The Story of the Salem Witch Trials

     It was the winter of 1692 and not even our black houses with low ceilings could keep the cold out.  Little did we know that the bitter weather we were facing was only the beginning of a harsher future. Church was the only time to look forward to; it was a time to warm up with friends, hear the town gossip, discuss the newest books, and of course, watch the Putnam and Porter families feud.  I guess being rich wasn't enough for these two families; they were power thirsty as well.  We all knew that the Putnams had won the church battle by hiring their pick of a minister, Samuel Parris.  We could tell they were hungry for more, whether it be land or town leadership, no one knew.

Many churches today use the "first" word in their names, but this church actually was the first congregational church in America.  Take a number, First Baptist Church, First Christian Church, First Church of God, etc.

The placard proves it.

The First Church in Salem would have been present during the Witch Trials.

     Samuel Parris with his wife, daughter, niece, and Indian slave had moved to town from Barbados.  The girls had settled in quite nicely and had made many close friends.  If you asked me, they were forever up to no good that winter.  Samuel's daughter, Betty, fell ill in February.  Rumors said she was running around aimlessly, hiding under furniture, complaining of fever, and screaming in agonizing pain.  The doctor was baffled as to the cause, and of course, the rest of the community was restless for answers.

     Around that same time, Cotton Mather's book, "Memorable Providences," had become the subject of discussion after church services.  It was uncanny the likeness of Betty's symptoms to Mather's character who was afflicted by witchcraft.  The town grew more and more nervous as some of Betty's playmates (including one of the Putnam's daughters) started to show the same symptoms.  Dr. William Griggs finally concluded that the girls were under some sort of supernatural force, witchcraft.

     One of the Parris's neighbors told Tituba, their Indian slave, to bake a cake made of rye and of Betty's urine to feed to a dog.  The witch responsible for causing such spells would feel the dog's biting teeth and immediately react.  Although there is no recorded result to this test, Tituba was one of the first of three to be accused of sorcery.  The other two "witches" were Sarah Good, a homeless beggar, and Sarah Osborne, who had not attended church in a year.  The Putnams brought their complaints to the county magistrates, Jonathan Corwin and John Hathorne.  The two magistrates called for a public examination.

Visiting the Witch House, or actually Jonathan Corwin's house, in Salem.

Houses in that time period were painted black to soak up as much sun and heat during the day to stay warm at night.

At the time, this would have been considered a mansion, belonging to a town magistrate.

     Nearly the entire town showed up to the meeting house to witness the girls' symptoms firsthand.  I found my place amongst the crowd, and as soon as the accused witches entered the room, the seven girls began to freeze in position and fall over, contort their bodies in grotesque positions, and scream of biting and pinching on their skin.  The room erupted in rage at the three women.  People around me began accusing the women for causing their butter and cheese to go bad and livestock to be born with deformities.  The three women were imprisoned and awaited trial.  Shortly after, even more people, some connected to property desirable to the Putnam's, were accused of witchcraft and thrown into jail.  Entire families were even imprisoned with the youngest being a four-year-old.  I was lucky. I attended the correct church, lived on the correct side of town, and befriended the correct people.  Others weren't so lucky.

     The jails filled up quickly, causing Governor Phipps upon his return from England to step in.  He created the "court of oyer and terminer" to hear the excessive number of witchcraft cases.  Three of the five appointed justices happened to be close friends of the author Mather, now an avid witch hunter.  Mather pushed his friends to accept evidence, such as spectral evidence, the "touching test," and body examinations.  For spectral evidence, a witness would testify to seeing or dreaming a specter (or image) of the accused committing some injury, from pinching a victim's skin to digging up vegetables.  The "touch test" involved the accused touching the skin of the afflicted individual, and if the victim responded by stopping their contortions, etc., then the suspect had more proof against them.  As for the body examinations, moles were searched for on the suspect to determine if they were a witch.  Such evidence was admitted in court, and such evidence would send many to the gallows.

     By the end of the summer of 1692, somewhere between 100 and 200 individuals were accused and imprisoned for witchcraft.  19 were convicted and executed, and at least four others died in prison.  Two dogs were also executed for having been accomplices.  Thankfully, the witch hunt fad died away.  I am grateful to have survived through such a time, and hope that future generations will never make the same ignorant mistakes as my people did that summer.

PDub and I stayed in the Bridget Bishop room at our bed and breakfast.  She was the first of the accused to stand trial and be sent to Gallows Hill for execution.  Bishop was 60 years old and the owner of a tavern.  Her image was seen stealing eggs and then turning into a cat.

The Salem Witch Trials Memorial.

Giles Core, a man of over 80, refused to stand for trial.  He was laid upon the ground, a board placed upon his body, and rocks stacked upon the board until his death.

Elizabeth Howe was accused of afflicting several of the girls.  She was arrested by Corwin and Hathorne, found guilty, and executed on Gallows Hill.

Sarah Good was one of the first three women to be accused of witchcraft.  She was considered homeless and would go door to door begging for money and food.  Many believed that the death of their livestock was associated with her visits.

"Only if we remember will we be worthy of redemption."  -Elie Wiesel.

The oldest cemetery in Salem.

Where the Hathorne's were buried.

The Salem Witch Trial Memorial is placed right next door to this burying ground.

We can't forget about Samantha!  (Cue Bewitched theme song).

A Witches' Altar found in one of the gift shops we perused later that day.

     Many believe that the Salem Witch Trials drove our justice system into what it is today.  Spectral evidence, hearsay, and other absurd testimony is not allowed and most definitely provides our accused with a fairer trial.  To those individuals who lost their lives in such a troubled time, we thank them for driving our country in a better direction.