Episode Description:
When you think "Massachusetts witch trials," you think Salem, 1692. But what if we told you that 44 years before Salem, Massachusetts was already executing people for witchcraft in Boston?
Between 1648 and 1693, more than 200 people were formally charged with witchcraft across Massachusetts. In 1957, the state cleared 31 Salem victims. But Boston's victims have been forgotten.
On November 25, 2025, Bill H.1927 goes before the Massachusetts Joint Committee on the Judiciary to finally exonerate 8 individuals convicted of witchcraft in Boston and recognize everyone else who suffered accusations across Massachusetts.
Co-hosts Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack, descendants of Salem witch trial victims and co-founders of the Connecticut Witch Trial Exoneration Project, explain why Salem's story is incomplete without Boston—and how YOU can help Massachusetts finish the job.
Before Salem: Boston's Forgotten VictimsFive women were executed in Boston:
Margaret Jones (1648) - First person executed for witchcraft in Massachusetts, 44 years before Salem
Elizabeth Kendall (1651)
Alice Lake (1651)
Ann Hibbins (1656)
Goody Glover (1688) - Executed just 4 years before Salem, her case influenced Cotton Mather
Three others were convicted but not executed:
Hugh Parsons (1651)
Eunice Cole (1656-1680) Eunice was brought to court on witchcraft accusations over and over!
Elizabeth Morse (1680)
Cotton Mather was deeply involved in Goody Glover's 1688 trial in Boston. Her execution influenced his thinking about witchcraft—thinking he brought to Salem just four years later.
The same fears, the same accusations, the same injustice—Boston laid the groundwork for what happened in Salem.
When Massachusetts cleared Salem's victims in 1957, they left Boston's victims behind.
✅ Exonerates the 8 individuals convicted of witchcraft in Boston between 1647-1688
✅ Recognizes all others who suffered accusations across Massachusetts
✅ Completes the work Massachusetts started in 1957 when they cleared Salem's victims
✅ Acknowledges that Salem wasn't the beginning—Boston was
✅ Costs nothing - zero fiscal impact
1. Sign the Petition: Change.org/witchtrials - Over 14,000 signatures and growing
2. Contact Massachusetts Representatives: Email or call members of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary before November 25th
3. Submit Written Testimony: Even if you can't attend in person, your voice matters
4. Share This Episode: Help spread the word before the November 25th hearing
For decades, we've told the story of Salem 1692 as if it appeared out of nowhere. But Massachusetts had been executing people for witchcraft since 1648.
The fears, the evidence, the methods—all of it was already established in Boston before it exploded in Salem.
You can't understand Salem without understanding Boston.
Josh and Sarah co-founded the Connecticut Witch Trial Exoneration Project and launched their podcast in 2022 to support the legislative effort. With help from listeners like you, Connecticut passed House Joint Resolution 34 in May 2023 with overwhelming bipartisan support, absolving 11 individuals and recognizing all others who suffered accusations.
You were part of Connecticut's success from the beginning. Now Massachusetts needs you to help finish what they started in 1957.
Boston's first execution was in 1648—44 years before Salem
Goody Glover's 1688 execution influenced Cotton Mather just 4 years before Salem
More than 200 people were formally charged with witchcraft in Massachusetts (1648-1693)
Massachusetts cleared 31 Salem victims in 1957, but left Boston's victims behind
Massachusetts has already amended the 1957 Resolve twice (2001 and 2022)
Bill H.1927 simply continues this established pattern with zero fiscal impact
In this episode of The Thing About Salem, co-hosts Sarah Jack and Josh Hutchinson examine one of the most invasive and degrading practices used during the Salem Witch Trials: the search for witch's marks and devil's teats. Discover how this invented "evidence" was used to convict innocent people—including the hosts' ancestors.
