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The New Charter
A new charter was established on October 7, 1691 that basically wiped the entire legal system of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, not to mention established it as a royal colony, and that any religion under the general Christian umbrella was allowed. (That last bit angered the puritans in Salem quite much) So, now the people were forced to write a new law, however the new governor that was promised (William Phips) would not arrive for a few months, and so Salem just lay in wait. -
The Witch Trials Began with three
Tituba, Sarah Good, and Sarah Osburne were of the first accused during the Salem witch Trials and some say they were the cause of it all. Abigail Williams and Paris were hot on their tail, claiming to be afflicted by the three by means of witchcraft, because of this the Court of Oyer and Terminer was created. And, soon after it was, two of the three were executed, found guilty, whilst the other, Tituba went on to accuse others. -
The Court of Oyer and Terminer
The Court of Oyer and Terminer, meaning to hear and determine, was founded by William Phip in May 27, 1692, with nine judicial magistrates to deal with all the accused witches in Salem. It heavily intertwined spectral evidence into their trials and executed twenty people, whilst 200 were accused. However good it’s attentions might have been in the beginning it quickly changed once William Stoughton took charge after Phip. Not long afterwards did Phip begin to notice how the court wasn't helping. -
Executions
Bridget Bishop was the first girl to be executed in the Salem Witch Trials, but definitely not the last. Seeing as about nine days later Rebecca Nurse, a well loved puritan woman was executed. (July 19,1692) -
Susannah Martin
Susannah Martin was accused of witchcraft on July 10, 1692, like most ‘witches’. However, it wasn’t an ordinary case, seeing as she was one of the first to be accused when she didn’t live in Salem itself. Perhaps Abigail Williams had heard of her troublemaking tactics and merely wanted to get rid of her, whatever the reason the case is rather peculiar. -
John Proctor
John proctor, wary of spectral evidence and Salem's witchcraft in general, wrote a letter to the court. This letter requested they stepped down from office and/or stop the usage of Spectral Evidence. Because of this, Abigail Williams noticed the man, charging him on the accusation of witchcraft. -
George Burroughs
No one is quite sure why George Burroughs was hanged, maybe due to his previous ruling as the mayor of Salem, perhaps due to bad relationships. But, no matter the case his execution was a major part of the trials, seeing as he was the first (And few) of the wealthy, influential to be hanged. As a minister and previous mayor he was influential, and during his trial he recited the Lord’s scripture perfectly, which was unknown for any witch to able to perform. -
The Letter
On October 12, 1692, Governor Sir William Phips wrote a letter to William Blathwayt (a clerk of the privy council) about the usage and functions of the witch trials, putting blame on most of the other judges (mainly Stoughton) for the corruption that had boiled for months, further directing the blame of himself by stating he was gone most of the time. He was trying to settle the chaos by silencing the press, therefore creating one of the first major documented government cover-ups. -
Cotton Mather's Book
Cotton Mather's book, "Cases of Conscience Concerning Evil Spirits Personating Men,” was released right before William Phip's ban. And allowed William to bring the issue of the Salem witch Trials to the court, where, when he was asked whether or not his own court shall stand or fall, he answered with fall, therefore ending the court. -
After Effects
Some after effects on the trial include the resigning of Increase Mather, who was targeted by the English government. The growing opposition continued and the people of the Massachusetts Bay colony began to grow sick of English rule. Not to mention, the strict church policies began to weaken.
