per day for his service during the war. John was one of twenty soldiers from Ipswich who in Sept. 1642 were involved in an expedition to disarm Passaconway, Sachem of the Merrimac.(6)
In 1659 and 1686 John was one of a committee to settle the boundary between Salem and Topsfield, and in later years he was often employed to decide town boundaries and lay out lots. He was constable in 1661 and 1662, juryman in 1679-80 and tythingman in 1682/3. In 1669 the town owed its largest debt to John, £14/16, probably for carpentry. Given John's carpentry skills it is very possible that he was involved in the construction of the Parson Capen House which is one of the oldest surviving examples of 17th century English architecture in the United States having been built in 1683.
John was on committees to negotiate with Mr. Danforth to act as minister in 1680/1, "to discourse" with Mr. Capen in 1681, to lay out land for Mr. Capen and to seat the people in the meetinghouse in 1682. In 1689/0 "father John Wilds" was collecting the arrears in Mr. Capen's salary. John's second wife Sarah is on Mr. Capen's list of those who were already members of the church when he began his ministry. John, however, was not admitted to full communion in the church until 1697.(7) John testified against Thomas Baker for "laughing in meeting" in 1678. In 1679 parson Jeremiah Hubbard sued Judith Dorman for slander and Sarah Wildes testified for the minister.(8)
William Paine, an Ipswich merchant, sued John for a shop account in 1652 and attached his house.(9)
In 1654 the two younger children of widow Elithorp of Rowley were to be paid their portions into the hands of John Wyldes and John Picard, Thomas Elithorp's executor brought John's receipt into court. This curious transaction indicates that John was possibly related to Elithorp.(10)
John and his second wife began having problems with his first wife's brother Lt. John Gould and her sister Mary Reddington. This situation first became evident in the will of John Wild Jr. regarding his inheritance from his grandfather Zaccheus hoping that his father might not be troubled by any claims made by his uncle Gould. The problems worsened and in 1686 John Wild testified against Lt. John Gould on the charge treason. This is an interesting fact given that John Wild was one of five Topsfield men who signed a declaration that they were uterly unwilling to yield either to a resignation of the Massachusetts charter or anything that should be equivalent, the same sentiments that Lt. Gould expressed. Shortly after this episode Mary Reddington began to spread witchcraft stories about Sarah throughout the town and it is to her authority that most of the evidence against Sarah may be traced. John threatened to sue John Reddington for slander as he could not sue Mary as in that time the husband was responsible for all his wife's actions. Mary denied her previous statements but the damage had already been done. Ann Putnam asserted that "a woman who told me hir name was willds... has most grevously tortored and affected me with a variety of tortureses as by pricking and pinching me and almost choaking me to death..."(11) John was hated by the Putnam's for his decision against them in surveying the boundary between the Putnams' of Salem Village and the Townes of Topsfield. On 21 Apr. 1692 a warrant was issued concerning the charge of witchcraft:
"Warrant vs. Sarah wild and als.
Salem, April 21st 1692
There being complaint this day made by Thomas Putnam and John Buxton of Salem Village Yeoman in behalfe of theire Majes'ts for themselves and also for severall of theire neighbours against William Hobs husbandman, Deliv'e his wife, Nehemiah Abot junior weaver, Mary Eastey, the wife of Isaac Eastey, and Sarah Wilds the wife of John Wilds, all of the town of Topsfield or Ipswich, and Edward Bishop husbandman and Sarah his wife of Salem Village, and Mary Black a negro of Leut. Nath. Putnam's of Salem Village also, and Mary English the wife of Phillip English merchant in Salem, for high susption of sundry acts of witchcraft donne or committed by them lately upon the body's of Anna Putnam and Marcey Lewis belonging to the family of ye abovest Thomas Putnam complaint and Mary Walcot ye daughter of Captain Jonathan Walcot of sd Salem Village and others, whereby great hurt and dammage hath benne donne to ye bodys of said persons above named therefore craved justice. You are therefore in theire Majes'ts names hereby required to apprehend and bring before us William Hobs husbandman and his wife, Nehemiah Abot Junr Weaver, Mary Eastey the wife of Isaac Eastey, and all of the abovenamed tomorrow about ten of the clock in the forenoon at the house of Lieut. Nath. Ingersolls in Salem Village in order to theire examination relating to the premises abovesaid and hereof you are not to faile. Dated Salem, April 21st 1692.
Jonathan Corwin John Hathorne Assists
To George Herrick, Marshall of Essex, and any or all ye Constables in Salem or Topsfield or any other Towne." (15)
Warrant for Arrest of Sarah Wild- 21 Apr. 1692
George Herrick arrested Sarah on the morning of 22 Apr. and her son Ephraim, who was constable of Topsfield, arrested William and Deliverance Hobbs, Mary Easty and Nehemiah Abbot.
In general the procedure used in witchcraft cases involved the afflicted person complaining to the Magistrate about a suspect sometimes doing so through another person. A warrant was then issued for the arrest of the accused who were brought before two or more Magistrates who examined the evidence and sent the accused to jail where they were re-examined. The case was then presented to the Grand Jury at which time depositions were introduced as evidence by the accusers. If the accused was indicted by the Grand Jury they were tried before a jury sitting with the Court of Oyer and Terminer, a special court commissioned on 25 May 1692 to try the witchcraft cases. This court was set up by Sir William Pitts the newly appointed governor of Massachusetts.
On the day of her arrest Sarah was examined by Justices Hathorne and Corwin at the Salem meetinghouse. When she entered the room the "afflicted" girls and women fell into their usual hysterical fits, stating that she was not at the bar but, "on the beam" which ran across the room. Abigail Hobbs, daughter of William Hobbs of Topsfield, a juvenile delinquent who had been arrested and examined and had "confessed" several days before, said that Sarah had brought her the Devil's book to sign. Sarah replied "I am not quilty, sir... I never saw the book in my life and I never saw these persons before".
