Salem, Massachusetts
Image Source: https://salemma.gov/
Image Source: https://salemma.gov/
One of the most disturbing history lessons I learned in grammar school was about the Salem Witch Trials in 1692-93. More than once growing up I wondered how people who allegedly braved great trials to sail across the ocean and make a new life, all for the sake of their religious freedom, could do such an inhumane thing. Later in life, I learned the real story.
FACT: THE PURITANS WERE HYPOCRITES
The truth of the matter is, the Puritans were happy to have the freedom to worship as they pleased, but they were ferociously intolerant of any other beliefs.
FACT: THE PURITANS WERE HYPOCRITES
The truth of the matter is, the Puritans were happy to have the freedom to worship as they pleased, but they were ferociously intolerant of any other beliefs.
The Winthrop Fleet of 11 ships, led by Puritan John Winthrop, landed in Massachusetts Bay in 1630, the second wave of colonists. There, John Winthrop (later governor of Massachusetts), delivered a famous sermon characterizing the Puritan colonization of the New World “A Model of Christian Charity,” and alluded to the how Puritans would be a shining example for the people of the colonies. Their beliefs spread throughout most of the New England colonies, and all followed relatively the same strict rules. archives.library.wcsu.edu/ Portrait of John Winthrop by Anthony Van-Dyck ▲
Image Credit: Courtesy of American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Massachusetts.
Image Source: www.britannica.com/John-Winthrop
Unfortunately, the Puritans “…saw no hypocrisy in denying others religious freedom while seeking their own, as they felt divinely obligated to impose their views. This is considered hypocritical because, despite fleeing religious persecution, they perpetuated similar intolerance against others, including indigenous populations, reflecting a recurring pattern in human history.” www.enotes.com/puritans
The Salem Witch Trials were conducted in 1692-1693. While there were a few different causes that fueled the trials, the most prominent was the Puritan religion.
Image Credit: Courtesy of American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Massachusetts.
Image Source: www.britannica.com/John-Winthrop
Unfortunately, the Puritans “…saw no hypocrisy in denying others religious freedom while seeking their own, as they felt divinely obligated to impose their views. This is considered hypocritical because, despite fleeing religious persecution, they perpetuated similar intolerance against others, including indigenous populations, reflecting a recurring pattern in human history.” www.enotes.com/puritans
The Salem Witch Trials were conducted in 1692-1693. While there were a few different causes that fueled the trials, the most prominent was the Puritan religion.
FACT: THE SALEM WITCHES WERE NOT BURNED AT THE STAKE
Twenty people of those convicted of being witches were executed during the Salem Witch Trials, but none were burned at the stake.
At that time, English law only allowed death by burning to be used against women who committed high treason. Men convicted of high treason were dragged, hanged until almost dead and then cut into four pieces. Also, witchcraft in the colonies was a capital crime tried in a criminal court. In Europe, witchcraft was heresy and the crime was tried by the Church courts (and the punishment was burning at the stake).
Jan Hus being burned at stake
Image Credit: Diebold Schilling's Spiezer Chronik (1485 CE), Burgerbibliotheek Bern.
Image Source: www.worldhistory.org ▼
Twenty people of those convicted of being witches were executed during the Salem Witch Trials, but none were burned at the stake.
At that time, English law only allowed death by burning to be used against women who committed high treason. Men convicted of high treason were dragged, hanged until almost dead and then cut into four pieces. Also, witchcraft in the colonies was a capital crime tried in a criminal court. In Europe, witchcraft was heresy and the crime was tried by the Church courts (and the punishment was burning at the stake).
Jan Hus being burned at stake
Image Credit: Diebold Schilling's Spiezer Chronik (1485 CE), Burgerbibliotheek Bern.
Image Source: www.worldhistory.org ▼
“The myth of burnings at the stake in Salem is most likely inspired by European witch trials, where execution by fire was a disturbingly common practice. Medieval law codes such as the Holy Roman Empire’s “Constitutio Criminalis Carolina” stipulated that malevolent witchcraft should be punished by fire, and church leaders and local governments oversaw the burning of witches across parts of modern day Germany, Italy, Scotland, France and Scandinavia.”
historyofmassachusetts.org/witches
Historians estimate that during the Witch-Hunt hysteria in Europe between the 15th and 18th centuries, at least fifty to sixty thousand people were executed, most hanged or beheaded, then the bodies incinerated postmortem (to protect against sorcery). However, other victims were alive and executed by burning and smoke and toxic fumes inhalation.
historyofmassachusetts.org/witches
Historians estimate that during the Witch-Hunt hysteria in Europe between the 15th and 18th centuries, at least fifty to sixty thousand people were executed, most hanged or beheaded, then the bodies incinerated postmortem (to protect against sorcery). However, other victims were alive and executed by burning and smoke and toxic fumes inhalation.