What You'll Learn:
The Origins of Witch Mark Theory
How English legal writers like Michael Dalton (1618) and William Perkins created detailed instructions for finding "devil's marks"
Why Richard Bernard claimed these marks appeared in "secretest parts" requiring invasive searches
The shocking truth: none of this evidence appears in the Bible
Familiar Spirits in Salem
Cotton Mather's definition of familiar spirits as "devils in bodily shapes"
Strange creatures described in testimony: hairless cats with human ears, rooster-monkey hybrids, and hairy upright beings
How these supposed demons were believed to feed from witch's teats
The Salem Examinations
Documented searches of accused witches including Rebecca Nurse, Bridget Bishop, and Elizabeth Procter
George Jacobs Sr.'s brutal examination with pins driven through his flesh
Four-year-old Dorothy Good's traumatic examination and the "flea bite" used as evidence
Why some marks disappeared between examinations—and what that tells us
Dehumanizing Practices
The invasive nature of stripping and examining prisoners in their "most intimate areas"
How postpartum scarring from childbirth was twisted into evidence of witchcraft
Why the Court of Oyer and Terminer convicted all 27 people tried in 1692—whether marks were found or not
Modern Connections As Robert Calef pointed out in More Wonders of the Invisible World, witch marks weren't biblical—they were man-made tests designed to find guilt. This pattern continues in modern witch hunts worldwide, where accusers still decide what constitutes "evidence" against innocent victims.
Perfect for listeners interested in:
Salem Witch Trials history
Colonial American history
Wrongful convictions and false evidence
Women's history and bodily autonomy
Modern witch hunts and human rights
Historical witchcraft accusations
Legal history and justice reform
Featured Historical Sources:
William Perkins, A Discourse of the Damned Art of Witchcraft
Michael Dalton, The Countrey Justice (1618)
Richard Bernard, The Certainty of the World of Spirits
Cotton Mather, Wonders of the Invisible World
Robert Calef, More Wonders of the Invisible World
Deodat Lawson, A Brief and True Narrative
Original Salem Witch Trial examination records
About the Hosts: Sarah Jack and Josh Hutchinson are descendants of Salem witch trial victims and co-founders of End Witch Hunts, a nonprofit addressing modern witch hunts globally. Together, they co-host The Thing About Salem and The Thing About Witch Hunts (265+ episodes).
Related Episodes: [Links to episodes about Rebecca Nurse, Mary Easty, familiar spirits, spectral evidence, etc.]
Support Our Work: Learn more about modern witch hunts and how to help at EndWitchHunts.org
Links
Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project
Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt
The Thing About Salem and The Thing About Witch Hunts YouTube
The Thing About Witch Hunts Website
Sign the Petition: MA Witch Hunt Justice Project
Episode Description:
How does a town infamous for executing nineteen people for alleged diabolical witchcraft rebrand itself as "Witch City"? Salem spent centuries trying to forget 1692, then something changed. Join descendants Sarah and Josh as they uncover the surprising story of how grief, guilt, and capitalism collided to transform Salem into America's Halloween capital. From the first witch-themed business to the controversy over memorializing victims, this is the untold story of who chose to remember, who profited, and what got lost along the way.
What You'll Discover:
Why did Salem stay silent about the trials for over 150 years, and what finally broke that silence? Who made the first move to capitalize on witch trial history (the answer might surprise you)? When the city had a chance to build a memorial in 1892, why did descendants of the accusers fight so hard against it? And how did a fish company, a souvenir spoon, and a Knights Templar march help pave the "yellow brick road" to Witch City?
Keywords: Salem witch trials | Witch City | Salem Massachusetts | Halloween tourism | dark tourism | historical memory | commercialization of tragedy | Salem history | 1692 witch hunt | American history | New England | modern witchcraft | Pagan community | tourism | memorialization | historical injustice | colonial America | Arthur Miller | The Crucible | Haunted Happenings
About The Thing About Salem: Sarah and Josh are descendants of Salem witch trial victims investigating how their ancestors' tragedy became a tourism empire, and what that transformation reveals about memory, commerce, and identity.
Links
Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project
Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt
The Thing About Salem YouTube
The Thing About Witch Hunts YouTube
The Thing About Witch Hunts Website
Sign the Petition: MA Witch Hunt Justice Project
What happens when an entire city becomes Halloween for a month?
Salem's Haunted Happenings started with the Salem Witch Museum as one weekend in 1982. Now it's a month-long community event of costumes, crowds, street performers, and pure October magic.
