History of Salem Witch Trials
"Examination of a Witch" by Thompkins H. Matteson, 1853.
“We cannot look to superstition in this. The Devil is
precise; the marks of his presence are definite as stone.”
Reverend John Hale in The Crucible
MAP OF SALEM VILLAGE IN
1692 ( W. P. UPHAM)
Cast of Characters
Reverend Samuel Parris’ 9 year old
daughter, Elizabeth Parris, his 11 year
niece, Abigail Williams and 12 year old
Ann Putnam, Jr acted strangely.
 John Proctor, a 60 year old man, claimed
his innocence and was not involved with
Abigail Williams.
 Dr. Griggs could not find anything wrong
with the girls.
 Dr. Griggs stated that the girls were
“under the evil hand.”

Key Facts
Location: Salem, Massachusetts
 Date: Winter of 1691-1692
 400 were accused of destroying the
Church of Christ in New England
 150 people were placed in jail
 19 People were hanged.
 The hysteria ended in May of 1693.

The Salem Witch House (1642),
home of Jonathan Corwin
Cast of Characters: Tituba

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Tituba was the West
Indian slave who
worked for Samuel
Parris.
Tituba entertained
the girls with her
stories as witch.
Sarah Good and
Sarah Osborne were
viewed in low esteem
in the community.
Tituba accused them
of being witches.
Artist A. Fredericks, 1878
Sarah Good

Her daughter, Dorcas was accused of
witchcraft and her baby son died in
prison.
 She was hanged on July 19, 1692.
 Her husband, William Good was asked if
he thought his wife could be a witch. He
said yes.
 He stated “and indeed, I may say with
tears, that she is an enemy to all good.”
The Trial of Rebecca Nurse

Rebecca Nurse, 71 year old, was a
respected member of the community.
 The community signed petitions in her
defense but was hanged on July 19, 1692.
The Hanging of the witches
19 people were hanged
in the Gallows Hill in
1692
 Women like Bridget
Bishop, Rebecca Nurse
were hanged.

Witch Hill," or
"The Salem Martyr"
(Death Warrant for Sarah Good,
Rebecca Nurse, Susannah Martin,
Elizabeth Howe, and Sarah Wilds)

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To Goerge: Corwine Gent'n High Sheriff of the county of
Essex
Whereas Sarah Good Wife of William Good of Salem
Village Rebecka Nurse wife of Francis Nurse of Salem
Village Susanna Martin of Amesbury Widow Elizabeth
How wife of James How of Ipswich Sarah Wild wife of
John Wild of Topsfield all of the County of Essex in thier
Maj'ts Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New
England Att A Court of Oyer & Terminer held by
Adjournment for Our Severaign Lord & Lady Kind Wiliam
& Queen Mary for the said County of Essex at Salem in
the s'd County onf the 29th day of June [torn] were
Severaly arrigned on Several Indictments for the horrible
Crime of Witchcraft by them practised & Committed On
Severall persons and pleading not guilty did for thier
Tryall put themselves on God & Thier Countrey
whereupon they were Each of them found & brought in
Guilty by the Jury that passed On them according to
their respective Indictments and Sentence of death did
then pass upon them as the Law directs Execution
whereof yet remains to be done: Those are
Therefore in thier Maj'ties name William & Mary now King & Queen over
England &ca: to will & Command you that upon Tuesday next being the
19th day for [torn] Instant July between the houres of Eight & [torn] in
[torn] forenoon the same day you Safely conduct the s'd Sarah Good
Rebecka Nurse Susann Martin Elizabeth Howe & Sarah Wild From thier
Maj'ties goal in Salem afores'd to the place of Execution & there Cause
them & Every of them to be hanged by the Neck untill they be dead and of
the doings herein make return to the Clerke of the said Court & this
precept and hereof you are not to fail at your perill and this Shall be your
sufficient Warrant given under my hand & seale at Boston th 12't day of
July in the fourth year of Reign of our Soveraigne Lord & Layd Wm &
Mary King and Queen &ca:
*Wm Stoughton
Annoq Dom. 1692
(Reverse)
Salem July 19th 1692
I caused the within mentioned persons to be Executed according to the
Tenour of the with[in] warrant
*George Corwin Sherif
"Witchcraft at Salem Village."
Pioneers in the Settlement of America by William A. Crafts.
Vol. I Boston: Samuel Walker & Company, 1876. Artists: F. O.
C. Darley, Wm. L. Shepard, Granville Perkins, etc.
"Accused of Witchcraft."
Oil painting by Douglas Volk, 1884. Corcoran Gallery
Washington, D.C.
Source: Life Magazine, November, 1942.
"Arresting a Witch."
Artist Howard Pyle.
Source: Harpers
New Monthly
Magazine, Vol. 67,
(June - November),
1883: 221.
What happened to the cast of
characters?

Tituba was jailed for 13 since Rev. Parrish
refused to pay her jail fees since she
stated he beat her to confess to witchcraft.
Someone else paid her fees and left the
Salem and lived in Virginia.
 Sarah Osborne died two months later in
prison after being accused of witchcraft.
 Sarah Good was hanged on July 19, 1692.
 Rev. Parrish was removed from his church
in 1697 and died in 1720.
Ann Putman, Jr
Many believed she was the ring
leaders of the girls.
 During church services, she
apologized to the congregation.
 She died poor and the age of 36.
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Sources:
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/proj
ects/ftrials/salem/SA_NURST.JPG
 http://www2.iath.virginia.edu/salem/g
eneric.html
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