In Salem, over two hundred people were accused of witchcraft, thirty were found guilty, and nineteen of them were hung at Gallows Hill (fourteen women and five men).
The twentieth victim was the elderly farmer accused of witchcraft along with his wife. He was never convicted because he refused to enter a guilty or not guilty plea but, nonetheless, was “pressed to death” with heavy stones placed on his The First Salem Witch hanging ▲
chest. At least five (some sources say four) others Image Source: www.washingtonpost.com
accused individuals died in prison awaiting trial.
THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS
Everything Has A Background That Sets The Stage
In the late 17th century, the Salem colony existed in two locations: the wealthier Salem Town and Salem Village, about ten miles away. The inhabitants of the village were primarily poor farmers eking out a living on rocky soil. Salem Town was trade center populated by wealthy merchants. This disparity led to jealousy and tension between the two parts of the colony.
The twentieth victim was the elderly farmer accused of witchcraft along with his wife. He was never convicted because he refused to enter a guilty or not guilty plea but, nonetheless, was “pressed to death” with heavy stones placed on his The First Salem Witch hanging ▲
chest. At least five (some sources say four) others Image Source: www.washingtonpost.com
accused individuals died in prison awaiting trial.
THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS
Everything Has A Background That Sets The Stage
In the late 17th century, the Salem colony existed in two locations: the wealthier Salem Town and Salem Village, about ten miles away. The inhabitants of the village were primarily poor farmers eking out a living on rocky soil. Salem Town was trade center populated by wealthy merchants. This disparity led to jealousy and tension between the two parts of the colony.
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Location Map of Salem colony ▲ Location map of Salem Village and Salem Town ▲
Image Source: www.pinterest.com Image Source: liznicjackcaitlyn.weebly.com/salem
Image Source: www.pinterest.com Image Source: liznicjackcaitlyn.weebly.com/salem
In addition, “The village itself had a noticeable social divide that was exacerbated by a rivalry between its two leading families, the well-heeled Porters, who had strong connections with Salem Town’s wealthy merchants, and the Putnams, who sought greater autonomy for the village and were standard-bearers for the less-prosperous farm families.” www.britannica.com/Salem-witch-trials
In 1689 (some sixty years later), the Putnam family influenced the Village Congregational Church to hire Samuel Parris (a Puritan) to be their pastor, an unusual choice since Congregationalism does not share all the same beliefs as the Puritans. In fact, the Puritans emigrated to North American to avoid the persecutions they suffered at home from the Congregationalists. Who knew?
Parris had been living in Barbados, and brought with him to Salem Village his wife, their three children, a niece, and two slaves – a man called John Indian, and a women named Tituba – presumably natives of Barbados. Not long after his arrival, Parris asked for an increase in salary and ownership of the parsonage, which alienated many of the congregation. Also, Parris’s strict Puritan theology and preaching split the congregation further -- and subsequently the villagers -- into pro- and anti-Parris factions.
The Inciting Incident
Apparently, the story begins with Parris’s daughter Betty (age 9), his niece Abigail Williams (age 11), and their friend Ann Putnam (about age 12), indulging in what would now be called a fortune telling game or parlor trick called a “Venus glass and egg” to learn "what trade their sweet harts should be of." en.wikipedia.org//Salem
It worked like this. Separate an egg's white from its yolk, then slip the white into a glass of water. Being a colloid, the white then form shapes as it floats in the water. These shapes are examined to determine the career of one's future husband. For example, if the egg white looked like a ship, your husband would be a sailor. If it looked like a plow, your husband would be a farmer, etc.
Not very drastic behavior.
However, in January 1692, Betty and Abigail started behaving oddly. They made unusual sounds, threw things, screamed, contorted their bodies and complained of being bitten and pinched. A local doctor was called in to examine them, but could not identify any medical reason for their behavior, so he concluded the phenomenon was supernatural. When confronted by Parris, the girls claimed the slave Tituba and two other women of the community, Sarah Good, a beggar, and Sarah Osborn, an elderly bed-ridden woman, had put a spell on them.
