The Salem witch trials that took place in 1692 in colonial Massachusetts were a dark and tragic chapter in American history. The trials resulted in the execution of 20 individuals accused of witchcraft and left a lasting impact on the community. **Connect**ing with the victims of the Salem witch trials is an important means of honoring their memory and understanding the fear and hysteria that led to their unjust persecution. By studying the events from their perspective, we can shed light on the social, political, and religious dynamics of the time and learn from the mistakes of the past. One way to connect with the victims is through reading their personal accounts and testimonies. These historical documents provide valuable insights into their experiences and the mindset of the accusers.
* These 5 are only directly mentioned in the Danvers (Salem village) Witch Trial Memorial visited in Salem Part A , but they are victims of the Witch Trials & imprisonment, though death came before execution for these.
The tenacity of his protest under the barbaric treatment began to cause further doubt among the townspeople, just as Revered Burroughs execution had exactly a month before. Wardwell, his wife and daughter in law, all 3 actually confessed to the crime since they saw that those who confess were likely to be kept alive, so that they could be used in future questioning.
These historical documents provide valuable insights into their experiences and the mindset of the accusers. Authors like Reverend Increase Mather and Cotton Mather documented the trials, allowing us to understand the prevailing beliefs and attitudes of puritan society. Visiting the Salem Witch Trials Memorial in Salem, Massachusetts, is another way to connect with the victims.
For Halloween: The True Story of My Relation to A Salem Witch – and to a Witch Accuser
In the history of the United States, there are many dark chapters. One remembered at this time of year is the witch hysteria that overtook Salem, Mass., in 1692 and 1693, leading to the convictions and hangings of 19 accused witches – 14 women and five men.
As it turns out, one of the women who was killed was my 8th great grandmother. Even stranger, one of the principal accusers who helped set off the hysteria was the son of my 9th great-grandfather and brother of my 8th great-grandfather. Although the victim and the accuser trace back through different lineages, they converged with the marriage of my great-grandparents, my mother’s grandparents.
I discovered all this only recently. For me, the witch trials were always a subject of mild interest, especially since I live on the North Shore of Massachusetts not far from where they took place. But in recent years, I have been researching my genealogy. A clue on Ancestry.com led me to uncover my connections to the witch trials.
The name Mary (Ayer) Parker had already appeared in my family tree, as I’d traced back connections from one generation to another. But she was just a name, and I hadn’t given much thought to her date and place of death: 1692 in Salem.
“What a Sad Thing It Is to See Eight Firebrands of Hell Hanging There.” Illustration from the New England Magazine, Volume 5, circa 1892
But an Ancestry clue from another of Mary’s descendants mentioned her in the context of the witch trials. A bit more sleuthing led me to realize that she was indeed one of the women executed by hanging in Salem that year for witchcraft, and that her name is among those memorialized in the Salem Witch Trials Memorial (pictured above).
Records are sparse about Mary Parker. At the time she was killed, she was a widow, age 55, living in the town of Andover, Mass., which then bordered Salem, with her son John. Her husband Nathan had been one of the original founders of Andover and a wealthy landowner when he died.
Much of what is known about her accusation comes from a court document detailing her examination. It describes that two young girls in Andover, Martha Sprague and Sarah Phelps, accused her of witchcraft, and that upon the mention of her name, several other suspected witches were cured of their “affliction.”
“How long have ye been in the snare of the devil,”, the examiner questioned her.
“I know nothing of it,” she answered. “There is another woman of the same name in Andover.”
Indeed, historians have since found that not only was there one other Mary Parker in Andover at the time, there were three others.
Regardless, her defense was for naught. She was convicted on Sept. 16, 1692, and executed by hanging on Sept. 22, 1692.
My Connection to an Accuser
Discovering that was fascinating. I had no idea of any such connection to the witch trials. And then I discovered a second connection, through a separate family lineage that converged with the marriage of my great grandparents.
Three of the principal accusers responsible for setting off the witch hysteria in 1692 were Sgt. Thomas Putnam, his wife Ann (Carr) Putnam, and their daughter Ann Putnam Jr. Ann Jr. was a witness in several of the trials.
Lt. Thomas Putnam’s house still stands in Danvers, Mass.
Sgt. Thomas Putnam (1652-1699) was the son of Lt. Thomas Putnam, who was my 9 th great-grandfather. Lt. Putnam was born in 1614 in Buckinghamshire, England, and died in 1686 in Salem. Putnam had 11 children with his wife Ann Prudence Holyoke, and then two more children by his second wife, Mary Ingersoll. The house in which he lived still stands as a historical landmark in the town of Danvers, Mass., which, at the time of the witch trials, was part of Salem.
Another son of Lt. Putnam — and younger brother of Sgt. Putnam — was Deacon Edward H. Putnam (1654-1747). Edward Putnam was my 8th great-grandfather.
