The Trials, The Accusers
And The Condemmed
The Witches Plat, Or "The Crevice" Where The Corpses Were Thrown.
See Map Below
In all, there were twenty-eight convictions
from the "Oyer and Terminer" court established illegally by Governor Sir William
Phipps, the newly appointed governor of Massachusetts bay under the charter of William and
Mary. Cotton Mather, who himself played no small part in the proceedings, dubbed
this governor "a well-meaning man, inclined to superstition," and admired his
"incompetence." Though a few had been executed in earlier years, even as early
as 1648, nothing previously even remotely compared to the frenzy of 1692. In all nineteen
persons were hanged and one pressed to death. Fifty-five were pardoned, one hundred and
fifty more were imprisoned, and two hundred others or more were accused. Several dogs were
accused and one of Danvers and one of Andover executed.
Among more civil reactions to witchcraft was
that of Pennsylvania Governor Penn who, tradition says, was presented with a woman accused
of witchcraft and who he "dismissed with the assurance that, as there was no law
against it, she might ride a broomstick as often as she pleased." (Samuel Drake, Nooks
and Corners of The New England Coast, Harper & Bros., 1875)
The Accusers:
The daughter of Rev. Samuel Parris was among
these, but was quickly sent away. While these girls are often referred to as
"children," one can quickly see that this was somewhat of a misnomer.
The Court
Chief Justice
Deputy Governor Stoughton, called a "man of cold affections, proud, self willed, and
covetous of distinction, and universally hated by the people."
Associate Justices
Jonathan Corwin, of Salem
Major John Richards, of Boston
Major Bartholomew Gedney, of Salem
Mr. Wait Winthrop
Mr. Peter Sargent
Capt. Samuel Sewell, of Boston
The Panel of the Jury of Inquest
Thomas Fisk, Foreman
William Fisk, John Bachelor, Thomas Fisk, Jr., John Dane, Joseph Eveleth, Thomas Perley,
Sr, Samuel Sayer, Andrew Eliot, Henry Herrick, Sr.
List of Those Hanged:
Friday, June 10th
Bridget Bishop, Wife of Edward of Salem
Tuesday, July 19th
Sarah Good, of the village
Sarah Wildes, daughter of William of Topsfield
Elizabeth Howe, wife of James, Jr., of Ipswich Farms
Rebecca Nourse, wife of Francis, of the village
Susannah Martin, of Amesbury
Friday, August 10th
Rev. George Burroughs of Casco.
John Proctor of Peabody
George Jacobs of the village, aged eighty years
John Willard, apprehended at Groton
Martha Carryer, wife of Thomas of Andover
Thursday, September 22nd
Martha Cory, wife of Giles, of Peabody
Mary Eastey, wife of Isaac, of Topsfield
Alice Parker, wife of John, of Salem
Ann Pudeator, widow of Jacob
Margaret Scott, widow of Benjamin, of Rowley
Wilmot Read, wife of Samuel, of Marblehead
Samuel Wardwell, of Andover
Mary Parker of Salem
Monday, September 19th
Giles Corey, age eighty, would not plead to the indictment -- in those days
not an acceptable response as one need be guilty or innocent. He was thus condemmed
to the "peine forte et dure" of the Dark Ages (Drake)
--that is to be pressed by great weights until a confession or death ensued.
Accordingly, Giles Corey, who steadfastly refused to plead, (Perley)
was taken to the field at the corner of St. Peters and Brown Streets, opposite the jail
then on Church Street and pressed to death.
Died In Prison:
Sarah Osbun (Osborne), condemned wife of Alexander
Ann Foster, Widow of Andrew of Andover, who died 1685, aged 106.
Reprieved or
Acquitted
Elizabeth Proctor, wife of John who
was hanged, "on account of her condition."
Mrs. Thomas Bradbury, of Salisbury, daughter of John Perkins, of Ipswich,
eighty years old, condemmed, then acquitted.
Rebecca Eames, wife of Robert, of Boxford, condemmed, reprieved
Elizabeth Morse, of Newbury, reprieved
Abigail Falkner of Andover, thirteen months in jail, released -- daughter
of Rev. Francis Dane
Elizabeth Johnson, of Andover, five months in jail, released -- daughter
of Rev. Francis Dane
Mary Lacy, wife of Lawrence and daughter of Andrew and Ann Foster (died
in prison), confessed, accused her mother of bewitching her, and escaped punishment.
Map, a representation of that by Perley. Samuel Drake describes this
location in 1910 as an area lying some distance back from the more thickly settled
part of the town of Danvers, formerly Salem Village.
Sources:
A Short History of the Salem Village Witchcraft Trials, M.V.B. Perley,
1911.
Nooks and Corners of The New England Coast, Samuel Drake, Harper
& Bros., 1875
