Salem Hanging: The First Salem Witch Trial

Salem Witch Trials With over two-hundred people accused and around twenty or more executed, the Salem Witch Trials were a very dark part of Massachusetts past. Religion was a staple in every household and any sinful activity was punishable in the town of Salem. When accusations of witchcraft became public, the residents knew something was wrong. With so many accusations being made all of a sudden, no one in Salem could be trusted. It all started in 1692 when Reverend Parris’s daughter, Elizabeth, and his niece Abigail, “… began experiencing fits and other mysterious maladies” (June 10, 1692: First Salem Witch Hanging). A doctor was called and it was confirmed that the symptoms the girls were experiencing were that of witchcraft. After confirming

“During the next few months, the afflicted area residence incriminated more than 150 women and men from Salem Village and the surrounding areas of satanic practices” (June 10, 1692: First Salem Witch Hanging). Over 200 people were accused of the crime but not all were executed. “Nineteen accused witches were hanged on Gallows Hill in 1692… One accused witch (or wizard, as male witches were often called) was pressed to death on September 19 when he failed to plead guilty or not guilty…” (The Dead). Although so many people were accused, not all of them were white or even from Salem. People of all races, shape, age, and gender were accused. “During the course of the crisis, at least eight children under the age of twelve were accused of witchcraft, and most were indicted” (Accused Children in the Salem Witchcraft Crisis). After studying the cases, there were several similarities, one of them being that the accusations were made by some of the girls, either from Andover or Salem Village, who were affected by witchcraft themselves. The eight accused children admitted to performing witchcraft. Also, “… every one of the eight had an accused witch for a mother” (Accused Children in the Salem Witchcraft