The Salem WitchTrials
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Introduction………………….pg. 2
Accused………………….…..pg. 3
Court & Jail………………….pg. 4
A “Medical” Cure....................pg.5
After The Trials……………...pg. 6
After The Trials……………...pg. 6
Conclusion…………………...pg. 7
Glossary……………………...pgs. 8-9
Introduction…
Imagine the Judge in front, and the grand jury to your side with stern expressions on
all their faces, then the Judge’s cold voice weakens your knees, “Guilty” the Judge
hollers. The Salem Witch Trials were horrible. Innocent people died due to being
accused of witchcraft.
all their faces, then the Judge’s cold voice weakens your knees, “Guilty” the Judge
hollers. The Salem Witch Trials were horrible. Innocent people died due to being
accused of witchcraft.
The trials were located in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, in present day
Massachusetts. Witches were believed to work for the devil and do the devils magic.
They also were believed to send spectors to people, mostly children. The spectors
were said to look like the witch who conjured it and they were also said to torture and
control their victims.
The trials had different aspects that made it terrifying as well as fascinating like,
possible cures to the unknown illness that started the trials, what happened to the
accused, what court and jail were like and what happened after the trials.
. 
Map of the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Accused…
You can be accused of being a witch for dressing oddly, muttering, having a
mole/beauty mark, or having a different culture or belief than the puritans. In later
colonial times, in Salem, if you were accused of witchcraft…
mole/beauty mark, or having a different culture or belief than the puritans. In later
colonial times, in Salem, if you were accused of witchcraft…
A Judge questioned you. If he thought you were guilty you went to jail.
You were questioned again before a group of people called a Grand Jury.
They decided if you should be put on trial.
In the trial, Judges asked questions you had to answer them. Then the jury decided if you
were guilty or innocent.
If the jury decided you were guilty, you would be sentenced to be hanged on a
certain day.
The sheriff carried out your death sentence.
Often accused witches would provide names when they were on trial. This convinced the
jury either of their innocence or reassured them that there were witches doing the devils
magic. This technique was not always good, it got a lot of other people accused and hung.
In 1691, William Phips, the newly appointed governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony.
established a special Court of Oyer because of the overwhelmed court system.
In jail you had to pay fees for fresh hay to sleep on and freshwater. A bucket had the
same function as a toilet now, accept it did not flush. With all the germs, researchers
note that this was probably the cause for some, if not all of the 5 deaths that took place in jail.
The reason for these sorts of treatments was because of the doctor. Colonial times
doctors were rare. They believed in simple remedies. When people were sick the
doctor would usually cut open a vein and let the blood drip into a pot. The doctor
believed this would drain out the sickness.
Courtroom during the Salem Witch Trials.
Court and Jail…
In early colonial times you might think that proof and evidence were needed in court
just like today, but actually these critical aspects of court today were not needed during
the trials. When Tituba confessed she claimed there were other witches acting
alongside her in service of the devil against the Puritans. Lies were told during the
Salem Witch Trials, however some lies were thought to be true. One took everyone by
storm. In 1692 an African American slave named Tituba was accused of witchcraft.
As soon as Tituba got to the court stage the girl victims started kicking, screaming and
crying. It would take alot to convince the court that she was not a witch. At first she
refused that she had any involvement in dark magic. Then she confessed. She said
that the devil came to her with a book full of names (which was believed to be how the
devil got witches to agree to serve him). She had said that the devil threatened to kill
2 girls named Betty and Abigail if she did not sign the book. She ended up getting
better treatment in jail for confessing.
just like today, but actually these critical aspects of court today were not needed during
the trials. When Tituba confessed she claimed there were other witches acting
alongside her in service of the devil against the Puritans. Lies were told during the
Salem Witch Trials, however some lies were thought to be true. One took everyone by
storm. In 1692 an African American slave named Tituba was accused of witchcraft.
As soon as Tituba got to the court stage the girl victims started kicking, screaming and
crying. It would take alot to convince the court that she was not a witch. At first she
refused that she had any involvement in dark magic. Then she confessed. She said
that the devil came to her with a book full of names (which was believed to be how the
devil got witches to agree to serve him). She had said that the devil threatened to kill
2 girls named Betty and Abigail if she did not sign the book. She ended up getting
better treatment in jail for confessing.
In jail you had to pay fees for fresh hay to sleep on and freshwater. A bucket had the
same function as a toilet now, accept it did not flush. With all the germs, researchers
note that this was probably the cause for some, if not all of the 5 deaths that took place in jail.
Jail was horrible, so naturally people wanted to get out. You might think there was no
way, with the jail keeper and the stone walls but actually it was easy. All you needed to
do is bribe the jail keeper. Some bribed with riches or valuable objects or if you were
a merchant some even pledged to allow the jail keeper to have a number of things for
free.
way, with the jail keeper and the stone walls but actually it was easy. All you needed to
do is bribe the jail keeper. Some bribed with riches or valuable objects or if you were
a merchant some even pledged to allow the jail keeper to have a number of things for
free.
Original documents from the trials.
