Salem Witch Trials

Historical question:

What caused the Salem Witch Trials??

Background:

Half-Way Covenant 1692-Betty Parris, Abigail Williams fall ill

Complain of pinching, prickling sensations, knifelike pain, feelings of being choked

3 more girls showed similar symptoms in next weeks Witchcraft suspected, girls asked to give names 3 women accused, Tituba-Indian slave If you confessed, no death penalty, but you had to

provide details and names of others Difficult to prove innocence-judge had to believe the

“visions” that the victims were having, caused by the “witches”

Outcome:

20 people were convicted of witchcraft and killed (19 by hanging, 1 pressed to death)

Over 100 suspected witches imprisoned

Salem Evidence A: “Discourse on Witchcraft”

In the speech below, Cotten Mather, an influential leader of the Puritans, argues for the existence of witchcraft (1688).

It should next be proved THAT Witchcraft is.

The being of such a thing is denied by many that place a great part of their small wit in deriding the stories that are told of it. Their chief argument is that they never saw any witches, therefore there are none. Just as if you or I should say, we never met with any robbers on the road, therefore there never was any padding there. . . .

[T]here are especially two demonstrations that evidence the being of that infernal mysterious thing. First. We have the testimony of scripture for it. Secondly. We have the testimony of experience for it. . . . Many witches have . . . confessed and shown their deeds. We see those things done that it is impossible any disease or any deceit should procure.

Source: Cotton Mather, “Memorable Providences relating to Witchcrafts and Possessions,” from A Discourse on Witchcraft, (Boston, 1689), pp. 4-9. Cotton Mather was one of the most influential religious leaders in America at the time.

Salem Evidence B: Testimony of Abigail Hobbs

Below is the testimony of a teenager accused of witchcraft, Abigail Hobbs, on April 19, 1692.

The Examination of Abigail Hobbs , at Salem Village, 19 April, 1692, by John Hawthorn and Jonath. Corwin , Esqs., and Assistants.

[Judge:] Abig. Hobbs, you are brought before Authority to answer to sundry acts of witchcraft, committed by you against and upon the bodies of many, of which several persons now accuse you. What say you? Are you guilty, or not? Speak the truth.

[Abigail Hobbs:] I will speak the truth. I have seen sights and been scared. I have been very wicked. I hope I shall be better, if God will help me.

[Judge:] What sights did you see?

[Abigail Hobbs:] I have seen dogs and many creatures.

[Judge:] What dogs do you mean, ordinary dogs?

[Abigail Hobbs:] I mean the Devil.

[Judge:] How often, many times? [Abigail Hobbs:]  But once. [Judge:] What would he have you do? [Abigail Hobbs:] Why, he would have me

be a witch. [Judge:] Would he have you make a

covenant with him? [Abigail Hobbs:] Yes.

Document B: The examination of Sarah Good before the worshipfull Assts John Harthorn Jonathan Curren

(H.) Sarah Good what evil spirit have you familiarity with

(Sarah G) None(H) Have you made no contract with the devil(Sarah) Good answered no(H) Why doe you hurt these children(Sarah) I doe not hurt them. I scorn it.(H) Who doe you imploy then to doe it (Sarah) No creature but I am falsely accused

(H) Why did you go away muttering from Mr. Parris his house

(Sarah) I did not mutter but I thanked him for what he gave my child

(H) Have you made no contract with the devil (Sarah) No (H) Desired the children all of them to look upon

her, and see, if this were the person that had hurt them and so they all did looke upon her and said this was one of the persons that did torment them--presently they were all tormented.

(H) Sarah good doe you not see now what you have done why doe you not tell us the truth, why doe you thus torment these poor children

(Sarah) I doe not torment them, (H) who do you imploy then (Sarah) I imploy nobody I scorn it (H) Who was it then that tormented the

children (Sarah) It was osburn

(H) What is it that you say when you goe muttering away from persons houses…

(Sarah) If I must tell I will tell, it is the commandments I may say my commandments I hope

(H) What commandment is it(Sarah)…it is a psalm(H) what psalm(Sarah) after a long time shee muttered over

some part of a psalm (H) Who doe you serve(Sarah) I serve god

…(H) Though shee was not willing to mention the word God her answers were in a very wicked, spitfull manner reflecting and retorting aganst the authority with base and abusive words and many lies shee was taken in. It was here said that her housband had said that he was afraid that shee either was a witch or would be one very quickly…

Matthew Hopkins, 17c witch-hunter. His witch finder. His methods brought death to hundreds of women, men, and children in eastern England in the 1640s.

Samuel Sewall Cotton Mather

“Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live” Exodus 22:18

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” I Peter 5:8

The puritans would have believed in the truth of these verses. In light of the witch hysteria, how should we respond to these verses today?

• January 1693: 49 of the 52 surviving people brought into court on witchcraft charges are released because their arrests were based on spectral evidence.

• 1693: Tituba is released from jail and sold to a new master.• May 1693: Phipps pardons those still in prison on witchcraft

charges.• January 14, 1697: The General Court orders a day of fasting

and soul-searching for the tragedy at Salem. Moved, Samuel Sewall publicly confesses error and guilt.

• 1697: Minister Samuel Parris is ousted as minister in Salem and replaced by Joseph Green.

• 1702: The General Court declares the 1692 trials unlawful.• 1706: Ann Putnam Jr., one of the leading accusers, publicly

apologizes for her actions in 1692.• 1711: The colony passes a legislative bill restoring the

rights and good names of those accused of witchcraft and grants 600 pounds in restitution to their heirs.

• 1752: Salem Village is renamed Danvers.• 1957: Massachusetts formally apologizes for the events of

1692.• 1992: On the 300th anniversary of the trials, a witchcraft

memorial designed by James Cutler is dedicated in Salem.

Salem Witch Memorial

http://www.salemweb.com/memorial/memorial.shtml.