Could be a subjective question. The ulterior reasons for their persecution sometimes surfaced at the trial. Their initial accusations gave way to trials, hysteria, and a frenzy that resulted in further accusations, often between the differing factions. Who all died in the crucible.But, I confessthere are many confessions in the world of The Crucibleupon research and reflection, to a certain sympathy for the justices in the Salem case. At the time of the witch trials she was poor and pregnant and would often go door to door in Salem Village begging for handouts while her husband worked as a day laborer. Martin was accused of witchcraft by the afflicted girls in the spring of 1692. Enjoyable reading! Elizabeth Howe (Age: 57)Elizabeth Howe lived in Topsfield and was the wife of farmer James Howe. Given the subsequent spread of the strange behaviour to other girls and young women in the community and the timing of its display, however, those physiological and psychological explanations are not very convincing. Probably stimulated by voodoo tales told to them by Tituba, Parriss daughter Betty (age 9), his niece Abigail Williams (age 11), and their friend Ann Putnam, Jr. (about age 12), began indulging in fortune-telling. But how many people actually died in the Salem Witch Trials? Rebecca Nurse (Age: 71)Rebecca Nurse was an elderly grandmother from Salem Village and the wife of farmer Francis Nurse. He was found guilty on August 5 and executed on August 19, 1692. It was fascinating. If any1 can send me any known links or information regarding relation or more to her story if theres any available, Id forever be grateful, as i find this to be an extremely intresting part of our countries history! My ancestor, Mehitabel Braybrooke Downing was one of the accused. My 10 great grandmother was Sarah Wilde. My ancestor Thomas Ruee came from Salem, Massachusetts. Lydia Dustin died still in jail on March 10, 1693. ThoughtCo. SmithsonianreportsMore than 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraftthe Devils magicand 20 were executed., Biographyreports that the epidemic resulted in 20 deaths OnSeptember 22, 1692,eight people were hangedfor their alleged crimes as witches. I am a direct descendant of Mary Towne Esty and always find the more I read about the trials and people involved, the more I learn. And at a special court of Oyer and Termina holden at Salem in the county of Essex in the same year 1692, George Burroughs of Wells, John Proctor, George Jacobs, John Willard, Giles Corey and Martha his wife, Rebecca Nurse and Sarah Good, all of Salem aforesaid; Elizabeth Howe of Ipswich; Mary Easty; Sarah Wildes and Abigail Hobbs all of Topsfield; Samuel Wardwell, Mary Parker, Martha Carrier, Abigail Faulkner, Ann Foster; Rebecca Eames, Mary Post and Mary Lacey, all of Andover; Mary Bradbury of Salisbury, Dorcas Hoar of Beverly, were severally indicted, convicted and attainted of witchcraft, and some of them put to death, others lying still under the like sentence of the said court and liable to have the same executed upon them. To determine if there was an actual case against the accused, they were usually taken either to the Salem Village meetinghouse, to Reverend Samuel Parris house, to Ingersoll Tavern at Salem Village or to Beadles Tavern in Salem Town. I had found some very helpful sources: some on-line documents, some printed sources (books and magazine articles), and microfilms of original records. Thirty were found guilty, nineteen of whom were executed by hanging (fourteen women and five men). The last hangings in that years witch craze was on September 22. Salem witch trials, (June 1692May 1693), in American history, a series of investigations and persecutions that caused 19 convicted witches to be hanged and many other suspects to be imprisoned in Salem Village in the Massachusetts Bay Colony (now Danvers, Massachusetts). Visit this site's About page to find out more about Rebecca. I do apologize for not keeping up with the comments here. Burroughs was arrested, brought to trial on August 5 and executed on August 19, 1692. Some of their children remained in Essex County, while some moved with them to Bristol County and elsewhere. How many Salem witches were hanged? Like Bridget Bishop and many other witch trial victims, Wilmot Redd had also been accused of witchcraft before in 1687. **sources conflict as to the exact number of prison deaths. In 1692 they stood under a wooden structure, twenty feet square, known as the witch jail. Since they were so close to the banks of a tidal river, they were probably infested with water rats. In three days of vivid testimony, she described encounters with Satans animal familiars and with a tall, dark man from Boston who had called upon her to sign the devils book, in which she saw the names of Good and Osborn along with those of seven others that she could not read. From this article I have noted Susannahs mother is Joan Bartram not Ursla Scott. Im descended from Rebecca Nurse via her daughter, Mary. Giles Corey, an 81-year-old farmer, was pressed to death under heavy stones while extracting a confession. Omissions? The young girls knowing that dabbling at slight of hand with their maid may have been wrong, amongst people who didnt even allow children to play. Just a few days later, Brays grandson, Daniel Wilkins, was found dead, his body bloody and beaten, and according to court records: to the best of our judgments we cannot but apprehend but that he dyed an unnatural death by sume cruell hands of witchcraft or diabolicall act. The stone dungeons of Salem Town prison were discovered in the 1950s in St. Peter Street when the site was excavated to build a New England Telephone Company building. REFUSED TO ENTER A PLEA & TORTURED TO DEATH: Giles Corey (Age: 71)Giles Corey was a wealthy farmer who lived on the outskirts of Salem Village. The number of trials and executions varied according to time and place, but it is generally believed that some 110,000 persons in total were tried for witchcraft and between 40,000 to 60,000 were executed. The Salem witch trials followed in 169293, culminating in the executions of 20 people. Much like Bridget Bishop, Howe had also been accused of witchcraft before. Susannah Martin was taken to Salem Village, brought to trial on June 29 and executed on July 19, 1692. Margaret Steverson Scott. I only recently discovered that I am a descendant of Sarah Lord Wilson. The