The Salem witch trails all started in 1692 around the time of January,
when a group of young girls were throwing fits. They had seizures and were
screaming with their strange behavior. When the doctor could find no
medical cause the town jumped to the conclusion of Satan. They had figured
that witches had invaded Salem and were possessing everyone.
Around February the village prayed and fasted to get rid of the devil and tried to
banish him from the village. At first the girls blamed no one. After intense
questioning by adults they identified a couple of people. Most of the people
that were identified were middle age women, but also some man and even a
four-year-old child. One of the people was Tituba, a slave. She confessed
later but only to save her own life. Around the time of March the girls
accused Martha Corey. During this time many more people were accused of
being witches or associated with the devil.
"Tituba and the Children"
"The witch no. 1" lithograph
English: Drawing of Martha Corey who was hanged fo...In June time the hangings began and started with the hanging of
Bridget Bishop. In October criticism grew and people were getting spectacle
about the whole thing. They began to realize how foolish and stupid this
was .In 1693, the governor formed a new court, which worked under strict
evidentiary guidelines. He forbade further trials. By the
end of it all hundreds had been accused, twenty-seven put on trial, Nineteen
of the supposed witches were hanged. One had the cruel fate of being
crushed to death by stones , He had a chance to confess but he would rather
have died. Four died waiting in prison. Some of the claims were
made over property or just out of not liking another person. They were al
ssmade up by the original fits of the girls
"Petition for bail from accused witches"
Wax seal of Chief Magistrate William Stoughton on ...
Martha Corey, illustration by John W. Ehninger