Salem Witchcraft
"Those that forget the past are doomed to repeat it!"
The current Town of Salem has been famous as "Witch City" since 1692.
The fact is, that while the actual (witch) trials, the incarceration of the accused (They were housed mostly in Salem Jail) and executions took place in Salem "Town", the "witchcraft hysteria" actually began in the near by town,that now comprises the town's of Danvers and what is now Peabody( Formerly South Danvers until 1868 when South Danvers was renamed Peabody after philanthropist George Peabody.)When the Court of Oyer and Terminer was appointed in May 1692, the trials and executions were moved to near by Salem Town , the county seat. At the time Danvers and what is now, Peabody, were part of a parish of Salem Town, and were known as Salem Village. Several Families moved the five miles from Salem Town to Salem Village (Danvers) in 1638. Peabody was originally part of Salem "Town" called Brooksby Village. Brooksby separated from Salem "Town" in 1752 to establish the town of Danvers.
Salem Town = what is now the city of Salem
Salem Village = what are now the town's of Danvers and Peabody.
The now famous list of "Salem Witches",or the 19 vicitms who were excucuted during the Salem Witchcraft Trials between June 10, 1692 and September 22, 1692 are:
| Bridget Bishop | Martha Carrier | Mary Parker |
| Sarah Good | Reverend George Burroughs | Ann Prudeater |
| Susanna Martin | John Proctor | Wilmot Reed |
| Elizabeth Howe | John Willard | Margaret Scott |
| Rebecca Nurse | Martha Corey | Samuel Wardwell |
| Sarah Wildes | Mary Easty | |
| George Jacobs | Alice Parker |
A list of Individuals accused of Witchcraft in 1692 and the town they were from:
| Nehemiah Abbot Topsfield | Abigail Faulkner, Sr. Andover | John Proctor Salem Village |
| Nehemiah Abbot, Jr. Topsfield | Abigail Faulkner, Jr. Andover | Sarah Proctor Salem Village |
| John Alden Boston | Dorothy Faulkner Andover | William Proctor Salem Village |
| Daniel Andrew Salem Village | John Flood Rumney (Romney )Marsh | Ann Pudeator Salem Town |
| Abigail Barker Andover | Elizabeth Fosdick Malden | Wilmot Reed Marblehead |
| Mary Barker Andover | Elizabeth Fosdick (Jr) Malden | Sarah Rice Reading |
| William Barker, Sr. Andover | Ann Foster Andover | Susannah Roots Beverly |
| William Barker, Jr. Andover | Nicholas Frost Manchester | Henry Salter Andover |
| Sarah Bassett Lynn | Eunice Frye Andover | John Sawdy Andover |
| Bridget Bishop Salem Village | Dorcas Good Salem Village | Margaret Scott Unknown |
| Edward Bishop, Jr. Salem Village | Sarah Good Salem Village | Ann Sears Woburn |
| Sarah Bishop Salem Village | Mary Green Haverhill | Abigail Somes Salem Town |
| Mary Black Salem Village | Elizabeth Hart Lynn | Martha Sparks Chelmsford |
| Mary Bradbury Salisbury | Margaret Hawks Salem Town | Tituba (slave) Salem Village |
| Mary Bridges, Sr. Andover | Sarah Hawkes Andover | Job Tookey Beverly |
| Mary Bridges, Jr. Andover | Dorcas Hoar Beverly | Mary Toothacker Billerica |
| Sarah Bridges Andover | Abigail Hobbs Topsfield | Margaret Toothacker Billerica |
| Hannah Bromage Andover | Deliverance Hobbs Topsfield | Roger Toothacker Billerica |
| Sarah Buckley Salem Village | William Hobbs Topsfield | Hannah Tyler Andover |
| George Burroughs Wells, Maine | Elizabeth How(e) Topsfield | Martha Tyler Andover |
| Candy (slave) Salem Town | John Howard Rowley | Mercy Wardwell Andover |
| Hannah Carrell Salem Town | Francis Hutchens Haverhill | Samuel Wardwell Andover |