"The examination of Sarah Wilds At a Court held at Salem Village ( )1692
by the wop: John Hathorn & Jonathan Corwin.
The Sufferers were seized with sou( ) the accused came into the Court?
Hath this woman hurt you?
Oh she is upon the beam
Goody Bibber that never saw her before sayd she saw her now upon the beam, & then said Bibber fell into a fit
What say you to this are you guilty or not?
I am not guilty Sir.
Is this the woman? speaking to the afflict
Thay all, or most, sad yes, & then fell into fits
What do you say, are you guilty
I thank God I am free.
Here is clear evidence that you have been not only a Tormenter but that you have caused one to signe the book, the night before last What you say to this?
I never saw the book in my life and I never saw these persons before
Some of the afflicted fell into fits
Do you deny this thing that is such
All fell into fits, & confirmed that the accused hurt them
Did you never consent that these should be hurt?
Never in my life
She was charged by some with hurting John Herricks mother
The accused denyed it.
Capt How gave in a relation and confirmation of the charge before made. She was ordered to be taken away,& they all cryed out she was upon the Beam, & fell into fits." (16)
Examination of Sarah Wildes, p. 2
"Indictment v. Sarah Wilds
Anno Regis et Reginae Willm et Mariae nunc Angliae &c Quarto
Essex ssThe Jurors for our sovereigne Lord and Lady the King and Queen pr'sents That Sarah Willes wife of John Willes of Topsfield Husbandman the Twenty Second Day of Aprill in the forth Year of the Reigne of our Sovereigne Lord and Lady William and Mary by the Grace of God of England Scottland France and Ireland King and Queen Defenders of the faith &c and divers other Dayes and times as well before as after, certaine Destestable Arts called Witchcrafts and soceries wickedly and felloniously hath used Practised and Exercised at and within the Towneship of Salem in the County of Essex aforesaid in upon and against one Marcy Lewis of Salem Village Single Woman by which said wicked Acts the said Mercey Lewis- the Twenty Second Day of Aprill aforesaid in the forth Year aboves'd and Divers other Dayes and times as well before and after, was and is Tortured Afflicted Pined Consumed wasted & Tormented and also for Sundery other Acts of Witchcraft by said Sarah Willes, Committed and Done before and since that time ag't the Peace of our Sovereogne lord &Lady the King and Queen, and ag't the form of the Statute in the Case made and Provided.
Witnesses
Marcy Lewis
Ann Putnam
Mary Wolcott"
Summons for the arrest of Sarah Wildes- 12 May 1692 (21)
On 13 May 1692 Sarah was sent to the Boston Gaol in fetters and handcuffs to await further trial. During her imprisonment John and Ephraim traveled back and forth to see that Sarah was fed and clothed and to give her such comfort as they could as the jail authorities supplied nothing.
"John Wilds for Sarah Wilds
John Wiells testifieth that he did hear that Mary the wife of Jno Reddington did raise a report that my wife had Bewetched her and I wentto the saide Jno Reddington& told him I would arest him for his wifes defaming of my wife but the said Reddington desired me not to doe it for it would butt waste his Estate & that his wife would a don w'th it in tyme: and that he knew nothing she had as'dt mye wife- after this I got my Bro: Averell to goe to the said Sarah Reddinton & my s'd Bro'r told me that he told the said Sarah Reddinton that if she had anything ag'st my wife he would be a means & would help her to bring my wife out: and that the said Sarah Reddinton replyed that she knew no harm mye wife had done her: yet" (17)
Testimony of John Wilds and Ephraim Wilds for Sarah Wilds
She was returned to Salem and stood trial at the June 29th sitting of the Court of Oyer and Terminer. Deliverance Hobbs testified that she was present at a meeting of witches in Mr. Parris' meadow at which Mr. George Burroughs preached and Goody Nurse and Goody Wildes administered a sacrament of blood and red bread.
"Ann Putnam Jr v. Sarah Wilds
The Deposition of Ann putnam jun'r who testifieth ans saith I have been affected ever sence the beginnung of march with a woman that touldme hir name was willds and that she came from Topsfeild but on the 22 april 1692 Sarah willd did most greviously torment me dureing the time of hir Examination and that I saw that Sarah willds was that very woman that tould me hir name was willds and also on the day of hir Examination I saw Sarah willds or hir Apperince most greviously tortor and afflict mary walcott, Mircy lewes and Abigail williams and severall times sence Sarah wilds or hirs Appearance has most greviously tortored and afflected me with varieth of tortures as by pricking and pinching me and almoat choaking me to death
Ann Putnam Jun'r declared: the above written: evidence: to be truth: before the Jury of inquest: June30'th 1692: upon oath."
"Mary Walcott v. Sarah Wilds
The Deposition of mary walcott aged about 17 years who testifieth and saith that in the begining of Appril 1692 there came to me a woman which I did not know and she did most greviously torment me by pricking and pinching me and she tould me that hir name was wilds and that she lived at Topsfeil and she continewed hurting me most greviously by times tell the day of hir Examination which was the 22 day of Appril 1692: and then I saw that Sarah wildes was that very same woman that tould me hir name was wildes and sarah wilds did most greviously torment me dureing the time of hir Examination for when ever she did but look upon me she would strick me down or almost Choak me to death: also on the day of Examination I saw sarah Wilds or hir Appearance most greviously tormant and afflect mercy lewes Abigail Williams and Ann putnam Jun'r be stricking them down and almst Choaking them to death. also severall times sence Sarah willds has most greviously tormented me with variety of tortor and I verily beleve she is a most dreadful witch
Jurat in Curia
Mary Walcott declared to the Jury of inquest: that the above written evidence is the truth: upon oath: June 30'th 1692"
"Nathaniel Ingersoll v. Sarah Wilds
The Deposition of Nathaniell Ingersoll agged about 58 years and Thomas putnam aged about 40 years who testifieth and saith that wee haveing been conversant with severall of the afflected parsons as namely Mary walcott mercy lewes Abigail williams and Ann putnam jr we have often seen them afflected and hard them say that one gooddy wilds of Topsfeild did tortor them: but on the 22 April 1692 being the day of Examination of Sarah wilds of Topsfeild: the affore mentioned parsons ware most greviously tortored dureing the time of hir Examination for if she did but look on them she would strick them down or allmost choak: them and if she did clinch hir hands or hold hir head asid the afflected parsons above mentioned ware in like maner tortored: andseverall times senec wee have seen the aforementioned parsons tortored and have sen the marke in ther flesh which they said Sarah wilds did make by tortoring them and wee beleve that sarah wilds the prisoner att the barr has severall times Afflected and tormented the afore named parsons by acts of wichcraft:
Jurat in Curia"
Elizabeth Symonds in her deposition said that Goodwife Wilds in the shape of a cat had lain on her breast all of one night and that the presence of Goodwife Wilds on a lecture day had cause her so much pain that she fell down unconscious.
