Salem Witchcraft This is a true story. The events that took place in Salem Massachusetts in 1692 claimed the lives of 19 innocent people. This was the result of ignorance and superstition. While witchcraft may no longer exist today, the world is still plagued by ignorance and superstition.

Pre-trial History 1629: Salem is settled. 1641: English law makes witchcraft a capital crime. 1684: England declares that the colonies may not self-govern. 1688: Cotton Mather publishes Memorable Providences, Relating to Witchcrafts and Possessions

Goody Glover 1688: Following an argument with laundress Goody Glover, Martha Goodwin, 13, begins exhibiting bizarre behavior. Days later her younger brother and two sisters exhibit similar behavior. Glover is arrested and tried for bewitching the Goodwin children. Reverend Cotton Mather meets twice with Glover following her arrest in an attempt to persuade her to repent her witchcraft. Glover is hanged. Mather takes Martha Goodwin into his house. Her bizarre behavior continues and worsens.

House of Sam Parris November, 1689: Samuel Parris is named the new minister of Salem. Parris moves to Salem from Boston, where Memorable Providence was published. October 16, 1691: Villagers vow to drive Parris out of Salem and stop contributing to his salary.

The “afflicted” girls January 20, 1692: Eleven- year old Abigail Williams and nine-year-old Elizabeth Parris begin behaving much as the Goodwin children acted four years earlier. Soon Ann Putnam Jr. and other Salem girls begin acting similarly. Mid-February, 1692: Dr. Griggs, who attends to the “afflicted” girls, suggests that witchcraft may be the cause of their strange behavior.

Tituba February 25, 1692: Tituba, at the request of neighbor Mary Sibley, bakes a "witch cake" and feeds it to a dog. According to an English folk remedy, feeding a dog this kind of cake, which contained the urine of the afflicted, would counteract the spell put on Elizabeth and Abigail.

Sarah Good & Sarah Osborne Pressured by ministers and townspeople to say who caused her odd behavior, Elizabeth identifies Tituba. The girls later accuse Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne of practicing witchcraft. On February 29, 1692, arrest warrants are issued for all three women.

Examinations The women are examined for “witches teats”. Under duress, Tituba confesses to practicing witchcraft. She claims to have signed the “Devil’s Book”, and also claims that she saw the names of nine others who have also signed. The magistrates are convinced that the Devil is loose in Massachusetts.

The Noose Widens! The names of the afflicted grow in number, as do the names of the accused. Ann Putnam Jr. accuses Martha Cory on March 12 th, and Abigail Williams denounces Rebecca Nurse on March 19 th. On March 23 rd, 4 year old Dorcus Good is arrested. Sarah Cloyce, after defending her sister, Rebecca Nurse, is also accused of witchcraft.

No One is Safe The list of accused witches continues to grow: March 28 – Elizabeth & John Proctor are arrested. April 19 – Abigail Hobbs, Bridget Bishop, Giles Cory, and Mary Warren are all examined. April 22 – Mary Easty, another of Rebecca Nurse’s sisters who defended her, is examined. April 30 – Several girls accuse former Salem minister George Burroughs. He is arrested four days later.

Spectral Evidence Spectral evidence was a form of evidence accepted in the courts during the Salem Witch Trials, one of the darkest, most misogynistic periods of American history. This “evidence” held that the devil and his minions were powerful enough to send their spirits, or specters, to pure, religious people in order to lead them astray.

Guilty! June 10 – Bridget Bishop is hanged at Gallows Hill. July 19 – Rebecca Nurse, Susannah Martin, Elizabeth Howe, Sarah Good, and Sarah Wildes are hanged. August 5 – George Burroughs, George Jacobs Jr., Martha Carrier, John Willard, and John Proctor are hanged. Elizabeth Proctor is spared because she is pregnant.

More Weight! September 19, Sheriffs administer Peine Forte Et Dure (pressing) to Giles Cory after he refuses to enter a plea to the charges of witchcraft against him. After two days under the weight, Cory dies. His only words under torture were: “more weight”.

End of a Nightmare October 8, 1692 – Governor Phipps orders that spectral evidence no longer be admitted in witchcraft trials. On October 29 th, Phipps prohibits further arrests, releases many accused witches, and dissolves the Court of Oyer and Terminer.

“I desire to lie in the dust….” January 14, 1697 – The General Court orders a day of fasting and soul-searching for the tragedy in Salem – Ann Putnam Jr., one of the leading accusers, publicly apologizes for her actions in She was the only accuser to do so.