After she married widower John Wildes in 1663, John Gould and Mary Gould Reddington, the brother and sister of John Wildes late wife, developed a hatred of Sarah Wildes and, in 1670, began spreading rumors that she was a witch. John Wildes daughter (from a previous marriage) and son-in-law, Sarah and Edward Bishop, were also arrested as was Johns other daughter Phoebe Wildes. During the Salem witch trials of 1692, twenty-four accused witches died, 19 were hanged, one was pressed to death, and four died in prison. Martha Sprague then stated that the woman in front of her was the woman who afflicted her. Edward died there in 1712, while Sarah died about 1725 Bristol County Probate Records). Willard was accused a second time by his wifes grandfather, Bray Wilkins, after Wilkins fell ill upon receiving a cross look from Willard in May of 1692. Thanx. Juleless@yahoo.com. After his wife, Elizabeth Proctor, was arrested on charges of witchcraft in April of 1692, the afflicted girls turned on John Proctor during Elizabeths examination and accused him as well. She is one of the Ten Persons of Ipswich, the ten women who wrote a letter to the governor to plead for their release. His pregnant wife, Elizabeth was spared and the hysteria had passed by the time she gave birth, so she survived. How many people died in the Salem Witch Trials? As convicted witches, they were not allowed a Christian burial in consecrated ground. Lydia DustinDied in jail on March 10, 1693. Salem Press Company, 1916.Municipal History of Essex County in Massachusetts: Tercentenary Edition. He then confessed to making a pact with the devil but later recanted his confession. The victims and their families named in the bill were also paid restitution totaling 600, which was divided up among them. A Delusion of Salem: The Full Story of the Salem Witch Trials. Redd was accused of witchcraft in May of 1692 by the Salem Village afflicted girls and brought to Ingersoll Tavern in Salem Village for her examination. Additionally, a man was pressed beneath heavy stones until he died. He was found guilty on August 5 and executed on August 19, 1692. All 19 people executed by hanging died at Proctors Ledge. For more information on the people involved in the Salem Witch Trials, check out this article on the Salem WItch Trials accusers. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Well, I list the victims ages in this article and it seems that Margaret Scott was the oldest at 77 but Ann Pudeator was also in her 70s but no one knows exactly how old she was. They are estimated to have resulted in the death of between 500 and 1000 people, 90 percent of whom These were perpetually dark, bitterly cold, and so damp that water ran down the walls. Does anyone have any info on her or who Richard Norths parents are? Edited by Wilbur R. Miller. The Putnams were Rebecca Nurses main accusers during the witch trials and many of them testified against her. 200. At that time, they did leave the area and settled in Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts Colony. Thirty were found guilty, nineteen of whom were executed by hanging (fourteen women and five men). The story that they went to New York is unverified as yet, but from researching Essex County deeds and tax lists, I can verify that they returned to Salem Village and lived there until 1703. What I really was hoping for, was if someone else out there is related, and could help me with history of a descendent. Elwell is on my dads sideam oldand still learning about family. During his examination at Beadles Tavern in Salem town, the incident with Bray Wilkins and Daniel Wilkins was brought up and the Wilkins family also accused Willard of beating his wife. They are estimated to have resulted in the death of between 500 and 1000 people, 90 percent of whom were women. Short answer: not as many as you might think. 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. They began flailing and acting like fools and accused their maid of witch craft. Months in a dungeon convicted of witchcraft as a toddler. When the court ordered that he plead guilty, he replied: More weight.. To Velma MasnerI might have to say Hi. Susannah North Martin is my 10th great-grandmother! Hundreds of people were accused and arrested so that would be tough to figure out. She had never met the afflicted girls before and when asked why they were afflicted she stated they were in a sad condition. She was indicted and several Marblehead residents testified against her. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. There is little doubt that some individuals did worship the devil and attempt to practice sorcery with harmful intent. SmithsonianreportsMore than 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraftthe Devils magicand 20 were executed., Biographyreports that the epidemic resulted in 20 deaths OnSeptember 22, 1692,eight people were hangedfor their alleged crimes as witches. Its a sad reality of human nature. Corey had a reputation for being a pious member of the community despite the well-known fact that she had a child out of wedlock in the 1670s. The female prisoners breasts were often examined multiple times a day for signs of lactation or breastfeeding and the appearance of their breasts were recorded and discussed in the courtroom. She was accused but not tried and her name is listed. was my g-g grandmother. An act to remove the attainders of George Burroughs and others for Witchcraft. Good was one of the first people accused of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials, along with Sarah Osbourn and Tituba. Their daughter, Elizabeth Virginia Stewart (aka, Jennie or Ginnie)(1861-1939?) Did they eat certain foods? Who all died in the crucible.But, I confessthere are many confessions in the world of The Crucibleupon research and reflection, to a certain sympathy for the justices in the Salem "Another four defendants died awaiting trial, according to History of REFUSED TO ENTER A PLEA & TORTURED TO DEATH: Giles Corey (Age: 71)Giles Corey was a wealthy farmer who lived on the outskirts of Salem Village. Four people also died in prison while awaiting trial. Much like Bridget Bishop, Susannah Martin had also been accused of witchcraft before. The elderly Giles Corey, meanwhile, was pressed to death with heavy stones after he refused to enter an innocent or guilty plea.. 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. Corrections? 1692-1693. As the trials continued, accusations extended beyond Salem Village to surrounding communities. Salem, Essex Institute, 1895. WebOne accused witch (or wizard, as male witches were often called) was pressed to death on September 19 when he failed to plead guilty or not guilty: Roger Toothaker Lyndia Dustin Ann Foster (As many as thirteen** others may have died in prison.) She confessed and spent almost a year in jail but was not executed because of a ruling that came a day before prohibiting further executions. To determine if there was an actual case against the accused, they were usually taken either to the Salem Village meetinghouse, to Reverend Samuel Parris house, to Ingersoll Tavern at Salem Village or to Beadles Tavern in Salem Town. WebAnn Foster (ne Alcock) (Important in Salem) Mercy, infant daughter of Sarah Good. Willard was not immediately arrested but his in-laws, the Wilkins family, began to grow suspicious of him. Their life as pioused citizens consisted of work and church only. Im related to the Colsons thru my fathers side. Mostly because her name was made famous by The Crucible, She died in prison before she could be tried. on The Salem Witch Trials Victims: Who Were They? II, Wiggin and Lunt, 1867.Nevins, Winfield S. Witchcraft in Salem Village in 1692. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Wilmot Redd (Age: unknown)Wilmot Redd lived in Marblehead and was the wife of fisherman Samuel Redd. 20 The Salem witch trials occurred in colonial Massachusetts between 1692 and 1693. He brought to Salem Village his wife, their three children, a niece, and two slaves who were originally from BarbadosJohn Indian, a man, and Tituba, a woman. During the examinations the prisoners, who were mostly elderly, were stripped naked in front of a group of people and their bodies were poked and prodded and any suspicious marks or moles found were pricked with needles. Over 10 reputable history/educational sites (Im talking .orgs) had articles reporting 20 executions and leaving it at that. In one o the more ironic deaths. The jury reconsidered and came back with a guilty verdict. 19. Salem witch trials, (June 1692May 1693), in American history, a series of investigations and persecutions that caused 19 convicted witches to be hanged and many other suspects to be imprisoned in Salem Village in the Massachusetts Bay Colony (now Danvers, Massachusetts). Many locals, including Thomas Putnam, suspected Corey had paid a bribe for his freedom. Sarah was accused of witchcraft in February 1692. My 7th great-grandparents, Edward Bishop Jr and Sarah Wildes Bishop were two of the accused who escaped from the jail in Boston. February of 1692. I would love to hear of your relationship to Rebecca Nurse although she couldnt be a great-grandmother. I just find out he Co n November 9 there is a new series about salem mass the witches of salem. Thank you for an excellent article. The bill states: Province of Massachusetts Bay Anno Regni, Anna Reginae Decimo. Your email address will not be published. Four people also 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. When is the Best Time to Visit Monument Valley. The Salem Witch Trials is still remembered as one of the most notorious cases of mass hysteria. However, I did post some detailed articles about Edward Bishop and his wife Sarah Wilds. The other victims were either found guilty but pardoned, found not guilty, were never indicted, evaded arrest or escaped from jail. An audio guide, map, and tour book all in one! Shortly after the Salem witch hunt began in March of 1692, the Putnam family accused Sarah Wildes of witchcraft in April of 1692 and she was arrested. 