The Glorious Revolution in England occurred when Mary and William of Orange took over the throne from James II in 1688. News of the Glorious Revolution had a significant and profound effect on the colonies in North America, particularly the Massachusetts Bay Colony. When colonists learned of Mary and William's…| 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
Mary Ayer Parker was a widow from Andover who was accused of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials. Mary Ayer was born around 1637, most likely in England, to John and Hannah Ayer and later moved with her family to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The family moved around the colony…| History of Massachusetts Blog
Sarah Good was one of the first women to be accused of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Good was the wife of William Good and, at the time of the Salem witch hysteria, was a poor, pregnant beggar who would often wander door to door in Salem…| History of Massachusetts Blog
The Dominion of New England was a merging of British colonies in New England in the 17th century. The Dominion was formed in 1686 and merged the colonies of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island together into one large colony. In 1688, the Dominion was expanded to include New…| 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
Established in 1637, the Old Burying Point Cemetery, also known as the Charter Street Cemetery, is the oldest cemetery in Salem, Massachusetts. It is one of eight historic cemeteries in Salem and is a stop on the Salem Heritage Trail. The cemetery is 1.47 acres in size and contains 700…| 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 Province of Massachusetts Bay was a royal colony in Massachusetts in the 17th and 18th century. The province was originally a charter colony called the Massachusetts Bay Colony until 1684, when its charter was revoked due to repeated violations of its terms, and it was converted into a royal…| History of Massachusetts Blog
Tituba was a slave who worked for Samuel Parris during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. The various documents and books about the Salem Witch Trials over the years often refer to Tituba as Black or mixed race, but the actual court documents from her trial refer to her as…| History of Massachusetts Blog