"Elizabeth Symonds v. Sarah Wilds
The Depotion of Elizabeth Symons aged about 50 yeares Whoe testifieth and saith that about twelve or thirteene yeares sence theire abouts being in Company With mt Mother Androus, after a Lecterin topsfeild my mother and I ware agoeing to give Goodwife Redington a Visiat and as weewnet we over tooke Goodwife Wilds and my Mother fell into discourse about a syee that my Brothers John and Joseph Androus had boreded of Goodman Wilds for one day: and my mother tould Goodwife wilds howJohnand Joseph Androus ware troubled about gitting home a Load of hay then good-Wife Wilds replied and said allthat might bee and i know nothing of it, then my mother replied and said to her whie did ye threaten them and tould them thay had better aLet it aLone then she did threaten my mother and tould her that she would make her prove it and then my mother Coaled to mee and bid mee bare Witnes Elizabeth what she saith, and then she did Looke bake apon mee and Emedatly I did fale into such atrembling condition that I was as if all my joynts did knoke togather so that I could hardly goe along, and that noght faling after I was a bed I did see something stand between the Wale and I, I did see something stand theire and I did Looke apon it a consideradabell time so Long that I afraid to Ly one that sid of the bed and asked my husban to Let mee Ly one the other side of the bed and he did, and then I did feele it come apon my feete as if it had bin a cat and Crope up to my breast and Lay apon mee and then I Could not move netherhand not foot nether Could I speake a word I did strive to cale to my husban but Icould not speake and so I Lay all night, and in the morning I Could speeake and then I tould my husban thay thalke of the old w( ) but I thinke she has ride mee all this night and then I tould ( ) husban how it had bin with mee all the night, we had a Lector once a month in Topsfeild and the next lectter dayafter the first above named, as I was sitting in my seate Goodwife Wilds Coming by the end of the seeat I sat in I was Emedatly taken with such apayn in my back that I was not abell to bare it and fell doune in the seeat and did not know wheaire I was and some pepall tooke me up and did Caried mee out of the meeting house but I did not know nothing of it tell afterwords when I Came to my selfe I did wonder how I Come theire up to mr Hubbard house and when I did Come to my selfe and a great many pepall Come about mee to aske mee what was the matter with mee Goodwife Wilds Come and stood at the End of the tabell and I Replied and said theire she is and my mother bid mee goe and serve her but I Could not sture, and so i have Continued at times Ever senc some times with paynes in one plase and som times in another plase soe as i ahve not bin abell to doe any thing in my famelery ay severall times I have bin at the Docters but they cannot give mee any thing that doe mee any good this is in short of what I Can say being heire in the heart of what I Can speeake too. I am verey Willing to Come and atest to all above wrighteen and if the Lord give mee streanke but at present I am not abell to come
Jurat in Curia
Elizabeth Symons ag't Sarah wiles to be Sumoned Abraham Reddington Sen. Joseph Bixbey Jun'r"
Lt. John Gould testified that when his sister Mary Redington was coming from Salem about fifteen years ago Goodwife Wilds, in spirit form, pulled her backward off her horse, also that hens given to her by Goodwife Wildes "went moping about till they died". He also testified that after Zacheus Perkins, for whom he was fetching loads of hay, told him to load it fast or else his Aunt Wilds would not let John carry it for she was angry with him, the loads slipped off and "I did thinke that it was done by Withcraft".
"John Gould and Zacceus Perkins v. Sarah Wilds
The Depotion of John Gould aged about 56 yeares or theire about Testifieth and saith that some time sence whether it be fivfteen or sexteene yeares agoe I amsarting butt I take it to be theire abouts sister Mary Redington tould mee as she was Coming from Salem With her Brother Redington that GoodWife Wildsdid strive two or threetimes to pl her doune of her horse one time she did strive to pul her doune in a brooke but she did set her selfe with all her strenke she Could and did git out of the brook and soone after she was got out of the brooke she said that GoodWife Wilds did pul her doune bakwords of her horse and held her doune so she Could not helpe her selfe tell her Brother Redington and Sarg't Edmon Townes did Come and helper, and my sister did desier mee to Come and Wright what she Could say how GoodWife Wilds did a flocte her for she would Leafe it in Wrighting so as it might be seene when she was dead and I did goe doune to wright it once or twice but when I was redy to wright it sister was taken so as she Could not declare any thing, also sister Mary tould mee that When Johanthan Wilds was ele at her house in astraing maner so as he Could goe out at the Chimey tops into the barne hed git her henes and put them in his briches and kiled them, sister Mary did aske GoodWife Wilds to take som of the dead henes and Let her have som Liveing henes and she did but sister said they went moping about tell they died and so shall I said sister Redingtonand the Last worrds I herd sister Redington say was that it was GoodWife Wilds that brought her into that Condition she did stand to it tell her death forder I doe tetifie that as I was afeching two or three Load of hay Zacheus perkins, the s'd perkins tould mee that I must Lay the hay fast or eles his ant Wilds would not Let mee Cary it for she was angrey with him and as I went with one Load it did slipe doune in plaine way and I Lay it up againe and then I Came almost at home with it it fell doune againe and I Went and feched him another Load and when I Came wheare the first Load sliped the seckond did slipe doune then I got some of our frinds to helpe me Up with itand wee bound it with two Cart ropes but it did slipe Up and doune so as I did never see hay doe soe in my Life and when I Came wheare I Left the first Load the hay went all of the Cart upon the ground and did bring the Cart over and it was rising ground I did thinke that it was don by WichCraft.