The next month, John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin, magistrates from Salem Town, conducted a public inquiry in the village. All three women claimed to be innocent, although Good accused Osborn. After repeated harassment, accusations, and wearing down, the slave Tituba told the magistrates that she had been visited by the devil and made a deal with him.
“In three days of vivid testimony, she described encounters with Satan’s animal familiars and with a tall, dark man from Boston who had called upon her to sign the devil’s book, in which she saw the names of Good and Osborn along with those of seven others that she could not read.” www.britannica.com/Salem-witch-trials
Well, that gave these officials from Salem Town what they wanted to hear. a confession and what they deemed as evidence that there were more witches lurking about. Panic ensued. Other young women suffered fits and the accusations flew, now directed at respected members of the community. “As the weeks passed, many of the accused proved to be enemies of the Putnams, and Putnam family members and in-laws would end up being the accusers in dozens of cases.” www.britannica.com/Salem-witch-trials
In 1689 (some sixty years later), the Putnam family influenced the Village Congregational Church to hire Samuel Parris (a Puritan) to be their pastor, an unusual choice since Congregationalism does not share all the same beliefs as the Puritans. In fact, the Puritans emigrated to North American to avoid the persecutions they suffered at home from the Congregationalists. Who knew?
Parris had been living in Barbados, and brought with him to Salem Village his wife, their three children, a niece, and two slaves – a man called John Indian, and a women named Tituba – presumably natives of Barbados. Not long after his arrival, Parris asked for an increase in salary and ownership of the parsonage, which alienated many of the congregation. Also, Parris’s strict Puritan theology and preaching split the congregation further -- and subsequently the villagers -- into pro- and anti-Parris factions.
The Inciting Incident
Apparently, the story begins with Parris’s daughter Betty (age 9), his niece Abigail Williams (age 11), and their friend Ann Putnam (about age 12), indulging in what would now be called a fortune telling game or parlor trick called a “Venus glass and egg” to learn "what trade their sweet harts should be of." en.wikipedia.org//Salem
It worked like this. Separate an egg's white from its yolk, then slip the white into a glass of water. Being a colloid, the white then form shapes as it floats in the water. These shapes are examined to determine the career of one's future husband. For example, if the egg white looked like a ship, your husband would be a sailor. If it looked like a plow, your husband would be a farmer, etc.
Not very drastic behavior.
However, in January 1692, Betty and Abigail started behaving oddly. They made unusual sounds, threw things, screamed, contorted their bodies and complained of being bitten and pinched. A local doctor was called in to examine them, but could not identify any medical reason for their behavior, so he concluded the phenomenon was supernatural. When confronted by Parris, the girls claimed the slave Tituba and two other women of the community, Sarah Good, a beggar, and Sarah Osborn, an elderly bed-ridden woman, had put a spell on them.
The next month, John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin, magistrates from Salem Town, conducted a public inquiry in the village. All three women claimed to be innocent, although Good accused Osborn. After repeated harassment, accusations, and wearing down, the slave Tituba told the magistrates that she had been visited by the devil and made a deal with him.
“In three days of vivid testimony, she described encounters with Satan’s animal familiars and with a tall, dark man from Boston who had called upon her to sign the devil’s book, in which she saw the names of Good and Osborn along with those of seven others that she could not read.” www.britannica.com/Salem-witch-trials
Well, that gave these officials from Salem Town what they wanted to hear. a confession and what they deemed as evidence that there were more witches lurking about. Panic ensued. Other young women suffered fits and the accusations flew, now directed at respected members of the community. “As the weeks passed, many of the accused proved to be enemies of the Putnams, and Putnam family members and in-laws would end up being the accusers in dozens of cases.” www.britannica.com/Salem-witch-trials
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▲ Illustration from Pioneers in the Settlement of America by William A. Crafts, 1876 Depiction of Martha Corey ▲
Image Credit: iStock/ by Christine Kohler -- Image Source: www.britannica.com/Salem-witch-trials Image Source: foxnews.com
Image Credit: iStock/ by Christine Kohler -- Image Source: www.britannica.com/Salem-witch-trials Image Source: foxnews.com
Weeks of informal hearings were held and people were imprisoned. On May 27, 1692, Sir William Phips, the governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony, convened an official Court of Oyer (“to hear”) and Terminer (“to decide”) in Salem Town
During those trials, the accused individuals who confessed, or confessed and named other witches, were spared because of the Puritan belief that God would punish them accordingly. Those who claimed they were innocent were executed. Many in both the town and village, who believed the events were a sham, did not speak up for fear of being accused themselves.
