The newly arrived colonists traveled from England with their fears of witchcraft fully intact. Accusations, witch hunts and trials were a familiar and accepted part of their lives. Indeed, within a short time of settling these shores, there were a number of trials and even executions for what was considered a capital and felonious crime.
Certainly, the largest and most famous of these unfortunate episodes is the Salem Witch Crisis of 1692. Beginning in the early winter months of 1692 and carrying on until May of the following year the people of the colony would see 19 people hanged.
At the Witch House we offer the latest research and scholarship on how the trials began and the circumstances that brought them to an end.
The University of Virginia has undertaken a remarkable digitization process that makes it possible to view the original documents as well as their direct transcripts. The link is here:
