Abigail and Elizabeth: The Girls that Started the Craze
March 13, 1693Five weeks ago, after listening to Tituba’s stories about witchcraft and black magic Abigail Williams (age eleven) and Elizabeth Parris (age nine) became “the witch finders” of Salem. Even though some people thought that the girls were scandals, enough people believed them that the people of Salem would stick with the girls' word. Looking back on this it is still hard to tell if what the girls were saying was fact, or fiction?
Abigail Williams and Elizabeth Parris began acting strangely after listening to Samuel Parris’ slave woman Tituba, while the Reverend was not present. The girls began to believe Tituba could communicate with the dead. After hearing these stories the girls started to crawl on the ground and bark like dogs. Magistrates from surrounding towns were brought in to examine the girls. In the meantime other girls had become afflicted as well. People believed that the devil was at work and forced the girls to tell who was telling them to do act in such a way. After being pressured so much, Elizabeth finally blurted out the name “Tituba.” The other possessed girls named two other women, Sarah Osburne and Sarah Good. All three women were put on trial. They were accused of being witches and were sent to prison if they didn’t confess they would be executed. In October of 1692, Governor John Phips’ own wife, Mary Phips, was accused of being a witch. Phips then ordered spectral evidence and stopped all witch trials. He then released forty-nine out of fifty-two accused witches and called off the Court of Oyer and Terminer.
How could the community of Salem let a group of teenage girls decide the fate of decent townspeople? Those poor souls were accused and were still believed to be in the hands of the devil, while the accusers were the ones doing the evil deeds. By stopping the Salem Witch Trials, thousands of lives would be saved. Now the people of Salem were able to focus on growing into a thriving community.
Group Articles
The Indian Reign of Terror
The Salem Witch trials are upon us, and they again bring the constant reminder that no one is to be trusted. Our neighbors are being accused and put to death on Gallows Hill. No one is safe from these demons who do the Devil's work.
Witch Trial Proceedings Stop As Prisoners Are Released
Over the last few months here in Salem, 1693, the Trials have been on-off-on and then off again as things came to a screeching halt yesterday after Governor William Phips suspended the special courts.
Salem Witch Hysteria ends, Samuel Sewall Apologizes
After many days of accusing and killing witches, the Salem witch trials have officially ended, terminating a period of terror in witch no one was safe. The witch trials showed signs of ending when Governor Phips, Governor of Massachusetts, who fully supported the witch trials, was shocked to the core when his own wife was accused as a witch.
Connections to Convictions
As the number of convicted witches keeps going up and up, we are beginning to wonder: Is everyone accused really guilty? Patterns are beginning to appear in the convictions of witches. Out of all the people arrested, one hundred four of the one hundred forty one accused have been women.