Bridget Bishop was one of the first women to be accused and tried for witchcraft during the Salem witch trials in 1692. The trials, held in colonial Massachusetts, were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of practicing witchcraft. The accusations began when a group of young girls claimed to be possessed by the devil and accused several women in Salem Village of casting spells on them. Bridget Bishop was a well-known and controversial figure in Salem. She was married three times and had a reputation for being outspoken and unconventional. She owned a tavern and was known for her provocative clothing and behavior, which made her an easy target for accusations of witchcraft.
Bridget Bishop was not the first to be accused of witchcraft but she was the first to be executed for the crime in 1692. At the time of the trials, she was married to her third husband, the elderly sawyer Edward Bishop. When arrested, Bridget was living on the property she inherited from her second husband Thomas Oliver, on present-day Washington Street in Salem Town.
When arrested, Bridget was living on the property she inherited from her second husband Thomas Oliver, on present-day Washington Street in Salem Town. Bridget Bishop lived on a small piece of property in Salem Town and was between fifty-five and sixty-five in 1692, when she was accused of witchcraft.
She owned a tavern and was known for her provocative clothing and behavior, which made her an easy target for accusations of witchcraft. During her trial, several witnesses testified against Bridget. They claimed that she had bewitched them and caused them to suffer from various ailments.
Bridget Bishop
Written By Sarah-Nell Walsh
Actress Rebekah Clinard as Bridget Bishop in History Alive production of 'Cry Innocent,' by Mark Stevick, Salem, Summer, 1999.
Bridget Bishop has developed into a colorful character in the legendary history of Salem Village. As the first woman tried and executed as a witch during the Salem witchcraft trials, she has attracted a lot of imaginative speculation about her character and behavior.
The Bridget Bishop that is most commonly portrayed is one who kept a house of refreshment for travelers, and a shuffle board for the entertainment of her guests. She generally seemed to have exhibited certain behaviors and appearances that exposed her to some scandal. She wore a showy costume for the austere Puritan times -- a red bodice. Her freedom from the severity of Puritan manners and disregard of conventional decorum in her conversation and conduct brought her into disrepute, so the tongue of gossip was generally loosened against her. She is portrayed as a folk heroine in Salem's story. A spirited, feisty, buxom, and lusty woman who flaunted Puritan morals with a happy public house where drinking and gambling occurred. Many say that it was her flashy taste in dress, her smooth and flattering manner with men, and the questionable gaieties that had gone on in her two taverns, which led to people gossiping about her as a witch as far back as King Philips War.
This, however, is not the same Bridget Bishop of history. Research done by historian David Green indicates that scholars and writers have confused Bridget Bishop of Salem with Sarah Bishop, a tavern keeper in Salem Village. Bridget Bishop lived on a small piece of property in Salem Town and was between fifty-five and sixty-five in 1692, when she was accused of witchcraft. The account below follows the more historically accurate description of Bridget Bishop's life, taken from Bernard Rosenthal's book Salem Story.
In 1666, the widow Bridget Wasselbe married Thomas Oliver and had a daughter named Christian. This marriage was less than idyllic. In 1678, Bridget was accused of calling her husband names on the Sabbath, and both she and her husband were sentenced to stand gagged in the market place for their offenses. In January 1679, Bridget and Thomas were both sentenced to be whipped for fighting. It was not unusual for Bridget's face to be battered during her marriage to Thomas Oliver. In 1680, she was accused of witchcraft. This accusation could have been facilitated by Thomas' claim that "she was a bad wife . . .the devil had come bodily to her . . . and she sat up all night with the devil." (Charles Upham, Salem Witchcraft). This accusation occurred after her husband died without leaving a will, and seems to be the classic case of a vulnerable, propertied woman being accused of witchcraft. She posted bond, and there is no record of any punishment. In 1687, she was charged with stealing brass objects. Her record then remains clean until she is brought up on witchcraft charges again in April 1692.
On April 19, 1692 at her examination, Bridget Bishop began her testimony with courtesy and deference. This deferential attitude soon gave way to anger as she realized that denying her involvement was not an effective strategy. The afflicted girls were in the courtroom swooning in response to the imagined spectral advances of Bridget Bishop. Magistrate John Hawthorne unleashed his loaded questions, asking, "How is it that your specter hurts those in this room?" Bridget replied, "I am innocent to a witch. I know not what a witch is." Hawthorne turned this answer to his advantage by asking, "How can you know, you are no witch, and yet not know what a witch is." She replied, "I am clear: if I were any such person you should know it." Although it is not clear what Bridget meant by this comment, Hawthorne clearly took it as a veiled threat and replied, "You may threaten, but you may do no more than you are permitted" (Salem Witchcraft papers). No one can know for certain if this bold interchange earned Bridget Bishop the distinction of being the first hanged on the gallows.
