Bridget Bishop, also known as Bridget Bishop Wotch, was one of the first women to be accused and executed during the Salem witch trials in colonial Massachusetts. She was born in England and later immigrated to the American colonies where she became a prominent figure in the town of Salem. In the spring of 1692, accusations of witchcraft began to spread throughout Salem. Bridget Bishop was one of the first individuals to be accused. She was known for her unconventional behavior and her involvement in fortune telling and palm reading, which made her an easy target for accusations of witchcraft. Bishop was brought before the court and charged with practicing witchcraft.
Bridget Bishop has gone down in history as the top casualty of the fear-inspired mass hysteria that plagued Massachusetts in the 1600s. Though she was accused of witchcraft and consorting with the devil, her true crime, as Bernard Rosenthal’s book Salem Story points out, may have simply been not following the cultural norms of the time.
The initial mistaken identification was made by Charles Upham in his 1867 book Salem Witchcraft, wherein he erroneously described Bridget Bishop as keeping a house of refreshment for travellers, and a shovel-board for the entertainment of her guests, and generally seems to have countenanced amusements and gayeties to an extent that exposed her to some scandal. The source of the confusion between Sarah Bishop and Bridget Bishop appears to be the fact that both women were married to men named Edward Bishop and thereby each known as Goodwife Bishop.
Bishop was brought before the court and charged with practicing witchcraft. Several witnesses testified against her, claiming that she had bewitched them and caused them harm. Despite her protestations of innocence, Bishop was found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging.
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.
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On June 10, 1692, Bridget Bishop was executed on Gallows Hill in Salem. Her execution marked the beginning of the Salem witch trials, a dark period in American history that would see a total of 20 people executed and dozens more accused and imprisoned. Bridget Bishop's trial and execution have become emblematic of the hysteria and injustice of the Salem witch trials. Today, she is remembered as one of the tragic victims of a mass hysteria that gripped a small New England town in the late 17th century. The story of Bridget Bishop serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us of the dangers of superstition, fear, and injustice. The legacy of the Salem witch trials continues to resonate as a reminder of the importance of due process and the protection of civil liberties in any society..
Reviews for "The Bewitching Beauty of Bridget Bishop: Portraits from the Past"
1. Jane - 1/5 stars
I found "Bridget Bishop Witch" to be incredibly boring and unoriginal. The story felt like a recycled version of other witch-related novels, and I couldn't connect with any of the characters. The plot was predictable, and there were no surprises or twists to keep me interested. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for an engaging witch story.
2. Mark - 2/5 stars
I had high hopes for "Bridget Bishop Witch," but it ultimately fell flat. The writing was lackluster, with little attention to detail and character development. The pacing was slow, and the story lacked any real excitement or tension. I found myself struggling to stay engaged throughout the book and often lost interest in the plot. While the concept had potential, the execution was subpar, leaving me unsatisfied with the overall reading experience.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars
"Bridget Bishop Witch" had a promising premise, but it failed to deliver. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult to care about their fates. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, and the romance subplot felt forced and unnecessary. The pacing was inconsistent, dragging on in some areas and rushing through others. Overall, I was disappointed by the lackluster execution of what could have been an interesting witch-themed novel.