14 women and 5 men were hung under the acussed. Other victims include two dogs who were shot or killed after being suspected of witchcraft. All of these factors created a volatile and dangerous situation that resulted in the imprisonment and death of many innocent people. According to the Salem Award Foundation website, there are roughly 25 million people around the world who are descended from the Salem Witch Trials victims and the other participants in the trials. About 5-10 more people died as a direct result of these trials. In 1992, on the 300th anniversary of the trials, the city of Salem built the Salem Witch Trials Memorial and the city of Danvers built the Salem Village Witchcraft Victims Memorial in honor of the victims. During his examination, he admitted to fortune-telling and dabbling in magic and said that the devil may have taken advantage of him for these reasons. After Governor Phipss wife was accused, he again interceded and ordered that a new court be established that would not allow so-called spectral evidence. Ann came from Not every victim was named in the bill though because some families of the victims did not want their family member listed. I am a direct descendant of Mary Towne Esty and always find the more I read about the trials and people involved, the more I learn. When he stopped being paid all together, he left Salem and returned to Maine. Even after Mary Gould Reddington passed away from natural causes years later, Marys friends continued to harass and torment Sarah Wildes. More than is being reported. 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. Rebecca Nurse (Age: 71)Rebecca Nurse was an elderly grandmother from Salem Village and the wife of farmer Francis Nurse. She was released from prison in March, 1693. I wrote a historical novel about her and just received a contract from a publisher. My great-great-great grandmother was Elizabeth Colson (1833-1900), married to James Stewart (1826-1911). In three days of vivid testimony, she described encounters with Satans animal familiars and with a tall, dark man from Boston who had called upon her to sign the devils book, in which she saw the names of Good and Osborn along with those of seven others that she could not read. He was soon accused of being a witch himself, and was arrested. Not only because there was so much inaccuracy on how many people actually died in the Salem Witch Trials, but the consistency of this inaccurate number was astounding. Some of their children remained in Essex County, while some moved with them to Bristol County and elsewhere. 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. WebThe Salem Witch Trials was an event where the power of religion and its influence on people was strongly correlated and made people act in ways that in which todays society does not make sense. John Willard (Age: about 30)John Willard was a deputy constable in Salem at the time of the Salem Witch Trials. Mary Parker (Age: about 40)Mary Parker was a widow from Andover. Between 140 and 150 people were arrested for witchcraft during the witch hunt. So like sheep herded over a cliff, Andovers women were seized, bound, served warrants, and loaded into the back of oxcarts for the four- or five-hour trip to Salem jail, their frantic relatives browbeating them the entire way. Giles Corey refused to enter a plea in an attempt to prevent his case from going to trial. In her previous cases she was accused of infanticide and tormenting people with her specter. The execution of Alse Young of Windsor WebDuring the Salem witch trials of 1692, twenty-four accused witches died, 19 were hanged, one was pressed to death, and four died in prison. 100. Toothaker was accused of witchcraft during theSalem Witch Trialsbut his case never went to trial because he died in jail. History of Massachusetts Blog. I had found some very helpful sources: some on-line documents, some printed sources (books and magazine articles), and microfilms of original records. Does anyone have any info on her or who Richard Norths parents are as the Trials continued, accusations beyond. Check out this article on the people involved in the imprisonment and death of many people... 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