The first person accused of witchcraft in Salem was Tituba, an enslaved woman of Native American and African descent. Tituba was brought to the Massachusetts Bay Colony by Reverend Samuel Parris, who was serving as the minister in Salem Village. In February 1692, young girls in the village began exhibiting strange behavior, including fits, screams, and contortions. Reverend Parris sought the help of the local doctor, who concluded that the girls were under the influence of witchcraft. During the subsequent interrogations, Tituba was implicated by two of the afflicted girls, Betty Parris and Abigail Williams. They claimed that Tituba had been a key figure in their experiences, asserting that she made them sign the Devil's book and engaged in demonic rituals.
First Salem witch hanging
In Salem Village in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Bridget Bishop, the first colonist to be tried in the Salem witch trials, is hanged after being found guilty of the practice of witchcraft.
Trouble in the small Puritan community began in February 1692, when nine-year-old Elizabeth Parris and 11-year-old Abigail Williams, the daughter and niece, respectively, of the Reverend Samuel Parris, began experiencing fits and other mysterious maladies. A doctor concluded that the children were suffering from the effects of witchcraft, and the young girls corroborated the doctor’s diagnosis. Under compulsion from the doctor and their parents, the girls named those allegedly responsible for their suffering.
Salem Witch TrialsOn March 1, Sarah Goode, Sarah Osborne, and Tituba, an enslaved woman from Barbados, became the first Salem residents to be charged with the capital crime of witchcraft. Later that day, Tituba confessed to the crime and subsequently aided the authorities in identifying more Salem witches. With encouragement from adults in the community, the girls, who were soon joined by other “afflicted” Salem residents, accused a widening circle of local residents of witchcraft, mostly middle-aged women but also several men and even one four-year-old child. During the next few months, the afflicted area residents incriminated more than 150 women and men from Salem Village and the surrounding areas of satanic practices.
In June 1692, the special Court of Oyer and Terminer [“to hear and to decide”] convened in Salem under Chief Justice William Stoughton to judge the accused. The first to be tried was Bridget Bishop of Salem, who was accused of witchcraft by more individuals than any other defendant. Bishop, known around town for her dubious moral character, frequented taverns, dressed flamboyantly (by Puritan standards), and was married three times. She professed her innocence but was found guilty and executed by hanging on June 10. Thirteen more women and five men from all stations of life followed her to the gallows, and one man, Giles Corey, was executed by crushing. Most of those tried were condemned on the basis of the witnesses’ behavior during the actual proceedings, characterized by fits and hallucinations that were argued to have been caused by the defendants on trial.
In October 1692, Governor William Phipps of Massachusetts ordered the Court of Oyer and Terminer dissolved and replaced with the Superior Court of Judicature, which forbade the type of sensational testimony allowed in the earlier trials. Executions ceased, and the Superior Court eventually released all those awaiting trial and pardoned those sentenced to death. The Salem witch trials, which resulted in the executions of 19 innocent women and men, had effectively ended.
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The Home of the First Man Accused of Witchcraft Hits the Market for $600K
They claimed that Tituba had been a key figure in their experiences, asserting that she made them sign the Devil's book and engaged in demonic rituals. Faced with these accusations, Tituba eventually confessed to practicing witchcraft, possibly under duress or to save herself from a harsher punishment. Tituba's confession, along with the accusations against other women in the community, sparked the infamous Salem witch trials.
With the Halloween season upon us, the 1638 home of John Proctor, a vocal opponent of the trials, comes to market at just the right time
October 26, 2018The infamous Salem Witch Trials are a captivating aspect of American history with over 200 people having been accused and 19 executed as witches. Timed perfectly for the Halloween season, the 1638 house of John Proctor, one of the victims of the trials, is on the market for $600,000.
When the witchcraft mania first started during the winter in 1692 in Salem village, Proctor was an avid opponent of the trials and said that the women who had been making the accusations of witchcraft were lying. Proctor was accused of witchcraft in Salem and hanged in 1692. He was the first man to be accused of witchcraft.
The 3,910-square-foot Peabody, Massachusetts property is being sold by realtor Joe Cipoletta of J. Barrett and Co. Labeled a historic residence by the Peabody Historical Commission.
