Salem Witch Trials - The People
Individuals involved in the Salem witch trials of 1692: accusers, accused, judges and others in Salem Village and the wider Puritan community. Includes biographies, testimony, petitions and other documents.
Books on the Salem Witch Trials
A selection of the best books to read to learn more about the New England witch hunts. Some books look at why most of the accused were women; others focus on alternate explanations, including legal rules, disease, psychology, religion and so forth.
A selection of the best books to read to learn more about the New England witch hunts. Some books look at why most of the accused were women; others focus on alternate explanations, including legal rules, disease, psychology, religion and so forth.
The Afflicted
A list of the "afflicted" with their villages identified.
A list of the "afflicted" with their villages identified.
"Afflicted Girls"
A list of the "afflicted" girls who testified in the Salem trials. Links take you to transcripts of cases in which they were involved.
A list of the "afflicted" girls who testified in the Salem trials. Links take you to transcripts of cases in which they were involved.
Accusers and Persons Against Whom They Testified
From Paul Boyer and Steven Nissenbaum's 1997 work, a selected list.
From Paul Boyer and Steven Nissenbaum's 1997 work, a selected list.
Biographical Information
Some basic facts about key figures: Bridget Bishop, Ann Foster, Elizabeth Proctor, George Burroughs, Dorcas Good, John Proctor, Martha Carrier, Sarah Good, Tituba, Giles Corey, Rebecca Nurse, Martha Corey, Samuel Parris and Bridget Bishop.
Some basic facts about key figures: Bridget Bishop, Ann Foster, Elizabeth Proctor, George Burroughs, Dorcas Good, John Proctor, Martha Carrier, Sarah Good, Tituba, Giles Corey, Rebecca Nurse, Martha Corey, Samuel Parris and Bridget Bishop.
Biographies of Key Figures in the Salem Witchcraft Trials
Index to a few biographies of individuals connected with the Salem witch trials. Women include Tituba, Ann Putnam, Bridget Bishop, Mary Easty, Sarah Good and Rebecca Nurse.
Index to a few biographies of individuals connected with the Salem witch trials. Women include Tituba, Ann Putnam, Bridget Bishop, Mary Easty, Sarah Good and Rebecca Nurse.
List of all Persons Accused of Witchcraft in 1692
An exhaustive list of those against whom warrants or complaints were filed. Includes their name, town and the date of the initial complaint or warrant.
An exhaustive list of those against whom warrants or complaints were filed. Includes their name, town and the date of the initial complaint or warrant.
List of Defenders Connected with Salem Village
A list of those who testified in defense of accused witches, signed a petition in their favor, giving skeptical testimony and other defenders.
A list of those who testified in defense of accused witches, signed a petition in their favor, giving skeptical testimony and other defenders.
List of Judges
A list of the men who served as chief judge and associate judges during the Salem witch trials, 1692, plus the attorneys-general and the sheriff of Essex County.
A list of the men who served as chief judge and associate judges during the Salem witch trials, 1692, plus the attorneys-general and the sheriff of Essex County.
Members of the Jury
A list of individuals who served on the jury, May-October 1692.
A list of individuals who served on the jury, May-October 1692.
Persons Accused of Witchcraft
A list of the accused in the Salem witch trials.
A list of the accused in the Salem witch trials.
Petitions for Compensation and Decisions
Cases of Mary Easty, Sarah Good and Dorcas Good are included in the petitions, and decisions for Elizabeth How, George Jacobs, Mary Easty, George Burroughs, Giles Corey, Rebeccah Nurse, John Willard, Sarah Good, Martha Carrier, Samuel Wardwell and wife, John Proctor and wife, Sarah Wild, Mary Bradbury, Abigail Foster, Anne Foster, Rebeccah Eames, Dorcas Hoar, Mary Post and Mary Lacey.
Cases of Mary Easty, Sarah Good and Dorcas Good are included in the petitions, and decisions for Elizabeth How, George Jacobs, Mary Easty, George Burroughs, Giles Corey, Rebeccah Nurse, John Willard, Sarah Good, Martha Carrier, Samuel Wardwell and wife, John Proctor and wife, Sarah Wild, Mary Bradbury, Abigail Foster, Anne Foster, Rebeccah Eames, Dorcas Hoar, Mary Post and Mary Lacey.