The Putnams had extensive land holdings in parts of Salem, but by the 1690s, Sgt. Putnam’s holdings were diminishing, even as many of his neighbors were prospering. Several articles I’ve read, such as this one from the Salem Witch Museum, speculate that the Putnams’ envy of and feuding with others in the community drove them to start accusing neighbors and strangers of witchcraft, accusations that resulted in the execution of innocent people, including Mary Parker.
In addition to Sgt. Putnam’s role as an accuser, a handwriting expert concluded that it was Putnam who hand wrote over 100 of the Salem witch trial documents, including the depositions of the afflicted girls. Analysis suggested that he copied out of a single deposition over and over again and submitted them all as evidence.
In fact, Sgt. Thomas and Ann Putnam were dramatized in Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible.
So I am related to both a victim and an instigator of the Salem witch hysteria. Mary Ayer Parker, who was executed by hanging in 1692, was my 8th great-grandmother. Sgt. Thomas Putnam, the accuser who instigated the hysteria, was the brother and son, respectively, of my 8th and 9th great-grandfathers.
One final weird coincidence: Mary Parker was executed on Sept. 22. My mother — through whom I trace both lineages — was born on Sept. 23.
- The Witchcraft Trial of Mary Parker, History of Massachusetts blog.
- The Untold Story of Mary Ayer Parker: Gossip and Confusion in 1692, Jacqueline Kelly, presentation at the Berkshire Conference, 2005 (scroll down page and click link to expand article).
- More about Mary Parker.
- Mary Ayer Parker, History of American Women.
- More about Thomas, Ann Sr. and Ann Jr. Putnam (Salem Witch Museum).
- Thomas Putnam (Wikipedia).
- Thomas Putnam: Ringleader of the Salem Witch Hunt? History of Massachusetts blog.
Bob is a lawyer, veteran legal journalist, and award-winning blogger and podcaster. In 2011, he was named to the inaugural Fastcase 50, honoring “the law’s smartest, most courageous innovators, techies, visionaries and leaders.” Earlier in his career, he was editor-in-chief of several legal publications, including The National Law Journal, and editorial director of ALM’s Litigation Services Division.
The memorial features a series of stone benches engraved with the names of the victims, creating a somber and reflective atmosphere. Taking a moment to sit and reflect on the lives lost can help foster a sense of empathy and connection. Participating in events and discussions centered around the Salem witch trials is also a valuable way to engage with the victims. Museums, historical societies, and academic institutions often offer educational programs and forums where the public can learn more about the trials and engage in meaningful dialogue. While it is impossible to truly understand the terror and injustice the victims endured, connecting with their stories and experiences brings us closer to acknowledging the mistakes of the past. By connecting with the victims of the Salem witch trials, we honor their memory and work towards building a more just and compassionate society..
Reviews for "Remembering the innocent: Connecting with the victims of the Salem witch trials"
1. Emily - ⭐☆☆☆☆
I was really disappointed with "Connect with the victims of the Salem witch trials". The concept seemed interesting, but the execution was poorly done. The interactive features were clunky and confusing to navigate, making it difficult to fully engage with the experience. Additionally, the information provided about the victims was vague and lacked depth. Overall, I did not feel connected to the stories of the victims and felt like I wasted my time and money on this experience.
2. David - ⭐☆☆☆☆
I had high hopes for "Connect with the victims of the Salem witch trials", but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The interface was outdated and glitchy, making it frustrating to interact with the content. The information provided about the victims was basic and repetitive, leaving me wanting more in-depth details about their lives and experiences. Furthermore, the storytelling was dry and lacked emotion, failing to capture the gravity of the events that took place during the Salem witch trials. I would not recommend this experience to anyone looking for a meaningful connection with history.
3. Amanda - ⭐☆☆☆☆
As a history enthusiast, I was really looking forward to "Connect with the victims of the Salem witch trials". However, I found the experience to be incredibly underwhelming. The interface was clunky and unintuitive, making it difficult to navigate through the different stories. The information provided about the victims felt superficial and lacking in historical accuracy. The lack of contextualization and depth left me feeling disconnected from the events of the Salem witch trials. Overall, this experience did not live up to its promise of connecting with the victims, and I left feeling unsatisfied and unengaged.
4. Mark - ⭐☆☆☆☆
I found "Connect with the victims of the Salem witch trials" to be a complete waste of time. The interactive elements were confusing and poorly designed, making it difficult to navigate and understand the stories of the victims. The information provided was shallow and provided no new insights into the Salem witch trials. It felt like a rushed and half-hearted attempt at creating an educational experience. I would not recommend this to anyone interested in learning about the Salem witch trials, as there are much better resources available elsewhere.