25 disturbing facts about the salem witch trials 25 disturbing facts about the salem witch trials

They were eventually assumed to be possessed. Tackling the same twisted subject as Stacy Schiff's much-lauded book The Witches: Salem, 1692, this Sibert Honor book for young readers features unique scratchboard illustrations, chilling primary source material, and powerful narrative to tell the true tale.In the little colonial town of Salem Village, Massachusetts, two girls began to twitch, mumble, and contort their bodies into strange shapes. Some scholars believe that they were of African heritage, while others think that they may have been of Caribbean Native American heritage.). Little is known about Tituba besides her role in the witch trials. The punishment for witchcraft was death. The girls are examined by a . The colony passed a bill in 1711 restoring the rights and good names of those accused and granted 600 restitution to their heirs. In January 1692, two little girls living in Salem began acting strangely. The Salem witch trials would mark her second time being accused of being a witch. From the role of Abigail Williams to the invention of witch cakes and the devils mark, get ready to learn all you ever wanted to know (and more) about the dark past of the Salem witch trials. Nige Tassell explains how hysteria in the village of Salem, Massachusets, gave rise to a horror that bedazzled the world Published: June 10, 2020 at 4:45 pm Subs offer One of the people who perished in prison was only an infant. The people of Salem often ate rye bread,and in wet, swampy conditions (which Salem had at the time), rye can foster a fungus called ergot. The salem witch trials hysteria of 1692 was caused by the Puritans strict religious standards and intolerance of anything not accepted with their scripture. Despite the horrible and senseless loss of life and community divisions that the witch trials caused, some historians believe that the traumatic incident had a silver lining. The 1942 romantic comedy filmI Married a Witch, starring Veronica Lake and Frederic March, told the story of two witches from Salem placing a revenge curse on the descendants of their accuser. The Salem trials occurred late in the sequence, after the abatement of the European witch-hunt fervour, which peaked from the 1580s and 90s to the 1630s and 40s. 4. No other mode of punishment was entertained by the Salem puritans. Not that Salem didnt have its problems to begin with, but the community never fully recovered from the witch trials saga, and the divisions and setbacks to the towns development continued in the years following the trials. I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. The next time Giles wanted to attend, Martha objected and prevented him from going. Witches were considered to be followers of Satan who had traded their souls for his assistance. In January 1692 Bettys and Abigails increasingly strange behaviour (described by at least one historian as juvenile deliquency) came to include fits. As the trials continued, accusations extended beyond Salem Village to surrounding communities. It was believed that they employed demons to accomplish magical deeds, that they changed from human to animal form or from one human form to another, that animals acted as their familiar spirits, and that they rode through the air at night to secret meetings and orgies. However, witch trials are not a thing of the past. Several episodes of the original Bewitched TV series were actually filmed on location in Salem. (The hallucinogen LSD is a derivative of ergot.) At the end of the 17th century, after years of mostly resisting witch hunts and witch trial prosecutions, Puritans in New England suddenly found themselves facing a conspiracy of witches in a war against Satan and his minions. The Salem Witch Trials, 1692 17th Century Pocahontas Saves John Smith, 1608 Aboard the Mayflower, 1620 The First Thanksgiving, 1621 The Price of Adultery in Puritan Massachusetts, 1641 Living Among the Mohawks, 1644 The Execution of Charles I, 1649 The Great Fire of London, 1666 Inside the Court of Louis XIV, 1671 New York City, 1679 There is little doubt that some individuals did worship the devil and attempt to practice sorcery with harmful intent. Because of the similarity in time period, location, and story, people often mix up the Puritans with the Pilgrims, the group of Dutch settlers who created what we now know as the holiday of Thanksgiving. By the time it was over, the resulting Salem witch trials had claimed the lives of 20 innocent souls. Eventually, the accusations ensnared even the most powerful people in Massachusetts. Fourteen women and six men were executed for witchcraft, and five others died in prison during the trials. Arthur Millers play The Crucible played a large role in popularizing many of the details of the Salem witch trials and dramatizing