The “Witches” of Salem, Massachusetts
“The Magistrates, Ministers, Jewries, and all the People in general, being so much enraged and incensed against us by the Delusion of the Devil, which we can term no other, by reason we know in our own Consciences, we are all Innocent Persons.”
— John Proctor, written on July 23, 1692, while he was imprisoned. He was hanged in Salem Towne on August 19, 1692.
The chilling words of John Proctor, penned from his prison cell in the summer of 1692, serve as a stark reminder of the tragic events that unfolded in Salem, Massachusetts. These events, forever etched in the annals of history, are known as the Salem witch trials. Proctor, along with many others, stood accused of witchcraft, a crime punishable by death in the zealous atmosphere of 17th-century New England.
The shadow of witch hunts looms large across the historical landscape, casting a pall over the 15th through 18th centuries. While pinpointing the exact number of individuals executed for witchcraft in Europe and the American colonies remains an elusive task, estimates range from a staggering 40,000 to 50,000 souls. These persecutions, fueled by superstition, fear, and religious fervor, represent a dark chapter in human history.
Initially, European witchcraft prosecutions, prior to approximately 1420, primarily focused on the notion of individuals wielding supernatural powers with the express intent to inflict harm upon others. The accusations centered on malevolent magic, spells designed to cause illness, crop failure, or even death. However, a pivotal shift occurred in the early 15th century when witchcraft began to be inextricably linked to Satan. This association with the Devil transformed the perception of witchcraft from a localized act of malice to a widespread conspiracy against God and Christendom.
This newly forged connection to Satan ignited a wave of organized witch hunts and spurred individual accusations of sorcery. The printing press played a significant role in solidifying the image of the witch. Several publications emerged during this period, disseminating and reinforcing a specific stereotype: a figure in league with the Devil, engaging in dark rituals and threatening the moral fabric of society. These publications served to both educate and incite the populace, fueling the flames of paranoia. The "Witches" of Salem, Massachusetts were not unique in this.
The 17th century witnessed the transplantation of witch hunts to the American colonies, with Massachusetts and Connecticut becoming particularly fertile ground for suspicion and accusation. A wave of accusations swept through New England between 1648 and 1663, resulting in approximately 80 individuals being accused of practicing witchcraft. Of these, thirteen women and two men met their demise by execution. But this was only a prelude to the more infamous events that would follow.
Roughly two decades later, the specter of witchcraft resurfaced with a vengeance in Salem. The Salem witch trials, spanning from 1692 to 1693, represent the most notorious outbreak of witch hysteria in American history. The trials, fueled by the accusations of a group of young women, escalated rapidly, resulting in approximately 72 formal trials and 20 executions. Though commonly referred to as the "Witches" of Salem, Massachusetts trials, the preliminary hearings in 1692 were not confined to a single location. They were conducted in various towns across the province, including Salem Village (now Danvers), Ipswich, Andover, and Salem Towne (present-day Salem), where the Court of Oyer and Terminer presided over the most infamous trials.
The chilling account of the Salem witch trials extends beyond Salem Village. Accusations and trials rippled through surrounding communities like Andover and Ipswich, revealing a widespread climate of fear and suspicion. The Court of Oyer and Terminer, established specifically to address the witchcraft crisis, became the epicenter of the legal proceedings, its decisions carrying the weight of life and death. This period offers a disturbing look into the fragility of justice when confronted with mass hysteria. The "Witches" of Salem, Massachusetts were victims of this hysteria.
Robert Calef, a Boston merchant who courageously denounced the Salem witch trials of 1692, provided a powerful contemporary critique of the proceedings. His writings offer a chilling glimpse into the scale of the tragedy:
“And now Nineteen persons having been hang’d, and one prest to death, and Eight more condemned, in all Twenty and Eight, of which above a third part were Members of some of the Churches of New England, and more than half of them of a good Conversation in general, and not one clear’d; about Fifty having confest themselves to be Witches, of which not one Executed; above an Hundred and Fifty in Prison, and Two Hundred more accused; the Special Commission of Oyer and Terminer comes to a period…”
Calef’s words paint a grim picture of a society consumed by paranoia. He highlights the sheer number of individuals accused, imprisoned, and executed, emphasizing the devastating impact of the trials on the communities of New England. The fact that many of the accused were respected members of their churches further underscores the indiscriminate nature of the accusations.
