The Salem witch trials, which took place in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692, were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft. The trials resulted in the execution of 20 people, mostly women, and the imprisonment of many others. The accusers in these trials were primarily young girls and women who claimed to have been bewitched or tormented by the accused. They played a crucial role in starting the hysteria that led to the trials and the subsequent executions. The most well-known accusers were a group of girls who became known as the "afflicted girls." The leader of this group was 12-year-old Abigail Williams, who accused several people, including her own family members, of witchcraft.
What happened to the accusers after the Salem witch trials?
I’ve seen history shows about the Salem witch trials and the accusing girls’ hysteria, but the narrative usually ends with the end of the trials. What happened to the accusers later? Did they recant or insist they told the truth? Were the girls shunned, or did people try to forget what had happened? —L, via e-mail
Let’s see—20 innocent people put to death, including 19 hanged and one crushed under stones. At least four others who died while imprisoned. The seizure of farms, equipment, and livestock from some of the families. Sorry, but you can’t blame a lynching like that solely on the kids. A few of the players expressed remorse or otherwise paid a price, and collectively the colonists made a modest attempt to put things right. But if you’re asking whether the guilty got their just deserts, e.g., disgrace, etc, the answer for the most part is no.
None of the accusers was tried, punished, or publicly reprimanded. Early in the trials one witness, Mary Warren, tried to back out and suggested that the accusations were bogus. Her reward was to be sent to prison as a witch herself until she miraculously escaped the devil’s clutches, confessed to her witchery, and was allowed to rejoin her fellow perjurers. Another accuser, Ann Putnam, made a public apology 14 years later—she asked the local parson to read a prepared statement in which she claimed she’d been deluded by Satan. A halfhearted measure, you may say, but none of the other girls did even that much.
One judge, Samuel Sewall, admitted he’d done wrong, but others, such as the presiding justice, deputy governor William Stoughton, remained stubbornly unrepentant. Members of the jury said they’d been unable to “withstand the mysterious delusion of the power of darkness and prince of the air.” In other words, the devil made them do it. Though largely uncontrite, parson Samuel Parris, a driving force behind the witch hunt, did receive some punishment when the town, cash-strapped and feeling a little used, decided not to pay his salary. His congregation largely abandoned him, and he was finally given about 80 pounds (roughly $24,000 now) to get lost.
Restitution was meager and long in coming, especially considering that even those found innocent had to pay their jailers for keeping them in prison. Owing about two shillings sixpence ($37.50) per week, many of those released had to mortgage their farms, borrow money, or sell themselves into indentured servitude. Philip English claimed 1,500 pounds in damages when his property was confiscated by sheriff George Corwin but was denied compensation. English got his revenge in the end, though. When Corwin died in 1697, English seized the body, holding it till the sheriff’s family paid him 60 pounds 3 shillings ($18,045). After English himself died, the Salem colony paid his heirs 200 pounds in compensation.
The colony declared January 15, 1697, a day of fasting to repent for the crimes, which I’m sure was a great comfort to the families and friends of the victims. Finally, in 1711 the sum of 578 pounds 12 shillings ($179,580) was allocated to compensate the survivors. The payouts seem a little hit-and-miss: some received 70 pounds and up, others got less than 8. An act pardoning only those witches whose families petitioned on their behalf was sent to the governor in 1710, but for unknown reasons he never signed it. Massachusetts didn’t officially clear the names of all the convicted witches until 2001.
Confessions by witchcraft accusers historically have been rare, maybe because they figured they were in too deep or else honestly believed what they’d said. My assistant Bibliophage found just one instance, that of Elizabeth Blanchard of Littleton, Massachusetts. In 1720 she and two other children accused a local woman of tormenting them with witchcraft. No one was arrested, and years later the conscience-stricken Elizabeth came clean.
The Salem witch trials, incidentally, were no isolated incident. In 2004 Prestonpans, Scotland, pardoned 81 witches convicted in the 16th and 17th centuries for everything from allegedly brewing storms to sink King James VI’s ship to owning a black cat. None of the descendants received any money, but a plaque was dedicated to the victims—small compensation considering that during Scotland’s witch-hunting heyday 2,000 or more innocent people may have been executed.
More recently, Helen Duncan was arrested during World War II after holding a seance where she claimed the spirit of a sailor from HMS Barham told her his ship had gone down. Problem was, the Barham’s sinking was then still a military secret, and authorities feared Duncan might reveal details about the impending D-Day invasion, presumably also obtained from supernatural sources. She was tried under the Witchcraft Act of 1735 and sentenced to nine months in jail. Although the act was repealed in 1951, the UK has refused to grant Duncan a posthumous pardon. With that ol’ devil you never know.
