Edward Bishop and Sarah Bishop Facts
Known for: arrested, examined and imprisoned as part of the Salem witch trials of 1692
Occupation: tavern keepers
Age at time of Salem witch trials: Edward: about 44 years old; Sarah Wildes Bishop: about 41 years old
Dates: There were several Edward Bishops living in the area at that time. This Edward Bishop seems to be the one who was born on April 23, 1648.
Also known as: Bishop is sometimes spelled Bushop or Besop in the records. Edward is sometimes identified as Edward Bishop Jr.
Family, Background: son and daughter-in-law of Edward Bishop, the husband of Bridget Bishop; parents of twelve. David Greene in 1975 suggested that Edward Bishop was not related to Bridget Bishop and her husband, Edward Bishop "the sawyer," but was the son of another Edward Bishop in town. Sarah Wildes Bishop was the stepdaughter of Sarah Averill Wildes who was named as a witch by Deliverance Hobbs and executed on July 19, 1692.
Edward Bishop and Sarah Bishop Before the Salem Witch Trials
Bridget Bishop is usually credited with running a tavern that was something of a town scandal, but it was more likely Sarah and Edward Bishop who ran it out of their home.
Edward Bishop and Sarah Bishop and the Salem Witch Trials
Edward Bishop and Sarah Bishop were arrested on April 21 with Sarah's stepmother Sarah Wildes, William and Deliverance Hobbs, Nehemiah Abbott Jr., Mary Easty, Mary Black and Mary English.
Edward and Sarah Bishop were examined on April 22 by magistrates Jonathan Corwin and John Hathorne, on the same day as Sarah Wildes, Mary Easty, Nehemiah Abbott Jr., William and Deliverance Hobbs, Mary Black and Mary English.
Edward and Sarah Bishop were found to have committed witchcraft against Ann Putnam Jr., Mercy Lewis and Abigail Williams. Elizabeth Balch, wife of Benjamin Balch Jr., and her sister, Abigail Walden, also testified against Sarah Bishop, claiming they heard Edward accuse Elizabeth of entertaining Satan at night.
Edward and Sarah were jailed in Salem and then in Boston, and their property was seized. They escaped from the Boston jail for a short time.
Edward Bishop and Sarah Bishop After the Trials
Their son Samuel Bishop recovered their property. In a 1710 affidavit attempting to gain recompense for the damages they'd suffered and to clear their names, Edward Bishop said they were "prisnors for thirtiey seven wekes" and required to pay "ten shillings pur weeake for our bord" plus five pounds.
The son of Sarah and Edward Bishop Jr., Edward Bishop III, married Susannah Putnam, part of the family who had leveled many of the accusations of witchcraft in 1692.
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