The people of Salem had nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. The “innocent” individuals were forced to wait patiently, praying the next finger would not be pointed in their direction. Those being accused had to watch helplessly as their fate rested in the hands of inexperienced judges and adolescent girls for a crime punishable by death. From 1692 to 1693, a massive witch-hunt erupted in Puritan Massachusetts, especially throughout Essex County, as hundreds were accused and tried in court with the use and acceptance of unreliable evidence. Twenty-four deaths and over 300 years later, scholars across the world still analyze what happened, and while most agree the Salem Witch Trials had no single cause, there were particularly powerful factors that influenced this occurrence.

Never to be forgotten

IN 1692..

A mass witch-hunt broke out in Puritan Massachusetts, predominately Essex County. Many individuals, including well-known and respected fellow townsfolk, were tried in court.

PEOPLES LIVES..

Would forever change and many ruined. Over 200 individuals were accused in court and 24 people died as a result of this infamous occurrence.

IT WAS NOT UNTIL 1693..

That the trials would end. Though brought to an end, damage had been done that could never be repaired.

so let's start from the beginning

It began in the midst of January in 1692. Betty Parris and Abigail
Williams, the daughter and cousin of Samuel and Elizabeth Parris, began displaying signs of witchcraft used against them.

Who is Samuel Parris?

After weeks of symptoms, these two girls accused Tituba, the Parris’
slave, of distressing them. Tituba had previously been asked by a neighbor to bake a witch cake in order to find who was tormenting these girls. This did not help Tituba's case.

The son of the successful Thomas Parris, Samuel Parris was the fourth
reverend of Salem Village. It was under Samuel Parris' tenure that Salem
Village was granted permission to have their own church. While this
was a big step for Salem Village, many were resentful towards Parris. The
community of Salem Village had an extremely difficult time over the previous
two decades agreeing on a minister. It seemed to be probable that Mr. Parris
was soon to be unemployed before the Salem Witch Trials began. It was
not until 1697 that Samuel Parris left Salem Village. He ultimately
died in 1720.

A WITCH CONFESSED, THE HUNT IS OVER.

Not exactly. Ann Putnam Jr., the daughter of Thomas and Ann Putnam, began experiencing witchcraft symptoms on the other end of Salem. In addition to the original witch Tituba, Ann pointed her fingers at Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne. All witches were summoned for questioning. A great deal of townspeople were present to observe.

These two girls also fit the description of classic witch suspects. Not popular figures of the Essex County community, Osborne did not regularly attend church. In a time and place that religion was life, all Puritans looked down upon individuals in the community that did not take church seriously. Sarah Osborne also had previous legal disputes with the Putnam family.

Interesting and Crazy

It is essential to understand that at this time, people were not
unintelligent or irrational to believe in witchcraft. The region of the Salem
Witch Trials held a high literacy rate and therefor, the population was simply
educated on the common belief of witchery

Literature

Numerous individuals across Essex County and all of colonial America
had literature on witchcraft. Disclosure of the Damned Art of
Witchcraft was owned by many, including Samuel Parris himself.

Samuel Parris often preached about this belief upon witchcraft in the Salem Village meeting house.

The Sermons of samuel parris

Molded into the minds of salem

It is evident that Samuel Parris felt it was necessary to prepare Salem Village for this difficult period.

March 27, 1962: A Sermon of samuel parris

“There are such Devils in the Church:
Not only sinners but
notorious sinners; sinners
more like to the Devil than others.”

September 11, 1692: a sermon of samuel parris

“The Devil and his
Instruments will be warring
against Christ and his followers”
and “This War will be as
long as they can.”

The injustice of law in the salem witch trials

Guilty Before Arrival

It is indisputable that the trials aimed towards justice in Salem from
1692 to 1693 were unjust. The judges held the duty of questioning
and those being accused had no representatives in their defense. With little
experience in law, the judges were not prepared for trials of such great
magnitude. Were the magistrates predetermined to convict witches or only
attempting to perform their duties correctly? Bias was undoubtedly an issue,
yet be careful. The judges may have only been fighting to keep their
community safe.

The Examination of Sarah Good

Hawthorne: "Sarah Good what evil spirit have you familiarity with"

Sarah Good: "None"

Later in the hearing..

Hawthorne: "Why do you hurt these children?"

Sarah Good: "I doe not hurt them. I scorn it."

Hawthorne: "Who doe you imploy then to doe it"

Sarah Good: "I imploy no body"

Three Women, Three Inmates

It was quickly decided that, though there was a lack of evidence, the two Sarah's and Tituba were to be jailed until further trial. It was also at this time that Tituba gave one of the most important testimonies of the trial. Tituba was extremely descriptive and also accused Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne of witchcraft. Tituba stated that there were nine witches in total and with that, the witch-hunt had begun.

Tituba's explanation of
what occurred closely
resembled the
descriptions
located in common
literature
at the time. The
experiences
she spoke of were
feared by
many, but were not
foreign
words to the
Puritan
population.

