The Capital Crime of Witchcraft: What the Primary Sources Tell Us

Presenter: Margo Burns

On first impression, the witchcraft trials of the Colonial era may seem to have been nothing but a free-for-all, fraught with hysterics. Margo Burns explores an array of prosecutions in seventeenth century New England, using facsimiles of primary source manuscripts, from first formal complaints to arrest warrants, indictments of formal charges to death warrants, and the reversals of attainder and rescinding of excommunications years after the fact; demonstrating how methodically and logically the Salem Court worked. This program focuses on the Salem witchcraft trials of 1692 and 1693, when nineteen people were hanged and one crushed to death, but also examines a variety of other cases against women in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. 

 

Join us as we celebrate 50 years of bringing the humanities to your community!

Event Details

When:

Tuesday, October 29, 2024 6:30pm

Where:

Rodgers Memorial Library
194 Derry Road
Hudson NH 03051

Hosted By:

Rodgers Memorial Library

Contact Info:

Carrie Loring, 603-886-6030