On May 27, Phips established a special court of Oyer and Terminer to try those accused of witchcraft. On June 2, Bridget Bishop was the first person tried in the new court, perhaps because her previous witchcraft accusation made her a likely candidate. In her trial, spectral evidence was given an unprecedented status. She was charged with "tortur[ing], afflict[ing], pin[ing], consum[ing], wast[ing]: & torment[ing] her victims," Abigail Williams, Ann Putnam Jr., Mercy Lewis, Mary Walcott, and Elizabeth Hubbard. Bridget vehemently denied the charges at her trial, believing that to be the only way to avoid execution. She did not realize that her only hope lay in confessing to witchcraft. When Cotton Mather wrote of the evidence against her in his book Wonders of the Invisible World, he included preposterous stories that could best be called gossip. One such story recounts that Bishop cast a glance upon Salem meeting house, while walking under guard. This "look" caused a board, which had been fastened with nails, to be removed to another portion of the house. Her case served as a model for future cases to come, following a very predictable pattern. The "afflicted" persons made their accusations, which were denied by the accused; members of the community told of past acts of witchcraft by the accused; and one or more confessors validated the claim of the accusers. The court used spectral evidence as the primary legal basis to convict Bridget Bishop. Hanged on June 10, her death warrant emphasizes only the harm done to her accusers, primarily on the day of her examination, as the legal justification for the execution.
David Green, "Salem Witches I: Bridget Bishop," The American Genealogist, Vol. 57, No. 3. 1981: 130-138.
Charles Upham, Salem Witchcraft, 1867.
Bernard Rosenthal, Salem Story,1997.
Bridget Playfer, born sometime in the mid-to-late 1630s in Norwich, England, married her first husband there in 1660. His name was Samuel Wasselbe (alternate spellings Wasselbee and Wasselby). It is unclear whether Wasselbe died before or after Bridget’s immigration to New England, but it is known that the child she was carrying from that union died in infancy in Massachusetts, and the father was already deceased. A previous child of the Wasselbes had died in England. Bridget married for the second time in 1666, this time to a widower named Thomas Oliver, who was also from Norwich, England. The Olivers made their home in Salem Town. The property fronted Washington Street, on the southeast corner of Washington and present-day Church Street (there was no street there in 1692) and included orchards that extended to the east past the location of the Salem Lyceum building, which today is Turner’s Seafood. The couple had one daughter, named Christian. Oliver had three grown children from his previous marriage. Oliver died in 1679 and, around 1685, Bridget married Bishop as husband number three. The Bishops continued to live on the Washington Street property. Bridget Bishop had lifetime rights to the property she inherited from Thomas Oliver, but it was officially “held for Bridget Bishop” by her new husband, Edward Bishop.
One witness even testified that Bridget had turned into a wolf and tried to attack her. These testimonies, along with Bridget's reputation and eccentric behavior, were enough to convince the court and she was found guilty of witchcraft. Bridget was sentenced to death and on June 10, 1692, she became the first person to be hanged in the Salem witch trials. Her execution set a precedent for the 19 others who would meet the same fate in the following months. The trials of Bridget Bishop and others during the Salem witch trials were fueled by mass hysteria and fear. The accused were often targeted based on hearsay and speculation, rather than concrete evidence. The legal system in Salem allowed for spectral evidence, which meant that the testimony of the afflicted girls who claimed to be under the influence of witchcraft was admissible in court, even though it was based on supernatural and subjective experiences. The repercussions of the Salem witch trials were felt for years to come. The trials highlighted the dangers of mass hysteria and the power of fear to cloud judgment and lead to the persecution of innocent people. It was not until 1693 that the court admitted the trials were a mistake and offered restitution to the families of the victims. Bridget Bishop's trial and execution were a tragic chapter in American history. It serves as a reminder of the importance of due process and the dangers of scapegoating and superstition. The trials of Bridget Bishop and others have since become a cautionary tale, illustrating the consequences of unchecked fear and the need for a fair and impartial legal system..
Reviews for "The Salem Witch Trials: Bridget Bishop's Case as a Cautionary Tale"
1. John Doe - 2/5 stars - The Trials of Bridget Bishop for Witchcraft was a disappointing read for me. While the historical context and the events surrounding the Salem witch trials are undoubtedly intriguing, the execution of this book fell short. The writing style was dry and lacked any emotional connection to the characters or the story. Additionally, the pacing was incredibly slow, making it difficult for me to stay engaged. I was hoping for a captivating depiction of Bridget Bishop's trial, but I found myself bored and uninterested throughout most of the book.
2. Jane Smith - 1/5 stars - I cannot express how much I disliked The Trials of Bridget Bishop for Witchcraft. The author's attempt to delve into the historical aspects of the Salem witch trials fell flat. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it impossible for me to connect with any of them. The narrative felt disjointed and lacked a cohesive structure, leaving me confused and frustrated. Furthermore, the writing style was overly complicated, making it difficult to follow the story and understand the events unfolding. Overall, I found this book to be a tedious and confusing read.
3. Emily Johnson - 3/5 stars - The Trials of Bridget Bishop for Witchcraft was an average book for me. While I appreciated the historical accuracy and the author's attempt to shed light on this dark period of American history, I found some aspects lacking. The pacing was uneven, with certain parts dragging on while others felt rushed. The character development was also inconsistent, making it difficult for me to fully connect with the protagonist, Bridget Bishop. However, the book did provide some intriguing insights into the Salem witch trials and the social dynamics of the time. While it may not be my top recommendation, it could still be worth a read for those interested in the subject matter.
4. Alex Thompson - 2/5 stars - Unfortunately, The Trials of Bridget Bishop for Witchcraft did not meet my expectations. The historical background of the Salem witch trials offered a promising backdrop, but the execution of the novel left much to be desired. The writing style was dry and lacked the necessary descriptive elements to transport me to the time and place. Additionally, the characters felt underdeveloped, and I had difficulty connecting with them on an emotional level. The pacing also seemed off, with significant events rushed through while the mundane details were given excessive attention. Overall, I found this book to be a disappointing read that could have been much more engaging with better writing and stronger character development.