Law & Order // The Salem Witch Trials

Salem is Settled

Sep 15, 1626

Witch Craft Outlawed

Sep 15, 1641

English law makes witchcraft a capital crime

No Self-Governing Colonies

Sep 15, 1684

England declares that the colonies may not self-govern.

Witch Craft Publications

Sep 15, 1688

Mather publishes Memorable Providences, Relating to Witchcrafts and Possessions

First Case of Witch Craft

Sep 15, 1688

Following an argument with laundress Goody Glover, Martha Goodwin, 13, begins exhibiting bizarre behavior. Days later her younger brother and two sisters exhibit similar behavior. Glover is arrested and tried for bewitching the Goodwin children. Reverend Cotton Mather meets twice with Glover following her arrest in an attempt to persuade her to repent her witchcraft. Glover is hanged. Mather takes Martha Goodwin into his house. Her bizarre behavior continues and worsens.

New Minister of Salem Named

Nov 15, 1689

Samuel Parris is named the new minister of Salem. Parris moves to Salem from Boston, where Memorable Providence was published.

Drive Minister Out of Salem

Oct 16, 1691

Villagers vow to drive Parris out of Salem and stop contributing to his salary.

Weird Happenings

Jan 20, 1692

Eleven-year old Abigail Williams and nine-year-old Elizabeth Parris begin behaving much as the Goodwin children acted four years earlier. Soon Ann Putnam Jr. and other Salem girls begin acting similarly.

Doctor Griggs' Diagnosis

Feb 13, 1692

Doctor Griggs, who attends to the "afflicted" girls, suggests that witchcraft may be the cause of their strange behavior.

Tituba is Accused

Feb 15, 1692

Pressured by ministers and townspeople to say who caused her odd behavior, Elizabeth identifies Tituba. The girls later accuse Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne of witchcraft.

The Witch Cake

Feb 25, 1692

Tituba, at the request of neighbor Mary Sibley, bakes a "witch cake" and feeds it to a dog. According to an English folk remedy, feeding a dog this kind of cake, which contained the urine of the afflicted, would counteract the spell put on Elizabeth and Abigail. The reason the cake is fed to a dog is because the dog is believed a "familiar" of the Devil.

Arrest Warrants

Feb 29, 1692

Arrest warrants are issued for Tituba, Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne.

Witch Examination

Mar 1, 1692

Magistrates John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin examine Tituba, Sarah Good, and Sarah Osborne for "witches teats." Tituba confesses to practicing witchcraft and confirms Good and Osborne are her co- conspirators.

Ann Putnam's Symptoms

Mar 11, 1692

Ann Putnam Jr. shows symptoms of affliction by witchcraft. Mercy Lewis, Mary Walcott, and Mary Warren later allege affliction as well.

Accusing

Mar 12, 1692

Ann Putnam Jr. accuses Martha Cory of witchcraft.

Rebecca Nurse

Mar 19, 1692

Abigail Williams denounces Rebecca Nurse as a witch.

Dorcas Good Arrest

Mar 23, 1692

Salem Marshal Deputy Samuel Brabrook arrests four-year-old Dorcas Good.

Elizabeth Proctor is accused of witchcraft.

Mar 28, 1692

Unlawful Court

Sep 15, 1702

The General Court declares the 1692 trials unlawful

Ann Putnam Apologizes

Sep 15, 1706

Ann Putnam Jr., one of the leading accusers, publicly apologizes for her actions in 1692.

Salem Apologizes

Sep 15, 1711

The colony passes a legislative bill restoring the rights and good names of those accused of witchcraft and grants 600 pounds in restitution to their heirs.