Jurat in Curia
Zacheus Perkins made Oath to the latter part of this Evidence relating to the Hay"
Thomas Dorman said that after Goodwife Wilds asked him " How do your geese thrive?" they pined away so that they were good for little.
"Thomas Dorman v. Sarah Wilds
The deposition of Thomas Dorman aged 53 yers saith goody wils was arnest with me to be one hive of beese and sins goodwife wils had thes beese I last many Creturs and she Came to my hou one day and said She how doth your geese thrive and she went tothe pen whare they were fatting, and thay were very fat and we we cept them a grat while longer feding them with Corne and thay pind away so as thay were good for litle and I lost six brave Cattle Six yere agoe which was frozen to death inthe midell of Jenewary: now sum time this summer my wif went to Salem vilidg and my wife tould me that an putnam the afflicted parsun tould hur that good wif wils had whoried away my Cattell and I wondered an putnam should know I lost my Cattle so long agoe."
Humphrey Clark told of a spectral visit at midnight by a woman who seemed to be Goodwife Wilds.
"Humphrey Clark v. Sarah Wilds
the deposiyion of humpry Clark aged about 21 yere saith that about a yere agoo I was asleep and about midnight the bed Shook & I awaked and saw a woman stand by the bed side which when I well Looked semed to me to be goodwif wills which jumpid to tother corner of the house & then I saw hir no more.
Jurat in Curia"
John and Joseph Andrews of Boxford had borrowed young John Wild's sythe in 1674 although his stepmother was unwilling to lend it. Having cut and loaded their hay their six oxen refused to draw, a wheel mired and they unloaded the hay for they said to one another that it was vain to strive for Goody Willes was in the cart.
"John Andrew and Joseph Andrew v. Sarah Wilds
The deposition of John Andrew aged about 37 years and Joseph Andrew agged about 33 years: both of Boxford who testifieth andsaith that in the year 1674: we were mowing to gether and one of us broak our sith and not haveing oppertunity jest then to mend that nor by another we went to the house of John willes sen'r of Topsfeild to borrow a sith: but when we came there there was no man att whom: but the said willes wife who is now Charged with ares of witchcraf: was with in: and we asked hir to lend us a sith but she said had nosiths to lend: but one of hir neighbors being also there said to us there is John willes jun'rs sith hanging in that tree which stood by the house you may take that and spake with him as you goe to your work for he is at worke neare the way as you goe along: and accordingly we took down the sith out of the tree and tould the old woman that we would ask leave of John willes jun'r for his sith before we used it but she was very angry and siad it was a brave world that every one did what they would, however, we went away with the sith: but we had not been gon very fare from the house but a litle lad coame affter us whose name was Efraime willes: and tould us that his mother said we had best bring the sith back againe: or Elce it should be a deat sith to us: however, we went on our way with the sith and asked the Right owner of it leave for it before we used it and went to our work and cutt down as much grass that day as made about three load of hay: and Returned the sith to the owner: and afterwards went to carting of our hay and went into the meadows and loaded up one load very well and caried it whom: and went againe into the meadow and loaded a second load and bound it and went to Drive it whom: but when we came to drive our oxen wee could not make them stire the load tho we had six good oxen and the Two foremost oxen ware onthe upland and the meadow very firme where we carted constantly: but we strived awhile to make our oxen goe butt could not fit them along: att last one of our wheales fell in up to the stock altho the meadow was feirme: then we threw allmost all the hay ofe our cart and thought to trie to git out the cart with sum hay upon it but we could not then we said one to another it wasin vainto strive for we thought gooddy willes was in the cart and then we threw of all the hay and then we tried to make our oxen draw out the emty cart which at first they could not doe: but att last the whele jumpt up at once we knew not how almost redy to thro down our oxen ontheir knees then againe we loaded up our load of hay very well and bound it: and away wee wnet with it very well tell we came near to a very dangeros hill to goe down with a load of hay: and then I the said joseph Andrew was by the foremost oxen and saw sumthing about as bigge as a dogge glance from a stump or root of atree along by me and the oxen beganto jump: but I could not stirefrom the place for I know not howlong" and I the said JohnAndrewbeing by the hindmost oxen saw nothing but the oxen begining to jumpI cast hold of one of the oxen boxes & cas caried down violently that dangerouse hill I know not how: where was a brooke at the bottom of it with a bridge and a ford: and the oxen ran into the ford and over thrue the load of hay their: and when I came to To understand where I was and saw the oxen ware all well I began to bethinke my selfe of my Brother Jopseph: and Immediatly called him but he gave no answer. and I began to be trobled for him and went backward to wards the place where the oxen were affrighted and I called severall times but he gave me no answer at last I called and said the load is overthron then Immediatly he answered me and came unto me: but how the load should keep upon the wheles runing so violently down that dangerous hill" & being over throne whare it was we can give no account unless it was do by summ diabolicall art: then againe we gott up our cart and loaded up our hay very firme resolving to gitt hom our load if we could tho it was night and when we had loaded we went to bind our load: but by all the Skill and strength we had we could now wayes bind our load with our Cart rope but it would hand lose on our load: however we went away whom with our load and it laid very well for all it was night and our load unbound: also before we got whom many of our fiends and neighbors meet us being consarned for us because we ware solatte & they also saw our cart Rope hand lose and tould use of it, and wee tould them what mishap we had that day: and they tried to fasten the Ropebut could not: all which made usthen to think and ever sence have thought: and still dow thinke that Goody willes who now stands Charged with High suspition of severall acts of wicthcraft had a hand in our Mishap at that time.