“Money is tight, and a lot of people want it,” Dick St. Pierre, the president of the historical society told The Salem News. “So we have to present a really strong case. What we’re worried about is if it becomes privately-owned, it denies the public from seeing the building.”
Wooden beams and brick fireplaces within the home retain the architecture of that period. However, the home has been modernized with contemporary appliances and an in-ground pool in the backyard. As reported by the Salem News, Vice President of the Peabody Historical Society Michael Bonafonti and his colleagues in the Historical Society are looking into funds to purchase the property, with the possibility of it being opened to the public.
Bridget Bishop, Hanged, June 10, 1692
Hysteria, wrongly accused for a crime you didn’t commit, tried, and hanged; try and picture what life was like in Salem Village, 1692. The people of Salem Village had to face an immeasurable number of elements that constantly worked against them: unpredictable weather with no protection against the bitter New England cold, performed back-breaking daily chores their farmland needed, and maintained the mindset of the Puritan religion: the fear that the devil exists and might very well walk among us.
The courts during that time functioned completely different than the ones we know today, and allowed the inclusion of spectral evidence. Spectral evidence was when the witness would testify that the accused person’s spirit or spectral shape appeared to her/him in a dream at the time that their physical body was at another location. It was because of this “evidence” that 19 people were hanged and one man was pressed to death during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692.
The first person to be tried, found guilty, and hanged on June 10, was the innocent Bridget Bishop. Bridget was known throughout the Salem area for her un-Puritan like behavior of flamboyant dress, tavern frequenting, and multiple marriages. In an effort to avoid being hanged, Bridget admitted guilt and denounced her good name in the community. She was found guilty by the testimonials of numerous townspeople (more than any other defendant) and was therefore executed on June 10, 1692.
To learn more about Bridget Bishop and the Salem Witch Trials on your next visit to Salem, visit these attractions:
- Cry Innocent
- Salem Wax Museum
- Salem Witch Museum
- The Salem Museum
- The Witch House
- Witch Dungeon Museum
- Witch History Museum
- Witch Trials Memorial
- … or take a walking tour!
Find virtual tours, events and programming in Salem here, or follow the sites on social media to learn more.
Categorised in: Learn
The trials led to the execution of 19 women and one man, as well as the imprisonment of many others. Tituba's role as the first person accused of witchcraft in Salem played a significant role in fueling the mass hysteria and panic that ultimately led to the tragedy of the witch trials. However, it is important to note that some historians argue that the accusations against Tituba were rooted in racial and cultural prejudices. Being an enslaved woman of non-European origins, Tituba may have been an easy target for scapegoating in a society marked by fear and mistrust. Nevertheless, her role as the first accused person in the Salem witch trials remains an important part of this dark chapter in American history..
Reviews for "The Trials and Tribulations of the First Salem Witch Accusation"
1. Emma - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with "Who was the first person accused of witchcraft in Salem". While the topic seemed interesting, the book didn't provide much depth or analysis. It felt more like a surface-level summary of the events, lacking any real substance. I was hoping to gain a better understanding of the historical context and the impact of the accusation, but instead, I was left wanting more. Overall, I found the book to be quite underwhelming and would not recommend it to those seeking a comprehensive exploration of the subject.
2. John - 1 star
I have to say, I was highly dissatisfied with "Who was the first person accused of witchcraft in Salem". The writing style was dry, making it difficult to stay engaged with the content. Furthermore, the author failed to provide any new insights or perspectives on the topic. It felt like a regurgitation of the same information that can be found elsewhere. I was expecting a thought-provoking read, but instead, I found myself questioning why I even bothered picking up this book. Save your money and find another book that offers a more captivating and informative exploration of this fascinating historical event.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
As someone who is fascinated by witchcraft and historical events, I was excited to dive into "Who was the first person accused of witchcraft in Salem". Unfortunately, the book fell short of my expectations. It lacked depth and failed to dig beneath the surface of the story. The author focused too much on the basics, leaving out any intriguing details or analysis. If you are looking for a brief overview of the events, this book may suffice, but if you desire a deeper exploration of the topic, I suggest looking elsewhere. Overall, it was an average read that left me wanting more.