Salem Witch Trials

*Salem Village in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, is settled by 5 farmers who moved to the area in the 1630s and it becomes a separate parish with its own meetinghouse and minister in 1672.

*In 1689 Samuel Parris,a minister, moves to Salem village with his family and 2 slaves, Tituba and Indian John.

*In January of 1692, Parris' daughter, Elizabeth Parris, Jr., known as Betty, falls ill.

*It is Betty's illness which begins the "witch hunt" and subsequent Salem Witch Trials in Salem village.


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*Witchcraft trials had been going on for several centuries throughout Europe, with the approval and support of the Church. Countless thousands of men and women had been tortured and executed for alleged witchcraft and devil worship.

*The Puritans were a very strict and serious minded religious group, that did not condone, singing,dancing or recreational (non-work related) activity. Such activity was considered idleness and the influence of the devil.

*Some of the actual factors leading to acusations in the Salem Witch Trials, included petty jealousies and feuds, property, several of the accused witches were well-off and if convicted of witchcraft, their property was forfeit. Other reasons included their failure to attend church regularly, and perceived opposition to the minister, Samuel Parris, as well as any odd (for the time) behaviors.


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*January 1692, "Betty" becomes ill, the Reverend Samuel Parris consults with the town doctor, William Griggs. The doctor can find nothing wrong with the girl, and under some pressure from the minister, blames the girl's illness on witchcraft. This very unmedical diagnosis began the witch hunt hysteria in Salem.

*The town was already anxious, due to a recent smallpox outbreak. In their religious belief this outbreak was also a sign of the devil's presence in their community.

*For reasons which will never be fully known, the minister's daughter Betty and several of her friends began calling out the names of people in the village, who were said to be bewitching them. Soon the town jail was filled with 150 people from Salem and surrounding villages, who had been accused.

*The Salem Witch Trials began in June 1692 and were presided over by Chief Justice William Stoughton. The first to go to trial and be hanged was Bridget Bishop. Thirteen women and four men, would follow her to the gallows over the summer. An additional man Giles Corey was "pressed," crushed to death with large heavy stones, as he steadfastly refused to plead guilty to the witchcraft charge against him.

*In October of 1692, the trials suddenly ended, when the court was dismissed by the Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, William Phipps, who ruled that so-called "spectral evidence" was not allowable. The accused still in custody were immediately released and those found guilty and waiting on "death row" were pardoned and released.

*In following years, apologies were issued, but the wounds to the Village of Salem ran deep. The Salem Witch Trials became an example of what fear, superstition, and petty jealousies can do to a tight knit society.

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Persons Hanged and Executed for Witchcraft in 1692

~Bridget Bishop, June 10th
~Sarah Good, June 19th
~Elizabeth Howe, June 19th
~Susannah Martin, June 19th
~Sarah Wildes, June 19th
~George Burroughs, August 19th
~Martha Carrier, August 19th
~George Jacobs, August 19th
~John Proctor, August 19th
~John Willard, August 19th
~Giles Cory(pressed to death) September 19th
~Martha Cory, September 22nd
~Mary Easty, September 22nd
~Alice Parker, September 22nd
~Mary Parker, September 22nd
~Ann Pudeator, September 22nd
~Margaret Scott, September 22nd
~Wilmont Redd, September 22nd
~Samuel Wardwell, September 22nd

*One dog was also hanged, as he was believed to be a transformed witch.

Persons Who Were Accused of Witchcraft and Died in Prison While Awaiting Trial:

~Sarah Obsorne, 5/10/1692
~Roger Toothaker, 6/16/1692
~Ann Foster, 12/3/1692
~Lydia Dustin, 3/10/1693

*Giles Corey was "pressed" to death. He refused to stand trial after initially pleading guilty. Because he refused to be tried, he could not legally be convicted. The procedure of "pressing" was used to elicit a plea, one way or the other. He was placed on the ground, laying on his back and large rocks were placed on top of him. Giles, however, still refused to make a plea and was eventually crushed and killed by the weight of the rocks on top of him. The pressing lasted for 2 days, before Giles Corey finally succumbed. So, instead of making a plea, Giles Corey ended up making a statement!



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*Many accused and convicted persons continued to languish in jail after the trials ended, because they could not afford the money required for their release.

*Many of the released,but convicted persons ended up poor and destitute, since all their property was seized and would not be returned to them.

*There was a food shortage in Salem, as the fields had been neglected due to the turmoil of the trials.

*The Reverend Parris and his family were forced to move away from Salem by April 1696, due to community pressure. His son Noyes died insane.

*The Puritan Religion began to fade-out and lose influence as a direct result of the Witch Trials. Colonial society began to question the outmoded and superstitious beliefs of the Puritans.

*Following the Salem Witch Trials, there was never another witch trial or witch execution in the American colonies.



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Little Orphan Annie's come to my house to stay.
To wash the cups and saucers up and brush the crumbs away.
To shoo the chickens from the porch and dust the hearth and sweep,
and make the fire and bake the bread to earn her board and keep.
While all us other children, when the supper things is done,
we sit around the kitchen fire and has the mostest fun,
a listening to the witch tales that Annie tells about
and the goblins will get ya if ya don't watch out!

Once there was a little boy who wouldn't say his prayers,
and when he went to bed at night away up stairs,
his mammy heard him holler and his daddy heard him bawl,
and when they turned the covers down,
he wasn't there at all!
They searched him in the attic room
and cubby hole and press
and even up the chimney flu and every wheres, I guess,
but all they ever found of him was just his pants and round-abouts
and the goblins will get ya if ya don't watch out!!

Once there was a little girl who always laughed and grinned
and made fun of everyone, of all her blood and kin,
and once when there was company and old folks was there,
she mocked them and she shocked them and said, she didn't care.
And just as she turned on her heels and to go and run and hide,
there was two great big black things a standing by her side.
They snatched her through the ceiling fore she knew what shes about,
and the goblins will get ya if ya don't watch out!!

When the night is dark and scary,
and the moon is full and creatures are a flying and the wind goes Whoooooooooo,
you better mind your parents and your teachers fond and dear,
and cherish them that loves ya, and dry the orphans tears
and help the poor and needy ones that cluster all about,
or the goblins will get ya if ya don't watch out!!!


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