AFTERMATH OF THE TRIALS
What I didn’t learn in grammar school (or any other school, for that matter) was what happened as a result of this travesty. Years later there were acts of repentance on the part of individuals and institutions involved in the trials.
In January 1697 the General Court of Massachusetts declared a day of fasting and contemplation for the tragedy that had resulted from the trials. In 1702 the General Court declared that the trials had been unlawful. Twenty-two of the thirty-three individuals who had been convicted were exonerated in 1711 by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which also paid some £600 to the families of the victims.
The notoriety of the Salem Trials laid some of the ground work for US Court procedures, such as the right to legal representation, the right to cross-examine one’s accuser, and the presumption of innocence rather than of guilt. However, the last eleven of the convicted were not fully exonerated until 2001.
That’s a little late, guys.
FAST FORWARD TO THE 21ST CENTURY
In modern times, Salem has become the ultimate October/Halloween destination due to this witch tragedy in 1692-93. The true story of the Salem Witch Trials has been twisted and exploited for every dollar that can be gained as a tourist attraction. The weeks before Halloween are the biggest of the year and often bring in 50,000 to 60,000 visitors.
Gee! Isn’t that about the same number of people who were executed in the European witch hunts?
During those trials, the accused individuals who confessed, or confessed and named other witches, were spared because of the Puritan belief that God would punish them accordingly. Those who claimed they were innocent were executed. Many in both the town and village, who believed the events were a sham, did not speak up for fear of being accused themselves.
AFTERMATH OF THE TRIALS
What I didn’t learn in grammar school (or any other school, for that matter) was what happened as a result of this travesty. Years later there were acts of repentance on the part of individuals and institutions involved in the trials.
In January 1697 the General Court of Massachusetts declared a day of fasting and contemplation for the tragedy that had resulted from the trials. In 1702 the General Court declared that the trials had been unlawful. Twenty-two of the thirty-three individuals who had been convicted were exonerated in 1711 by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which also paid some £600 to the families of the victims.
The notoriety of the Salem Trials laid some of the ground work for US Court procedures, such as the right to legal representation, the right to cross-examine one’s accuser, and the presumption of innocence rather than of guilt. However, the last eleven of the convicted were not fully exonerated until 2001.
That’s a little late, guys.
FAST FORWARD TO THE 21ST CENTURY
In modern times, Salem has become the ultimate October/Halloween destination due to this witch tragedy in 1692-93. The true story of the Salem Witch Trials has been twisted and exploited for every dollar that can be gained as a tourist attraction. The weeks before Halloween are the biggest of the year and often bring in 50,000 to 60,000 visitors.
Gee! Isn’t that about the same number of people who were executed in the European witch hunts?
The distorted tales have been endlessly taken advantage of. “Stroll the streets of Salem and you’ll see store after quaint store offering everything a witch could need: crystals, candles, and spell books galore. It won’t be hard to find a psychic, or someone willing to read your Tarot cards. Pumpkins and cobwebs line the cobblestone streets. Haunted houses lure in the casual passerby, and everything about the city seems perennially anticipating October. Even the police cars are adorned with little witch icons.” websites.emerson.edu/salem-exploitation-of-tragedy/
Image Source: websites.emerson.edu/
WHERE THERE’S SMOKE, THERE’S FIRE
What puzzled me was the fact that after Betty and Abigail were afflicted with severe convulsions and other unusual behavior, other people in the community came down with the same symptoms.
One modern scientific theory, supported by evidence found by Dr. Linnda Caporael of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1976, hypothesizes that the severe symptoms could have been the result of ergotism. This is a fungal disease commonly contracted by rye after a severe winter and a damp spring, conditions which historians claim were present in 1691, and therefore affected the rye harvested for consumption in 1692.
“Eating ergot can cause vomiting, choking, fits, hallucinations, and the sense of something crawling on one’s skin. The hallucinogen LSD is a derivative of ergot.” britannica.com/rye-bread-may-have-caused-salem-witch-trials
Thus, consuming bread or cereal made of rye that has been infected with the fungus ergot would account for the spread of the symptoms in most of the cases.
