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Although far from being the first accused
of practicing witchcraft, Bridge Bishop was the first to stand trial for
the crime. The evidence against her seemed so substantial that she
was quickly found guilty, and Chief Justice William Stoughton signed her
death warrant on June 8, sentencing that she "be hanged by the neck until
she be dead." On June 10, 1692, Bishop became the first convected
witch to be executed.
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The executed witches, not being afforded
Christian burial, were buried in pits dug near the place of execution.
The bodies of Rebecca Nurse, George Jacobs, and John Proctor were later
removed by relatives for secret burials on their farms. The exact
site of execution is not definitely known, since little information concerning
the executions had survived. Tradition points to the Gallows Hill area
in Salem, but no conclusive evidence has come down.
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Interestingly of all the death warrants issued,
only Bridget Bishop's survives. Even after the witch frenzy had completely
subsided, many were still convinced that Bishop, spectral evidence aside,
was truly a witch. Indeed, some modern scholars have argued that
from the evidence existing about Bishop, she probably did practice witchcraft
and may have thought herself to be a witch.(Essex County
Courthouse, Salem, Massachusetts)
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Giles Cory was the only one in the history
of America to be legally pressed to death.
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Accused witches were kept in the jails of
Salem, Ipswich, Cambridge, and Boston. They were often charged for
the room and board. Many were even charged for their own shackles
and chains. The more influential of the accused were given special
privileges. Philip English, a wealthy Salem merchant, and his wife,
Mary, were allowed to freely roam about Boston during the day and only
sleep in the jail at night. A number of accused person, including
The Englishes and more well-to-do prisoners were able to escape from jail.
(The Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Archives
Divisions)
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Most of the afflicted girls eventually were
married, moved away from the Village, and disappeared into oblivion.
Ann Putnan (Ruth in the Crucible) never found a husband, and remained sickly
for the rest of her life, due probably , in part to physical stress of
1692.
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In 1693, Rev. Parris read to the congregation
his "meditations for Peace" in which he acknowledge mistakes, asked pardon
of God, and entreated the people ot "forgive each other heartily, sincerely
and thoroughly." Villagers still worked for Parris' removal.
Finally, in 1697, Parris left the Village, never to return.
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