| Andrew Carrier Andover | Mary Ireson Lynn | Sarah Wardwell Andover |
| Martha Carrier Andover | John Jackson, Sr. Rowley | Mary Warren Salem Village |
| Richard Carrier Andover | John Jackson, Jr. Rowley | Sarah Wilds Topsfield |
| Sarah Carrier Andover | George Jacobs, Sr. Salem Town | Ruth Wilford Haverhill |
| Thomas Carrier, Jr. Andover | George Jacobs, Jr. Salem Village | John Willard Salem Village |
| Bethia Carter, Sr. Woburn | Margaret Jacobs Salem Town | Abigail Williams Salem Village |
| Bethia Carter, Jr. Woburn | Rebecca Jacobs Salem Village | Sarah Wilson, Sr. Andover |
| Elizabeth Cary Charlestown | Abigail Johnson Andover | Sarah Wilson, Jr. Andover |
| Mary Clarke Haverhill | Elizabeth Johnson,Sr. Andover | Mary Withridge Salem Village |
| Rachel Clenton Ipswich | Elizabeth Johnson,Jr Andover | |
| Sarah Cloyse Salem Village | Rebecca Johnson Andover | |
| Sarah Cole Lynn | Stephen Johnson Andover | |
| Sarah Cole Salem Town | Mary Lacey, Sr. Andover | |
| Elizabeth Colson Reading | Mary Lacey, Jr. Andover | |
| Mary Colson Unknown | John Lee Unknown | |
| Giles Corey Salem Village | Jane Lilly Malden | |
| Martha Corey Salem Village | Mary Marston Andover | |
| Deliverance Dane Andover | Susanna Martin Amesbury | |
| Mary DeRich Salem Village | Mary Morey Beverly | |
| Elizabeth Dicer Gloucester | Sarah Morrill Beverly | |
| Rebecca Dike Gloucester | Rebecca Nurse Salem Village | |
| Joseph Draper Andover | Sarah Osborne Salem Village | |
| Ann Doliver Gloucester | Mary Osgood Andover | |
| Lydia Dustin Reading | Elizabeth Paine Charlestown | |
| Sarah Dustin Reading | Alice Parker Salem Town | |
| Rebecca Eames Andover | Mary Parker Andover | |
| Mary Easty Salem Village | Sarah Pease Salem Town | |
| Esther Elwell Gloucester | Joan Peney Gloucester | |
| Martha Emerson Haverhill | Hannah Post Boxford | |
| Joseph Emons Manchester | Mary Post Rowley | |
| Mary English Salem Town | Susanna Post Andover | |
| Philip English Salem Town | Margaret Prince Gloucester | |
| Thomas Farrer, Sr. Lynn | Benjamin Proctor Salem Village | |
| Edward Farrington Andover | Elizabeth Proctor Salem Village |
The fact is, only
Of this list of acussed persons, the following were residents of Salem Town:
| 1)Candy (slave) Salem Town | 4)Sarah Cole Salem Town | 7)Margaret Hawks Salem Town | 10)Margaret Jacobs Salem Town |
| 2)Hannah Carrell Salem Town | 5)Philip English Salem Town | 8)George Jacobs, Sr. SalemTown | 11)Alice Parker Salem Town |
| 3)Sarah Pease Salem Town | 6)Ann Pudeator Salem Town | 9)Abigail Somes Salem Town |
Of the "famous" 19 victims hung on Gallows Hill ( located in Salem Town) in 1692 were the following Salem Town residents:
1) Alice Parker of Salem Town hung 22-Sep-1692
2) Ann Prudeater of Salem Town hung 22-Sep-1692
Of the 19 victims hung on Gallows Hill in 1692,those who were residents of Salem Village (now Danvers/Peaboby) were:
3) Sarah Good Salem Village (now Danvers) hung 19-Jul-169
4)Rebecca Nurse (or Nourse) Salem Village (now Danvers) hung 19-Jul-1692
5)George Jacobs Salem Village (now Danvers) 19-Aug-1692
6)John Proctor Salem Village (now Peabody)(the first male to be accused of witchcraft) hung 19-Aug-1692
7)John Willard Salem Village (now Danvers) hung 19-Aug-1692
8)Martha Corey Salem Village (now Peabody) hung 22-Sep-1692
9)Bridget Bishop Salem Village ( Salem Village now Danvers) hung 10-June-1692
The other 10 were from the neighboring towns and villages and one ( Reverand George Burroughs) was from Wells, Maine.
