The history (both good and bad) is something we should all know about. They were said to have helped witches and were referred to as their familiars. Salem Witch Trials Of 1692 | Landmarks, Events, & More I just found this out. Visit this site's About page to find out more about Rebecca. thank u. The Examination of Sarah Good, March 1, 1692. The Salem Witch Trials were not a positive section of American history but have been used as a learning tool for the United States. The Salem witch trials marked a seven-month period of mass hysteria in 1692 Colonial America. Thirty people were found guilty, 19 of whom were executed by hanging (14 women and five men). That same month, four more women were accused and arrested:Rebecca NurseMartha CoreyDorothy GoodRachel Clinton (from Ipswich). Brief History Of The Salem Witch Trials, article by PaulGamerBoy360 Between 1647 and 1688, 12 women had been sentenced to death for making covenants with the devil. It was last edited on September 8, 2013 at 4:52 pm, Thank you, Rebecca, recently I have been down and this is a paper for a class Im failing, Thank you for helping me get an A, What is the publisher for this website? On September 22, eight people were hanged. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. This legal tactic was known as peine forte et dure which means strong and harsh punishment.. Those who were found guilty were pardoned by Governor Phips. They all died on the same day so its hard to pinpoint who you are talking about. Other diagnoses have focused more on the mental wellbeing of the Salem girls. The Salem Witch Trials - History harvnb error: no target: CITEREFRobinson2001 (. All rights reserved. It all began in 1692 and 1693 when Salem in the United States . Robbins, Rossell Hope. The Salem Witch Trials officially began in February of 1692, when the afflicted girls accused the first three victims, Tituba, Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne, of witchcraft and ended in May of 1693, when the remaining victims were released from jail. A Brief History of The Salem Witch Trials.Brief History Of The Salem Witch Trials The Salem witch trials took place between 1692 & 1693, in colonial Massachusetts. I know that the accusers, at least some of them were aligned with the Putnam family who was known to have land disputes with several of the villagers. 25 DISTURBING Facts About The Salem Witch Trials - YouTube However, the subtlety of the ministers response was largely sidelined by the grand jury, who drew their energy from one particular concluding line from Mather: we cannot but humbly recommend unto the government, the speedy and vigorous prosecution of such as have rendered themselves obnoxious. In possession of such a mandate, the trials moved up a gear. Massachusetts State Archives. Salem was . In June of 1692, the special Court of Oyer (to hear) and Terminer (to decide) sat in Salem to hear the cases of witchcraft. Found Guilty and Executed:Bridget Bishop (June 10, 1692)Sarah Good (July 19, 1692)Elizabeth Howe (July 19, 1692)Susannah Martin (July 19, 1692)Rebecca Nurse (July 19, 1692)Sarah Wildes (July 19, 1692)George Burroughs (August 19, 1692)Martha Carrier (August 19, 1692)John Willard (August 19, 1692)George Jacobs, Sr (August 19, 1692)John Proctor (August 19, 1692)Alice Parker (September 22, 1692)Mary Parker (September 22, 1692)Ann Pudeator (September 22, 1692)Wilmot Redd (September 22, 1692)Margaret Scott (September 22, 1692)Samuel Wardwell (September 22, 1692)Martha Corey (September 22, 1692)Mary Easty (September 22, 1692), Refused to enter a plea and tortured to death:Giles Corey (September 19th, 1692), Found Guilty and Pardoned:Elizabeth ProctorAbigail Faulkner SrMary PostSarah WardwellElizabeth Johnson JrDorcas Hoar, Pled Guilty and Pardoned:Rebecca EamesAbigail HobbsMary Lacy SrMary Osgood, Died in Prison:Sarah OsburnRoger ToothakerAnn FosterLydia Dustin, Escaped from Prison:John Alden Jr.Edward Bishop Jr.Sarah BishopMary BradburyWilliam Barker Sr.Andrew CarrierKatherine CaryPhillip EnglishMary EnglishEdward Farrington, Never Indicted:Sarah BassettMary BlackBethiah Carter, JrBethiah Carter, SrSarah CloyceElizabeth HartWilliam HobbsThomas Farrer, SrWilliam ProctorSarah ProctorSusannah RootsAnn SearsTituba, Evaded Arrest:George Jacobs JrDaniel Andrews. Nevertheless, we cannot but humbly recommend unto the government, the speedy and vigorous prosecution of such as have rendered themselves obnoxious, according to the direction given in the laws of God, and the wholesome statutes of the English nation, for the detection of witchcrafts. This was the name that was given to the evil spirits that were supposedly floating around the witches while they practiced their dark arts. Web. His grandfather is a Putnam. It also helped with my reading assignment. On July 23, John Proctor wrote to the clergy in Boston. Some say it's because temperatures dropped significantly, there was famine and people needed a scapegoat. Perhaps this question has something to do with the closure of the court of Oyer and Terminer, which was the special court established to hear the trials. 