New Law Exonerates Five Executed as Salem Witches

Posted by Goody Sandy on November 02, 2001 at 05:06:42:

Susannah Martin, hanged in 1692 during the Salem witch trials, can finally rest in peace.

Acting Massachusetts Governor Jane Swift signed into law a bill officially exonerating Martin and four others executed during the hysterical. The bill was pushed by descendants of some of the accused witches, who said that the state never acknowledged the injustice. In addition to Martin, Bridget Bishop, Alice Parker, Margaret Scott, and Wimot Redd were also exonerated.

Twenty men and women were hanged or crushed to death during the trials, fueled by the dark isolation of colonial Massachusetts, a deep belief in the supernatural, and political feuds. The hysteria began when four young girls began dabbling in fortunetelling games. When the girls started showing mysterious physical symptoms, the town doctor concluded that they were “bewitched.” Then the girls began naming people they suspected of inflicting their symptoms.

By the end of May 1692, 200 accused witches were in jail. Martin, accused of “sundry acts of witchcraft,” proclaimed her innocence during her trial and laughed defiantly at her accusers. Ten days later, she as hanged.

After the largest group of accused witches was hanged in September 1692, the thirst for prosecutions waned and use of the spectral evidence was rejected. The trials ended in May 1693, when Governor William Phips pardoned all remaining suspects.

In 1957, the Massachusetts Legislature approved a resolution exonerating some of the accused witches, including “one Ann Pudeator and certain other persons.” The new law names those “certain other persons.”

Best wishes,
Good Sandy

Source: The Boston Globe

Follow Ups:

• Re: The name of the book and author Diana 10:47:19 11/05/2001 (1)
  • Re: The name of the book and author Goody Sandy 11:39:27 11/05/2001 (0)
• Reparations Scott Bubar 17:44:45 11/02/2001 (0)
• Re: About the sickness Diana 11:03:25 11/02/2001 (3)
  • Milking the cows...a rural woman's lament Goody Sandy 11:24:28 11/02/2001 (0)
  • Re: About the sickness Goody Sandy 11:09:37 11/02/2001 (1)
    • Re: About the sickness Sarah K.M. 18:08:49 11/03/2001 (0)
• Re: New Law Exonerates Five Executed as Salem Witches Theresa 06:00:13 11/02/2001 (0)

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Comments:
: Susannah Martin, hanged in 1692 during the Salem witch trials, can finally rest in peace.

: Acting Massachusetts Governor Jane Swift signed into law a bill officially exonerating Martin and four others executed during the hysterical.  The bill was pushed by descendants of some of the accused witches, who said that the state never acknowledged the injustice.  In addition to Martin, Bridget Bishop, Alice Parker, Margaret Scott, and Wimot Redd were also exonerated.

: Twenty men and women were hanged or crushed to death during the trials, fueled by the dark isolation of colonial Massachusetts, a deep belief in the supernatural, and political feuds.  The hysteria began when four young girls began dabbling in fortunetelling games.  When the girls started showing mysterious physical symptoms, the town doctor concluded that they were “bewitched.”  Then the girls began naming people they suspected of inflicting their symptoms.

: By the end of May 1692, 200 accused witches were in jail.  Martin, accused of “sundry acts of witchcraft,” proclaimed her innocence during her trial and laughed defiantly at her accusers.  Ten days later, she as hanged.

: After the largest group of accused witches was hanged in September 1692, the thirst for prosecutions waned and use of the spectral evidence was rejected.  The trials ended in May 1693, when Governor William Phips pardoned all remaining suspects.

: In 1957, the Massachusetts Legislature approved a resolution exonerating some of the accused witches, including “one Ann Pudeator and certain other persons.”  The new law names those “certain other persons.”

: Best wishes,
: Good Sandy

: 
: Source: The Boston Globe


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