Jno Andrew: and Joseph Andrew declared: the evidence written on these two sides to: be the truth on: their oates: declared: before the Jury og inquest: June 30.92"
Rev. John Hale of Beverly testified that Goody Reddington "opned her griefs" to him, saying that Goody Wiles, her neighbor, bewitched her and afflicted her many times, and that Goody Wiles' stepson, John, had said that he believed his mother Wiles was a witch.
"Rev. John Hale v. Sarah Wilds
I John Hale of Beverly aged 56 years being sumoned to appear & give evidence against Sarah Wiles of Topsfeild July 2.1692; Testify that about 15 or 16 yeares agoe came to my house the wife of John Hirrek of Beverly w'th an aged woeman she said was her mother. Goody Reddington of Topsfeild come to me for counsel beeing trouble of spirit. When the said Reddington opned her greifs to me thir was one that she was assaulted by witchcraft that Goody wiles her neighb'r bewitched her & afflicted her many times greiviously, telling me many particular storys how & when she troubled her, w'ch I haveforgotten. She said allso that a son in law of said Wiles did come & visit her (shee called him an honest young man named John as I take it) & did pitty her the said Reddington, signifying to her that he beleived his mother wiles was a witch & told her storys of him mother. I allso understood by them, that this Goody Wiles was mother in law to a youth named as I take it Jonathan Wiles who about twenty yeares agoe or more did act or was acted very strangly Insomuch that I was invited to joyn with Mr Cobbet & others at Ipseich to advise & pray for the said Youth; whome some thought to counterfeit, others to be possessed by the devill. Bit I remember Mr Cobbet thought he was under Obsession of the devil. Goody Reddingtons discourse hath caused me to have farther thoughts of the said Youths case whether he were not bewitched.
Jarat in Curia"
Sarah's son Ephraim, the Topsfield Constable, testified in her behalf telling the court that Deliverance Hobb's testimony against his mother was motivated by spite since he had arrested her and brought her to Salem. Elizabeth Symonds who had signed a disposition against his mother did so because he broke his engagement to her daughter several years before, and that Mary Reddington, a sister of his father's first wife Priscilla was still angry about the fact that his father had married his mother before an appropriate year of mourning after his first wife's death, and that she was a simpleminded person. Also, upon hearing that Elizabeth Symonds believed that his mother had done her a wrong he questioned her and she replied that she had no reason to believe any harm of his mother except what Goody Reddington had said. When faced with a threat of a suit for slander by Ephraim and John Wild, Mary Reddington stated at church services the following Sunday that Sarah Wild was a fine Christian woman who had never been in any way involved with the devil. Ephraim said of his mother: "She hath awlwais instructed me well in the Christian religion and the wais of God ever sence I was abell to take instruction."
Ephriam Wilds For Sarah Wilds
The tesitmony of Ephraim Wildes Eged about 27 or theabouts testifieth and saith that a bout fouer yers a gow there, was som likly hode of my haveng one of goodiey Simonds daugters and as the maid towld me har mother and father were veriey willing I should have hare: but after some time I had a hint that goodiey Simonds had formerlly she beleved my mother had done har wrong and I went to hare and took marke how that is now ded who dyed at the Estward: along with me and before both of us she denied that ever she had eniey grounds to think eniey harme of my mother only from what goodiey Redington had siad and afterwards I left the hous and went no mor and ever sence she bene veriey angriey with me and now she will re ward mee
Ephraim Willdes" (17)
Testimony of John Wilds and Ephraim Wilds for Sarah Wilds
"Ephraim Wilds for Sarah Wilds
This may inform this Honred cort that I: Ephraim Wildes being constabell for topsfelld this yere and the marshall of sallem coming to fetch away my mother he then shued me a warrant from athority derected to the constabell of topsfelld wherin was william hobs and deliveranc his wife with maniey others and the marshall did then re quire me forth with to gow and aprehend the bodies of william hobes and his wife which a cording ly I ded: and I have had serous thoughts maniey tims sence whether my mother there by in some mesuer to be re venged of me the woman did show a veriey bad sperit when I sesed: on might all most se revenge in her face she looked so molishsly on mee: as for my mother I never saw aniey harm by har upon aniey sutch a cout naither in word nor action as she is now a used for she hath awlwais in structed me well in the crision religion and the waisof god ever sence I was abell to take in structions: and so I leve it alltho this honred cort to consider of it
Ephraim Willdes" (18)
Order of Ephraim Wildes for Sarah Wilds
All of the efforts made by John and Ephraim to save her went for naught. She was convicted of being a witch and the warrant for her execution was signed on 19 July 1692.(19) On the same day she was driven from the jail to Gallows Hill, standing in a cart along with Rebecca Nurse, Goody Good, Elizabeth Howe and Susanna Martin, where they were hanged.
Death Warrant for Sarah Good, Rebecca Nurse, Elizabeth Howe, Susanna Martin and Sarah Wildes.
