Gallows Hill is a small hill in Salem, Massachusetts that was originally believed to be the site of the Salem Witch Trials hangings in 1692. Then, in January of 2016, the Gallows Hill Project confirmed that Proctor's Ledge, not Gallows Hill, is the site of the Salem Witch Trials hangings.…| History of Massachusetts Blog
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John Proctor was a successful farmer and the first male to be named a witch during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Proctor was born in Assington, England on October 9, 1631. He immigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony with his parents, John Proctor, Sr, and Martha Harper Proctor, sometime…| History of Massachusetts Blog
Thomas Putnam was the father of afflicted girl Ann Putnam, Jr, and many historians consider him to be a major influence in the Salem Witch Trials. Putnam himself accused and testified against 43 people, while his daughter testified against 62 people. Many historians believe the Putnam family used the witchcraft…| History of Massachusetts Blog
The Great Salem Fire of 1914 was a large fire that took place in Salem, Massachusetts on June 25, 1914. The fire killed three people and injured 60 people. In addition, the fire left 18,000 people homeless and 10,000 people without jobs after it burned 253 acres and destroyed 1,376…| History of Massachusetts Blog
John Hathorne was a judge in the Salem Witch Trials and the great-great-grandfather of author Nathaniel Hawthorne. Hathorne was born in Salem on August 5, 1641, to William Hathorne and Anne Smith. He was the fifth of nine children. His father, William, was a local judge who came to the…| History of Massachusetts Blog
If you're interested in learning more about the Salem Witch Trials, you may want to read one of the many books published on the topic. Hundreds of books have been written about the Salem Witch Trials since they first took place in 1692. This is despite the fact that in…| History of Massachusetts Blog
Ann Putnam, Jr, was one of the afflicted girls during the Salem Witch Trials and the daughter of the witch trials ringleader Thomas Putnam. Born on October 18, 1679, in Salem, Ann Putnam Jr, was the oldest of 10 children born to Ann Carr Putnam and Thomas Putnam, a sergeant…| History of Massachusetts Blog
The Salem Witch Trials Memorial is a memorial in Salem, Massachusetts, dedicated to the victims of the Salem Witch Trials. The memorial consists of 20 granite benches surrounded by a low stone wall. The stone slabs in the entryway to the memorial are inscribed with the victim's protests, which were taken…| History of Massachusetts Blog
Established in 1801, Howard Street Cemetery is a historic cemetery in Salem, Mass. The cemetery is 2.5 acres in size with 1,100 headstones and is located next to the old Salem jail. Before it was a cemetery, it was actually an open field where it is believed that Salem Witch…| History of Massachusetts Blog
Samuel Sewall was a judge in the Salem Witch Trials and the only judge to apologize for his role in the trials. Sewall was born in Bishopstoke, England on March 28, 1652. His family had previously lived in the settlement of Newbury in the Massachusetts Bay Colony but temporarily returned…| History of Massachusetts Blog
Jonathan Corwin was a judge in the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. He was also Judge John Hathorne's brother-in-law and Sheriff George Corwin's uncle. The Corwin Family: Jonathan Corwin was born on November 14, 1640, in Salem, Massachusetts, to Captain George Corwin and Elizabeth Herbert. The Corwins (or Curwen, as…| History of Massachusetts Blog
Salem Village was a farming community on the northern edge of Salem Town during the 17th century. It is famous for being the place where the Salem Witch Trials first began in 1692. The village is now a historic district within the town of Danvers, Massachusetts. The area was originally…| History of Massachusetts Blog
Abigail Williams was one of the first afflicted girls in the Salem Witch Trials. Despite the fact that she was one of the main accusers during the Salem Witch Trials, not much is known about Abigail Williams before or even after the trials ended. What historians do know is that…| History of Massachusetts Blog
The Salem Village meetinghouse was located near the corner of Hobart and Forest Streets in Danvers, Massachusetts. Originally built in 1672, the meetinghouse served as a place of worship and a general gathering place for civil and military matters. The land for the meetinghouse was donated by Joseph Hutchinson, who…| History of Massachusetts Blog
The Salem Witch Trials of 1692 were a dark time in American history. More than 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraft and 20 were killed during the hysteria. Ever since those dark days ended, the trials have become synonymous with mass hysteria and scapegoating. The following are some facts…| History of Massachusetts Blog