2, no. Get ready to pull out your history books as we bring you the most DISTURBING facts about the Salem Witch Trials. The link can be found in the section of this article titled Salem Witch Trial Victims. Id really like to see period sources for your assertion here. The Salem witch trials, which resulted in several deaths in 1692 in the small town of Salem, Massachusetts, have never been adequately explained. Ever since those dark days ended, the trials have become synonymous with mass hysteria and scapegoating. At the center of the Salem witch trials were a core group of accusers, all girls and young women ranging in age from nine to 20, who screamed, writhed, barked and displayed other horrifying. Text adapted from the National Geographic book Witches! Since some of the law enforcement involved in the Salem Witch Trials were being sued by some of the surviving victims, the bill also stated: no sheriff, constable, goaler or other officer shall be liable to any prosecution in the law for anything they then legally did in the execution of their respective offices.. Presumptions whereupon persons may be committed, and, much more, convictions whereupon persons may be condemned as guilty of witchcrafts, ought certainly to be more considerable than barely the accused person's being represented by a specter unto the afflicted; inasmuch as it is an undoubted and notorious thing, that a demon may, by God's permission, appear, even to ill purposes, in the shape of an innocent, yea, and a virtuous man. This was no more notable than when playwright Arthur Miller chose to dramatise the trials in his 1953 play The Crucible. Its entirely possible that much of the blame placed upon Tituba during the trials was based on her racial and social class. OMG! Did the Putnams purchase any of the land from those who were accused and killed? This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Essex County Court Archives, vol. Get 6 issues for 19.99 and receive a 10 gift card* PLUS free access to HistoryExtra.com, Save 70% on the shop price when you subscribe today - Get 13 issues for just $49.99 + FREE access to HistoryExtra.com. Knowing that if he was convicted his large estate would be confiscated and wouldnt be passed down to his children, Corey brought his trial to a halt by refusing to enter a plea. Explore 17th-century Salem in the museum's 13 stage sets that bring the witch trials to life. While women were of course on the forefront of persecution, men could also be accused of witchcraft. Hoffer, Peter Charles. When we think of witches today, we think of girls with crystals and hats who like to listen to Stevie Nicks. The number of accusations and arrests began to decline in June but still continued and soon the local jails held more than 200 accused witches. . The following are some facts about the Salem Witch Trials: The Salem Witch Trials were a series of witchcraft cases brought before local magistrates in a settlement called Salem which was a part of the Massachusetts Bay colony in the 17th century. King William's War (war in the America colonies against the French) ended with many people having to be relocated so there were many strangers moving into town. Hi William, thats really cool that you are a descendant of Mary Easty. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. These spirits could inhabit any human or any creature. North Wind Picture Archives, Alamy Stock Photo. ", What does that mean, in laymans terms? Keeping to yourself and minding your own business seemed suspicious. On October 29, 1692, Phips dissolved the Court of Oyer and Terminer, a decision that marked the beginning of the end for the Salem witch trials. Twenty people were put to death in Salem for the crime of witchcraft. Due to overcrowding in the jails, the accused witches were kept in multiple jails in Salem town, Ipswich and Boston. A 1976 study, printed in the journal Science, attributed the girls hysterical and possibly hallucinogenic behaviour to the ingestion of rye bread made with grain infected with ergot of rye. Salem Witch Trials Facts, Worksheets & Information For Kids - KidsKonnect Here are some of our favorite Salem attractions: Salem Witch Museum Your first stop should be the Salem Witch Museum. During the trial, Tituba confessed to having seen the devil and also stated that there was a coven, or group, of witches in the Salem Village area. The exact cause of the Salem Witch Trials is unknown but they were probably a number of causes. Native Americans and other religions represented threats by the Devil. Alden was accused of witchcraft by a child during a trip to Salem while he was on his way home to Boston from Canada. 