The persons who had entered evidence against her eventually confessed in church that they had lied. This did little good for Sarah except to clear her name. In 1711 £598/12 was appropriated by the court to recompense the families of those who were executed for witchcraft. Ephraim received £14 in compensation. He stated that this could not compensate "for the los of so dere a friend which can not be made up".(12)
"Topsfield Septem 11, 1710
To the honered Jentell men of the commitey greeting:it having pleased the great and Jeneral cort to a piont your honars a comitte to inquire who may be proper to bee Justifiedin the bill refering to the taking ofe the attainder and what loss and damedg hes been sustained by reason ofthe tryalls which were for witchcraft in the yer 1692 under which soroful triall my mother Sarah Wild was Condemnd &executed: my father being now disseced and only my self left I here apere to give in som short acount of the cost and damedg we sustained in them times: my mother was carried to Salem prison sum time in Epral we ware at the cost of it and chardg of ceping har there a considerabl whille and after wards she was removed to boston prison we wer at the cost of it and chardg of cepting of hare ther for about towmonths and then from boston she was removed back to Ipswech prison we ware at the cost of that and after a swhill she was removed to Salem again we ware in all the cost both of caring and providing for her maintance whill in all these prisons: be side ether my father or my slef went once a wek to see how she deed and what she wanted and some tims twis a weke which was a grat cost and damedg to our estate my father would often say that the cost and damedg we sustained in our esteate wase twenty pounds and I am in the mind he spok les then it was: besidsthe los of so dere a frind which cannot be med up::all which I leve to your honers consideration: I remin you honers humbel sarvant
Ephraim Wildes
yet not withstanding twas twenty poundsdamedg to our Estate considering our nams maybe repaired I am willing to take forten pounds" (20)
Ephraim's Letter to the General Court- 1710
"Province of the Massachusetts Bay: Anno Regni Anna Reginae Decimo.
An Act to reverse the attainders of George Burroughs and others for Witchcraft
Forasmuch as in teh year of our Lord one Thousand six hundred ninety two several Towns within this Province were Infested with a Horrible Witchcraft or Possession of devils; And at a Special Court of Oyer and Terminer holden at Salem in the County of Essex in the same year 1692. George Burroughs or Wells, John Procter, George Jacobs,John WIllard, Giles Core, and Martha his wife, Rebecca Nurse and Sarah Good all of Salem aforesaid Elizabeth How of Ipswich, Mary Eastey, Sarah Wild and Abigail Hobbs all of Topsfield, Samuel Wardell, Mary Parker, Martha Carrier, Abigail Falkner: Anne Forster, Rebecca Eames, Mary Post and Mary Lacey all of Andover, Mary Bradbury, of Salisbury, and Dorcas Hoar of Beverley Were severally Indicted convicted and attainted of Witchcraft and some of them put to death, others lying still under the like sentance of the said Court, and liable to have the same Executed upon them.
The Influence and Energy of the Evil Spirits so Great at that time acting in and upon those who principal accuser and Witnesses proceeding so far as to cause a Prosecution to be had persons of known and good reputation, which caused a great disatisfaction and stop to be put thereunto until theire Majesty's pleasure should be known therein: And upon a Respresentation thereof accordingly made her late Majesty Queen Mary the second of blessed memory by Her Royal Letter given at her Court at Whitehall the fifteenth of April 1693. was Graciously pleased to approved the care and Circumspection therein; and to Will and require that in all proceedings ag't persons accused for Witchcraft, or being possessed by the devil, the greatest Moderation and all due Circumspection be used, so far as the same may be without Impediment to the Ordinary course of Justice.
And some of the principal Accusers and Witnesses in those dark and severe prosectutions have since discovered themselves to be persons of profligate and vicious conversation.
Upon the humble Petition and suit of several of the s'd persons and of the children of others of them whose Parents were Executed. Be it Declared and Enacted by his Excellency the Governor Council and Represtatives in General Court assembled and by the authority of the same That the several convictions Judgments and Attainders against the said George Burroughs, John Procter, George Jacobs, John WIllard, Giles Core, and Martha Core, Rebecca Nurse, Sarah Good, Elizabeth How, Mary Easty, Sarah Wild, Abigail Hobbs, Samuel Wardell, Mary Parker, Martha Carrier, Abigail Falkner: Anne Forster, Rebecca Eames, Mary Post, Mary Lacey, Mary Bradbury and Dorcas Hoar, and every of them Be and hereby are reversed made and declared to be nulland void to all Intents, Constructions and purposes whatsoever, as if no such convictions, Judments and attainders or either of them had or Incurrd.
Any Law Usage or Customs to the contrary notwithstanding. And that no Sheriffe, Constable,Goaler or other officer shall be Liable to any prosecution in the Law for anything they then Legally did in the Executionof their respective officers.
Made and Pass's by the Great and General Court or Assembly of her Majestys Province of the Massachusetts: Bay in New England held at Boston the 17th day of october, 1711"
My Note
New England saw the start of the witch trials in at least 1647, with 12 people being executed in the colony before 1692.
Samuel Parris, 1653-1720, puritan minister in Salem Village during the Salem witch trials; original in the collection of the Massachusetts Historical Society
Salem Village was known for its many internal disputes, and for disputes between the village and Salem Town. Samuel Parris was appointed the first ordained Puritan minister and took up the post in July 1689. Many of the town people thought that Parris’ wife, Elizabeth Eldridge, was too beautiful and that her beauty was a clear sign that Parris was a man of incredible lust. There were also disputes over his pay and, in October 1691, the town vowed to stop paying his wages. The issue was further antagonized by Samuel’s perceived arrogance when he purchased gold candlesticks for the meetinghouse and new vessels for the sacraments. These issues, and others that were more personal between the villages, continued to grow unabated. He was also known to deliberately seek out “iniquitous behavior” in his congregation and make church members in good standing suffer public penance for small infractions. This contributed significantly to the tension within the village. Its bickering continued to grow unabated. Historian David Starkey suggests that, in this atmosphere, serious conflict may have been inevitable.
Obviously Samuel was not the cause of the outbreak in Salem, but his inability to deal with the disputes of his congregation didn’t help matters.
It is also important to remember that at this point in history, the supernatural was considered part of everyday life; many people believed that Satan was present and active on Earth. This concept emerged in Europe around the fifteenth century and spread with colonists to North America. Men and women in Salem believed that all the misfortunes could be attributed to the work of the devil; when events such as infant death, crop failures, or social friction among the congregation occurred, the supernatural was blamed.
