Salem Witch Trials

The Trials

• The Salem Witch Trials-- In 1692, only three generations after British colonists settled the shores of New England, ninteen people were hanged for witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts. At that time Massachusetts was part of England's overseas empire. The witchcraft scare began in a rural corner of Salem then called Salem Village (now the separate town of Danvers). It spread to at least twenty-two other Massachusetts communities, and involved people from Maine to New York. But most of the trials were held in Salem.
• Punishment--If the jury found a defendent guilty, the judges might order the culprit fined or whipped.
• People who have died--Hanged on June 10-Bridget Bishop, Salem. Hanged on July 19-Sarah Good, Salem Village. Rebecca Nurse, Salem Village. Susannah Martin, Amesbury. Elizabeth How, Ispwich. Sarah Wilds, Topsfield. Hanged on August 19-George Burroghs, Wells, Maine. John Procter, Salem Village. John Willard, Salem Village. George Jacobs, Sr, Salem Town. Martha Carrier, Andover. Pressed to death on September 19-Giles Corey, Salem farms. Hanged on September 22-Martha Corey, Salem farms. Mary Eastey, Topsfield. Alice Parker, Salem Town. Ann Pudeater, Salem Town. Margaret Scott, Rowley. Wilmott Reed, Marblehead. Samual Wardwell, Andover. Mary Parker, Andover.
• The Life Cycle--In 1692 people lives included danger, what-ever country they lived in. In Massachusetts one out of ten children died after they were a few days old, a quarter or more children died before the legal age of twenty-one. All young children wore petticoats, including boys, until they were well out of diapers. Toddlers clothes included leading strings hanging from their shoulders so that an adult could grab to keep the child from falling in to an open fire or down a well. No sooner were children old enough to walk and eat solid foods instead of their mothers milk, than they had to accept a younger sibling. By then they also learned to say No. Once they turned six or so, children could help with the constant labor of life if fathers were very poor, they became bond servants to a foster family in return for food, clothing, and education as the Wardwell children were after their father was hanged for witchcraft.

Bibliography

www.google.com/search
www.libvirgina.edu/salem/witchcraft/texts.
www.law.umkc.edu/facilty/projects/Ftrials/salem/SAL_ACCT.htm
Colonial America by Bonnie.L. Lukes Lucent Books copyright 2000
Thje Salem Witch Trials Marilynne k. Roach houghton MiFFlin company CR date 1996
How history was invented the salem witch trials Lori Lee Wilson the learning publications company minneapolls CR date 1997

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