In the late 17th century, the town of Salem, Massachusetts was consumed by a frenzy of accusations and hysteria surrounding witchcraft. One of the most well-known individuals to be accused and executed during this time was Bridget Bishop. Bridget Bishop was a woman who lived in Salem during the time of the witch trials. She was known for her outspoken and independent nature, which frequently drew attention and suspicion from her neighbors and fellow townspeople. Prior to the accusations of witchcraft, Bishop had already been married three times, which was seen as unusual and even scandalous in Puritan society. The first accusations against Bridget Bishop came in April 1692, when she was arrested and brought before a local magistrate.
Bridget Bishop had earlier been accused of witchcraft after her second husband's death, though she was acquitted of those charges. William Stacy claimed he'd been frightened by Bridget Bishop fourteen years before and that she had caused the death of his daughter. Others accused her of appearing as a specter and abusing them. She angrily denied the accusations, at one point saying "I am innocent to a Witch. I know not what a Witch is." A magistrate responded, "How can you know, you are no Witch . [and] yet not know what a Witch is?" Her husband testified first that he'd heard her accused before of witchcraft, and then that she was a witch.
Unfortunately, Bishop wouldn t benefit from exoneration until more than two centuries later, when in 2001, the names of the remaining accused were cleared. and in the early 1700s the Massachusetts government cleared the names of most of the people who had been wrongly accused of witchcraft, Bridget Bishop not included.
The first accusations against Bridget Bishop came in April 1692, when she was arrested and brought before a local magistrate. The specific charges against her were not fully recorded, but it is believed that she was accused of using her witchcraft to harm others, particularly young girls within the community. Despite her protests of innocence, Bishop was found guilty and subsequently executed by hanging on June 10, 1692.
Bridget Bishop
– Her first husband was named George Wasselbe. They were married in about 1660.
– Bridget emigrated to Salem in the 1660’s. As far as we know, there are no records that mention George coming to New England with Bridget.
– Her second husband was Thomas Oliver. They married July 26, 1666 (Perley, page 443)
– Thomas was a “calendar” by trade.
– Thomas and Bridget had a girl named Christian or Christina, born May 8, 1667. Christina married Elias (?) Mason before 1693. Thomas and Bridget also had a daughter Mary who married Job Hilliard.
– Thomas had had three children by his former wife—two sons, Thomas and John, both born in England before 1637, and a daughter, Ellinor, who married and lived in Nevis in 1693.
– In about 1670, Bridget was tried for fighting with Thomas Oliver. She was convicted a second time a few years later for calling him an “old rogue” and “old devil” on the Sabbath. For punishment they were ordered to stand back to back in the marketplace for an hour, gagged, with notices describing their offenses tied to their foreheads.
– It is rumored that Bridget appeared once in public with a “bloody face; another time, covered with bruises, and her husband said she had also hit him.”
– Thomas died in 1678, leaving Bridget destitute. While Oliver’s will left her with the house and land, any money that was provided for Bridget was taken by his creditors. Part of the land that she owned was sold to her neighbors, the Gedneys. Bridget was forced to petition the town for relief.
– On February 25, 1680, Bridget was brought up on charges for bewitching her 2nd husband to death. She was tried in Boston, but was acquitted chiefly by the Rev. John Hale’s defense. She was tried by the Court of Assistants—a Supreme Court of Appeals that had exclusive jurisdiction in all criminal cases extending to “life, limb, or banishment”.
– Bridget was also tried at one time for stealing brass from William Stacey.
– In 1683, Bridget married Edward Bishop Sr., a sawyer and a well-respected man who had served on various town and county committees and boards while living in Salem.
– Bridget was known to wear a red paragon bodice. Paragon is a type of fabric blended of wool and silk and sometimes camel hair. There is also something called “water paragon”, which may look like water taffeta.
– By a previous marriage, Edward had a son, also named Edward, who was grown and living with his wife Sarah Wilds Bishop, on Ipswich Road, (now Conant Street) in Beverly. Edward Jr. and Sarah were accused of witchcraft later in the summer of 1692. They escaped from jail in Boston in September.