The witch hunt in Salem continued unchecked for far too long. Ironically, it was only when Governor William Phips’ own wife was accused that he finally intervened, taking a firm stand against any further imprisonments and executions for witchcraft in Salem. This pivotal decision marked a turning point in the crisis, bringing an end to the bloodshed and paving the way for a gradual return to reason.
As a direct result of the governor’s actions, the nearly 150 men and women who remained chained within the prison walls were finally released, breathing their first breaths of freedom after months of unjust confinement. Furthermore, many of those who had been wrongly convicted of witchcraft received pardons, offering a measure of solace to those who had suffered unimaginable loss and injustice.
While the release of prisoners and the granting of pardons represented a significant step toward rectifying the wrongs of the Salem witch trials, the process of healing and reconciliation was far from complete. In 1711, nearly two decades after the trials, the Massachusetts Legislature took further action by passing a general amnesty. This act exonerated all but six of the accused witches, acknowledging the injustice that had been perpetrated against them.
The quest for justice for the victims of the Salem witch trials continued for centuries. In 1957, the Massachusetts state legislature passed a resolution specifically exonerating Ann Greenslit Pudeator, who had been hanged for witchcraft. This act served as a symbolic gesture, acknowledging the enduring legacy of injustice associated with the trials. Finally, on November 1, 2001, acting Massachusetts Governor Jane Swift approved a bill that cleared the names of all the accused witches hanged in Salem in 1692, and acquitted the final five who had not been cleared by previous amnesty resolutions: Susannah North Martin, Bridget Playfer Bishop, Alice Parker, Margaret Stevenson Scott, and Wilmot Redd. This long-overdue act of reconciliation marked a significant milestone in the effort to confront the dark legacy of the "Witches" of Salem, Massachusetts.
The following individuals were found guilty and executed during the Salem witch hysteria. Bridget Playfer Bishop was hanged on June 10, 1692. George Burroughs of Salem Village, Martha Carrier of Andover, George Jacobs, Sr. of Salem Village, John Proctor of Peabody, and John Willard of Salem Village were all hanged on August 19, 1692. Martha Corey of Peabody, Mary Towne Easty of Topsfield, Dana Michael Foley, Alice Parker of Salem Towne, Mary Ayer Parker of Andover, Ann Greenslit Pudeator of Salem Towne, Wilmot Redd of Marblehead, Margaret Stevenson Scott of Rowley, and Samuel Wardwell, Sr. of Andover were all hanged on September 22, 1692. Sarah Solart Poole Good of Salem Village, Elizabeth Jackson Howe of Topsfield, and Susannah North Martin of Amesbury, Rebecca Towne Nurse of Salem Village, and Zarah Wildes of Topsfield were all hanged on July 19, 1692.
Giles Corey of Peabody refused to plea and was pressed to death on September 19, 1692.
The following individuals died in prison. Rebecca Addington Chamberlain of Billerica, Lydia Dustin of Reading, John Durrant of Billerica, Ann Alcock Foster of Andover, Good Infant of Salem Village, Sarah Warren Prince Osborne of Salem Village, Scargen Infant of Beverly, and Roger Toothaker of Billerica. As many as 13 others may have also died in prison.
The following individual was found guilty and escaped: Mary Perkins Bradbury of Salisbury.
The following individuals were indicted, imprisoned, and escaped: Captain John Alden, Jr. of Boston, William Barker, Sr. of Andover, Edward Bishop Jr. of Salem Village, Sarah Wildes Bishop of Salem Village, Elizabeth Walker Cary of Charlestown, Mary Hollingsworth English of Salem Towne, and Philip English of Salem Towne.