This episode captures the spirit of it all—the performers who show up year after year, the locals that go ALL OUT, the Grand Parade that kicks it off, and the chaotic, joyful energy that makes October in Salem unlike anywhere else.
What to expect:
How a single weekend became a month-long phenomenon
The vibe, the crowds, the performers
Costumes that stop you in your tracks
Why "don't drive in Salem in October" is essential advice
The magic (and reality) behind the Halloween capital of the world
Whether you're planning your first visit or you've been coming back every October, this one's about what makes Haunted Happenings unforgettable.
🎃 Ready for Salem's October?
Keywords: Haunted Happenings, October Salem, Salem Massachusetts Halloween, Salem October events, Haunted Happenings Grand Parade, Salem Halloween capital, The Thing About Salem podcast
Links:
Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project
Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt
The Thing About Salem YouTube
The Thing About Salem Patreon
The Thing About Witch Hunts YouTube
The Thing About Witch Hunts Website
Sign the Petition: MA Witch Hunt Justice Project
www.massachusettswitchtrials.org
Support the nonprofit End Witch Hunts Podcasts and Projects
Discover the shocking truth about ghosts in the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. This isn’t your typical ghost story. These supernatural encounters were used as courtroom evidence that sent innocent people to the gallows. Join hosts Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack as they explore the different types of apparitions that appeared in Salem testimony, from murdered wives seeking vengeance to protective angels revealing hidden crimes.
Some Featured Historical Cases- George Burroughs. Former minister accused by ghostly wives appearing in winding sheets
- Ann Putnam Jr.’s Testimony: Multiple ghost sightings including murdered wives, children, and victims
- Martha Carrier’s Examination. Thirteen ghosts appearing as evidence against her
- Spectral Evidence. How ghost testimony became critical courtroom evidence leading to convictions
Learn how supernatural testimony functioned in 1692 trials.
Historical Figures Mentioned
George Burroughs, Ann Putnam Jr., Bridget Bishop, John Willard, Martha Carrier, Rebecca Nurse, Mary Bradbury, Giles Corey, Mary Easty, Susannah Sheldon, Mary Walcott, Elizabeth Hubbard
The ultimate twist: In 1692, innocent people were executed for supposedly appearing as ghosts. Today, tourists pay for ghost tours hoping to encounter those same spirits. Salem, Massachusetts—where historical tragedy became supernatural entertainment.
- Josh Hutchinson- Co-host, The Thing About Salem
- Sarah Jack - Co-host, The Thing About Salem
Salem Witch Trials, ghost evidence, spectral evidence, 1692 Salem, Ann Putnam Jr., George Burroughs, Salem ghosts, witchcraft trials, historical ghosts, Salem Massachusetts, witch trial testimony, supernatural evidence, colonial America, Salem history, ghost tours Salem
Keywords
#SalemWitchTrials #HistoryPodcast #TrueHistory #SalemMassachusetts #SpectralEvidence #ColonialAmerica #HistoricalGhosts #Halloween
Links
Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project
Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt
The Thing About Witch Hunts YouTube
The Thing About Witch Hunts Website
Sign the Petition: MA Witch Hunt Justice Project
What connects a 2014 internet horror tragedy to the fear of 1692 Salem? In this captivating 15-minute clip from our full conversation, Josh and Sarah—along with Ain't it Scary with Sean and Carrie Podcast —draw haunting parallels between the young girls involved in the Slender Man stabbing case and the afflicted girls of the Salem witch trials.
How do fear, belief, and community pressure transform young people into actors in real-world tragedies? From oppressed accusers in colonial Massachusetts to pre-teens acting on digital folklore. A thought-provoking exploration of monsters, morality, and the girls who became part of history's shocking moments.
Episode Highlights
🔮 Girls Under Pressure - Comparing the afflicted girls of Salem to the Slender Man crime perpetrators
⚖️ Belief Gone Wrong - When fear of something unseen leads to tragedy
🎃 Monster or Victim? - Society's struggle to categorize young people who do terrible things
👻 The Power of Narrative - How stories—whether Puritan theology or internet creepypasta—drive real-world actions 🕯️ Panic Then and Now - What the Salem trials teach us about modern viral panic
About Our Returning Guests
Sean & Carrie host Ain't it Scary with Sean and Carrie, where a skeptic and a believer explore the unknown, unsolved, unbelievable, and just plain weird. With their passion for history and uncovering truth, they bring complementary perspectives to every mystery they tackle.