JUST SAYIN’
Sources:
https://www.enotes.com/topics/religion-thirteen-colonies/questions/many-puritans-claimed-they-came-north-america-501380
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/studentOmeka/files/original/Vol._48_num._1_Clio_-_2021/6833/Clio_Ch_7_Miller.pdf
https://www.havefunwithhistory.com/why-did-colonists-come-to-america/
https://americanheritage.org/who-were-the-pilgrims/””
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Puritanism
https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Winthrop-American-colonial-governor
https://newenglandfolklore.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-venus-glass-or-fortune-telling-with.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salem,_Massachusetts
https://www.history.com/articles/were-witches-burned-at-the-stake-during-the-salem-witch-trials
https://www.history.com/articles/notable-women-executed-salem-witch-trials
https://historyofmassachusetts.org/witches-burned-stake-salem/
https://history.howstuffworks.com/history-vs-myth/witches-burned-at-stake-in-salem.htm
https://www.britannica.com/facts/Salem-witch-trials
https://ghostcitytours.com/salem/
https://newenglandfolklore.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-venus-glass-or-fortune-telling-with.html
https://www.britannica.com/event/Salem-witch-trials
https://www.britannica.com/story/how-rye-bread-may-have-caused-the-salem-witch-trials
https://salemwitchmuseum.com/videos/what-caused-the-salem-witch-trials/
https://www.historytools.org/stories/the-salem-witch-trials-a-comprehensive-analysis-from-a-historians-perspective
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winthrop_Fleet
https://tosalem.com/salem-courthouse-1692/
https://www.legendsofamerica.com/ma-putnam/
https://liznicjackcaitlyn.weebly.com/salem-life-in-1692.html
https://patch.com/massachusetts/salem/salems-stay-away-halloween-message-gains-national-attention
https://salemma.gov/
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Image Source: websites.emerson.edu/
WHERE THERE’S SMOKE, THERE’S FIRE
What puzzled me was the fact that after Betty and Abigail were afflicted with severe convulsions and other unusual behavior, other people in the community came down with the same symptoms.
One modern scientific theory, supported by evidence found by Dr. Linnda Caporael of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1976, hypothesizes that the severe symptoms could have been the result of ergotism. This is a fungal disease commonly contracted by rye after a severe winter and a damp spring, conditions which historians claim were present in 1691, and therefore affected the rye harvested for consumption in 1692.
“Eating ergot can cause vomiting, choking, fits, hallucinations, and the sense of something crawling on one’s skin. The hallucinogen LSD is a derivative of ergot.” britannica.com/rye-bread-may-have-caused-salem-witch-trials
Thus, consuming bread or cereal made of rye that has been infected with the fungus ergot would account for the spread of the symptoms in most of the cases.
JUST SAYIN’
Sources:
https://www.enotes.com/topics/religion-thirteen-colonies/questions/many-puritans-claimed-they-came-north-america-501380
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/studentOmeka/files/original/Vol._48_num._1_Clio_-_2021/6833/Clio_Ch_7_Miller.pdf
https://www.havefunwithhistory.com/why-did-colonists-come-to-america/
https://americanheritage.org/who-were-the-pilgrims/””
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Puritanism
https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Winthrop-American-colonial-governor
https://newenglandfolklore.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-venus-glass-or-fortune-telling-with.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salem,_Massachusetts
https://www.history.com/articles/were-witches-burned-at-the-stake-during-the-salem-witch-trials
https://www.history.com/articles/notable-women-executed-salem-witch-trials
https://historyofmassachusetts.org/witches-burned-stake-salem/
https://history.howstuffworks.com/history-vs-myth/witches-burned-at-stake-in-salem.htm
https://www.britannica.com/facts/Salem-witch-trials
https://ghostcitytours.com/salem/
https://newenglandfolklore.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-venus-glass-or-fortune-telling-with.html
https://www.britannica.com/event/Salem-witch-trials
https://www.britannica.com/story/how-rye-bread-may-have-caused-the-salem-witch-trials
https://salemwitchmuseum.com/videos/what-caused-the-salem-witch-trials/
https://www.historytools.org/stories/the-salem-witch-trials-a-comprehensive-analysis-from-a-historians-perspective
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winthrop_Fleet
https://tosalem.com/salem-courthouse-1692/
https://www.legendsofamerica.com/ma-putnam/
https://liznicjackcaitlyn.weebly.com/salem-life-in-1692.html
https://patch.com/massachusetts/salem/salems-stay-away-halloween-message-gains-national-attention
https://salemma.gov/
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