| 10) Susanna Martin | Amesbury hung 19-Jul-1692 |
| 11) Elizabeth Howe | Ipswich hung 19-Jul-1692 |
| 12) Sarah Wildes | Topsfield hung19-Jul-1692 |
| 13) Martha Carrier | Andover hung 19-Aug-1692 |
| 14) Rev. George Burroughs | Wells, Maine hung 19-Aug-1692 |
| 15) Mary Easty | Topsfield hung 22-Sep-1692 |
| 16) Mary Parker | Andover hung 22-Sep-1692 |
| 17) Wilmot Reed | Marblehead hung 22-Sep-1692 |
| 18) Margaret Scott | Rowley hung 22-Sep-1692 |
| 19) Samuel Wardwell | Andover hung 22-Sep-1692 |
The number of accused by Village or Town
Boston........................1
Amesbury.....................1
Billerica........................6
Beverly........................6
Charlestown.................3
Chelmsford...................1
Gloucester....................3
Haverhill......................3
Great Island..................1
Marblehead..................2
Lynn............................7
Malden........................1
Reading.......................4
Rowley........................1
(Romney) Marsh (now Revere).....1
Salisbury......................1
Salem Town.........................11
Salem Village .................30
Topsfield & Ipswich........7
Woburn........................3
In addition to the 133 above, 34 other individuals were accused and incarcerated in various jails ( Including Ipswich )
waiting for trial when Governor Phips released all the prisoners.
Died in Prison
| Sarah Osborn |
| Roger Toothaker |
| Lydia Dustin |
| Ann Foster |
| Infant Girl (daughter of Sarah Good) |
(As many as thirteen others may have died in prison but sources conflict as to the number of prison deaths)
Visit an Interactive Map
This wonderful Interactive Map shows town boundries, the location of households (by name) of both the "accused" and the "accusers" and thier relationship to each other by distance as well as rivers and roads.
Go To Interactive Map
Individual property lines, town boundries , politics, mass hysteria, the reaction of adults who sought personal gain from the opportunity that arose from the staged, ongoing drama's of attention seeking little girls, fear and misunderstanding of indivduals who were"different", and Puritan religious fanaticism all played it's part in the death and suffering of ALL the victims of the Witchcraft Hysteria in early Massachusetts.
The devastation and fear brought to the indivuals who were either excuted or accused, thier families and the general population of Salem Town, Salem Village and the many other early Massachusetts towns, left long lasting scars . Many never fully recovered financially, emotionally or physically from the ordeal in 1692.
To Learn more about the neighboring towns, visit them at:
| Danvers Gen Web Project | Peabody Gen Web Project | Ipswich Gen Web Project |
Verbatim Transcriptions of the Court Records
In three volumes
Edited by Paul Boyer and Stephen Nissenbaum
Da Capo Press: New York, 1977.
© 2003, Benjamin C. Ray and The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia
This page displays the stones dedicated to the victims of the Salem Witch Trials
Famous American Trials:
Salem Witchcraft Trials 1692
Questia - World's Largest Online Library
This is a subscription service ( pay site) but shows a wonderful collection of resource titles that may be available to you locally.
Search Topic: Salem Witch Trials
Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive & Transcription Project
Court records, documents, historical maps, and biographies
Salem Witch Museum
The Salem Witch Museum, located in modern day Salem, Massachusetts strives to educate people on the history and events surrounding the Salem Witchcraft Trials with an emphasis on early Salem history. To quote thier website: "To understand the events of the Salem witch trials, it is necessary to examine the times in which accusations of witchcraft occurred." The also offer informative museum tours for those visiting Salem.
Salem Witch Trials Grave Locator
This site locates the graves of many people involved in the Salem Witchcraft Trials.
The Modern Day Religion of Witchcraft
The Witches League For Public Awareness
A site about Modern Day Witchcraft in Salem Massachusetts. The Witches' League for Public Awareness is dedicated to helping correct misinformation about Witches and Witchcraft. The work of the League comes from a shared vision of a world free from all religious persecution. The League was founded in Salem, Massachusetts, in May, 1986
Postal Address: WLPA PO Box 8736, Salem, MA 01971-8736.
The Witches Voice
The Witches' Voice offers the latest in news and extensive networking related to the Modern Pagan Community. It contains articles captured from many sources, submitter articles and basic information on the modern Religion of Witchcraft and Paganism.
Postal address: The Witches' Voice Inc., P.O. Box 4924, Clearwater, Florida 33758-4924 U.S.A.
Go to the Salem Gen Web Library:
Salem Witchcraft Resources & "Look Up's" Section
OR
Copyright © 2005 Terryl Whitaker Pilon