9 Things You Might Not Know About the Salem Witch Trials Having initially set up the Court of Oyer and Terminer, Governor William Phips having returned from fighting in King Philips War in Maine voiced concerns about what danger some of [his] innocent subjects might be exposed to and dissolved the court, in the process pardoning those remaining in custody. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Salem Witch Trials Top Facts | Go City This series of prosecutions and hangings of those accused of practicing witchcraft provoked a major backlash, and the event still haunts us today. Thirteen womenand five men from all stations of life followed her to the gallows onthree successive hanging daysbefore the court was disbanded by Governor William Phipps in October of that year. On 2 June, the specially convened Court of Oyer and Terminer (oyer meaning to hear, terminer meaning to decide) sat for the first time, presided over by William Stoughton, the newly appointed lieutenant governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. Some (incredibly mean) people devoted their time to making a science out of witchcraft. Or maybe it was the 1711 bill that cleared the names of the accused witches. Not that the prosecutions were concluded even then. Many people lived in a constant state of fear, tension, and paranoia. When asked who had done this to them, Betty and Abigail blamed three townswomen, including Tituba, a Native American slave who worked in the Parris household. As the innocent women approached the gallows, in the last moments of their lives, they continued to protest their innocence. How twisted is that? 10 Unsettling Facts About The Witch Trials, The Symptoms That Gave Witches Away Make No Sense At All, Women Could Save Themselves By Pointing A Finger (At Someone Innocent), Witch Trials In Germany Took Thousands Of Lives, It Wasn't Just Women Who Suffered Because Of The Trials, The Witch Tests Often Had No Way Of Getting Out Alive, As If They Didn't Suffer Enough, Social Outcasts Had It The Worst, Scary Stories: 10 Places For Stephen King Fans To Visit, 10 Scary Churches From Around The World That Will Creep You Out, Spooky Places: 10 Destinations For Fans Of Witches. Salem Witch Trials: Who Were the Main Accusers? - HISTORY The Salem Witch Trials began in spring 1692 and lasted for seven months, during which more than 150 people where arrested, 19 were hanged and one was tortured to death. If the accused was indicted, they were not allowed a lawyer and they had to decide to plead guilty or not guilty with no legal counsel to guide them. Glanvill, Joseph. I was wondering if there was a written document or agreement signed that ended the trials. The mayhem all started in 1692, when two cousins aged nine and 11 began experiencing delusions, strange fits, and other mysterious maladies. More than 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraft and 20 were killed during the hysteria. Presided over by William Stoughton . The initial article took me a few days to write and then I have been slowly adding to it and expanding it over the years. The bibliography at the bottom of this article list a number of secondary sources. Went to the library to look for my family history but came across my friends families name. Oh well, live n learn, Its sad when you can pick out names of your relatives in every list. All would await trial for a crime punishable by death in17th-century New England the practice of witchcraft. The Salem jail was located at the corner of Federal Street and St. Peter Street. I lasted edited this page on October 18, 2015. Through the loss of 20 lives, the episode continues to warn of the dangers of insularity and isolationism, of intolerance, of religious extremism. By May 1693 . The Salem witch trials started with two girls having unexplainable fits. The torture consisted of laying the prisoner on the ground, naked, with a board placed on top of him. These women were Sarah Good, Sarah Osburn and a slave named Tituba who worked for Reverend Samuel Parris. Salem Witchcraft and Cotton Mather: A Reply. The English laws against witchcraft were repealed in 1736, after which incidents of suspected bewitchment, by now very isolated, were dealt with by mob rule rather than by a clear legal framework. The story is about Susannah English, daughter of accused witches Phillip and Mary English and friend of Ann Putnam, Jr. This is basically what got me an A on my history fair assignment, I appreciate all the time and effort put into writing this! In