Witchcraft in Salem, 1692Jessica Stern, PhDCalifornia State University, Fullerton

Timeline, 1692January: Betty & Abigail afflicted in Salem Village

February 29: Justices of the Peace Hathorne and Corwin issue first three arrest warrants

Late March: Accusations spread to Salem Town

May 14: Sir William Phips arrives with new charter and becomes governor, ending the interim government

May 27: Court of Oyer and Terminer established

June 10-September 22: 20 executions

October 8: Gov. Phips prohibits the use of spectral evidence

October 29: Gov. Phips prohibits more arrests, releases many, and dissolves the Court of Oyer and Terminer

May 1693: Phips pardons those remaining in prison

Judicial phasesSalem Village Examinations

January 29-May 27

Justices of the Peace John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin issue arrest warrants and conduct public examinations

Suspects held in Salem prison awaiting formal trial

Salem Court of Oyer and Terminer

May 27-October 29

Men’s and Women’s jury examined the accused bodies for physical evidence

Grand Jury collected testimony and interviewed suspects to determine trial viability

Petty Jury heard cases of individuals indicted by Grand Jury and issued final verdict

Signs one’s a witch

Being accused of being a witch (presumption)

Having a relative who is a witch (presumption)

Having quarreled with someone who shortly thereafter faced a tragedy (presumption)

Having a devil’s mark (evidence)

Charms, books, puppets on property (evidence)

Inability to recite the Lord’s prayer (evidence)

Touch test (instituted after May 1692) (evidence)

CONFESSION

Spectral EvidenceMost fraught debate between government officials, ministers,

and the Oyer and Terminer judges.

In accepting spectral evidence, the Salem judges radically deviated from the New England tradition and William Perkins, one of the main authorities on witchcraft prosecution.

Ultimately led to the dismantling of the witchcraft trials.

Main question: Could the Devil impersonate an innocent person?

Jean de Lèry, Historia Indiae Occidentalis, Tomis duobis comprehensa. Brazil ([Geneva], 1586)

Links to

the fro

ntie

r