The Salem Witch Trials took place in Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. When it was all said and done, 20 people, predominantly women, had been executed for consorting with the devil, using black magic, and being witches.
Others were imprisoned and died in prison, some were tortured until death because they would not admit to being involved in witchcraft, and a spare few were released without punishment.
What can only be called a production of "the rule of law" took place over the course of 10 months. What stands out today is that most of the accusations came about as part of family feuds due to the fact that most of the residents were related to each other through either blood or marriage.
Everyone knows about the Witch Trials, but very few remember who the innocent victims of this purge. Those who forget history are too often bound to repeat it...
Here are the names of the 20 souls wrongfully tried and executed for the crime of witchcraft.
1. Bridget Playfer - age 60 - June 10, 1692
Bridget Playfer said she had never seen her accusers before. Some thought she was accused because she was about to inherit money from her late husband. She was sentenced to death by hanging.
2. Rebecca Nurse - age 71 - July 19, 1692
There was no credible evidence to convict Nurse of anything. Regardless she was convicted of witchcraft and was sentenced to death by hanging.
3. Sarah Good - age 39 - July 19, 1692
Sarah Good was one of the first three women accused during the witch trials. She came from poverty, which essentially sealed her fate. She was sentenced to death by hanging.
4. Elizabeth Howe - age 57 - July 19, 1692
A ten-year-old girl from a well-to-do family accused Howe of bewitching her. Nothing mattered after that, she was sentenced to death by hanging.
5. Susannah Martin - age 70 - July 19, 1692
Martin provided evidence that the charges against her were false, but even quoting the Bible (which people "knew" witches couldn't do) didn't save her. She was sentenced to death by hanging.
6. Sarah Wildes - age 65 - July 19, 1692
Sarah Wildes lived outside of the norms, which went against her during her trial. She was considered too "glamorous and forward" for a puritan woman. She was sentenced to death by hanging.
7. George Burroughs - age 40 - August 19, 1692
The first man to face the executioner during the witch trials. He was a minister who was accused by several of his personal enemies. He is the first an only minister in American to face this fate.
8. George Jacobs Sr. - age 83 - August 19, 1692
George Jacobs Sr. was accused of witchcraft by one of his granddaughters. He was 83 and walked with two canes, yet he was sentenced to death by hanging.
9. Martha Carrier - August 19, 1692
Martha Carrier was accursed of witchcraft by her own children and was sentenced to death by hanging.
10. John Proctor - age 60 - August 19, 1692
Proctor was one of the wealthiest men in Salem and he wasn't accused of anything until he began to stand up for his wife who was already facing accusations herself. He was sentenced to death by hanging.
11. John Willard - August 19, 1692
Originally Willard was a constable in Salem. He would bring accused before the courts. He began to doubt the validity of the charges being pursued and refused to arrest any more people. Willard then found himself as the accused, he was sentenced to death by hanging.
These 11 people were executed within 2 months of each other. This attempt to kill off anyone they didn't agree with the blood lust displayed, they continued their crusade and sentenced 8 more people to death.
Martha Corey, Mary Eastey, Mary Parker, Alice Parker, Ann Pudeator, Wilmot Redd, Margaret Scott, and Samuel Wardwell Sr. all met the same fate before all was said and done.