additionone man was pressed to death; several others died in prison, and the lives of many were irrevocably changed. As if the lonely and misunderstood didn't have a hard enough life on its own, they seemed the most suspicious to the crowds. To complicate matters further, within Salem Village itself, there were two separate social groups. Proctor told them about the torture inflicted on the accused and asked that the trials be moved to Boston where he felt he would get a fair trial. Hysteria was from little girls facin threat of death by torture. And if you take away my life, God will give you blood to drink.. Local clergymen began speaking out against the witch hunt and tried to persuade officials to stop the trials. The eight-point response, penned by Cotton Mather, advised prudence when it came to procedure, cautioning that hastiness shouldnt overwhelm lawfulness. The Salem Witch Trials occurred in the settlement of Salem in colonial Massachusetts in 1692 and 1693, and resulted in the executions of twenty people accused of witchcraft, most of them women. Since the witch trials ended, the colony also began to suffer many misfortunes such as droughts, crop failures, smallpox outbreaks and Native-American attacks and many began to wonder if God was punishing them for their mistake. There is actually a compilation of all of the primary sources on the Salem Witch Trials. The Salem witch trials of the late 17th century were a formative episode in America's early history, and have remained at the forefront of the national consciousness ever since. Does that mean they couldnt have been practicing witchcraft? A man of God literally planned out a witch genocide. This court consisted of eight judges. In August of 1992, on the 300th anniversary of the trials, the Salem Witch Trials Memorial was unveiled and dedicated by Nobel Laureate Eli Wiesel. As in complaints upon witchcrafts, there may be matters of inquiry which do not amount unto matters of presumption, and there may be matters of presumption which yet may not be matters of conviction, so it is necessary, that all proceedings thereabout be managed with an exceeding tenderness towards those that may be complained of, especially if they have been persons formerly of an unblemished reputation. "Examination and Evidence of Some the Accused Witches in Salem, 1692. By now, seven months on from the arrest of Sarah Good, the hysteria was decelerating. Native History & Indigenous Acknowledgement, The Journey from 1692 to Salems Modern Witch Community. Morrisiana, 1869Jackson, Shirley. Around the end of September, the use of spectral evidence was finally declared inadmissible, thus marking the beginning of the end of the Salem Witch Trials. my question for the project was what was the history of the salem witch trials. Wigington, Patti. 9, 17181718, Chap. If these individuals had never written these books or helped record the proceedings, we wouldnt know half of what we know about the witch trials. William was happily a Calvinist, but not even that changed the fact New England theocracy was at an end. Sarah Wildes was my 8th great grandmother. English law at the time dictated that anyone who refused to enter a plea could be tortured in an attempt to force a plea out of them. No one was burned at the stake in the Salem witch trials. It went all the way back to the Salem Witch trials. 82 (Boston: Wright and Potter, 1902), pp. History of the Salem Witch Trials. History of Massachusetts Blog, 18 Aug. 2011, historyofmassachusetts.org/the-salem-witch-trials. His death was gruesome and cruel and strengthened the growing opposition to the Salem Witch Trials. In 1706, afflicted girl Ann Putnam, Jr., also issued a public apology for her role in the Salem Witch Trials, particularly in the case against her neighbor Rebecca Nurse. 121, p. 108. Salem Witch Trial Facts - Learn Religions 31. In the 300 years since the Salem Witch Trials, experts have gone to great lengths to offer explanations for the young Salem girls afflictions of a somewhat more rational nature than the witchcraft diagnosed at the time. Many of the accusers were adults and more than a few of them were people who had themselves been accused. Salem Witch Trials - Events, Facts & Victims - HISTORY Finally, many of the symptoms described by witnesses stopped and began again based on external circumstances, and that simply doesnt happen with physiological illness. Think it was her kids. The Catholic and Protestant churches fought for new followers. They should've told the US it was all fake once they came to their senses, but they didn't. This helped with my English assignment! One of the greatest tragedies of the Salem Witch Trials was the concept of the familiars. I need to make a bibliography for my English report.