The TRUTH is scarier than the LEGENDS!
George Burroughs: The Salem Minister and His Tragic Fate
The compelling and tragic story of a minister accused of witchcraft in 1692 Salem. George Burroughs, a man whose life became linked with the infamous Salem Witch Trials. Born in Suffolk, England, and later migrating to the New World, Burroughs’s journey from a well-educated Harvard graduate to the minister of Salem Village is a testament to his resilience and dedication. However, his service in a community rife with suspicion and fear ultimately led to his downfall. Accused of witchcraft in a time of mass hysteria, Burroughs faced allegations that ranged from the bizarre to the deadly, culminating in a trial that highlighted the dangerous power of superstition and paranoia. This blog post aims to shed light on the life of George Burroughs, from his early years and ministry in Maine to his final day at Proctors Ledge, exploring the complexities of his character and the shocking allegations that led to his tragic fate.
Early Life and Education
George Burroughs was born in 1652 in Suffolk, England, to Nathaniel and Rebecca Burroughs. His father, a prosperous merchant, relocated the family to Maryland from England, only to return to England later, leaving his wife and son behind in America. George was raised in Roxbury, Massachusetts, by his mother, Rebecca, who joined the local church in 1657. George pursued his education at Harvard College, graduating in 1669, alongside future accusers in his witch trial. In the mid-1670s, his mother returned to England to reunite with her husband.
Ministry and Move to Maine
After marrying Hannah Fisher in 1673 and starting a family, setting his eyes on the cost of Main, which was under constant threat of Native American and French attacks. George moved his family to Falmouth and served as their minister from 1674 to 1676. The town was destroyed in an attack by Native Americans in 1676, during which Burroughs heroically helped evacuate women and children to safety. One of the surviving children was Mercy Lewis, who later accused Rev. Burroughs of being the leader of the witches in Salem. This event marked the beginning of a series of moves, eventually leading Burroughs to become the minister of Salem Village in 1680 amidst ongoing community disputes.
A New Minister for Salem Village
At 28 years old, Rev. Burroughs became the second minister of the village, succeeding John Bayley, a 23-year-old Harvard peer of Burroughs who had left the position amid disputes over his salary with the parishioners and without a parsonage in Salem Village, Rev. Burroughs and his family initially resided with Captain John Putnam Sr., an uncle to Thomas Putnam Jr., who would later accuse Burroughs of witchcraft. Tragically, George’s wife, Hannah, passed away during childbirth. Compounded by the village’s failure to pay his full ministerial salary, George was left financially unable to cover the funeral expenses, prompting Captain Putnam to lend him the necessary funds.
A year after moving in with the Putnam family, a new parsonage was constructed, and George relocated there in 1681. He then married Sarah Ruck, the widow of William Hathorne and sister-in-law to John Hathorne, a judge in the Salem Witch Trials. George and Sarah went on to have four children, marking a new chapter in their lives.
Leaving Salem Village
Salem Village remained embroiled in disputes over the minister’s salary and provisions of firewood. By March of 1683, the ongoing quarrels had exhausted George Burroughs, prompting him to relocate his family to the coast of Cosco Bay in Maine. Shortly after settling into their new residence, Burroughs returned to Salem Village on May 3, 1683, to resolve outstanding financial matters. During this visit, he was arrested by Captain John Putnam over unpaid debts related to the funeral expenses of his first wife, Hannah. However, with the assistance of Nathaniel Ingersoll and five other community members who paid his bond, the charges against Burroughs were swiftly dismissed.
Following his brief return to Salem Village, Burroughs’s new home in Cosco Bay came under attack by Native Americans, forcing another move to Wells, Maine, later in 1683. Tragedy struck again in 1689 with the death of his second wife, but Burroughs soon remarried to a woman named Mary, with whom he had a daughter.
Salem Village and Witchcraft Accusations
On April 20, 1692, accusations against Reverend Burroughs took a spectral turn when Abigail Williams alleged, she had seen his ghost boasting of murdering his first two wives along with the wife and child of Reverend Deodat Lawson. Lawson was Burroughs’ successor in Salem Village. Following this claim, Mercy Lewis reported encounters with four spirits affirming their murder at Burroughs’ hands. Two days later, the afflicted girls reported visions of a sinister assembly led by Burroughs in Reverend Parris’s field, and suggested Burroughs aimed to found a dominion of evil in New England.
