Boston, Massachusetts has a rich maritime history that includes pirates and privateers. In fact, Boston had a reputation for being a pirate hot spot in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Massachusetts Bay Colony did not take kindly to pirates though and declared piracy a capital offense on October 15,…| History of Massachusetts Blog
Giles Corey was a successful farmer from Salem Village who was accused of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Born in Northampton, England, in 1621, Corey immigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony shortly after marrying his first wife, Margaret. Giles Corey's Early Life: Corey first lived in Salem…| 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
Alice Parker was a woman from Salem who was accused of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials. Parker was married to a fisherman named John Parker at the time of the Salem Witch Trials. The couple lived in a rented house, owned by Mary English, on English street in Salem…| History of Massachusetts Blog
William Stoughton was a colonial magistrate for the Massachusetts Bay Colony and the Chief Magistrate of Court of Oyer and Terminer during the Salem Witch Trials. Early Life: William Stoughton was born in 1631 to Israel and Elizabeth (Knight) Stoughton. It is not known if Stoughton was born in England…| History of Massachusetts Blog
The Salem Witch Trials judges were several men who served as judges during the Salem Witch Trials in 1692. On May 27, 1692, Sir William Phips appointed nine of the colony's magistrates to serve as judges on the newly created Court of Oyer and Terminer. The court was created specifically…| 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
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
Bartholomew Gedney was one of the judges during the Salem Witch Trials. Gedney was also a physician, town selectman, ship carpenter, merchant and a colonel in the Essex County militia. Gedney was born to John Gedney in Salem on June 14, 1640. Gedney married Hannah Clark in 1662 and had…| History of Massachusetts Blog