*Note: early scholarship, including Boyer and Nissenbaum’s work, confused Bridget Bishop and Sarah Bishop. Most careful work written after 1993 corrects the mistake.
– At the time of her 1692 trial, Bridget lived where the present day Lyceum Restaurant in Salem is located (on the corner of Church and Washington Streets). She was 52.
– In 1692, she was kept in the Boston prison from about May 12 until May 31, when she was returned to Salem to await trial.
– One testimony from Bridget’s trial says that as Bridget made her way to the meetinghouse for the trial, part of it was pulled down by a demon. A board that had been fastened with nails was found on the floor upon entry.
– From her examination, Bridget was sent to trial on June 2nd, where she was convicted and sentenced to hang. Her hanging took place on June 10, 1692.
-Daly, Don. The Tryal of Bridget Bishop,
-Dow, George Francis. Everyday Life in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Dover Publications, Inc. 1988. ISBN: 0-486-25565-4-
-Norton, Mary Beth, In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Trials of 1692. Vintage Books, 2002. ISBN: 0-375-70690-9 –
-Perley, Sidney. The History of Salem, Massachusetts, Volume 1,1626-1637. Salem, Mass. Sidney Perley, 1924.
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Probably the first way Bridget stood out amongst most women of the time was in her approach to marriage. In total, Bishop was married three times and widowed twice prior to her trial.
The accusations against Bridget Bishop were part of a larger wave of hysteria and paranoia that swept through Salem during this time. Puritan beliefs and superstitions about witchcraft, combined with a climate of fear and an eagerness to assign blame, created an environment in which anyone could be accused, regardless of their innocence or guilt. Bridget Bishop's trial and execution were notable for a few reasons. Firstly, she was the first person to be executed during the Salem witch trials. Secondly, her bold and independent nature made her a target for those seeking to assign blame and control within the community. Lastly, her execution set a precedent for the subsequent trials and executions that would follow in the months to come. Overall, Bridget Bishop's story is a tragic example of the dangers of mass hysteria and the consequences of a climate of fear and suspicion. Her case highlights the role of gender, social status, and perceived deviance in the accusations of witchcraft, and serves as a reminder of the power of fear to cloud judgment and lead to the persecution of innocent individuals..
Reviews for "The Defense of Bridget Bishop: Examining the Legal Proceedings"
1. Matthew - 2 stars - While I was initially interested in reading a historical account of the Salem witch trials, "Bridget Bishop and the Accusations of Witchcraft in Salem" fell short of my expectations. The writing was dry and lacked the depth and analysis I was hoping for. Additionally, the author seemed more interested in providing a surface-level retelling of the events rather than delving into the psychological and societal factors that may have contributed to the hysteria. Overall, I found the book to be a missed opportunity to truly understand and engage with the subject matter.
2. Sarah - 2.5 stars - I was excited to delve into the history of the Salem witch trials, but "Bridget Bishop and the Accusations of Witchcraft in Salem" left me disappointed. The narrative felt disjointed, jumping between different aspects of the trials without providing a coherent timeline or overarching analysis. I was left with more questions than answers, and the lack of in-depth exploration of the various characters involved was frustrating. While the book contained some interesting anecdotes and details, I ultimately felt like I didn't gain a comprehensive understanding of this infamous event in history.
3. Thomas - 1 star - As a history enthusiast, I was eager to learn more about the Salem witch trials through "Bridget Bishop and the Accusations of Witchcraft in Salem." However, I found the book to be overly simplistic and lacking in depth. The author seemed to rely heavily on popular narratives and stereotypes, without providing any new insights or fresh perspectives. Additionally, the writing style was bland and failed to engage me as a reader. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and wishing for a more comprehensive and thoughtful examination of the subject matter.
4. Rebecca - 2 stars - "Bridget Bishop and the Accusations of Witchcraft in Salem" failed to meet my expectations. The book lacked a clear narrative structure and often jumped around between different characters and events without providing sufficient context. Furthermore, the writing style was dry and detached, making it difficult to feel invested in the story. I was hoping for a more nuanced exploration of the factors that led to the witch trials, but instead, I found a superficial retelling of well-known events. Overall, I was left wanting more substance and analysis from this book.