village itself had a noticeable social divide that was exacerbated by a rivalry between its two leading familiesthe well-heeled Porters, who had strong connections with Salem Towns wealthy merchants, and the Putnams, who sought greater autonomy for the village and were the standard-bearers for the less-prosperous farm families. She was released from prison in March, 1693. Accusations followed, often escalating to convictions and executions. John Proctor (Age: 61)John Proctor was a wealthy farmer who lived on the outskirts of Salem Village. The girls then accused a local slave, Tituba, and two other women of bewitching them. "Another four defendants died awaiting trial, according to History of Countless other blogs and educational forums were specifically answering 19 or 20 when answering the question of how many people died in the Salem Witch Trials. If you get a chance, try to watch that episode. He brought to Salem Village his wife, their three children, a niece, and two slaves who were originally from BarbadosJohn Indian, a man, and Tituba, a woman. Self-Guided Driving & Walking ToursAn audio guide, map, and tour book all in one! All tours are valid for a lifetime. Sarah died proclaiming her innocence as others had done as her husband and son watched helplessly. This made her unpopular with her neighbors. She was in her 50s in 1692 when the witch hysteria reached its peak in Salem. I do know the maternal side of my family had many people living in Salem Village during those years. The process of identifying witches began with suspicions or rumours. They settled in Eastern Kentucky, the Bell County area. The Witch trials in England were conducted from the 15th century until the 18th century. At least half of the show was about Dorcus. On December 3, 1692, Ann Foster died in prison. ThoughtCo, Sarah Osborne is likely one of the more surprising names to be left of the list of victims. Between 1692 and May 1693, a series of investigations and persecutions caused 19 convicted witches to be hanged and several others to be imprisoned. This is an attempt to correct the history books, and its a different and possibly controversial dive into trying to TRULY answer how many people actually died in the Salem Witch Trials. Not every victim was named in the bill though because some families of the victims did not want their family member listed. She was sentenced to death but pardoned by Governor Phips. Redds daughter was the wife of fellow accused witch Reverend George Burroughs. She had a reputation for being sharp-tongued and often quarreled with locals. Certainly they were a breeding ground for diseaseBut accused witches were worse off than the other unfortunates [other prisoners.] The litany of odd behaviour also mirrored that of the children of a Boston family who in 1688 were believed to have been bewitched, a description of which had been provided by Congregational minister Cotton Mather in his book Memorable Providences, Relating to Witchcraft and Possessions (1689) and which may have been known by the girls in Salem Village. During his examination at Beadles Tavern in Salem town, the incident with Bray Wilkins and Daniel Wilkins was brought up and the Wilkins family also accused Willard of beating his wife. People today actually pay witches or people to do witchcraft on other people. Thank you so very much, unfortunately i am related to the putnam family interesting to know that my ancestors was the one accusing. If you need a refresher, check out the blog post in full. Katherine Cary. Not only because there was so much inaccuracy on how many people actually died in the Salem Witch Trials, but the consistency of this inaccurate number was astounding. Willard was accused a second time by his wifes grandfather, Bray Wilkins, after Wilkins fell ill upon receiving a cross look from Willard in May of 1692. Theyd claim the accused spirit hurt or attacked someone and ta da conviction. Learn about the Salem witch trials and their legacy. Not everyone who was accused was pursued by authorities or arrested though. Upon the humble petition and suit of several of said persons and of the children of others of them whose parents were executed. 5 can be proven without any doubt. 19. After she married widower John Wildes in 1663, John Gould and Mary Gould Reddington, the brother and sister of John Wildes late wife, developed a hatred of Sarah Wildes and, in 1670, began spreading rumors that she was a witch. Get accused. I wrote a historical novel about her and just received a contract from a publisher. No charges were ever brought up against Howe but she was later refused admittance to an Ipswich church due to the incident. And some of the principal accusers and witnesses in those dark and severe prosecutions have since discovered themselves to be persons of profligate and vicious conversations. Vintage Books, 2003.Hill, Francis. The proclamation suggested that there should be: observed a Day of Prayer with Fasting throughout the ProvinceSo that all Gods people may put away that which hath stirred Gods Holy jealousy against his land; that he wouldhelp us wherein we have done amiss to do so no more; and especially that whatever mistakes on either hand have fallen intoreferring to the late tragedy, raised among us by Satan and his instruments, through the awful judgement of God, he would humble us therefore and pardon all the errors and people that desire to love his name. Over 10 reputable history/educational sites (Im talking .orgs) had articles reporting 20 executions and leaving it at that. He had made claims that back in England he helped convict multiple witches and even persuaded his daughter into killing at least one. The victims and their families named in the bill were also paid restitution totaling 600, which was divided up among them. Burroughs was a minister in Casco, Maine during the 1670s but left the settlement after it was attacked by Native Americans. Alice Parker (Age: unknown)Alice Parker was the wife of fisherman John Parker. I began a blog about my family tree called bridges2yesteryear.blogspot.com. So like sheep herded over a cliff, Andovers women were seized, bound, served warrants, and loaded into the back of oxcarts for the four- or five-hour trip to Salem jail, their frantic relatives browbeating them the entire way. How Many People Actually Died During The Salem Witch Trials? 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