Art accompanying story in printed newspaper (not available in this archive): illustration by Slug Signorino.
Update 9/11/2018: A new headline was added.
John Proctor and the Salem Witch Trials
Although John Proctor is now regarded as somewhat of a Salem martyr, the truth is he had many flaws. He was known for his temper. Mr. Proctor would often threaten and beat other members of the community.
What we can’t deny, however, is that Proctor was a risk-taker. He advocated for those accused of witchcraft and attempted to make the people of Salem recognize their delusions. Unfortunately, his boldness was his demise and his efforts eventually led to his death.
" The leader of this group was 12-year-old Abigail Williams, who accused several people, including her own family members, of witchcraft. Other prominent accusers included Ann Putnam Jr., Mercy Lewis, and Mary Walcott.
The Life of John Proctor
John Proctor was born on October 9th, 1631 in Assington, England. When he was about three years old, he sailed with his family to North America. They settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts where his father, John Proctor Sr., became a wealthy landowner and successful farmer.
In 1653, Proctor married Martha Giddens who died six years later while giving birth. John and Martha had four children together but only their son Benjamin survived to adulthood. After his first wife’s passing, John married Elizabeth Thorndike with whom he had seven children.
In 1666, the Proctors decided to leave Ipswich and move to Salem. Upon arrival, they leased a large farm and settled in the outskirts of Salem Village.
Roughly two years after the move, Proctor obtained a business license and opened Proctor Tavern. This establishment quickly became a success and it made the family very wealthy. Apart from his business, Proctor also had houses and land that he inherited from his father.
Elizabeth Thorndike passed away in 1672, under similar circumstances as Proctor’s first wife. After Thorndike’s passing, Proctor married Elizabeth Bassett who also bore seven children.
These young accusers claimed to have suffered from physical ailments such as convulsions, fits, and hallucinations, which they attributed to the bewitchment by the accused. They would often enter a state of hysteria during the trials, screaming and contorting their bodies as if possessed by evil spirits. Their testimonies were given great weight in the court proceedings, contributing to the overwhelming belief in the existence of witchcraft. It is believed that some of the accusers may have been motivated by personal grievances or desires for attention. In the highly religious and superstitious society of the time, accusations of witchcraft provided a means to settle scores or gain social status. Additionally, the accusers may have genuinely believed that they were being afflicted by witches and saw their accusations as a matter of life or death. The accusers' influence played a key role in driving the witch hunt forward. Their testimonies led to the arrest and interrogation of numerous individuals, and their vivid descriptions of witches and their practices further fueled fears and suspicions. The accusers were seen as victims of witchcraft, and their accounts were seen as evidence of the accused's guilt. In hindsight, it is clear that the accusers played a significant role in the tragic events of the Salem witch trials. Their accusations and testimonies, based on unreliable evidence and fueled by fear and superstition, led to the persecution and execution of innocent people. The trials serve as a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked hysteria and the importance of critical thinking and due process..
Reviews for "The Accusers' Role in Preserving Patriarchy in the Salem Witch Trials"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed in the "Salem witch trial accusers" documentary. I had high hopes for a comprehensive and balanced exploration of this dark historical event, but instead, it seemed to glorify the accusers without providing any critical analysis. The film failed to delve into the psychological motivations behind the accusations or question the validity of the evidence presented during the trials. As a result, it felt more like a sensationalized retelling rather than a nuanced examination of a complex event.
2. John - 1 star - The "Salem witch trial accusers" documentary was a major letdown for me. I expected a serious and well-researched look into one of America's most troubling chapters, but what I got was a shallow and biased portrayal of the accusers. The film failed to acknowledge the mass hysteria and societal pressures that contributed to the trials. It simply portrayed the accusers as malicious and manipulative individuals without exploring the broader context in which they operated. Overall, it lacked the depth and objectivity I was hoping for.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with the "Salem witch trial accusers" documentary. It missed a crucial opportunity to shed light on the societal factors that led to the witch trials and the motivations of the accusers. Instead, it presented a one-sided view that vilified the accusers without delving into their backgrounds or the broader influences at play. Additionally, the documentary seemed more interested in sensationalizing the events rather than providing a thorough analysis. It left me wanting a more nuanced and balanced examination of this dark period in history.