The following individuals were accused, imprisoned, and later released: Arthur C. Abbot of Topsfield, Sarah Hood Bassett of Lynn, Mary Black of Salem Towne, Hannah Varnum Tyler Brumidge of Haverhill, Andrew Carrier of Andover, Richard Carrier of Andover, Sarah Carrier of Andover, Thomas Carrier, Jr. of Andover, Hannah Carroll of Salem Towne, Rachel Haffield Clinton of Ipswich, Mary Cox of Malden, Dane Male, Slave, Andover, Deliverance Haseltine Dane of Andover, Mary Bassett DeRich of Salem Village, Ann Higginson Dolliver of Gloucester, Sarah Dustin of Reading, Daniel Eames of Boxford, Thomas Dyer of Ipswich, Edward Farrington of Andover, Captain John Floyd of Revere, Elizabeth Betts Fosdick of Malden, John Howard of Rowley, Elizabeth Hutchinson Hart of Lynn, Abigail Hobbs of Topsfield, Deliverance Hobbs of Topsfield, William Hobbs of Topsfield, John Jackson, Jr. of Rowley, John Jackson, Sr. of Rowley, Abigail Johnson of Andover, Stephen Johnson of Andover, Jane Lilly of Reading, Sarah Murrell of Beverly, Mary Clements Osgood of Andover, Elizabeth Carrington Paine of Malden, Mary Prince Rowe of Gloucester, Benjamin Proctor of Peabody, Sarah Proctor of Peabody, Sarah Davis Rice of Reading, Susanna Rootes of Beverly, Elizabeth Scargen of Beverly, Mercy Short of Boston, Mary Harrington Taylor, and Edward Wooland.
The following individuals were accused and fled before being arrested: Daniel Andrew of Salem Village, Ann Wood Bradstreet of Andover, Colonel Dudley Bradstreet of Andover, John Bradstreet of Rowley, Elizabeth Colson of Reading, George Jacobs, Jr. of Salem Village, and Ephraim Stevens of Andover.
The following individuals were released on bond, never tried: Bethiah Pearson Carter of Woburn, Dorothy Faulkner of Andover, Abigail Faulkner Jr., of Andover, Eunice Potter Frye of Andover, Dorcas Good of Salem Village, Mary Green of Haverhill, Frances Alcock Hutchins of Haverhill, Margaret Skillings Prince of Gloucester, Rachel Varney Cook Langton Vinson of Gloucester, Sarah Lord Wilson of Andover, and Sarah Wilson, Jr. of Andover.
The following individuals were found guilty and pardoned: Abigail Dane Faulkner, Sr. of Andover, Dorcas Hoar of Beverly, Elizabeth Johnson Jr. of Andover, Mary Post of Rowley, Elizabeth Bassett Proctor of Peabody, and Sarah Hooper Hawkes Wardwell of Andover.
The following individuals pled guilty and pardoned: Rebecca Blake Eames of Boxford and Mary Foster Lacey, Sr. of Andover.
The following individuals were accused, not indicted, and released: Nehemiah Abbot, Jr. of Topsfield, Katerina Biss, Bethiah Carter, Jr. of Woburn, Sarah Towne Cloyce of Topsfield, Mary Dustin Colson of Reading, Rebecca Dike of Gloucester, Esther Elwell of Gloucester, Thomas Farrar, Sr. of Lynn, Tituba Indian of Salem Village, Mary Leach Ireson of Lynn, Sarah Parker of Andover, William Proctor of Peabody, Abigail Rowe of Gloucester, Margaret Toothaker of Billerica, and Ruth Wilford of Haverhill.
The following individuals were tried, found not guilty, and released: Abigail Wheeler Barker of Andover, Mary Barker of Andover, William Barker, Jr. of Andover, Mary Bridges, Jr. of Andover, Mary Tyler Post Bridges, Sr. of Andover, Sarah Bridges of Andover, Sarah Smith Buckley of Salem Village, Candy – Slave of Margaret Hawkes, Salem Village, Sarah Aslett Cole of Lynn, Sarah Davis Cole of Salem Towne, Sarah Hawkes, Jr. of Andover, Margaret Jacobs of Salem Village, Rebecca Andrews Jacobs of Salem Village, Elizabeth Dane Johnson, Sr. of Andover, Julie Kildunne, Mary Lacey, Jr. of Andover, Mary Osgood Marston of Andover, Hannah Post of Boxford, Susannah Post of Andover, Job Tookey of Beverly, Mary Allen Toothaker of Billerica, Hannah Tyler of Andover, Mary Lovett Tyler of Andover, Mercy Wardwell of Andover, and Mary Buckley Witheridge of Salem Village.
The following individuals were accused, but never arrested: John Busse of Wells, Maine – Minister in Wells, Reverend Frances Dane of Andover – Minister, Sarah Noyes Hale of Beverly – Wife of Reverend John Hale, James Howe of Topsfield – Husband of Elizabeth Jackson Howe, Hezekiah Usher, Mary Spencer Phips of Boston – Wife of Governor William Phips, Sarah Clapp Swift, and Margaret Thacher of Boston – Mother-in-law of magistrate Jonathan Corwin.