Contextual background
The Salem Witch Trials were prosecutions and hearings of people who were accused of witchcraft between 1692-1693 in Colonial Massachusetts,several countries in Massachusetts were involved, including Salem Village and Salem Town. During 1692-93 there was a strong belief in the Puritan Superstitions such as the supernatural and specifically the devil's practice, this was the idea that the devil was giving humans the power to inflict pain and bring harm to others in exchange for their loyalty. These ideas were not helped by the spread of small pox and disease, fearing Native American Tribe attacks and longstanding rivalry from the neighboring community of Salem Town.
Jan 1692 9 year-old Elizabeth Parris and 11 year-old Abigail Williams,daughter and niece of Samuel Parris Minister of Salem Village, experienced fits and uncontrollable screaming. After the local doctor, William Griggs visited he diagnosed the symptoms as bewitchment, later other girls in this community experienced the same symptoms as these two girls. In February, three women were arrested and accused of being witches who had bewitched the girls these three were a homeless beggar (Sarah Good) , elderly woman (Sarah Osborn) and a Parris' Caribbean slave (Tituba)-arguably people who were vulnerable in society. Good and Osborn denied there actions and Tituba confessed and also acted as an informer stating that there were more witches named others (snitch), in may there was a special Court of Oyer just for issues on witchcraft. 2nd June the court had its first conviction- Bridget Bishop she was hung on Gallows Hill in Salem Town. Overall, 18 people had been hung by September, 7 died in jail and one elderly man was crushed to death by a rock for refusing to go to his plea.
Jan 1692 9 year-old Elizabeth Parris and 11 year-old Abigail Williams,daughter and niece of Samuel Parris Minister of Salem Village, experienced fits and uncontrollable screaming. After the local doctor, William Griggs visited he diagnosed the symptoms as bewitchment, later other girls in this community experienced the same symptoms as these two girls. In February, three women were arrested and accused of being witches who had bewitched the girls these three were a homeless beggar (Sarah Good) , elderly woman (Sarah Osborn) and a Parris' Caribbean slave (Tituba)-arguably people who were vulnerable in society. Good and Osborn denied there actions and Tituba confessed and also acted as an informer stating that there were more witches named others (snitch), in may there was a special Court of Oyer just for issues on witchcraft. 2nd June the court had its first conviction- Bridget Bishop she was hung on Gallows Hill in Salem Town. Overall, 18 people had been hung by September, 7 died in jail and one elderly man was crushed to death by a rock for refusing to go to his plea.