A “Medical” Cure...
After a while of Betty and Abigail being controlled by witch spectors a neighbor came
to there house and gave the maid a recipe for witch cake which was believed to keep
the witch, and witch spectors away. Researchers note that the cake recipe was odd.
You were supposed to bake the cake then feed it to the dog. It was said that when the
dog ate it, the witch would feel every bite. Natural remedies were also used for
preventing witchcraft. These remedies include: a dose of parsnip seeds or castor oil
mixed with amber.
to there house and gave the maid a recipe for witch cake which was believed to keep
the witch, and witch spectors away. Researchers note that the cake recipe was odd.
You were supposed to bake the cake then feed it to the dog. It was said that when the
dog ate it, the witch would feel every bite. Natural remedies were also used for
preventing witchcraft. These remedies include: a dose of parsnip seeds or castor oil
mixed with amber.
The reason for these sorts of treatments was because of the doctor. Colonial times
doctors were rare. They believed in simple remedies. When people were sick the
doctor would usually cut open a vein and let the blood drip into a pot. The doctor
believed this would drain out the sickness.
Recipe for Witch Cake
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After the Trials…
On June of 1692, Bridget Bishop was unfairly hung due to being accused of witchcraft.
She was the first of 19 to be hung in that spot. For centuries historians tested land
all over Salem for the spot those 19 people got hung because of being accused for
witchcraft. Historians might have used descriptions from different resources to
reveal what the scene looked like. Historians investigated possible places, pictured
what they would have looked like 300 years ago and then tried to see if the description
matched the sought after place. Eventually they found it, a wooden lodge overlooking
a … Walgreens. This sight is now called Gallows Hill. At the time the hill overlooked a
village. This was probably a good spot to hang witches since there were houses below
so people could see what happened if you went against the strict Puritans.
Following the trials, many publicly confessed their error and guilt for the accused and
executed. However there was a lot of damage done: 20 suspected witches were dead,
not including the 5 that got ill and died in jail, and over 200 people overall (mostly women)
were accused of witchcraft. Historians note that on January 14, 1697, 5 years after the
witch trials started the court ordered a day of fasting and soul searching for the tragedy
of Salem. In 1711 the colony of Massachusetts Bay passed a bill restoring the rights
and good names of those accused and gave money to their heirs.
not including the 5 that got ill and died in jail, and over 200 people overall (mostly women)
were accused of witchcraft. Historians note that on January 14, 1697, 5 years after the
witch trials started the court ordered a day of fasting and soul searching for the tragedy
of Salem. In 1711 the colony of Massachusetts Bay passed a bill restoring the rights
and good names of those accused and gave money to their heirs.
Researchers are realizing that the illness that Betty and Abigail had that started the
trials could have been food poisoning. Maybe from expired rye that had a type of
plant fungus on it called ergot. The fungus ergot (found in rye, wheat and other cereals)
is what researchers say can cause symptoms such as delusions, vomiting and muscle
spasms. However, researchers question the theory, ergot was deadly and none of the
known girls died from the illness.
Present day Gallows Hill Salem, Massachusetts
Conclusion…
During the Salem Witch Trials accused witches were treated harshly. Protocol for jail
and court were much different than now, as well as believed remedies for the possible
food poisoning. After the Salem Witch Trials, guilt was spreading about the
treacherous treatment that was given yet some had no sorrow at all and kept
accusing. When people accused it was not taken seriously, nor treated with such a big
and elaborate protocol as it once was.
There are monuments in Salem acknowledging those who died unfairly. Historians
note that the unjust treatment was horrible as well as the pain that people suffered due
to statements by young girls. Though a handful of facts about this time period are
discovered, some of the true details are yet to be revealed.
Memorial of the Salem Witch Trials.
-----------Glossary------------
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Jury= a group of people who vote on a decision in court.
Expression= emotion that shows on ones face.
Innocent=one who has done no wrong(not guilty).
Conjured=the act of producing.
Illness=a sickness.
Spectors=a believed spirit that was conquered by witches.
Remedies=simple (unofficial) medicines.
Treatments=a way for one who is ill to get better.
Vein=a rout in which blood travels.
Culture=beliefs and rituals.
Guilty=those who have done wrong.
Convinced=someone who has been persuaded.
Reassured=assured again
Technique=a way in which to do something.
Evidence=something that helps prove a claim.
Puritans=strict people who wanted religious freedom from the king.
Involvement=if one is involved with something.
Threatened=one who was given a threat from another.
Confessing=the act of telling another the truth.
Germs=bacteria.
Pledged=a promise.
Centuries=one century is 100 years.
Historians=experts in history.
Descriptions=to write or tell with details of an appearance.
Resources=a source that has helpful information.
Publicly=the act of telling, writing, etc. that will be available to the general public.
Executed=to die unnaturally.
Tragedy=a sad time.
Restoring=the act of making something better again.
Acknowledge=remember, appreciate
Sorrow=sadness
Spasms=unexpected and uncontrollable muscle movements.
Protocol=strict operation.
Expired=spoiled food.
Heirs=relatives.
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