I Put a Spell on You: The Salem Witch Trials
/'“Double, double, toil and trouble.” Witches have appeared in popular media since 1606 in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, but they have been a fearsome part of human myth since the early 1300s. Witches have long been associated with women who were in cahoots with the devil, using magical powers to cause others to exhibit strange and harmful behaviours. In Salem, Massachusetts, the idea of these witches' supposed supernatural abilities lead to the deaths of over 20 women. Hundreds more were accused.
The beginning of the Salem Witch Trials took place in 1692, when three children began to have fits; this included screaming and making unusual sounds, to contorting their bodies in weird ways. Soon, many other girls in the community began to experience the same fits, and the local doctor diagnosed them with “bewitchment”. The original girls blamed three women for their afflictions, and thus the trials began.
The accused women were brought in. Though two denied their part in the children’s uncontrollable outbursts, the third confessed. She confessed that she had spoken to the devil, who asked her to sign his book. She admitted to signing, and claimed there were others working with him to destroy Puritans. Though her actions were most likely to save herself, her confession sparked hysteria in their community and many other women and even children in Salem were accused.
An accused Witch in court (“The Witch no.1” Joseph E. Baker, 1892 via Library of Congress)
As more of the accused “witches” began to confess and name others, the trials overwhelmed Salem and a special court was formed. The first brought in front of the court was a woman named Bridget Bishop. Bishop was accused of using her powers to kill her second husband. As time went on, over 10 residents of Salem gave evidence of Bishop’s bewitchment on themselves, their families and even animals. Despite stating her own innocence, Bishop was found guilty and was killed on June 10th, 1692, marking the first of many deaths.
“Execution of Bridget Bishop" at Salem, 1692” illustration by Joseph Boggs Beale (1885)
As months rolled on, many more people appeared in front of the court and were sentenced to death. Five in July, five in August, and eight in September. Even men were not safe from being accused, with one man, Giles Corey, being pressed to death with large stones for refusing to submit to a trial. While myths of women being burned at the stake are prevalent even now, this was not a practice that made its way to America. Instead, the women were hanged. Nineteen women and men were hanged, and at least five of the accused died in custody.
There were increased cries for the court not to use “Spectral Evidence” (including dreams and visions) as proof of these women’s crimes. When the Governor, William Phips’ own wife was accused, he dissolved the court and replaced it with the Superior Court of Judicature. This put an end to spectral evidence and eventually led to the condemnation of only 3 of 56 defendants.
As years went on, many of those who took part in the trials began to confess guilt over their involvement. This included trial judges and accusers. In 1711, a bill was passed to restore the names of those who were accused. In 1957, Massachusetts formally apologized to all but one accused woman, Elizabeth Johnson Jr. Though the reasons remain unclear as to why Johnson was not named in the resolution, she was eventually given an official pardon in 2022 due to the lobbying of an eighth-grade class from Massachusetts!
While the Salem Witch Trials were mostly driven by paranoia and religious extremism, the actions that were brought upon by the witch hunt have remained prevalent in popular culture for decades. While we enjoy the spooky imagery and exciting re-imaginings of witches in our media, the injustice that these women and men experienced show just how dark human history really is.
References:
The Witchcraft Trial of Bridget Bishop - History of Massachusetts Blog
Salem Witch Trials - Victims, Dates & Facts | HISTORY
Witchcraft: Eight Myths and Misconceptions | English Heritage (english-heritage.org.uk)
A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials | History| Smithsonian Magazine
My name is Rebecca Skye Nicholson. I went to Carleton University for Psychology. I always had a passion for writing, and after graduating from University I felt like I needed to pursue what was important to me. I applied to the Algonquin Professional Writing Program for a chance to express myself in the best medium I know.
I have an interest in dark and twisted media. I’m also an avid feminist and I love reading about conspiracy theories. For my blog posts, I’ve decided to pick topics that fit into those three categories.