Petitions of Two Convicted Witches Awaiting Executions
Page includes the text of petitions of Mary Easty and John Proctor, questioning their convictions and asserting their innocence.
Page includes the text of petitions of Mary Easty and John Proctor, questioning their convictions and asserting their innocence.
Puritan Ministers Involved in the Salem Witch Trials
A list of Puritan ministers involved in the trials or in petitions about the trials.
A list of Puritan ministers involved in the trials or in petitions about the trials.
Victims of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692
A list of those executed in Salem, including their execution dates. Also includes a list of those who died in prison.
A list of those executed in Salem, including their execution dates. Also includes a list of those who died in prison.
Carey Document: On the Trail of A Death Warrant
Exposure of one death warrant, supposedly from Salem, 1692, as a fake.
Exposure of one death warrant, supposedly from Salem, 1692, as a fake.
Arrest Warrant: Elizabeth Proctor and Sarah Cloyce
Reproduction and transcription of the April 4, 1692, document accusing two women of witchcraft.
Reproduction and transcription of the April 4, 1692, document accusing two women of witchcraft.
Giles Corey
Biography of farmer Giles Corey, accused witch at Salem whose execution was to be pressed to death, a consequence of his steadfast refusal to stand trial.
Biography of farmer Giles Corey, accused witch at Salem whose execution was to be pressed to death, a consequence of his steadfast refusal to stand trial.
John Hathorne
He helped remove George Burroughs as Salem Village minister, helped bring in minister Samuel Parris, served as justice of the peace in examining many of the witch trial witnesses, and pronounced death sentences. He was an ancestor of author Nathaniel Hawthorne who added the "w" to his name "to distance himself from Hathorne because of the role he played in the Salem trials."
He helped remove George Burroughs as Salem Village minister, helped bring in minister Samuel Parris, served as justice of the peace in examining many of the witch trial witnesses, and pronounced death sentences. He was an ancestor of author Nathaniel Hawthorne who added the "w" to his name "to distance himself from Hathorne because of the role he played in the Salem trials."
Deliverance Hobbs
Biography of an accused Salem witch who confessed and then served as a witness against other witches, including her husband and the Rev. George Burroughs.
Biography of an accused Salem witch who confessed and then served as a witness against other witches, including her husband and the Rev. George Burroughs.
Samuel Parris
Central figure in the Salem witch trials, Parris' daughter, niece and slaves were among other key figures, accusers and accused. His sermons on Satan and witchcraft certainly added to the suspicions and the divisions between villagers.
Central figure in the Salem witch trials, Parris' daughter, niece and slaves were among other key figures, accusers and accused. His sermons on Satan and witchcraft certainly added to the suspicions and the divisions between villagers.
Sir William Phips
Biography of the governor of Massachusetts during the time of the witchcraft accusations in Salem. He ordered in October 1692 that spectral evidence no longer be considered, and later prohibited further arrests and pardoned the remaining suspects of Salem Village.
Biography of the governor of Massachusetts during the time of the witchcraft accusations in Salem. He ordered in October 1692 that spectral evidence no longer be considered, and later prohibited further arrests and pardoned the remaining suspects of Salem Village.
Two Letters of Gov. William Phips (1692-1693)
October 1692 and the following February, Governor Phips issued these rulings which helped to stop the Salem witch trials.
October 1692 and the following February, Governor Phips issued these rulings which helped to stop the Salem witch trials.
Samuel Sewall (1652-1730)
Image, very brief biography (no mention of Salem), and an extended bibliography.
Image, very brief biography (no mention of Salem), and an extended bibliography.
Samuel Sewall
One of the judges at Salem Village, his diary is key evidence for those trying to understand the trials. He later apologized for his part in the trials. This page includes mention of Sewall's anti-slavery and equality arguments.
One of the judges at Salem Village, his diary is key evidence for those trying to understand the trials. He later apologized for his part in the trials. This page includes mention of Sewall's anti-slavery and equality arguments.
William Stoughton
Chief Justice of Massachusetts and a judge in the Salem witch trials, his lack of legal expertise is sometimes blamed for the unusual courtroom procedures at Salem Village in 1692.
Chief Justice of Massachusetts and a judge in the Salem witch trials, his lack of legal expertise is sometimes blamed for the unusual courtroom procedures at Salem Village in 1692.