On top of this superstition, life was governed by the precepts of the Church, which was Calvinist. Instrumental music, dancing, and celebration of holidays such as Christmas and Easter, were absolutely forbidden, as these were considered to have roots in Paganism. The only music allowed was the unaccompanied singing of hymns – as the folk songs of the period were thought to glorify human love and nature, they were considered to be against God. Toys and especially dolls were forbidden as play was considered a frivolous waste of time.
Scholars have layered many explanations for what happened in Salem, from psychological hysteria to biological disease (ergotism, encephalitis lethargica, sleep disorders), from rampant misogyny (at least 75% of all victims in Europe and North America were female) to religious reformation. Personally, I believe that the majority of accusers acted out of jealousy, spite, greed and what would now be termed ‘peer pressure’. Its sad to think that the deaths of so many people can be laid at the door of the lowest of human traits.
As an aside I came across some wonderfully misogynistic quotes whilst looking into this.
From an unnamed judge, c. 1600:
The Devil uses them so, because he knows that women love carnal pleasures, and he means to bind them to his allegiance by such agreeable provocations.
From the Malleus Malificarum (1486):
All wickedness is but little to the wickedness of a woman … What else is woman but a foe to friendship, an inescapable punishment, a necessary evil, a natural temptation, a desirable calamity, a domestic danger, a delectable detriment, an evil of nature, painted with fair colours!
JACKSON
Perkins
Witch Mary PERKINS
Birth: Aug., 1615
Warwickshire, England
Death: Dec. 20, 1700
Salisbury
Essex County
Massachusetts, USA
Mary Perkins was baptized at Hillmorton, Warwickshire, 3 Sep 1615, daughter of JOHN PERKINS. She married Thomas Bradbury by 1637.
They had 11 known children: Wymond, Judith Moody, Thomas, Mary Stanyan, Jane True, Jacob, William, Elizabeth Buss, John, Ann, & Jabez.
She died at Salisbury, 20 Dec 1700.
During the Salem With Trials, she was tried on July 28, 1692 in Salem and in spite of petitions signed and letters written telling of her exemplary life, she was found guilty on Sept. 22, 1692. She said, "I do plead not guilty, I am wholly innocent of such wickedness". Mary was able to escape the gallows by help of friends and family and was not executed. It is believed that she was hidden and overlooked by authorities. "Bradbury Memorial..." by Wm Berry Lapham, 1890, p. 63
"Narratives of the Witchcraft Cases 1608-1706" by Burr, 1814, p. 268
"The Devil in Mass." by Starkey, 1949, p. 203
Mary Perkins Bradbury was one of the wealthiest women in Salisbury. The daughter of Ann (Carr) Putnam was one of Mary's accusors of witchcraft. It was well known that the Carr and Bradbury families had fought for years over land which was probably a motive in the accusal and arrest of Mary Bradbury. "Rebecca Nurse" by Charles Taplely, 1830, p. 80.
The children of of Thomas & Mary Bradbury:
1. Wymond b. April 1, 1637, c. April 7, 1669 in the West Indies, m. Sarah Pike
2. Judith b. Oct. 2, 1638, d. Jan. 24, 1698 in Newbury, m. Caleb Moody in 1665
3. Thomas b. Jan. 28, 1640, d. after 1662.
4. Mary b. March 17, 1642-3, d. May 29, 1724, m. John Stanyan on Dec. 17, 1663
5. Jane b. May 11, 1645, d. Jan. 24, 1729; m. Henry True
6. Jacob b. June 17, 1647; d. March 12, 1668
7. William b. Sept. 15, 1649, d. Dec. 4, 1678, d. Dec. 4, 1678, m. Rebecca Wheelwright on March 12, 1671-2
8. Elizabeth b. Nov. 7, 1651, d. abt. 1680 in Concord, MA, m. Rev. John Buss on May 12, 1673
9. John b. April 20, 1654, d. Nov. 24, 1678
10. Ann b. April 16, 1656, d. 1659
11. Jabez b. June 27, 1658, d. April 28, 1677.
my Notes: The Beginning: of the Salem Witch Trials
“You put the egg white in the water, and let it sink. If you do this right, you will be able to see the face of your future husband,” said Tituba. a titibe Indian
That was the start of it all.
Tituba was the servant of Reverend Samuel Parris. Reverend Parris bought Tituba because his wife was ill, and he needed help cooking, cleaning, taking care of his daughter and their niece and doing the general things around the house that his wife would have done. Tituba was born in an Arawak village in South America. When she was a child she was captured and taken to Barbados. After a many years of life in Barbados, she was bought by the Reverend. Barbados is where Voodoo was established. Voodoo is one of the types of magic that Tituba performed. Voodoo was created out of a mix of West African religions, Christianity, and local beliefs that were around in the West Indies during the time of slave trade. The other main type of magic Tituba preformed was Black Magic.
On one cold, winter night, Tituba was watching Elizabeth and Abigail, the niece and daughter of the Reverend, because he was out. On nights like this, Tituba would tell stories, stories of witchcraft and magic. This type of thing was unheard of in Salem. People who told stories like this were considered witches, and witches were considered a threat to the community. They were a threat to the community because if anyone was doing any sort of magic they were considered worshipers of the Devil, and that meant they were going against the word of God. And the church was the center of the community. The fact that these stories were being told in the Reverend’s house was crazy, because the Reverend was practically a saint to these people. He was like a Saint to them because these people came to the new world for a new and more Godly church than the one in England, and the Reverend was a big representative of the church.
Another thing that was even crazier was that Tituba was telling these stories to the Reverend’s niece and daughter, two of the people most unlikely to be witnessing witchcraft. This was crazy because they were the Reverend’s children and the reverend was the communicator of God and almost everyone worshiped him. So his children should be the second most religious people in the community.