Keywords
Slender Man, Salem witch trials, afflicted girls, creepypasta, true crime, digital folklore, witch hunts, moral panic, paranormal podcast, horror podcast, Ain't it Scary, historical parallels, Salem Massachusetts, youth violence, folklore
Listen & Subscribe
Don't wander off the path—subscribe to The Thing About Salem and join us every episode as we explore the trials, mysteries, and untold stories of Salem and beyond.
Also check out: Ain't it Scary with Sean and Carrie wherever you listen to podcasts!
Keep the porch light on. 🎃
Links
Ain't It Scary With Sean and Carrie Podcast
In this episode of 'The Thing About Salem,' hosts Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack explore the various ways the Salem Witch Trials have been depicted in films and TV shows over the decades. They discuss the historical and fictional elements in productions like 'The Crucible,' 'Maid of Salem,' the 'Bewitched' TV series, and 'Hocus Pocus,' highlighting how these portrayals have shaped and transformed Salem's image in popular culture. The episode also covers works such as 'The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina' and 'Three Sovereigns for Sarah,' emphasizing the ongoing cultural fascination with this dark chapter in American history.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Salem in Pop Culture
01:04 Maid of Salem and The Crucible
02:37 Salem Witch Trials miniseries and Hocus Pocus
05:01 Bewitched and Sabrina the Teenage Witch
10:07 The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Three Sovereigns for Sarah
13:49 Conclusion: The Legacy of Salem in Pop Culture
Links
The Thing About Salem Patreon
The Thing About Salem concludes our exclusive three-part series with Ben Wickey as we explore the modern implications of his debut graphic novel "More Weight: A Salem Story" in Part 3. With the book out now, we examine why this Salem Witch Trials story resonates powerfully with contemporary readers.
Wickey discusses Salem's modern identity and how his work addresses the town's complex relationship with its tragic past. We explore the visual challenges of depicting historical horror, his artistic influences including Alan Moore's impact on his creativity, and why he chose a mature rating for responsible storytelling about historical brutality.
What aspects of the 1692 witch trials feel most relevant today? We discuss modern witch hunts, the importance of authentic historical narratives in pop culture, and how Wickey's ancestral connection influenced his approach to Salem's psychological darkness.
This final installment reveals why critics are calling this an "appalling masterpiece" and how More Weight will reshape how we understand Salem's legacy for future generations.
Keywords: Ben Wickey, More Weight Part 3, Salem modern relevance, More Weight final review, contemporary witch hunts, Alan Moore influence, Salem today historical horror
Links
Buy the Graphic Novel "More Weight"
Read the Alan Moore World Blog: Ben Wickey An Extraordinary Enchanter
More Weight Preview Page on TopShelfComix.com
Sign the Petition: MA Witch Hunt Justice Project
www.massachusettswitchtrials.org
The Thing About Salem Patreon
The Thing About Salem continues our exclusive conversation with Ben Wickey in Part 2 of our three-part series about his groundbreaking graphic novel "More Weight: A Salem Story," releasing next week. This installment focuses on the heart of Wickey's narrative: the psychological transformation of Giles Corey.
We explore Corey's devastating journey from testifying against his wife Martha to his defiant final moments uttering "more weight" as stones crushed him to death. Wickey reveals his meticulous research using historical documents and his innovative dual-timeline narrative featuring Nathaniel Hawthorne interludes that bridge past and present.
As a Mary Easty descendant, Wickey discusses the emotional weight of bringing his ancestor's story and Salem's broader tragedy to authentic life. We examine how he balanced historical brutality with responsible storytelling, his striking use of color and its absence, and why maintaining historical accuracy was crucial to honoring the victims' memory.
This is essential listening for anyone interested in Salem Witch Trials history and how graphic novels can illuminate our darkest chapters.
