Witchcraft: Difference between revisions
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The witchcraft hysteria of the 17th century began in Salem Village (now Danvers) when a group of girls became fascinated with the supernatural. They were overcome with hysteria and it was determined by John Cotton Mather and other clergymen from Boston that they were afflicted with the devil. The girls claimed that their physical manifestations were caused by members of the community. Those that they named were tried | The witchcraft hysteria of the 17th century began in Salem Village (now Danvers) when a group of girls became fascinated with the supernatural. They were overcome with hysteria and it was determined by John Cotton Mather and other clergymen from Boston that they were afflicted with the devil. The girls claimed that their physical manifestations were caused by members of the community. Those that they named were tried as witches. Thus began what became known as the Salem Witch Trials. | ||
In 1692 Elizabeth Ballard was ill and a cause and cure could not be determined. Her husband John, sent to Salem for two of these girls to ascertain the cause of Elizbeth's illness. The girls maintained that certain members of the Andover community were causing the illness. These people were jailed and tried. Eight were condemned and three were hanged. | |||
*Martha Carrier ([[Carrier, Martha]]), Samuel Wardwell, and Mary Parker were hanged. | *Martha Carrier ([[Carrier, Martha]]), Samuel Wardwell, and Mary Parker were hanged. | ||
*Ann Foster died in prison. | *Ann Foster died in prison. | ||
*Abigail Faulkner was reprieved. | *Abigail Faulkner was reprieved. | ||
*Sarah Warwdell, Elizabeth Johnson, and Mary Lacey were condemned but were not hanged. | *Sarah Warwdell, Elizabeth Johnson, and Mary Lacey were condemned but were not hanged. | ||
The trials and executions were brought to an end when on October 3, 1692 after the girls had accused a number of prominent people, including a judge and the wife of the governor. Then, the Reverend Increase Mather, President of Harvard College denounced the use of spectral evidence. On October 8, 1692 Governer Phipps ordered that spectral evidence could no longer be used in witchcraft trials. | The trials and executions were brought to an end when on October 3, 1692 after the girls had accused a number of prominent people, including a judge and the wife of the governor. Then, the Reverend Increase Mather, President of Harvard College denounced the use of spectral evidence. On October 8, 1692 Governer Phipps ordered that spectral evidence could no longer be used in witchcraft trials. | ||
Revision as of 14:44, 27 November 2009
The witchcraft hysteria of the 17th century began in Salem Village (now Danvers) when a group of girls became fascinated with the supernatural. They were overcome with hysteria and it was determined by John Cotton Mather and other clergymen from Boston that they were afflicted with the devil. The girls claimed that their physical manifestations were caused by members of the community. Those that they named were tried as witches. Thus began what became known as the Salem Witch Trials.
In 1692 Elizabeth Ballard was ill and a cause and cure could not be determined. Her husband John, sent to Salem for two of these girls to ascertain the cause of Elizbeth's illness. The girls maintained that certain members of the Andover community were causing the illness. These people were jailed and tried. Eight were condemned and three were hanged.
- Martha Carrier (Carrier, Martha), Samuel Wardwell, and Mary Parker were hanged.
- Ann Foster died in prison.
- Abigail Faulkner was reprieved.
- Sarah Warwdell, Elizabeth Johnson, and Mary Lacey were condemned but were not hanged.
The trials and executions were brought to an end when on October 3, 1692 after the girls had accused a number of prominent people, including a judge and the wife of the governor. Then, the Reverend Increase Mather, President of Harvard College denounced the use of spectral evidence. On October 8, 1692 Governer Phipps ordered that spectral evidence could no longer be used in witchcraft trials.
There is some thought that the Abbot House might have been the home of Martha Carrier. The PBS House Detectives researched this in Could a house in Essex County, Massachusetts, have once belonged to an accused witch?
See
- Andover File - Witchcraft
- Chronology of Events Relating to the Salem Witchcraft Trial of 1692
- Historical Sketches of Andover by Sarah Loring Bailey, (974.45 Bai) pages 194 - 237.
- History of Essex County Massachusettsvol. 2 by D. Hamilton Hurd, pages 1562 - 1564
- North Andover(Andover)from the Salem Witch Museum
- Story of Essex County vol. 1, by Claude Fuess 974.45 Fue, pages 181 - 233
--Eleanor 12:05, November 25, 2009 (EST)
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