Subsequently, on April 30, Jonathan Walcott and Thomas Putnam lodged formal accusations against George Burroughs with the local magistrates, implicating him in the torment of Mary Walcott, Mercy Lewis, Abigail Williams, Ann Putnam Jr., Elizabeth Hubert, and Susannah Sheldon.
Arrest of a Minister
Burroughs was detained and brought to Salem on May 4, held at Beadle’s Tavern to await questioning. On May 9, he faced questioning in the town meetinghouse by Judges William Stoughton, Samuel Sewall from Boston, Salem’s Judge John Hathorne, and Jonathan Corwin, away from the so-called afflicted witnesses. It was notably unusual for Judge Stoughton to participate in the preliminary inquiry. The inquiry covered topics from Burroughs’ last communion and allegations of a haunted house in Casco Bay to inquiries about his marital communications and the baptismal status of his children, revealing the depth of scrutiny under which Burroughs was placed.
The Examination of George Burroughs
Following a private interrogation by the four magistrates, George Burroughs was escorted into a room filled with the so-called afflicted witnesses. Upon his entrance, these individuals exhibited signs of distress and torment. Susannah Sheldon claimed she had been visited by the spirit of Burroughs’s deceased wife, accusing him of their murders. When commanded by the court to face Susannah, she dramatically collapsed as though physically struck by Burroughs. The atmosphere intensified as Mercy Lewis’s testimony was introduced, with her experiencing a severe and prolonged episode of distress at Burroughs’s glance. The reading of statements from Mary Walcott, Elizabeth Hubbard, and Ann Putnam Jr. prompted similar physical reactions from each, underscoring the tense and charged nature of the proceedings. Judge Hathorne’s inquiry into Burroughs’s thoughts on these events elicited a response of bewilderment and reflection on the peculiar nature of the accusations, particularly noting the accusers’ struggle to articulate his name directly.
As further accusations were aired, the apparent suffering of the afflicted prompted their removal from the courtroom. Testimonies expanded to include allegations of Burroughs’s use of poppets for witchcraft, his recruitment methods, and leadership of a diabolical gathering in Reverend Parris’s field. Additional claims by Captain Simon Willard and others about Burroughs’s supernatural strength and abilities, such as single-handedly aiming a heavy gun or lifting a full barrel, were presented despite the lack of direct witnesses. Burroughs rebutted these tales, particularly clarifying how he might have handled the gun, emphasizing a logical explanation over the alleged supernatural feat.
Trial and Execution of a Reverand
George Burroughs awaited his trial behind bars, and on August 3, 1692, he faced formal charges with four counts of bewitching Ann Putnam Jr., Elizabeth Hubbard, Mercy Lewis, and Mary Walcott and was found guilty. On August 19, he was led to Proctors Ledge, the place of his execution. As Burroughs prepared for his fate on the gallows, he recited the Lord’s Prayer aloud, a remarkable act given that the ability to flawlessly recite this prayer was often used as a measure of innocence in witchcraft trials; it was widely held that a true witch could not accurately do so. This unexpected demonstration of piety caused some among the gathered crowd to doubt his guilt. However, this moment of uncertainty was quickly countered by the afflicted individuals, who insisted that the Devil himself was assisting Burroughs in reciting the prayer, thereby maintaining their accusations of his witchcraft.
A Legacy of Injustice
George Burroughs’s story is a stark reminder of the dangers of mass hysteria and the tragic consequences of the Salem Witch Trials. His life and unjust execution illustrate the dangerous intersection of faith, fear, and community conflict in colonial America.
Learn more about Reverand George Burroughs.
To hear the transcript of his court case, check out the video below. To read the court record related to Susannah Martin, click here.
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The 1692 Salem Tour: A Walk Through History
Our 1692 Salem Tour allows visitors to step back in time and explore the memorials and landmarks that define the Salem Witch Trials legacy. Discover the stories of the twenty executed victims and uncover the tales of other notable figures who played pivotal roles in the trials. Explore Salem with a historian who will lead you through the cobblestone streets, providing insights into the events of 1692 that are seldom considered and discussed. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to connect with history in the very place where it happened.
