Countless films and books have been created representing the events that took place during “The Salem Witch Trials”. To name a few The Crucible (1996), Hocus Pocus (1993), and most recently Salem (2014), a T.V. series centered around the events before and during the famous witch trials of Salem, Massachusetts. As enthralling as these films are, there certainly were liberties taken to enhance the entertainment aspect while history was at times overlooked. What caused the Salem witch trials and how did they get so out of hand? With all the films out there and all the differing accounts told be each, often audiences are left confused about what really happened.
Europe had its run with notorious witch hunts from as early as the 15th century and as late as the 17th century. Often witchcraft was used to explain unfortunate events such as a stillborn child, sickness, crop failures, or even the death of animals. It was commonly thought in Europe that the devil gave powers to those who signed away their eternal souls in his book with their own blood. After signing the devil’s book the witches were obligated to serve Satan and wreak havoc on the lives of God-fearing Christians. When the first European people came to the Americas they brought such folklore with them to the “New World”.
In Salem, the Witch Hunt hysteria began, as many know, with several girls throwing fits and claiming to be possessed by the devil. The girls would utter peculiar noises, claim that unseen figures were biting them, and contort into awkward positions. Among the girls were Reverend Parris’s daughter and niece; ages 9 and 11. These fits escalated into accusations among the Salem Townspeople. Interestingly enough those who were first accused were outsiders among the Puritan community. Facing pressure, the girls first accused: Titchaba, Reverend Parris’s slave from Barbados; Sarah Good, a homeless beggar; and Sarah Osborne, an elderly impoverished woman.
All three accused women were brought before local magistrates in March of 1692. Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne pleaded innocence! However, Titchaba confessed to the witchcraft accusations, saying “The Devil came to me and bid me serve him.” Through interrogation, Titchaba also confessed there were other witches in Salem looking to destroy the Puritans. And so began the Witch Hunt Hysteria in full force.With the seed of paranoia planted deep within the people of Salem, dozens of accusations accompanied the next few months. No longer were the accusations reserved for outcasts in the community, but those who appeared to be pious were being accused as well.
On the 10th of June 1692, Bridget Bishop was the first of the accused to executed for the crime of witchcraft. Five days later, respected minister Cotton Mather wrote a letter imploring the court not to allow spectral evidence—testimony about dreams and visions to heavily influence sentencing. However, Mather’s advice was more or less ignored as the next several months brought more executions due to witchcraft. On October 3rd, Increase Mather, Cotton Mather’s father, released a statement condemning spectral evidence as follows “It were better that ten suspected witches should escape than one innocent person be condemned.”
Finally, Governor Phipps of Massachusetts put an end to the witch trials when his own wife was accused. He prohibited further arrests and also established a new court where spectral evidence was not permitted. Phipps eventually pardoned all who were in prison on witchcraft charges by May 1693. But the damage had been done: 19 were hanged on Gallows Hill, a 71-year-old man was pressed to death with heavy stones, several people died in jail and nearly 200 people, overall, had been accused of practicing “the Devil’s magic.”
America would never be the same after the Salem Witch Trials. Some say that the witch hunt Hysteria was what propelled the Americas into the enlightenment era. No longer would witchcraft be the bases on which one could be hanged, but science and facts would come to rule the judicial system.
The History Geek 