What Happened at the Salem Witch Trials?

The Salem witch trials that occurred in 1692-1693, in Suffolk, Essex, and Middlesex counties in the Massachusetts Colony were brought on by group hysteria, jealousy, and property disputes. More than a dozen of the convicted were hanged based on unreliable evidence from female children who were likely bored and jealous of those they accused. Many of the other convicted witches were pardoned by Governor William Phips.

History

The Salem witch trials were a series of court proceedings to determine whether or not accused individuals were guilty or innocent of witchcraft. Several young girls, beginning with Betty Parris and Abigail Williams began having fits of screaming and contorting their bodies. No physical or medical evidence was ever found as the culprit for these fits. Since Betty, Abigail, and many other young girls in different counties could find no reason for their fits, they accused neighbors, servants, and many others of afflicting them with witchcraft. These initial allegations were the start of what we now refer to as the Salem witch trials.

Time Frame

The first accusations of witchcraft that prompted the Salem witch trials began in February 1692. The first three women to stand accused, Sarah Goode, Sarah Osborne, and Tituba, were questioned March 1, 1692 and sent to jail. Throughout March 1692, four more women would be accused of witchcraft and jailed pending a hearing. In April 1692, 24 more arrests were made. Only one person was released when accusers refused to assert that he had afflicted them. On May 27, 1692 a Special Court of Oyer and Terminer was created to hear the cases of the imprisoned and accused witches. On June 2, 1692 the Special Court convened and began to hear cases. Five women were executed, including Sarah Goode, on July 19, 1692. The Special Court was dismissed in October 1692, but the trials continued. Near the end of April 1693, the last five accused stood trial and found not guilty, ending the trials.

Effects

Due to the accusations of witchcraft against hundreds of Massachusetts Puritans, as well as an Indian slave, more than 150 people were arrested and imprisoned. In addition, 29 individuals were convicted of witchcraft, which was a felony at the time. Of those convicted, 19 were hanged at Gallows Hill for being witches, and 2 dogs were killed as accomplices to witchcraft. One elderly man, Giles Corey, was crushed to death by stones as a way to induce him to enter a plea, which he refused to do. After two days of having stones piled on top of his chest, Corey died.

Significance

It is important to understand what happened at the Salem Witch trials in order to understand how it happened. A mass hysteria to witchcraft created conditions whereby any man, woman, or child could accuse a fellow citizen of witchcraft and ruin or end their lives. Most significant perhaps is that the magistrates relied on scant evidence to convict and condemn the accused. Some officials warned against using only "spectral evidence" to convict, but most of the accused were convicted on this very evidence. The spectral evidence that was used included apparitions that appeared to the accuser as well as touch tests and witch cakes. It should also be noted that when Governor Phips forced the court to exclude spectral evidence, 28 of the last 33 accused were acquitted.

Theories/Speculation

The most common explanation for what happened at the Salem witch trials is that the girls suffering from these fits, were suffering from convulsive ergotism from the rye-laden diet of the day. Ergot can be caused by a fungus in the rye. The symptoms of convulsive ergotism is very similar to the fits the accusers had, including hallucinations. It should be mentioned that LSD, a hallucinogenic drug, is derived from ergot and provides a likely explanation for how the accusers were able to point out those who "afflicted" them. It is alleged that the young accusers would see an apparition of the person that afflicted them, and if these young women were suffering from convulsive ergotism, it has been argued that it was the likely culprit for these visions. Another, more popular theory is jealousy since most of the accused were wealthy, while their accusers were not and stood to gain property from the accused if convicted.

Resources

• Detailed account of Salem witch trials
• List of convicted & condemned