What really happened at the Salem witch trials?
The Salem witch trials occurred in colonial Massachusetts between 1692 and 1693. More than 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraft—the Devil’s magic—and 20 were executed. Eventually, the colony admitted the trials were a mistake and compensated the families of those convicted.
Why is Salem called the Witch City?
The new exhibition, “The Salem Witch Trials 1692,” which documents the hysteria that led to the deaths of 25 people accused, is PEM’s first in-depth look in nearly 30 years at the real-life events that gave the “Witch City” its nickname. The witch hunt in Salem occurred during a time of rampant tensions and mistrust.
Who was the youngest person killed in the Salem Witch Trials?
Dorothy Good
| Dorothy Good | |
|---|---|
| Died | Unknown |
| Other names | Dorcas Good |
| Known for | Youngest accused of witchcraft in the Salem witch trials |
| Parent(s) | William Good (father) Sarah Good (mother) |
Where are the graves of the Salem witches?
In 1992, the Salem Award Foundation erected the Salem Witch Trials Memorial adjacent to the Old Burying Ground, a cemetery in town where one of the judges and some other notables are interred.
Who was the central figure in the Salem witch trials?
In this 1876 engraving Witchcraft at Salem Village, the central figure of the courtroom is usually identified as Mary Walcott. ( Wikimedia Commons) Examination of a witch by Tompkins H. Matteson, whose paintings are known for their historical, patriotic, and religious themes.
When did Massachusetts apologize for the Salem witch trials?
In 1702, the court declared the trials unlawful. And in 1711, the colony passed a bill restoring the rights and good names of those accused and granted £600 restitution to their heirs. However, it was not until 1957—more than 250 years later—that Massachusetts formally apologized for the events of 1692.
How old was Abigail Williams during the Salem witch trials?
In January of 1692, Reverend Parris’ daughter Elizabeth, age 9, and niece Abigail Williams, age 11, started having “fits.” They screamed, threw things, uttered peculiar sounds and contorted themselves into strange positions, and a local doctor blamed the supernatural. Another girl, Ann Putnam, age 11, experienced similar episodes.