Witches Among Them

    Ann Putnam shivered in her bed. 

    Outside, a cold February rain fell on the village of Salem. But 12-year-old Ann’s chills were due to fright. Strange shadows danced across her walls. A dark shape seemed to float toward her.

    Was it her imagination? Or something evil—like a witch?

    Ann’s heart beat faster. She believed that witches lived nearby. Dark forces had recently made two of her friends sick. Their illnesses caused strange and scary behavior.  

    Now Ann heard an old woman’s voice in her ear: Join us—or else!

    Ann screamed. Her parents rushed in. “What troubles you, child?” her father asked.

    Ann couldn’t quite say—not yet. But soon, she’d speak up. Her friends would too. 

    The girls would tell all of Salem that there were witches living among them. 

    And Salem would listen.

    Ann Putnam, 12, shivered in her bed. Outside, a cold rain fell on the village of Salem. But Ann’s chills were from fear. Strange shadows moved on her walls. A dark shape seemed to float toward her.

    Was it her imagination? Or something evil—like a witch?

    Ann believed witches lived nearby. Dark forces had recently made two of her friends sick. Their illnesses caused strange behavior.

    Now Ann heard an old woman’s voice in her ear: Join us—or else!

    Ann screamed. Her parents rushed in. “What troubles you, child?” her father asked.

    Ann couldn’t say. But soon, she’d speak up. Her friends would too.

    The girls would tell all of Salem that there were witches living among them.

    And Salem would listen.

    Ann Putnam shivered in her bed. Outside, a cold February rain fell on the village of Salem. But 12-year-old Ann’s chills were due to fright. Strange shadows danced across her walls, and a dark shape seemed to be floating toward her.

    Was it her imagination, or something evil—like a witch?

    Ann’s heart beat faster. She believed that witches resided nearby. Dark forces had recently sickened two of her friends. Their illnesses caused unusual and alarming behavior. 

    Now Ann heard an old woman’s voice in her ear: Join us—or else!

    Ann screamed. Her parents rushed in. “What troubles you, child?” her father inquired.

    Ann couldn’t quite say—not yet. But soon, she’d speak up. Her friends would too.

    The girls would tell all of Salem that there were witches living among them.

    And Salem would listen.

    The news spread quickly. Soon Ann Putnam and another girl seemed to fall ill too. The people of Salem wanted answers. Who were the witches haunting the village? 

    The villagers pressured the girls to name names. Before long, they did. Three women were charged with witchcraft. The first two women denied the charges. But not the third woman.

    Her name was Tituba. She was an enslaved servant in Reverend Parris’s house. For years, Tituba had taken care of the Parris family. She had prayed alongside them. Now she was admitting to being a witch. (Why? Many experts now believe Parris bullied her into confessing.)

    Tituba told stories of the devil appearing to her as a hairy, winged beast. She said she flew over Salem on a stick. She claimed at least nine other witches lived in Salem—maybe more.

    Now the people of Salem were truly afraid. They believed they needed to find and punish every witch. At the same time, more and more girls seemed to get sick. And they accused more and more people of being witches.

    The news spread. Soon Ann Putnam and another girl seemed to get sick too. People wanted answers. Who were the witches?

    People pressured the girls to name names. And they did. Three women were charged with witchcraft. The first two women denied the charges. But not the third.

    Her name was Tituba. She was an enslaved servant in Reverend Parris’s house. For years, she had taken care of the Parris family. She had prayed with them. Now she said she was a witch. (Why? Many experts now think Parris bullied her into confessing.)

    Tituba said the devil appeared to her as a winged beast. She said she flew over Salem on a stick. She said at least nine other witches lived in Salem.

    People in Salem were afraid. They wanted to find and punish every witch. At the same time, more girls seemed to get sick. And they accused more people of being witches.

    The news spread quickly. Soon Ann Putnam and another girl appeared to fall ill too. The people of Salem wanted answers. Who were the witches haunting the village?

    The villagers pressured the girls to name names, and before long, they did. Three women were charged with witchcraft. The first two women denied the charges, but the third woman didn’t.

    This woman, named Tituba, was an enslaved servant in Reverend Parris’s house. For years, Tituba had taken care of the Parris family. She had prayed alongside them. Now she was admitting to being a witch. (Why? Many experts now believe Parris bullied her into confessing.)

    Tituba told stories of the devil appearing to her as a hairy, winged beast. She said she flew over Salem on a stick. She claimed at least nine other witches lived in Salem—maybe more.

    Now the people of Salem were truly afraid. They believed they needed to find and punish every witch. At the same time, more and more girls seemed to get sick—and they accused more and more people of being witches.

    Bridget Bishop was one of the women accused. She wasn’t popular in Salem. For starters, Bishop owned a tavern and land. (Puritans thought women should do neither.) Worse, she had married three times. 

    Bishop awaited trial in jail. She had plenty of company. Many of the accused people were also seen as outsiders in the village. 

    The governor of Massachusetts soon created a special court for witchcraft cases. Bishop was the first to go to trial. In court, neighbors told stories of her evil magic. She was found guilty. Days later, crowds gathered to see her hanged.

    Bridget Bishop was one of the women accused. She wasn’t popular in Salem. She owned a tavern and land. (Puritans thought women should do neither.) Worse, she had married three times.

    In jail, Bishop waited for her trial. She was not alone. Many other accused people were seen as outsiders too.

    The governor of Massachusetts set up a special court for witchcraft cases. Bishop was the first to go to trial. In court, neighbors described her evil magic. She was found guilty. Crowds gathered to see her hanged.