facts that he uncovered in historical records. The Salem witch trials of the late 17th century were a formative episode in America's early history, and have remained at the forefront of the national consciousness ever since. Apparently they felt that giving gifts took away from ones ability to focus on serious religious thought, and they did not like the pagan origins of some aspects of the holiday. One of the most notorious periods of American history, the Salem witch trials of 1692 resulted in the execution by hanging of fourteen women and five men who were accused of being witches during a period of mass hysteria. Millers famous play about the Salem witch trials is called The Cruciblebut what is a crucible anyway? So if you are a witch, no need to worry about this ever happening again! Villagers killed that second dog and sent the man fleeing for his life. It was a time when Christianity was prominent and no one steered away from the biblical beliefs. Additionally, he is an accomplished scriptwriter, having written the successful AA Meeting series for the stage and the award-winning film Depth of Pyaar. Although most of the accused witches were women, some men were also accused. Under pressure from the authoritiesand hoping she would get to see her mother if she compliedshe confessed to the claims that Sarah was a witch and Dorothy had been witness to this fact. Many possible answers have been proposed, but one likely explanation is that they were suffering from some kind of natural medical afflictions. Mysteriously, in 1692, the reverend's 9-year-old daughter, Elizabeth (aka Betty), and 11-year-old niece, Abigail, began having fits. While there was no need to provide evidence for accusing someone of witchcraftjust pointing fingers was enoughspectral evidence was often used during the trials. 20 wereexecuted (generally hanged) by the prosecutors, and five died while serving prison time. The stars of the Salem story were the Puritan community of the Massachusetts Bay colony, a religious groupthat came over to America to escape religious persecution back in England. Thomas Maule, a Quaker who found himself at odds with the Puritan community at times, was beaten and imprisoned for speaking out against the trials, despite the fact that he himself believed in witches. Here are 42 wicked facts about the Salem witch trials. Despite being known as the Salem witch trials, some of the trials actually took place in Ipswich and Andover in addition to Salem itself. Other girls and young women began experiencing fits, among them Ann Putnam, Jr.; her mother; her cousin, Mary Walcott; and the Putnamss servant, Mercy Lewis. Photo Credit: https://bit.ly/39AhFc2 An important minister in Boston named Increase Mather was one of these objectors, stating that It were better that ten suspected witches should escape than that one innocent person should be condemned.. Move over Montagues and Capulets: You might not be the most vengeful families out there. Which, yes, is a little ironic. Catherine of Aragon was King Henry VIIIs first wife and longest-lasting Queen of England. The town of Andover in northeastern Massachusetts, not Salem Village, had the highest number of accused (42 accused in Andover versus 26 accused in Salem Village).However, it was Salem Village where the witch trials were taken to such drastic lengths. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. However, after the dogs death, the local Minister reasoned that if the devil had possessed the dog, it would not have been so easily killed with a bullet. While Miller maintained that he kept everything historically accurate, some have noted that he made changes to the real record for the sake of the play. So if witchcraft wasnt really happening in Salem, what actually caused those girls to have the fits? Parris had shrewdly negotiated his contract with the congregation, but relatively early in his tenure he sought greater compensation, including ownership of the parsonage, which did not sit well with many members of the congregation. So if you are a witch, no need to worry about this ever happening again! Jeff Wallenfeldt, manager of Geography and History, has worked as an editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica since 1992. Salem Witch Hunt begins - HISTORY Tituba ultimately survived the saga and was not hanged. The late comedian Lucille Ball is a descendant of Rachel Vinson, who was acquitted in the witch trials. Significantly, those that they began identifying as other witches were no longer just outsiders and outcasts but rather upstanding members of the community, beginning with Rebecca Nurse, a mature woman of some prominence. The Salem Witch Trials of 1692 were a dark time in American history. 