A look at the witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts in the 17th century that claimed twenty-five lives and its impact on the community.

The Salem witch trials stand as one of the infamous moments in colonial American history. More than 150 people -- primarily women -- from 24 communities were charged with witchcraft; 19 were hanged and others died in prison. This second edition continues to explore the beliefs, fears, and historical context that fueled the witch panic of 1692. In his revised introduction, Richard Godbeer offers coverage of the convulsive ergotism thesis advanced in the 1970s and a discussion of new scholarship on men who were accused of witchcraft for explicitly gendered reasons. The documents in this volume illuminate how the Puritans' worldview led them to seek a supernatural explanation for the problems vexing their community. Presented as case studies, the carefully chosen records from several specific trials offer a clear picture of the gender norms and social tensions that underlie the witchcraft accusations. New to this edition are records from the trial of Samuel Wardwell, a fortune-teller or "cunning man" whose apparent expertise made him vulnerable to suspicions of witchcraft. The book's final documents cover recantations of confessions, the aftermath of the witch hunt, and statements of regret. A chronology of the witchcraft crisis, questions for consideration, and a selected bibliography round out the book's pedagogical support.

Turning an eye to a relatively unknown witchcraft trial in Stamford, Connecticut, Godbeer pens a gripping narrative that captures the mindset of colonial New England.

About the Salem Witch Hunt which took place in Massachusetts in 1692.

This book offers a comprehensive record of legal documents written in 1692 and 1693 in connection with the Salem witch trials. It is the most comprehensive edition of those records ever published, and includes for the first time the records in chronological order, all newly transcribed from the original manuscripts

In 1692, a small village in Salem, Massachusetts, was suddenly attacked by the specters of flying witches and all manner of evil. A group of young girls began "crying out" against their neighbors and family members. By the time it was over, nineteen people were hanged, one man crushed to death, and five succumbed to the ordeal of imprisonment. Today, despite the plague of witchcraft that had inflicted England, we still look at this one isolated incident of hysteria and madness, and ask "How did this happen?" This book offers answers to that question, along with exclusive interviews with the Salem Witch Trials top experts. A focus on the paranormal activity happening in Salem is offered in The Haunting Section. You will also find a nod to Hocus Pocus and other movies. Rebecca F. Pittman is a best-selling author of 13 books, including The History & Haunting of Lizzie Borden, The History and Haunting of Salem, and many more. Her love of mysteries has found her on multiple TV and radio programs.Her website is www.rebeccafpittmanbooks.com .

Based on extensive primary source research, In the Shadow of Salem: The Andover Witch Hunt of 1692, by historian and archivist Richard Hite, tells for the first time the fascinating story of this long overlooked phase of the largest witch hunt in American history. Untangling a net of rivalries and ties between families and neighbors, the author explains the actions of the accusers, the reactions of the accused, and their ultimate fates. In the process, he shows how the Andover arrests prompted a large segment of the town's population to openly oppose the entire witch hunt and how their actions played a crucial role in finally bringing the 1692 witchcraft crisis to a close.

From the ninth great-granddaughter of Susannah Martin, accused and hanged as a witch, comes SALEM WITCH HAUNT, a realistic time-travel steeped in suspense and intrigue with a touch of sweet romance. Book one, SALEM WITCH HAUNT takes the reader through the first six trials and hangings: Bridget Bishop, Sarah Good, Elizabeth Howe, Susannah Martin, Rebecca Nurse, and Sarah Wildes.When she finds herself thrust back in time, seventeen-year-old Bess Martin, a senior at Danvers High, sets out on a mission to save her eleventh great-grandmother from the gallows-tree. With a near-perfect knowledge of the historical events about to unfold, Bess knows the untimely fate of many. The problem is that Bess has inherited her grandmother's sharp tongue - a tongue that caused her grandmother to be tried and hanged as a witch in Salem Village, 1692. Can Bess stop the hangings and change the course of history, or will she share her grandmother's fate?

When she finds herself thrust back in time, seventeen-year-old Bess Martin, a senior at Danvers High, sets out on a mission to save her eleventh great-grandmother from the gallows tree. With a near-perfect knowledge of the historical events about to unfold, Bess knows the untimely fate of many. The problem is that Bess has inherited her grandmother’s sharp tongue—a tongue that caused her grandmother to be tried and hanged as a witch in Salem Village, 1692. Can Bess stop the hangings and change the course of history, or will she share her grandmother’s fate? From the ninth great-granddaughter of Susannah North Martin, accused and hanged as a witch, comes SALEM WITCH HAUNT, a realistic time-travel steeped in suspense and intrigue with a touch of sweet romance. Book one, SALEM WITCH HAUNT takes the reader through the first six trials and hangings: Bridget Bishop, Sarah Good, Elizabeth Howe, Susannah Martin, Rebecca Nurse, and Sarah Wildes.

What caused the worst witch-hunt in U.S. history? What demons sent twenty innocent people to their deaths? Was it panic? Payback? Puritanism run amok? In this probing short-form book, award-winning journalist Bruce Watson captures all the fear and fear-mongering while exploring the latest historical research into this unforgettable American tragedy.