Witch trials in Connecticut: Difference between revisions
Jack-Donohoe (talk | contribs) added information |
Jack-Donohoe (talk | contribs) citations added |
||
Line 13: | Line 13: | ||
=== Alse Young === |
=== Alse Young === |
||
Alse Young was the first person executed for witchcraft in colonial America. on the 26th of may 1647, she was hung at Hartford. Alse Young's death was recorded in the journals of John Winthrop, the governor of Massachusetts bay, and Matthew Grant the town clerk of Windsor. There are no further records on Young's trial, or specification of the charges against her. Around the time of Young's trial, an influenza epidemic occurred throughout the New England area, including the town of Windsor. |
Alse Young was the first person executed for witchcraft in colonial America. on the 26th of may 1647, she was hung at Hartford. Alse Young's death was recorded in the journals of John Winthrop, the governor of Massachusetts bay, and Matthew Grant the town clerk of Windsor<ref>{{Citation|title=Alse Young|date=2018-06-12|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Alse_Young&oldid=845500553|work=Wikipedia|language=en|access-date=2018-09-24}}</ref>. There are no further records on Young's trial, or specification of the charges against her. Around the time of Young's trial, an influenza epidemic occurred throughout the New England area, including the town of Windsor. |
||
=== Mary Duress === |
=== Mary Duress === |
Revision as of 04:13, 24 September 2018
Introduction
The Connecticut Witch Trials occurred between 1647 to 1697 and were the first witch trials to occur in America. predating the Salem Witch trials of 1693, John M. Taylor lists a total of 37 total cases, 11 that resulted in executions.[1]. During the Connecticut trials the grounds of accusation were refined by local leaders, reducing the amount of accusations for the next 30 years.[2][3]
Brief history of Witch Trials
Witch trials were the searches for "witches" or those practicing witchcraft. Witch hunts occurred throughout colonial North America and resulted in 1500 to 2000 recorded executions. [4] [5] During the 14th and 15th century the definition of a witch, from a religious perspective, developed to be a devotee of satanism, in return gaining supernaturals abilities.[6]Generally the accused were of low social standing, majority of which were women.[7] This is statistic changed in different part of the world; In Europe the majority of the accused were men. In certain situations, children were also accused of practicing witchcraft.
When witchcraft was believed involved, a complaint was entered against the accused with local judges, and evidence permitting, they were arrested and committed to a public trial.The evidence used in Witch trials was mostly Spectral evidence, defined as " evidence based on dreams and visions". [8][9] This kind of evidence was not based on any physical action, rather it focused on the actions of the accused "Spirit". The majority of the accused were executed, either by being burnt a the stake, decapitated or hung. During the Connecticut With trials, the main form of execution was by hanging.
With hunts continued through out Europe and America until mid 17th century, though isolated incidents occurred after this point. This can be attributed to a strengthening of legal system linked to the trial and technological advancements.
First Accused
Alse Young
Alse Young was the first person executed for witchcraft in colonial America. on the 26th of may 1647, she was hung at Hartford. Alse Young's death was recorded in the journals of John Winthrop, the governor of Massachusetts bay, and Matthew Grant the town clerk of Windsor[10]. There are no further records on Young's trial, or specification of the charges against her. Around the time of Young's trial, an influenza epidemic occurred throughout the New England area, including the town of Windsor.
Mary Duress
Wetherfields and Hartford
wetherfields
Hartford
Decline of the Witch trials
Images
Reference List
- ^ "Connecticut Witch Trials (America, 1647 - 1697) - Witchcraft". www.witchcraftandwitches.com. Retrieved 2018-09-06.
- ^ "The Witch Trials That America Forgot". Time. Retrieved 2018-09-06.
- ^ Wolfe,, Boynton, Cynthia. Connecticut witch trials : the first panic in the new world. Charleston, SC. ISBN 9781625849175. OCLC 904283684.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Witch-hunt", Wikipedia, 2018-09-02, retrieved 2018-09-06
- ^ "Login to eResources, The University of Sydney Library". search-proquest-com.ezproxy1.library.usyd.edu.au. Retrieved 2018-09-06.
- ^ "Witch trials in the early modern period", Wikipedia, 2018-09-07, retrieved 2018-09-12
- ^ "Witch trials in the early modern period", Wikipedia, 2018-09-07, retrieved 2018-09-20
- ^ "Spectral evidence", Wikipedia, 2018-08-06, retrieved 2018-09-23
- ^ "Spectral Evidence and the Salem Witch Trials". ThoughtCo. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
- ^ "Alse Young", Wikipedia, 2018-06-12, retrieved 2018-09-24