25 DISTURBING Facts About The Salem Witch Trials 429,208 views Sep 12, 2018 6.3K Dislike Share Save List 25 2.51M subscribers Get ready to pull out your history books as we bring you the most. As she did when she was accused of bewitching her second husband, Bishop once again claimed innocence during her trial. The three convicted individuals received pardons. The Salem witch trials and executions came about as the result of a combination of church politics, family feuds, and hysterical children, all of which unfolded in a vacuum of political authority. Because he refused to comply with the court, he was given the sentence of being pressed to death. The court first convened on June 2, 1692, with Bridget Bishops case being the first to be adjudicated upon. I wonder if what the prescription is for that. Life, woman, life is Gods most precious gift; no principle, however glorious, may justify the taking of it.Arthur Miller, in The Crucible. What historians do know is that Abigail Williams was born on July 12, 1680. So if you celebrate Christmas and live in Massachusetts today, be happy you were born when you were! How many people were killed during the Salem witch trials? Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark historyor the chilling secret shared by her and Louis. Initially, Tituba also claimed to be blameless, but after being repeatedly badgered (and undoubtedly fearful owing to her vulnerable status as a slave), she told the magistrates what they apparently wanted to hearthat she had been visited by the devil and made a deal with him. This period of witch trials later came to be known as the Salem witch trials, named after the town of Salem and Salem Village (present-day Danvers). They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. In May of 1693, Phips released from prison all remaining accused or convicted witches. Some of the attitudes in the Salem witch trials are still seen today. The Salem witchcraft trials, which began in May of 1692 after months of rumors of Satanic influence, still grip the American imagination more than 300 years later. The infamous Salem witch trials began during the spring of 1692, after a group of young girls in Salem Village, Massachusetts, claimed to be possessed by the devil and accused several local. With Abigail Spencer, Matt Lanter, Malcolm Barrett, Paterson Joseph. The people of Salem often ate rye bread,and in wet, swampy conditions (which Salem had at the time), rye can foster a fungus called ergot. Statistical Analysis of the Accused. Salem Witch Trials . Their initial accusations gave way to trials, hysteria, and a frenzy that resulted in further accusations, often between the differing factions. The magistrates then had not only a confession but also what they accepted as evidence of the presence of more witches in the community, and hysteria mounted. When Millers The Crucible was produced, it was in the aftermath of his feud with Elia Kazan, the man who had directed his two earlier hit plays All My Sons and Death of a Salesman. The Salem witch trials are a defining example of intolerance and injustice in American history. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Full List, Photo Credits, and Sources: https://list25.com/25-disturbing-facts-about-the-salem-witch-trialsSUBSCRIBE - http://bit.ly/2uwq6BJCheck out our store: https://teespring.com/stores/list25-swagFollow us on: List25 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/list25List25 Instagram: https://instagram.com/list25/List25 Twitter - https://twitter.com/list25 List25 Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/list25/See more Top 25 lists on our website:http://list25.comThe Salem witch trials were BRUTAL, but did you know that a big reason for the craziness surrounding the town was the Salem smallpox outbreak shortly before? Many possible answers have been proposed, but one likely explanation is that they were suffering from some kind of natural medical afflictions. According to the warrant for her apprehension, she was called for trial on March 23, 1692, under suspicion of witchcraft after being accused by Edward Putnam. The best revenge might be living well, but that doesn't mean we can always turn the other cheek. For example, the infamous Putnam family had been one of the earliest settler dynasties to come to the Massachusetts Bay colony and establish themselves there. Make sure to watch this video all the way to the end to see which crazy witchcraft fact made our top 10! The second slain dog was actually thought to be a victim of witchcraft whose tormentors fled Salem before they could be tried in court. Large rocks and boulders were then laid on the planks, which slowly crushed him., After Governor Phips put an end to the witch trials, many involved in the proceedings expressed guilt and remorse about the events that occurred, including judge Samuel Sewall and the governor himself. Besides their descendants, the accused witches of Salem leave another legacy: a rich and fascinating history for us to explore