Keywords: Ben Wickey More Weight Part 2, Giles Corey more weight, Salem Witch Trials historical accuracy, Nathaniel Hawthorne Salem, Mary Easty story, Salem history podcast
Buy the Graphic Novel "More Weight"
Read the Alan Moore World Blog: Ben Wickey An Extraordinary Enchanter
More Weight Preview Page on TopShelfComix.com
Sign the Petition: MA Witch Hunt Justice Project
www.massachusettswitchtrials.org
The Thing About Salem Patreon
The Thing About Salem presents an exclusive three-part series with Massachusetts-born author Ben Wickey, whose highly anticipated debut graphic novel "More Weight: A Salem Story" releases next week. This Alan Moore-praised "appalling masterpiece" tells the harrowing tale of Giles Corey, the only person pressed to death under stones during the 1692 Salem Witch Trials.
In Part 1, we dive into Wickey's extraordinary background as an Edward Gorey Award-winning artist whose stunning visual storytelling brings historical horror to visceral life. What makes this upcoming graphic novel release so personal? Wickey is a descendant of Salem Witch Trial victim Mary Easty, bringing deeply intimate perspective to this decade-long project that Publishers Weekly compared to "From Hell."
We explore Wickey's artistic journey, his pre-release excitement, and how his animation background shaped this groundbreaking work. Using the graphic novel format, Wickey cuts through pop culture mythology to restore the genuine horror and humanity of Salem's history. Don't miss this insider look at the creative process behind 2025's most important historical horror graphic novel.
Keywords: Ben Wickey More Weight Part 1, Salem artist interview, graphic novel pre-release, Mary Easty descendant, Edward Gorey Award, Salem Witch Trials artist
Buy the Graphic Novel "More Weight"
Read the Alan Moore World Blog: Ben Wickey An Extraordinary Enchanter
More Weight Preview Page on TopShelfComix.com
Sign the Petition: MA Witch Hunt Justice Project
www.massachusettswitchtrials.org
The Thing About Salem Patreon
Episode Summary
Not all witch trials were the Salem Witch Trials. To truly understand the infamous Salem Witch Trials of 1692-1693, we must examine the broader context of witch hunting that swept through colonial America. This episode explores the extensive history of witch trials in British North America that preceded and influenced the Salem events, revealing how witch hunts affected dozens of communities across New England and beyond.
The Context Behind Salem
Why Salem didn't happen in a bubble
European influence on colonial witch trials
How English writings shaped Salem court decisions
The role of European witchcraft tales in accuser testimonies
Pre-Salem Witch Trials in New England (1647-1691)Connecticut Witch Trials
Alice Young of Windsor - First execution, May 26, 1647
34 total indictments with 11 executions
Hartford Witch Panic (1662-1663) - 14 accused, 4 executed
Massachusetts Witch Trials
Margaret Jones of Charlestown - Hanged June 15, 1648
8 convictions, 5 executions
Notable gap in executions from 1656-1688
The Goodwin Children Case
Goody Glover trial as Salem's precursor
Cotton Mather's "Memorable Providences" (1689, 1691)
Witch Trials Beyond New England
Virginia
First accusation: Joan Wright (1626)
William Harding conviction (1656)
Maryland
Multiple accusations investigated
Rebecca Fowler execution (1685)
New Hampshire
Goody Cole trials across jurisdictions
Massachusetts Bay control influence
Salem's Wider ImpactThe 1692-1693 Salem Witch Trials affected numerous communities:
Andover
Boston
Maine and New Hampshire territories
Connecticut spinoff: Katharine Branch case (1692)
First witch trial execution in colonial America: Alice Young, 1647
Total colonial witch trial scope: Over 65 indictments across multiple colonies
Geographic spread: From Connecticut to Maine, Virginia to Maryland
Timeline: 45+ years of witch trials before Salem
Legal precedents: How earlier trials shaped Salem procedures
Check out the hosts' companion podcast: The Thing About Witch Hunts for deeper dives into European witch trial history and modern witchcraft persecution worldwide.
Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project
Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt
The Thing About Salem YouTube
The Thing About Salem Patreon
The Thing About Witch Hunts YouTube
The Thing About Witch Hunts Website
Episode Overview
It wasn't moldy bread, mass hysteria, or girls dabbling in magic. Join hosts Josh and Sarah (whose ancestors lived through these events) as they uncover the real forces that created one of America's darkest chapters.
What You'll Discover
Political Chaos: How governmental instability set the stage for tragedy
Community Tensions: The deadly mix of wealth gaps, frontier trauma, and religious conflict
The Spark: What actually triggered the first accusations in January 1692
Key Topics Explored
✓ Belief systems that made witchcraft accusations believable
✓ Political upheaval following the revocation of Massachusetts' Royal Charter
✓ Controversial judicial decisions like allowing "spectral evidence"
✓ Economic anxieties from King William's War and previous conflicts
✓ European witchcraft beliefs that influenced New England thinking
✓ The snowball effect that made accusations spiral out of control
Why This Episode Matters
Learn the complex, interconnected causes behind one of history's most misunderstood events. Discover how fear-mongering, scapegoating, and abandoning rational thinking can lead entire communities astray—and why these patterns still matter today.
Perfect for history buffs, true crime fans, and anyone who wants to separate Salem facts from fiction in just 15 minutes.
Tags: #SalemWitchTrials #AmericanHistory #TrueCrime #HistoryPodcast #Massachusetts #Colonial #WitchHunts
Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project
Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt
The Thing About Salem YouTube
The Thing About Salem Patreon
What happens when your only defense against a death sentence is a handwritten letter? In 1692 Salem, petitions became lifelines for the accused, their families, and entire communities caught in the witch trial hysteria.
In this episode, we explore:
Mary Esty's remarkable final petition that prioritized saving others over herself
The creative legal strategies colonists used to challenge "spectral evidence"
How torture was used to extract confessions (and documented in writing)
The economic reality of having family members imprisoned for witchcraft
Community petitions that reveal the social chaos engulfing entire towns
Why some people recanted their confessions—and what that tells us about coercion
From character witness statements to desperate pleas from prison, these historical documents reveal the human cost of mass hysteria and the courage it took to speak truth to power with nothing but ink and parchment.
Plus: The meaningful modern connection—how middle schoolers in 2022 successfully petitioned to clear a victim's name, and why there's still a bill before Massachusetts legislature today.
Perfect for history buffs, true crime fans, and anyone fascinated by how ordinary people navigate extraordinary circumstances.
Keywords: Salem witch trials, historical petitions, spectral evidence, Mary Esty, colonial justice system, Massachusetts history
Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project
Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt
The Thing About Salem YouTube
The Thing About Salem Patreon
The thing about witch hunts is what happens after can be just as revealing as the hunt itself. After 20 executions and over 150 arrests, Salem had a serious PR problem on its hands. How do you explain away one of colonial America's most notorious legal disasters? Simple: you control who gets to tell the story.
But here's the thing about cover-ups—they rarely go according to plan. Join us as we dive into Salem's messy aftermath, where the real question wasn't who practiced witchcraft, but who was willing to admit they'd been wrong. Because the thing about truth is it has a funny way of surfacing, even when powerful people are trying their hardest to bury it.
Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project
Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt
The Thing About Salem Patreon
What if history's most infamous witch hunt could have been stopped with just a few different decisions? We're examining the pivotal moments between January 1692 and May 1693 when someone—anyone—could have pumped the brakes on Salem's runaway train of accusations.
From the shocking arrest of four-year-old Dorothy Good to Martha Carrier's unfortunate promotion to "Queen of Hell," we'll explore how escalating choices transformed a local crisis into colonial America's most notorious legal disaster. We'll meet the key players who either fanned the flames or tried to douse them—including Cotton Mather's mixed messages and Governor Phips' late-in-the-game reality check.
Join us as we dissect the moments when cooler heads could have prevailed and discover how 45 residents of unlucky Andover got swept up in accusations that would make even the devil blush. Sometimes it takes a village—or several villages—to create a catastrophe.
Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project
Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt
The Thing About Salem Patreon
Josh and Sarah tell the TL;DR version of the story of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692-93, where 156 people faced formal accusations and over 1,000 became entangled in a legal system that had lost its moral compass. They examine what transformed a small Massachusetts community into the epicenter of mass persecution, from the unprecedented scale of the proceedings to the types of people targeted. This wasn’t just colonial paranoia—it was a perfect storm of social tensions, legal failures, and human frailty that contemporaries recognized as extraordinary even by their own standards. The hosts discuss why Salem continues to captivate us centuries later, serving as both historical cautionary tale and enduring reminder of how quickly justice can derail when fear takes the wheel.
Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project
Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt
The Thing About Salem Patreon
Sarah Good's final words to the minister who demanded her confession—"God will give you blood to drink"—would echo through Salem long after her death. In a community where everyday foods like butter, bread, and pudding became evidence of witchcraft, the line between nourishment and damnation blurred beyond recognition. Explore how Salem's fears transformed the most basic human need into suspicions of a pact with the devil, from spoiled butter that doomed a sea voyage to cheese found in an accused witch's pocket.
Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project
Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt
The Thing About Salem Patreon
Christopher Reeve proved that heroism isn’t about superpowers—it’s about perseverance. That’s the gift every Salem descendant carries, but you don’t have to share their bloodline to share their lesson. Salem teaches us about the price of silence, the power of standing up, the importance of questioning authority. Those aren’t genetic traits—they’re human ones.
Hosts Josh and Sarah explore their own ancestral connections to the trials and reveal how descendants of Salem's victims number in the millions today.
Listen to the Podcast Episode: Finding Your Salem Witch Trial Ancestors with David Allen Lambert
Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project
Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt
The Thing About Salem YouTube
The Thing About Salem Patreon
Move along folks, the Salem Witch Trials were the product of hysteria, and that's all you need to know. . .
or NOT
We kick off with a midnight ride that would make Paul Revere jealous—except instead of warning about the British, townspeople were frantically summoning help for a girl supposedly being tortured by a witch's specter. But before you roll your eyes and mutter "mass hysteria," consider this: What if the Salem Witch Trials weren't the product of unhinged women with wandering uteruses (yes, that's a real historical medical theory), but rather ordinary people responding to extraordinary fear in disturbingly familiar ways?
Join us as we trace witch panics from Springfield to Hartford, uncovering a pattern that's less "crazy town" and more "calculated legal proceedings." We'll explore why dismissing these events as hysteria might be the most dangerous mistake we can make—especially when the same human behaviors that fueled 17th-century witch hunts are alive and well in. Spoiler alert: We're not as evolved as we think we are.
Fair warning: Contains references to wandering uteruses, midnight rides, and uncomfortable parallels to contemporary society.
Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project
Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt
The Thing About Salem YouTube
The Thing About Salem Patreon
We look at the reported use of oomancy—egg divination—allegedly preceding the Salem Witch Trials. The discussion centers around a haunting account from Reverend John Hale about an afflicted girl who used an egg and glass to divine her future, only to see a coffin appear in the reflection. This ominous vision allegedly led to her eventual death, serving as what Hale callously called "a just warning" about dabbling with divination.
The hosts explore the ancient origins of divination practices, tracing them back thousands of years to early civilizations. The episode examines various divination methods documented in Salem records, including the sieve and scissors technique, key and Bible, and other techniques for fortune telling. Several fascinating Salem cases come to light, including Samuel Wardwell's admitted fortune telling abilities and Dorcas Hoar's reputation as a local fortune teller who specialized in predicting the deaths of men. The hosts share intriguing testimonies from neighbors who witnessed these practices firsthand, revealing how common divination was in 17th-century New England communities.
Throughout the episode, the hosts address common myths about Salem, including the popular but inaccurate image of girls gathering in circles for magic sessions. They also explore the mystery of which afflicted girl Hale was referring to in his account, as her identity remains unknown to this day.
Join Josh and Sarah as they uncover the surprisingly relatable human desire to glimpse the future, one cracked egg at a time. Connect with them on Patreon at patreon.com/aboutsalem to continue the conversation about Salem's divination practices and their modern echoes.
Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project
Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt
The Thing About Salem YouTube
The Thing About Salem Patreon
The Thing About Witch Hunts YouTube
The Thing About Witch Hunts Website