Sarah's Consequences Of The Salem Witch Trials

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For centuries the Salem witch trials have astonished historians, and people in general. People were executed based on accusations of being a witch. People were afraid of being accused. Chaos continued to ensue as neighbors, friends, and family turned against one another. The very people who lived under the same roof turned around accused their own flesh and blood of witchcraft. The events that occurred during the Witchcraft crisis would claim the lives of nearly 20 men and women via execution. Witchcraft was considered a capital crime and anyone accused was tried and potentially executed. The only escape from execution was to confess. Several girls, women, and even men stood at the center of a pivotal event in history. There is no real answer …show more content…

Sarah was quite a bit older than the core accusers and afflicted. However, her relation to Mary Walcot connects her to Ann Putnam Jr., one of the most relentless in her accusations. Shortly after Abigail Williams and Betty became afflicted, Ann Putnam Jr. would join them. Ann’s involvement as an accused links Sarah to the group of accusers. Whether it be guilt or fear, Sarah’s affliction appeared to subside. Due to the decline of her afflictions, the other girls quickly turned on her. She was now being accused of, “Signing the Devil’s book.” Sarah now stood accused of the crime she once accused her employer of. In order to save herself, Sarah confessed that her master George Jacobs and his 17 year old granddaughter Margaret Jacobs forced her to. Sarah accused George Jacobs of leading a, “wicked life.” Her accusations do not stop there. Sarah also goes on to include that George Jacobs and his granddaughter Margaret forced her to, “Sign the Devil’s …show more content…

Other afflicted girls came out to accuse George Jacobs. As if the accusation by his own maidservant was not enough, George Jacobs stood accused by his own granddaughter Margaret Jacobs. George Jacobs was an old man who needed canes to get around. It was rumored that he frequently abused his servants when they did not work to his liking. Unfortunately for George Jacobs he had markings on his body that corresponded with what was referred to as a, “witches teats.” These were markings that were said to have been found on the body of witches and wizards as a symbol for their deals with the Devil. The list of people who accused George Jacobs of witchcraft became quite large. Of one of the accusers was John DeRich. John DeRich’s accusations against George Jacobs was interesting in that he claimed spirits had appeared to him. The spirits then requested that DeRich inform John Hathorne that George Jacobs was their killer. If he did not do as they told, he would ripped to pieces as threatened by the spirits of the two deceased people. There was overwhelming evidence that supported George Jacobs as a wizard, but despite the overpowering evidence George Jacobs refused to confess to save himself. He continued to proclaim his innocence and worship of God. George Jacobs Sr. is found guilty for the crime of witchcraft and sentenced to death. The events that preceded George Jacobs Sr. being taken into custody included his

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