In Salem Village in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Sarah Goode, Sarah Osborne, and Tituba, an Indian slave from Barbados, are charged with the illegal practice of witchcraft. Later that day, Tituba, possibly under coercion, confessed to the crime, encouraging the authorities to seek out more Salem witches.
Trouble in the small Puritan community began the month before, when nine-year-old Elizabeth Parris and 11-year-old Abigail Williams, the daughter and niece, respectively, of the Reverend Samuel Parris, began experiencing fits and other mysterious maladies. A doctor concluded that the children were suffering from the effects of witchcraft, and the young girls corroborated the doctor’s diagnosis.
With encouragement from a number of adults in the community, the girls, who were soon joined by other “afflicted” Salem residents, accused a widening circle of local residents of witchcraft, mostly middle-aged women but also several men and even one four-year-old child. During the next few months, the afflicted area residents incriminated more than 150 women and men from Salem Village and the surrounding areas of Satanic practices.
In June 1692, the special Court of Oyer, “to hear,” and Terminer, “to decide,” convened in Salem under Chief Justice William Stoughton to judge the accused. The first to be tried was Bridget Bishop of Salem, who was found guilty and executed by hanging on June 10. Thirteen more women and four men from all stations of life followed her to the gallows, and one man, Giles Corey, was executed by crushing. Most of those tried were condemned on the basis of the witnesses’ behavior during the actual proceedings, characterized by fits and hallucinations that were argued to be caused by the defendants on trial.
In October 1692, Governor William Phipps of Massachusetts ordered the Court of Oyer and Terminer dissolved and replaced with the Superior Court of Judicature, which forbade the type of sensational testimony allowed in the earlier trials. Executions ceased, and the Superior Court eventually released all those awaiting trial and pardoned those sentenced to death. The Salem Witch Trials, which resulted in the executions of 19 innocent women and men, had effectively ended.
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Having a backround in crop and weed science i remember my college prof. telling me that these people probly went crazy due to ergot in the cereal grains they were consuming. I still see ergot in grain to this day and is a real problem. Wonder if Bloomberg would know the difference between wheat with or without ergot in it.
Pat:
You offer a possible cause for the fear of the time.
Had to look that one up. I had not heard that this was a possible cause for he perceived malady in Salem.
Ignorance can extract a very high price at times if this was the cause.
Sadly, I see us dumbing down our children today. If I am correct, then this will only take us back in time to this type of thinking. Much like we see today with all the witchcraft and crap that is beginning to emerge in our society.
I always thought that ergot only infested rye. After I read your comment I looked it up and come to find out that while it is rare ergot can infest other grains, like wheat.
Farmers get discounted on their selling price if it has ergot. Most grain is cleaned in a screaner prior to milling and ergot is easily removed in that process. Couple years ago western nd and eastern Montana had a bad year for ergot in spring and winter wheat.
If all this current crap we have going on goes full retard, think of all the various witch hunts that will be out there. This time I don’t think the ‘insanity’ will end as quickly. Everyone will have their fingers in the game from government on down to individual citizens.
At that time a person has to ask ones self, how badly have I crapped in someones mess kit lately? Should I speak up or shut up? Should help them or let them figure it out on their own? What I am trying to say is, watch humanity go out the door at so many levels that you will wonder on what planet your standing.
Build community and a circle of strong friends. Then buckle up for the ride of your life. “pun intended”