today. The Start of the Salem Witch Trials. It was actually the local doctor, likely William Griggs, who first diagnosed the girls as having been bewitched when he couldnt find anything medically wrong with them to explain the strange behavior. Now that Tituba had confirmed that satanic work was afootand that there were other witches aroundthere was no stopping until they were all found. Learn about the Salem witch trials and their legacy. Pressured by Parris to identify their tormentor, Betty and Abigail claimed to have been bewitched by Tituba and two other marginalized members of the community, neither of whom attended church regularly: Sarah Good, an irascible beggar, and Sarah Osborn (also spelled Osborne), an elderly bed-ridden woman who was scorned for her romantic involvement with an indentured servant. Parriss orthodox Puritan theology and preaching also divided the congregation, a split that became demonstrably visible when he routinely insisted that nonmembers of the congregation leave before communion was celebrated. . Rebecca Beatrice Brooks Post author October 25, 2017 at 3:28 pm. In 1692, when the Salem witch trials began, the United States Constitution did not yet exist. Historys most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. The community, beleaguered with hardships already, then overreacted. The Evil Justice William Stoughton Was the Ultimate Hanging Judge at the Salem Witch Trials and Heres Why. HistoryCollection.com, January 29, 2018. https://historycollection.com/william-stoughton-ultimate-hanging-judge-salem-witch-trials/. The village itself had a noticeable social divide that was exacerbated by a rivalry between its two leading familiesthe well-heeled Porters, who had strong connections with Salem Towns wealthy merchants, and the Putnams, who sought greater autonomy for the village and were the standard-bearers for the less-prosperous farm families. I wonder if what the prescription is for that. Salem was . More than 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraftthe devil's magic and 20 were executed.. In response, John found himself accused as well. It is not known why Abigail was living with the Parris family but many historians assume her parents . The girls were having a type of epileptic fit and would scream out . These 10 lesser-known facts about the . One of the most popular points of view was that if you were against the trials, then you were, in fact, an advocate for the witches. Linder, Douglas O. As the most commanding mistress in the French court, she bettered the lives of many and became a beloved figure. Accessed May 6, 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_of_the_Salem_witch_trials. And the first person executed for witchcraft during the trials was also a woman. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They argue that the trialscreated a taboo in America against mixing religion and government, and George Lincoln Burr called it, the rock on which the theocracy shattered. There is also no question that the incident remains a constant reminder in our collective minds about the importance of due process in a legal system, and the dangers of premature overreaction and irrational hysteria. Corrections? Life, woman, life is Gods most precious gift; no principle, however glorious, may justify the taking of it.Arthur Miller, in The Crucible. On a Saturday night in mid-October, Dmitry and his friend Misha met up to experience The Haunted Witch Trials, a Halloween attraction in which the Salem Witch Trials were re-imagined into a haunted house type of attraction that took place on a 100-acre plot of land. The feud was over the fact that Kazan had named communist sympathizers during his testimony to Congress. Credits: Danvers Lunatic Asylum: CHRONICLES- Danvers State Hospital | Danvers The story goes that Corey and her husband, Giles, sat in on the trials early on, causing Martha to express scepticism about the legitimacy of the proceedings. That May release included Elizabeth Proctor, who had been found guilty of witchcraft in August of the previous year and sentenced to death,but had her execution postponed due to pregnancy. Unlike the others who were hanged, this unfortunate fellow was crushed to death by stones. She crafted a tale detailing how the devil had come to her and asked her to do his bidding. The Salem Witch Trials, the events of 1692 in Salem Village which resulted in 185 accused of witchcraft, 156 formally charged, 47 confessions, and 19 executed by hanging, remain one of the most studied phenomena in colonial American history. One of the turning points in ending public support and enthusiasm for the trials was the conviction and execution of one of the towns former minsters, George Burroughs, who publicly recited the Lords Prayer at the gallows, which was believed to be impossible for witches to do. Here are 10 things you