March 1692
Day-By-Day chronicle of events during the Salem Witch Trials
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
March 1st
With all three suspected witches in custody at Ingersoll’s Ordinary, Hannah Ingersoll was instructed by the court to examine the three women for witch marks. She completed her exam without finding any such marks. Sarah Osborn insisted that she is more likely to be a victim of witchcraft than a witch.
After news of the arrests spread, a crowd of people flocked to Salem Village. Even though his wife thought it was nonsense, Giles Corey also headed to the village Ordinary. They argued about his desire to go, and Martha pulled the saddle from his horse in protest. Giles went anyway.
By the time the magistrates arrived, there was such a large crowd that they decided to move the proceedings to the nearby meeting house. Sarah was the first to be questioned, and she denied the allegations. Next was Sarah Osborn, and she also denied any wrongdoing. Last was Tituba. At first, she denied knowing anything, but realizing she was likely to be hanged, she offered them a false confession.
March 2nd
Samuel Braybrook was a guard that was tasked with bringing Sarah Good and her infant daughter from Ingersoll’s in Salem Village to Ipswich Jail. Sarah slid off the horse three times in an attempt to escape, and each time, Braybrook had to chase after her. She flung herself around, yelling insults and saying she would not confess to witchcraft. Braybrook also reported that Sarah had tried to kill herself at one point on the ride which took three hours.
March 3rd
With three suspected witches imprisoned, the girls experienced some relief from their afflictions, though they did not fully recover. Ann Putnam Jr. reported being visited by the specters of Sarah Good’s four-year-old daughter, Dorothy, and another unidentified person. Despite her young age, Dorothy exhibited aggressive behavior like the adults in jail, biting and pinching Ann forcefully. She also held the devil’s book, pressing it upon Ann to coerce her into signing it.
In Salem Town
Several magistrates visited the jail to question Tituba, Osborn, and Good. While Osborn and Good maintained their initial accounts, Tituba had additional details to share. She spoke about the deaths of Deodat Lawson’s wife and child, attributing both to witchcraft.
March 5th
The magistrates visited Sarah Good and Tituba in jail for further questioning. Sarah’s story remained unchanged, and Tituba had no new information to offer. While the magistrates found Tituba credible, they continued to harbor suspicions about Sarah, feeling that she might be concealing something from them.
March 6th
Ann Putnam Jr., still under attack, recognized her new tormentor as the specter of Elizabeth Proctor.
March 9th
The specters of the arrested witches persisted in tormenting the girls. In an attempt to restrain their spectral forms, John Arnold spent 14 shillings to purchase chains for Good and Osborn, hoping that these would confine their spirits to the jail and prevent them from reaching the afflicted girls.
March 11th
Reverend Parris and the families of the other afflicted girls conducted three private fasts at their homes. Later, the village congregation held a public fast and observed several days of public humiliation. These events were opportunities for the community to reflect on their failings that may have made them susceptible to demonic influences.
During the sermons and prayers, the girls exhibited strange behaviors; at the end of each prayer, Abigail, for instance, would convulse and her limbs would stiffen and twist.
In an effort to shield Betty from the ongoing tension in the village and aid her recovery, Reverend Parris arranged for her to stay with Stephen Sewall in Salem Town. Although her suffering did not cease immediately, she was no longer named in future warrants.
March 12th
The specter of Martha Corey visited Ann Putnam Jr. and badly tormented her.
Martha was a full communing member of the church. Edward Putnam and Ezekiel Cheever decided to go to Martha’s house to inform her of Ann’s accusation. They first stopped to see Ann and Ask her what the Specter was wearing, but she could not say. She said the specter took her sight away.
When the men arrived at the Corey home they found Martha alone. She invited them in and said, “I know what you are come for. You are come to talk with me about being a witch, but I am none.” Edward told her that one of the afflicted had named her. She asked them if the afflicted girl spoke of the clothes she was wearing. They told her the Specter had blinded the girl.
