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Salem Witch Trials Timeline
Years of 1692-1693, Salem Witch Trials. -
Jan. 20th - Betty Falls Ill
9-Year-Old Betty Parris falls ill, several other girls also fall ill in Salem -
Febuary 25th - Tituba Bakes Witch Cake
Parris' servant, Tituba, and her husband, John Indian, are advised by Mary Sibley to bake a witch cake. She hopes the cake will help the girls identify the person who are bewitching them. -
Complaints against Tituba, Sarah Good, and Sarah Osbourne...
Thomas and Edward Putnam, Joseph Hutchinson and Thomas Preston swear complaints against Tituba, Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne. They are later arrested for suspicion of witchcraft. -
Judges examine girls/Tituba confesses.
Salem Town judges John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin examine Tituba (Who also confesses), Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne. -
Martha Corey is summoned
Martha Corey is summoned to appear before the judges and answer questions. -
Rebecca Nurse accused/Warrent issued for Martha Corey's arrest
A warrant is issued for Martha Corey's arrest and Rebecca Nurse is accused of witchcraft by Abigail Williams. -
Putnams file complaints against Nurse
Edward and Jonathan Putnam file complaints against Rebecca Nurse. -
One of the afflicted girls accuse Elizabeth Proctor
A "afflicted" girl accuses Elizabeth Proctor, wife of John Proctor, of witchcraft. -
Warrants issued for Corey's and Cloyce's arrest
Warrants are issued for Sarah Cloyce and Giles Corey for the suspicion of witchcraft. -
Many arrests made.
, also, John and Elizabeth Proctor, Rebecca Nurse, Sarah Cloyce, Martha Corey and Dorcas Good are sent to a Boston prison on this night. -
More warrants issued
Arrest warrants are issued for Mary Easty, Edward and Sarah Bishop, Deliverance and William Hobbs, Sarah Wilds, Mary Black, Nehemiah Abbott, Jr. and Mary English. -
Mary Eastly found guilty
Mary Easty is found guilty of witchcraft by the Salem judges. -
George Burroughs arrested, transported to Salem.
George Burroughs is arrested at his home in Wells, Maine. He is then extradited to Salem Town. -
Eastly released
Mary Easty is released from prison. -
Mercy Lewis becomes ill, Eastly re-arrested
Mercy Lewis becomes gravely ill and Mary Easty is blamed for her illness. She is arrested again for witchcraft. -
Gov. Philips establishes a Court of Oyer & Terminer
Gov. Phips establishes a Court of Oyer and Terminer to investigate the allegations of witchcraft. Lieutenant Gov. William Stoughton, Nathaniel Saltonstall, Bartholomew Gedney, Peter Sergeant, Samuel Sewall, Wait Still Winthrop, John Richards, John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin are its members. -
Bridget Bishop hanged
Bridget Bishop is hanged on Gallows Hill a week after being found guilty by the Court of Oyer & Terminer -
Ministers advise the court
Twelve ministers of the colony advise the court not to rely on spectral evidence for convicting suspected witches. -
Good, Howe, Wilde, Martin, and Nurse hanged.
Sarah Good, Elizabeth Howe, Sarah Wilds, Susannah Martin and Rebecca Nurse are hanged on Gallows Hill after being found guilty of witchcraft. -
Request of a change in court venue...
Fearing that they can't get a fair trial in Salem Town, John Proctor and other prisoners write a letter from prison to the Reverends Increase Mather, James Allen, Joshua Moody, Samuel Willard and John Bayley. In the letter, they ask the ministers to support their request for a change of venue for the trials. -
C.o.O.T. reconvines to try cases...
The Court of Oyer and Terminer (C.O.o.T.) reconvenes to try the Rev. George Burroughs, John and Elizabeth Proctor, George Jacobs Sr., John Willard and Martha Carrier. -
Burroughs, Proctor, Jacobs, Willard, and Carrier hanged.
George Burroughs, John Proctor, George Jacobs Sr., John Willard and Martha Carrier are hanged on Gallows Hill. -
Giles Corey refuses to stand trial...
Giles Corey refuses to stand trial, so the Court of Oyer and Terminer orders the sheriff to pile rocks on him. -
Giles Corey is pressed to death.
Giles Corey is pressed to death. -
Corey, Eastly, Parker, Pudeator, Scott, Reed, Wardell, and Parker hanged
Martha Corey, Mary Easty, Alice Parker, Ann Pudeator, Margaret Scott, Wilmot Reed, Samuel Wardwell and Mary Parker are hanged on Gallows Hill. -
Gov. Phips dissolves the Court of Oyer and Terminer
Gov. Phips dissolves the Court of Oyer and Terminer -
Superior Court of Judicature created...
A Superior Court of Judicature is created to try the remaining persons accused of witchcraft. William Stoughton, Samuel Sewall, John Richards, Wait Still Winthrop and Thomas Danford are its members. Spectral evidence is no longer considered in the remaining trials. -
Gov. Phips pardons the remaining accused of witchcraft/End of Witch Trials
Gov. Phips pardons the remaining accused of witchcraft, this marks the end of the trials.