need to know about the notorious witch trials. They had seizures, hid under chairs, talked in gibberish, and ran fevers. When he stopped being paid altogether, he left Salem. The governor pardoned the rest of the accused witches and they were released from jail. In February, unable to account for their behaviour medically, the local doctor, William Griggs, put the blame on the supernatural. The Salem witch trails reveal about gender and power in the 17 th century in the US is that the roles men expected of women followed a strict guideline. List of People of the Salem Witch Trials. Wikipedia. Due to its association with the supernatural and the haunted, Salem is now a popular destination for Halloween festivities, which run throughout the month of October. An important minister in Boston named Increase Mather was one of these objectors, stating that It were better that ten suspected witches should escape than that one innocent person should be condemned.. (Salem Witch Trials "History" published on November 4, 2011 and updated on October 5, 2021). The Salem witch trials occurred in colonial Massachusetts between early 1692 and mid-1693. Another more disturbing theory proposed by researchers like behavioral psychologist Linnda Caporael suggests that Salem suffered from ergot poisoning. In total, more than 200 people were accused of witchcraft and more than 150 were arrested. Ergot causes hallucinations, convulsive fits, and sometimes death, and LSD derives from the substance. Although Giles was a wealthy farmer and Martha was a prominent church member, both of them had pasts they werent exactly advertising to the public. Some have suggested that the man who was truly responsible for initiating the witch trial debacle was Reverend Samuel Parris, the father and uncle of the afflicted girls. 1 Most of the accused were women but men were accusedand executedtoo. She was an enslaved woman believed to have been from Central America, captured as a child from Barbados, and brought to Massachusetts in 1680 by Reverend Parris. Learn all about secret burials, door to door witch hunters, the touch test, the swimming test, and the witchcraft act that made all of this possible. At the suggestion of a neighbour, a witch cake (made with the urine of the victims) was baked by Tituba to try to ferret out the supernatural perpetrator of the girls illness. The girls contorted their bodies into odd positions, made strange noises and spoke gibberish, and seemed to be having fits. Unfortunately for Bishop, that allegation of witchcraft would not be her last. The litany of odd behaviour also mirrored that of the children of a Boston family who in 1688 were believed to have been bewitched, a description of which had been provided by Congregational minister Cotton Mather in his book Memorable Providences, Relating to Witchcraft and Possessions (1689) and which may have been known by the girls in Salem Village. By May 1693 everyone in custody under conviction or suspicion of witchcraft had been pardoned by Phips. They screamed, made odd sounds, threw things, contorted their bodies, and complained of biting and pinching sensations. Tituba ultimately survived the saga and was not hanged. His sixth great grandson was Walt Disney. Make sure to leave us a comment after you watch this video to tell us what you learned and what video youd like to see next! Much of the evidence brought agains the witches, at least at first, was called spectral evidence, where people testified to seeing an apparition of the accused trying to inflict harm on them. Facts: -"At the time of these events Parris was in his middle forties." -"They did not celebrate Christmas, and a holiday from work meant only that they must concentrate even more upon prayer." -"The edge of the wilderness was close by. The phrase witch hunt, commonly used to refer to an unjustified or falsely conjured-up prosecution, is thought to originate as a reference to this time period in American history. John Proctors son was born in prison while his wife was imprisoned on witchcraft charges. In 1635, Plymouth Colony made it a crime to "form a solemn compact with the devil by way of witchcraft." As late as the 19 th century, women were persecuted for cursing butter churns, making animals sick and causing people to die. Dont feel too embarrassed if you happen to be from Massachusetts, you guys were not the first to do something like this. Sarah Good also gave birth to a daughter, Mercy, while in custody. T he infamous Salem witch trials of 1692 and 1693 claimed the lives of 20 people. The dog was also supposed to then point to the people who had bewitched the victim. The Salem Witch Trials that took place in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 was most defiantly a time when one could attribute "moral panic" to the deaths of 20 people who were hung for being what society deemed as witches.