We examine the unwavering defiance of many individuals accused of witchcraft in 1692, looking into the stories of Rebecca Nurse, George Jacobs Sr., Susannah Martin, John Willard, and more, who refused to confess despite immense pressure and the threat of execution. Additionally, we discuss those who did confess, like Samuel Wardwell, and examine the physical and psychological pressures faced by the accused. The episode also highlights Mary Esty's poignant petition and the brutal execution of Giles Cory.

00:00 Introduction to the Salem Witch Trials

00:39 Meet Your Hosts

00:45 The Integrity of the Accused

01:24 Examples of Refusal to Confess

03:06 Confessions and Their Consequences

03:21 The Case of Samuel Wardwell

04:15 Rumors and Physical Pressure

04:56 Tituba's Confession

05:07 Acts of Defiance

05:19 Mary Esty's Petition

05:53 The Story of Giles Cory

⁠Bernard Rosenthal, ed., Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt

The Thing About Witch Hunts / About Salem YouTube channel

⁠Salem Witch Trials Daily Hub

Salem Witch Trials Daily Course Week 5: The Framework of Death

⁠The Thing About Salem

⁠The Thing About Witch Hunts

⁠Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience

⁠Marilynne K. Roach, The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege

⁠Mary Beth Norton, In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692

Ben Wickey, More Weight: A Salem Story

Peabody Essex Museum Salem Witch Trials Collection

We examine the critical role of geography in the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. They discuss the stark contrasts between Salem Town and Salem Village, the widespread nature of the accusations, and the influence of the broader region, including the impact of the Frontier War in Maine and the significant number of accusations in Andover. They also debunk common misconceptions about the accusers' proximity and detail the physical realities of property disputes and the execution sites, emphasizing the trials' concrete historical context.

00:00 Introduction to Cotton Mather and the Salem Witch Trials

00:38 Geographical Context of Salem

00:56 Salem Town vs. Salem Village

01:51 Misconceptions About the Afflicted Girls

02:55 The Spread of Accusations

03:10 Impact of the Frontier War

03:38 Andover's Role in the Witch-Hunt

04:14 Land Disputes and Accusations

05:05 Geography of the Executions

05:48 Conclusion: Understanding the Map of 1692

⁠Bernard Rosenthal, ed., Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt

The Thing About Witch Hunts / About Salem YouTube channel

⁠Salem Witch Trials Daily Hub

Salem Witch Trials Daily Course Week 5: The Framework of Death

⁠The Thing About Salem

⁠The Thing About Witch Hunts

⁠Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience

⁠Marilynne K. Roach, The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege

⁠Mary Beth Norton, In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692

Ben Wickey, More Weight: A Salem Story

Peabody Essex Museum Salem Witch Trials Collection

In this episode, we explain the criteria set by English Puritan theologian William Perkins for identifying witches, as detailed in his book 'A Discourse of the Damned Art of Witchcraft.' The discussion includes the seven grounds for examining alleged witches, such as public defamation and association with other witches, and the insufficiency of various olden-day practices like the swimming test and the red-hot iron test. The episode highlights how Perkins' standards influenced the Salem Witch Trials and other notable cases, emphasizing the reliance on confessions and witness testimonies in securing convictions.

00:00 Introduction to Witchcraft Examination

00:11 William Perkins' Influence on Witch Trials

01:16 Welcome to Salem Witch Trials Daily

01:23 Criteria for Examining a Witch

04:08 Insufficient Proofs for Conviction

08:00 True Proofs for Witchcraft Conviction

08:40 Conclusion and Historical Context

⁠Bernard Rosenthal, ed., Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt

The Thing About Witch Hunts / About Salem YouTube channel

⁠Salem Witch Trials Daily Hub

Salem Witch Trials Daily Course Week 5: The Framework of Death

⁠The Thing About Salem

⁠The Thing About Witch Hunts

⁠Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience

⁠Marilynne K. Roach, The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege

⁠Mary Beth Norton, In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692

Peabody Essex Museum Salem Witch Trials Collection