At first it was only Abigail and Elizabeth listening to the stories, but then the group started getting bigger and more girls started coming. Eventually there were eight girls who listened to the stories. The girls were Sarah Bibber, Sarah Churchill, Mary Warren, Elizabeth Booth, Anne Putnam Jr., Mercy Lewis, Abigail Williams, and Elizabeth Parris. After a while it just became a regular thing and every night when the Reverend was out the girls would gather to listen to Tituba’s stories. The girls had been listening to the stories for a while and that is when strange things started to happen. At random times the girls would start having fits for no reason at all. At other times the girls would start making random animal noises and acting like the animals themselves. In church at times when the Reverend would talk about God or say his name the girls would cry out and cover their ears. And at random times they would point up into the air at nothing, but saying that they saw a specter of someone. A specter was a figure someone took in another person’s mind and in this case a figure of a witch or something resembling a witch, which would usually do some thing bad to the girls.
After a while of this the Reverend started to get doctors to come check out Abigail and Elizabeth. Many doctors came and went but none had a solution. Finally after many doctors one finally had a solution. He believed they were under the hand of the Devil. He believed that their fits happened when they were struggling to not become witches. In one of the girls’ fits they mentioned Tituba’s name. That’s when the town found its first witch.
At first, Tituba denied being a witch. But, after she denied it, the Reverend beat her until she confessed. She had many examinations about her witchcraft and she told many stories. One of her first stories was this:
The night before, four women came to Tituba and told her to hurt the children she was teaching witchcraft to. At first she said no but after much interrogation she agreed and hurt the children. She pinched them and bit them. She was ashamed of it and said she would do it no more. After that a man came to her and he said
“Serve me.”
“What service?” said Tituba.
“Hurt the children.”
And in another appearance later on he said, “Kill the children.”
And if she did not go on hurting the children they would do worse to her.
At other times she would see animals that would talk to her. Some times they were hogs, or dogs, or cats. The animals were specters. Every time an animal came to her it would have the same reason. It wanted her to hurt the children. Or else.
There were many stories after that, but one story that hit Salem the hardest was this:
“One day I was visited by a mysterious, tall man from Boston. He came up to me and opened a book,” said Tituba. “He made me sign my name in it, using my own blood. It was the Devil’s book. There where nine names in the book. Mine, Sarah Good’s, and Sarah Osbourne’s.” The crowd was hanging on to her every word. “And six others that I could not see.” And for a few seconds there was nothing but silence.
Little did the small town of Salem know, the stories and the magic were the start of something much bigger.
Tituba was a Native American Slave
A Not So Happy Ending
The Salem witch trials are coming to an end, so things are getting better, so it seems. Still, people are worried, because there have been so many innocent people accused and even killed.
So many people were being accused of witchcraft it seems absurd. Many could not believe that their neighbors could be witches and that their own family members were also being accused of witchcraft. The people of Salem started to wonder who was next. How it could have been them. Some people believed that all the evidence was true, while others doubt some of this information. Most of the people who are in doubt are afraid to speak up. Most people are afraid because they might be accused of witchcraft themselves.
Finally on October 8th, 1692, Governor Sir William Phipps forbid the court to allow spectral evidence in these trials. Spectral evidence is a form of evidence accepted in the courts during the Salem Witch Trials. Sometimes, they would put a person on a chair in the water and see if they would float. If the accused witches do, they will be guilty of witchcraft. Another way to find out if a person is a witch is to look for a devil’s marks on their body. If this mark is found, a needle would be poked in the spot. If the needle did not hurt them, they are accused as a witch. Sir William Phipps is starting to get frustrated with the constant witchcraft trials and came up with an idea of a separate court for the witchcraft trials.
This idea did not work, and the witchcraft trials continued in an ordinary court. The last trials for witchcraft were held in January 1693. The governor convicted three more people. By the end of the Witch Trials, nineteen people were killed, but most people accused were put in jail. While in jail, four more people died. The last person to die was Giles Corey. He refused to be both guilty and innocent. When he went in to court he would not speak because he knew both ways were bad and worse. To try to get the truth out of the accused, the Judges had rocks piled on him, crushing him. Giles Corey was crushed to death by rocks because he refused to admit he was innocent or guilty. No matter how many rocks he was piled on him, he would not speak. As the last rock was piled on top of Giles Corey, he said “more weight”.
The girls who were accusing people were starting to call people witches that were really great people, ones who would never be thought of as devils. These people include Rebecca Nurse and George Burroughs. Rebecca Nurse was a well-respected person in the Salem community. She had eight children and grandchildren, and she took care of them well. Despite the fact that there was no evidence against her, she still was hanged for witchcraft in 1692. As for George Burroughs, he is the only clergyman that has ever been accused of witchcraft. A reason he pleaded not guilty was because of his religious beliefs. George Burroughs was one of the few men to be executed in the Town of Salem.
As the witch trials are just ended, the effect of the trials is severe. Many people have been and are in jail. Families have been having trouble getting along with relatives, neighbors, and even friends. It is very quiet throughout the town. After a long time passed, Reverend Samuel Parris eventually admitted that he put too much weight on spectral evidence. He has never gotten forgiveness from the town or people, so he will be moved out of Salem.
The end of the Salem Witch Trials, the people of Salem are terrified and are having to suffered many losses. Eventually, the town of Salem will recover, but this is going to take a long time. The witchcraft trials have left a large scar in the community. The people of Salem do not know whom to trust for even they could have been killed for being a witch by their neighbor’s imagination.
http://www.danverslibrary.org/archive/?page_id=281 http://salem.lib.virginia.edu/texts/tei/BoySal3R?div_id=n125
https://sites.google.com/site/verdugosbc/campbells/salem-witch-html
Memorial | Salem, Massachusetts