March 13th
On this Sabbath day, Ann Putnam Jr. was visited by another specter. She described the apparition as a pale woman seated in her grandmother’s chair. Ann also vaguely recalled the spot where this woman usually sat in the village meeting house, though she couldn’t remember her name. With Ann’s vague description, her mother and their maid, Mercy Lewis, began suggesting various names to help jog her memory. Among the names proposed was Rebecca Nurse.
March 14th
The specters of Martha Corey and Elizabeth Proctor caused great distress to Abigail Williams, who twisted into bizarre positions and convulsed under their influence.
At the Putnam residence, the elders were skeptical of Ann’s claims, particularly those accusing church members. To test the validity of these visions, Thomas Putnam invited Martha Corey to their home. As Martha entered, Ann’s body immediately contorted, and she appeared to be choking. She accused Martha of causing her suffering and bit down on her own tongue in agony. After regaining composure, Ann exclaimed, “There is a yellow bird sucking between your forefinger and middle finger. I see it.” Martha rubbed the spot on her hand, and the apparition vanished to Ann’s eyes. Mercy Lewis, who also claimed to be tormented, joined Ann in pleading for Martha to leave.
Mercy described seeing a shadowy, unidentified woman in the room and shouted, “I won’t, I won’t sign,” implying she was being pressured to sign a spectral book. She then collapsed and began convulsing. Following this, the adults in the Putnam household asked Martha to leave.
Later in the night, as Mercy sat in a chair facing the fireplace, the chair began inching towards the fire. Despite two men attempting to intervene, they could not halt its movement. Edward Putnam had to step in, positioning himself between the fireplace and the chair to lift it away from the fire.
March 15th
On this day, specters appeared to both Elizabeth Hubbard and Abigail Williams. Elizabeth reported the apparition of Martha Corey, while Abigail stated that Rebecca Nurse visited and tormented her.
March 18th
A pregnant and tired Mrs. Putnam lay down for a short rest this afternoon. On top of being pregnant, her schedule had been extra busy caring for her afflicted daughter and five other children over the past month. As she closed her eyes, the specter of Rebecca Nurse appeared, and she spent the next two hours fighting her off.
March 19th
With both the girls and now Mrs. Putnam suffering torment at the hands of Martha Corey, Edward Putnam and Henry Kenney traveled to Salem Town to lodge an official complaint against her with Magistrates John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin. In response, the magistrates directed Sheriff George Herrick to detain the suspect and bring her to Ingersoll’s for an examination scheduled for noon on Monday.
Reverend Deodat Lawson journeyed from Boston to Ingersoll’s Ordinary in Salem Village after hearing from friends that Tituba had implicated witchcraft in the deaths of his wife and child years earlier rather than natural causes. Upon his arrival at Ingersoll’s, Mary Walcott came to speak with him. Just as she was preparing to leave, she claimed to have been bitten on her wrist. Lawson and Ingersoll examined her wrist and observed what looked like upper and lower teeth marks.
Later that evening, Lawson visited the Parris household. While he was conversing with Reverend Parris, he witnessed Abigail Williams darting around the room, flapping her arms as if attempting to fly. Abruptly, she halted and stared into the distance, asking the adults, “Do you not see her?” She claimed to see the specter of Rebecca Nurse, holding the devil’s book. Abigail then began conversing with the apparition only she could perceive, defiantly stating, “I will not, I won’t. It is the Devil’s book for aught I know.” In a sudden and alarming act, she ran to the fireplace, seized burning logs, and hurled them across the room.
March 20th
Reverend Deodat Lawson served as the guest preacher at Salem Village Church on this Sabbath. As he delivered the opening prayer, several girls experienced fits. Martha Corey, who had not yet been arrested, was also in attendance. During the service, Abigail pointed at Martha and claimed she could see her spirit leave her body and ascend to a beam above, where it sat with her yellow bird. Then, the bird swooped down and perched atop Lawson’s hat.
