The Forgotten American Witch Trials

Halloween is the time to think all things creepy. There is one town in America that may be synonymous with the devil – Salem, Massachusetts. The witch trials of Salem have been speculated by historians and enjoyed by our modern-day horror fans. However, Salem wasn’t the only witch scare and trials in the Colonies. Almost fifty years before the witch trials in Salem, there was a problem in Connecticut.

The Connecticut Witch Trials

The Connecticut Witch Trials began in 1647 – 45 years before Salem. Alice ‘Alse’ Young of Windsor was tried and found guilty of being a witch. While it’s unclear what they suspected her of, some suggest that it is related to an influenza outbreak at the same time. After Alse, ten more people were found guilty of witchcraft and executed.

The final trial and execution included 3 accused. Nathaniel and Rebecca Greensmith and Mary Barnes were executed in 1663 in Hartford – some believe in the spot where the Old State House currently stands. The Greensmith’s were accused of attending a pagan Christmas party. The Puritans did not celebrate Christmas because of the holiday’s ties with paganism. Because of this belief, they were accused of building a coven to Satan. Barnes’ charge, however, is unknown.

Why are these trials forgotten to history? Why are the victims receiving pardons so far after the events? Author and researcher Beth Caruso believes it is partly due to the lack of records. The majority of the executed’s charges are lost, and Alse’s trial is only mentioned in the journal of the governor of Massachusetts John Winthrop and the town clerk of Windsor. The lack of the historical record is a major problem for people who want to know more.

What Now?

This is, at least, an interesting piece of history. A half-century long witch hunt has been almost completely forgotten. Growing up in New England, Salem was a destination for so many spooky people. Compared to the Connecticut Trials, Salem was twice as deadly and in a much shorter time. However, the lingering nature of the Connecticut Trial must have been difficult to deal with as townspeople.

The fears and superstitions that accompany more Conservative theologies are hard to handle. The real threat of the Devil can lead good people to do bad things. Fear is a powerful motivator that can compound on itself. The Witch Trials of Europe and the Colonies is a great example of extreme superstition. It’s easy to see the error in the Puritan’s thinking during this period. We have the luxury of time – we can look backwards and see how the choices made unfolded. The people in fear in Connecticut, in their perspective, only had their superstitions to rely on.