Conditions were so terrible in jail that numerous individuals died while awaiting trial. The first of these was Sarah Osborne, who died on May 10, 1692. This was the first of many victims of the Salem Witch Trials.

Others that died in jail throughout the duration of the trials include Roger Toothaker, Lyndia Dustin, and Ann Foster. Scholars have argued that up to thirteen individuals passed while in jail, yet this number has been debated upon.

Symptoms Lessened, as did Accusations..

The above statement only proved to be true for a short period of time. Day by day, further accusations would be raised against individuals, with allegations occurring both inside and outside of Salem. Accusing people of witchery was nothing new, witch hunts had happened for years both in North America and in the colonist’s ancestor’s land of England, but this situation was different. Not only was the volume greater, but a different type of “witch” was emerging. Normally, only low level individuals in a community would be blamed for witchcraft, yet in the Salem Witch Trials important figures found themselves sitting in front of a jury. In hindsight, it was clear that negative times were on the way to Puritan Massachusetts.

WHAT HAD PREVIOUSLY HAPPENED IN ESSEX COUNTY? Continue to find out.

A Failing economy

This is some text inside of a div block.

poor weather

crop failures

cold winters

Puritan Faith

Loss
OF

During the second half of the 17th century, Essex County and the rest of Massachusetts Bay underwent many hardships. The economy was in a recession due to inflation, New England was in a constant struggle through two wars, and in 1684, the Massachusetts Bay Charter was withdrawn.

The new appointment of Sir Edmond Andrews as the governor of the Dominion of New England resulted in the introduction of heavy taxes to benefit a war that was resulting in numerous deaths. In addition to this madness, the members of church had declined and Essex County ministers felt that the rising generation did not practice appropriate faith. The Puritan way of life was in grave danger and a popular belief was that this was the devil’s work in response to wrongful ways of life.

The Dominion of New England was overthrown on April 18, 1689, restoring the 1629 charter yet also lowering defenses to opposing forces. During these troubles, Salem Town and Salem Village were experiencing their own personal difficulties.

The only providence more important than Salem in Massachusetts Bay was
Boston. A port town responsible for a vast share of the currency circulated,
Salem attracted a large portion of the Puritan colonists. Within Essex County, many towns became
independence of Salem, including that of Salem Village. These two areas of
Essex County were the homes of rival prominent families: The Putnams, who
associated more with Salem Village, and the Porters, who associated more with
Salem Town. Nevertheless, there was evident tension between Salem Town and Salem Village.

Back to the Trials

WAS ANYONE "FAKING" IT?

Her Name was Mary Warren

Warren was very involved in the Trials. Older then most accusers, Mary appeared to be showing symptoms of being affected by witchcraft. The servant of the Proctors, Mary began to point fingers at others for this extremely serious crime. Within a matter of days, Ms. Warren became accused of witchcraft rather than being the accuser.

What Caused this to Happen to Mary Warren?

Mr John Proctor told Mary Warren that he was going to beat her if this continued. Following this, Mary Warren's symptoms were no more. Mary was called upon to appear in court and continued to perform what some scholars believe was acting. After going to jail, Mary admitted to witchcraft and accused others as well. This theme became common in the Salem Witch Trials. Often times, those that accused others would not see as harsh punishments as the individuals that denied the accusations.

Arresting One Of Their Own: May 4th, 1692

George Burroughs, a recent reverend of Salem Village, was arrested on this date for suspicion of witchcraft. A man that had given much of his life to the Puritan community, Burroughs was now being tried for a crime punishable by death. Cotton Mather stated that he "had the promise of being a king in Satan's kingdom". By this time, the accusations of the witch-hunt had extended outside of Salem, into other areas of Essex County. Mr Burroughs would later die for these accusations.

The day was June 2nd, 1692 and death filled the air. In a matter of months, Bishop had gone from an honest member of the Puritan church to a public enemy of Puritan community. On this day, Bridget Bishop was the first victim by hanging in the Salem Witch Trials on Gallows Hill. Sadly, many would see the same fate as Bishop.

WHY IS THIS ALL HAPPENING?

Opinions on the causation of the Salem Witch Trials vary greatly. Lets look over a few.

Cause: A condition of mass hysteria. With all the stress occurring from war, debt, and tensions among the community, individuals simply reached their breaking point. Everyone was surely afraid and with rumors going rampant, individuals can exhibit similar symptoms and delusions. A psychology major may agree with this theory.

Cause: Samuel Parris needed a solution to his problem. Minister Parris could remove himself from the spotlight. It seemed clear that his family would soon be forced to depart Salem Village and it was his home that displayed the first symptoms.

Cause: Adolescent girls starting a terrifying event for nearly no reason at all. Some argue that the girls were bored and sparked the trials for pure amusement. This cause is both simple and horrifying.

Cause: Rival Families. Though sad, some believe this witch-hunt was a strategy to increase power and hurt rivals. The Putnam family, who were strong supporters of Samuel Parris, can be connected to a large share of the accusers. The Porter family, who are often viewed as their rival family, can be connected to a large portion of those being accused.

Cause: Ergot Poisoning. Known to have effects similar to the drug LSD, individuals with this poisoning count experience symptoms as described by the witchcraft accusers like a burning feeling, vomiting, a pinching feeling, and more.

what evidence is being used

Spectral evidence

Accusing "witches" for sending their spirits to attack individuals. This method is judged upon the delusions seen and "honest" words spoken by the afflicted.

the touch test

While an afflicted individual is experiencing symptoms, the "witch" touches the person. If the symptoms reside, there is a witch present.

skin marks

If determined by those conducting the test that the accused individual has a mark of the devil, witchcraft has been spotted.

September 18, 1692

The Death of Giles Cory

"More Weight" he responded.

Giles Corey was not willing to go to court.

In attempt to cause Mr. Corey to confess, the method of crushing him with stones was used.

"More Weight" repeated Giles.

He ultimately died by this. The officials of Salem were now in acceptance of murdering those accused for a chance of a confession. But what if they were innocent? Wouldn't some people admit to such a crime rather than being crushed to death?

"More Weight"

OVER, YET ALWAYS REMEMBERED

Martha Corey

The wife of Giles Cory, Martha Cory belonged to the Salem Village Church. Prior to receiving accusations, Martha spoke against the witch-hunt. Unfortunately, both Martha Cory and her husband were victims of the trials.

Sarah Good

A economically unfortunate woman, Sarah Good was one of the first three individuals to be accused. Moments before being hung, Good was pressed to admit to her sins. Good replied "I am no more a witch than you are a wizard. If you take my life away, God will give you blood to drink."

John hathorne

Hathorne was one of the judges during the Salem Witch Trials and was often the interrogate. Hathorne often asked aggressive questions that proposed that the verdict "guilty" was inevitable. Once, Hathorne even urged a decision be changed once the jury announced the verdict of innocence.

Increase Mather

The father of Cotton Mather, Increase Mather is known for his attempts in the conclusion of the trials. Though true, some argue that Cotton only ultimately spoke up due to paranoia that his wife would soon face accusations.

Tituba

Tituba was the first witch to be accused in the Salem Witch Trials. A Indian or Caribbean slave of the Parris Family, Tituba spent the duration of the trials in jail until ultimately being released. While Tituba held a lead role in the occurrence of the trials, she was not executed.

George burroughs

A minister of Salem Village for roughly three years did not save George Burroughs from Gallows Hill. Burroughs had a legal dispute with the Putnam family in the past, as they had him arrested for arguably unsettled debt. Though Cotton Mather is seen to be a contributing source to the end of the trials, he was in favor of the death of Burroughs.

Rebecca nurse

An admired individual inside of Salem Village, Rebecca Nurse's community attempted to save her from the trials. Many signed their names on a petition and pledged that the accusations were false. Though the jury first decided innocence, the judges urged that the those involved rethink their decision. On July 19th, 1963 Rebecca Nurse was executed on Gallows Hill.

Thomas putnam

Father of the significant accuser Ann Putnam Jr., Thomas Putnam was a wealthy man and was known to be in the inner circle of Samuel Parris. Scholars have argued that Thomas Putnam was a influential force throughout the Salem Witch Trials.

sir william phips

The original Massachusetts Bay governor, Phip ultimately put an end to the Salem Witch Trials. Governor Phips attempted to cover-up the trials following it's conclusion. Emerson Baker argues in his scholarly book on the trials that this was one of the first attempts to do so the history of America.

Giles corey

A member of the minority class of men accused of witchcraft, Giles Cory was pressed to death by stones during the attempt to force him to confess. During this process, Giles repeteadly responded to his interrogation with the response "more weight".

Abigail williams

The niece of Samuel Parris, Williams was once of the original accusers in the Salem Witch Trials. Williams, along with the other young girls, would often illustrate aggressive symptoms and omit loud noises during the trials of whom they accused.

References

Baker, Emerson W. A Storm of Witchcraft: the Salem Trials and the American Experience. New York: Oxford University Press, 2015.

Boyer, Paul. Salem Possessed. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1974.

Boyer, Paul and Nissenbaum, Stephen. Salem-Village Witchcraft: A Documentary Record of Local Conflict in Colonial New England. Boston: Northeastern University Press, 1972.

Karlsen, Carol F. The Devil in the Shape of a Woman. New York: W. W. Norton & Company), 1987.

Norton, Mary Beth. Inside the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692. New York: Vintage Publishing, 2002.

Woolf, Alan. “Witchcraft or Mycotoxin? The Salem Witch Trials,” Journal of Toxicology 38, no. 4, June 2000: 457-460.

The University of Virginia Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive: http://salem.lib.virginia.edu/home.html

The Houston Public Library's Salem Witchcraft in 1692: A Bibliography: http://houstonlibrary.org/salem-witchcraft-1692-bibliography-0

The salem witch trials: Evident Injustice

the prosecutors and the defendents