The Frequency , Nature and Geography of the persecutions

Question 1

Who was Mary Glover ?

Answer 1

Catholic - Spoke Gaelic

Accused by a lady for stealing linen to use for witchcraft

Could not recite the lords prayer

Confessed to being in a league with devil

Question 2

Who was Sarah Good ?

Answer 2

Social outcast as she didn’t marry into money

Made poor business decisions and her family + her became homeless

A beggar

Question 3

Who was Sarah Osbourne ?

Answer 3

Came from rich family

Didn’t conform to Puritan stereotypes

Lived with unmarried servant

Question 4

Who was Bridget Bishop ?

Answer 4

Independent woman

Innkeeper of a place where drinking + Gambling occurred which displeased Puritans

Question 5

Name a Godly individual who was caught up in the trials ?

Answer 5

Rev George Burrows - Only Puritan Minister to be executed , received money from the Putnam family but couldn’t pay them back

Children accused Rebecca Nurse ( well respected ) and was executed 1692

Question 6

What was the role of children in the nature of the trials in Salem ?

Answer 6

Elizabeth Parris and Abigail Williams dabbled with fortune telling / Barked when questioned

Ann Putnam Jr , Friends of Elizabeth and Abigail showed symptoms of possession - mentioned 400x in court documents

Elizabeth Hubbard testified against 29 people , 17 arrested , 13 executed

Question 7

What are some reasons for the children’s behaviour ?

Answer 7

Hallucinations

Naivety

Impact of Indian attacks

Convulsive Egotism , eating mouldy rye bread with fungus with LSD in it

Psychological disorders from Small Pox or fear of the devil

Question 8

How did geography affect the rate of persecution in Salem ?

Answer 8

Most accusers came from Salem Town - Agricultural who relied on Harvest success for income - Staunch Puritans - More aware of deviants - concerned with punishing transgressors

Families living in ST- Less reliant on agriculture, fewer persecutions happened here + Porter supporters

Hunts started in Salem