    Bridget Bishop was one of the women accused. She wasn’t popular in Salem. For starters, Bishop owned a tavern and land. (Puritans thought women should do neither.) Even worse, she had married three times.

    As Bishop awaited trial in jail, she had plenty of company. Many of the other accused people were also regarded as outsiders in the village.

    The governor of Massachusetts soon created a special court for witchcraft cases. Bishop was the first person to go to trial. In court, neighbors recounted stories of her evil magic. She was found guilty. Days later, crowds gathered to see her hanged.

    Soon the people accused of witchcraft learned a cruel truth: They should lie. If they said they weren’t witches, they were usually given a death sentence. If they admitted to being witches, they were likely to avoid it.

    So more people began confessing. As the number grew, the people of Salem started to have some doubts. Then a man who had been convicted of witchcraft said a prayer right before his public hanging. The villagers were confused. In their minds, a real witch would not be able to pray to God.

    Experts say that was a turning point. People began to defend their neighbors. They called for an end to the madness. A few months later, the governor closed the witchcraft court.

    Still, the damage was done. In just a year and a half, nearly 200 people were accused of witchcraft. Nineteen of them were hanged. One more was tortured to death. Five died in jail.

    Soon the people accused of witchcraft learned a cruel truth: They should lie. People who said they weren’t witches often got a death sentence. Those who admitted to being witches might not.

    So more people confessed. As the number grew, the people of Salem started to have doubts. Then a man who had been convicted of witchcraft said a prayer before his hanging. People were confused. In their minds, a real witch would not be able to pray to God.

    That was a turning point. People began to defend their neighbors. They called for an end to the madness. Soon the governor closed the witchcraft court.

    But the harm was done. In a year and a half, nearly 200 people were accused of witchcraft. Nineteen of them were hanged. One was tortured to death. Five died in jail.

    Soon the people accused of witchcraft learned a cruel truth: They should lie. If they said they weren’t witches, they were usually given a death sentence. If they admitted to being witches, they were likely to avoid it.

    So more people began confessing. As the number grew, the people of Salem started to have some doubts. Then a man who had been convicted of witchcraft said a prayer right before his public hanging. The villagers were confused. In their minds, a real witch would be unable to pray to God.

    According to experts, that was a turning point in the story of the Salem witch trials. People began to defend their neighbors and to call for an end to the madness. A few months later, the governor closed down the witchcraft court.

    Still, the damage was done. In only a year and a half, nearly 200 people were accused of witchcraft. Nineteen of them were hanged. One more was tortured to death. Five died in jail.

    Ann Putnam accused at least 17 of the 20 people who were killed. In 1706, she offered a public apology. “I have . . . good reason to believe they were innocent persons,” she wrote. 

    So why did she and the other girls accuse their neighbors in the first place?

    Some say they were simply bored. Others say they were looking for attention. Still others point out the trauma in the girls’ lives.

    In Salem, life was not easy. There were bad storms and deadly diseases. Food could be hard to come by at times. Could all this stress have made the girls sick? 

    The villagers would not have thought this way at the time, though. Puritans believed their religion made them a target of the devil. And witches were seen as the devil’s helpers. So when something went wrong, they blamed witchcraft.

    Ann Putnam accused at least 17 of the 20 people who were killed. In 1706, she made a public apology. “I have . . . good reason to believe they were innocent persons,” she wrote.

    So why did she and other girls accuse their neighbors? Some say they were bored. Some say they wanted attention. Others point out the trauma in the girls’ lives.

    In Salem, life was hard. There were bad storms. There were deadly diseases. There wasn’t always enough to eat. Could all this stress have made the girls sick?

    The villagers would not have thought this way at the time. Puritans believed their religion made them a target of the devil. They saw witches as the devil’s helpers. So they blamed witchcraft for many problems.

    Ann Putnam accused at least 17 of the 20 people who were killed. In 1706, she offered a public apology. “I have . . . good reason to believe they were innocent persons,” she wrote.

    So why did she and the other girls accuse their neighbors in the first place?

    Some say they were simply bored or looking for attention. Others point out the trauma in the girls’ lives.

    Life in Salem was difficult, with destructive storms and deadly diseases. Food could be hard to come by at times. Could all this stress have affected the girls’ mental health?

    The villagers would not have considered this possibility at the time, though. Puritans believed their religion made them a target of the devil, and witches were seen as the devil’s helpers. So when something went wrong, they blamed witchcraft.

    The story of Salem sounds unusual. But history experts say it is not as unusual as it may seem. 

    During hard times, people look for something to blame. Often they place this blame on people who seem different from them. What happened in Salem can serve as a warning—even now. 

    Fear and suspicion can spread quickly. Yet we have the power to stop evil rumors. We can stand up for neighbors who need our help. We can avoid judging people we don’t know or don’t understand.

    All of these things can help build a kinder, more peaceful world. 

    The story of Salem sounds weird. But experts say it’s not that rare.

    During hard times, people want something to blame. Often they blame those who seem different from them. What happened in Salem can serve as a warning.

    Fear and suspicion can spread quickly. But we can stop evil rumors. We can stand up for those who need our help. We can avoid judging people we don’t understand.

    In these ways, we can help build a kinder world. 

    The story of Salem sounds bizarre, but historians say events like these aren’t as unusual as you might imagine. 

    During difficult times, people look for something to blame. Often they place this blame on people who seem different from them. What happened in Salem can serve as a warning—even now.

    Fear and suspicion can spread rapidly. Yet we have the power to stop evil rumors. We can stand up for neighbors who need our help. We can avoid judging people we don’t know or don’t understand.

    All of these actions can help create a kinder, more peaceful world.