Salem Witch Trials Glossary

Abenaki
In King William's War, the French often used their allies, the Abenaki, to attack the British colonists in northern New England.

Court of Oyer and Terminer
When the newly-appointed Governor of the Province of Massachusetts returned to the colony in May, 1692 , he found the jails in Boston, Salem and surrounding towns filled with many prisoners charged with witchcraft, and no legal system to try them. He appointed seven judges to a Court of Oyer and Terminer to dispose of the cases.

Covenanted Church Membership
The Puritan culture of Massachusetts in the 17th century, out of which rose the series of events known collectively as the Salem witch trials, put a great deal of emphasis on who was and who was not a fully covenanted church member.

Examination
The first examinations of accused witches in Salem were held in March, 1692. The meaning of "examination" at that time included elements not part of criminal investigations today.

Goody
The title "Goody" was used for some women in 17th century Massachusetts, and was a title used often for women accused or giving testimony in the Salem Witch trials.

Half-Way Covenant
The churches of 17th century Puritan Massachusetts developed the Half-Way Covenant in 1662, and issues around who was a fully covenanted church member were still important at the time of the Salem witch trials.

King William's War
King William's War (1689 - 1697) started just a few years before the time of the Salem witch trials , and was a major influence on the culture of fear. Several of the key people in that trial were involved in the war as participants, refugees or orphans.

Poppet
Finding poppets in one's home was considered evidence of witchcraft in 17th century Massachusetts, and accusations about poppets played a part in some of the examinations that were part of the Salem witch trials.

Signing the Devil's Book
In 17th century Massachusetts, beliefs about witchcraft included beliefs about signing the devil's book or making one's mark in the devil's book. The accusation of this act was an important element in the 1692 Salem witch trials.

Spectral Evidence
Controversy even at the time raged in 1692 Massachusetts when the Salem witchcraft trials accepted spectral evidence against the accused.

Superior Court of Judicature
In November, 1692, Governer Phips of Massachusetts established the Superior Court of Judicature to hear witchcraft cases.

Witch Cake or Witch's Cake
In Salem Village in February, 1692, the making of a witch's cake or witch cake was an important event leading to the Salem witch trials that year.