March 21st
By morning, Martha Corey had been arrested and taken to Ingersoll’s Ordinary. She was subsequently brought to the village meeting house, which was crowded with spectators and the afflicted girls. When Magistrate Hathorn questioned her about the harm she allegedly caused the afflicted, she responded, “I am an innocent person. I have never been involved with witchcraft in my life. I am a Gospel Woman.” Following the questioning, Martha was transferred to Salem Jail.
Later that day, Mary Walcott reported that the specter of Dorothy Good had visited her and attempted to strangle her.
March 22nd
Rebecca Nurse’s specter appeared to Mrs. Ann Putnam, menacingly threatening to tear her soul from her body unless she agreed to sign her book. In response, Mrs. Putnam recited scripture for two hours, using the verses to ward off Nurse’s spectral presence until it finally departed.
Israel and Elizabeth Porter visited Rebecca Nurse at her home, where the 70-year-old, who was hard of hearing and had been ill for nearly two weeks, was unaware of the rumors circulating about her. During their visit, she spoke compassionately about the afflicted girls and said she prayed for them. The Porters then informed her that she had been accused of witchcraft. Sitting in shock, Rebecca responded, “Well, as to this thing, I am as innocent as the unborn child; but surely, what sin hath God found in me unrepented, that He should lay such an affliction upon me in my old age?”
March 23rd
As Mrs. Ann Putnam attempted to rest in her bed, she was tormented by the specters of Rebecca Nurse and Martha Corey. During this ordeal, Deodat Lawson visited and was invited to pray with her. Mrs. Putnam warned him that the specters had previously threatened to disrupt her prayers, just as they might his. Nevertheless, Lawson began to pray, and, contrary to her fears, the specters did not interrupt him.
Despite the uninterrupted prayer, Mrs. Putnam continued to suffer, crying out, “Goodwife Nurse, be gone! Be gone!” as she engaged in a verbal struggle with Nurse’s specter. Throughout this confrontation, Lawson meticulously recorded notes on the events unfolding before him.
While Mrs. Putnam grappled with the specter of Rebecca Nurse, Edward and Jonathan Putnam journeyed to Salem Town to lodge official complaints against Rebecca Nurse and four-year-old Dorothy Good with Magistrates Hathorne and Corwin.
Arrest warrants were swiftly issued, and the marshal was instructed to bring the two accused to Ingersoll’s Ordinary by 8 a.m. the following day.
March 24th
By 8 a.m., Rebecca Nurse was in custody at Ingersoll’s Ordinary and then taken to the crowded meeting house to stand before the magistrates. Hathorne began by stating, “Two young girls have complained that you hurt them; what do you say to it?” Nurse responded, “I can say before my Eternal Father I am innocent, and God will clear my innocence.”
Throughout the questioning, the afflicted girls screamed, claiming Nurse’s spirit had vanished from the meeting house to gallop around it on horseback alongside the Devil himself. Their screams were so loud they startled Lawson, who had stepped out to prepare for his lecture. Rebecca Nurse was held in custody and subsequently taken to Salem Jail.
After Rebecca Nurse was taken away, Dorothy Good was brought in for questioning. The afflicted girls claimed they were being tormented by the specter of the four-year-old girl, complaining that she was biting them. After concluding their questioning, the magistrates ordered Dorothy to be taken to Salem Jail. However, she was not held with the other prisoners, such as her mother, Sarah Good. Instead, Dorothy was kept in the prison keeper’s house.
March 25
On his way to Salem Village, John Proctor encountered Samuel Sibley at Philip’s Tavern and inquired about the well-being of the villagers. Sibley responded that they were not faring well and mentioned that Proctor’s maid, who had stayed overnight after court, was also unwell. Proctor, on his way to retrieve his maid, expressed his displeasure at her involvement. He remarked, “if those girls are allowed to continue, we shall all become devils and witches soon; they should be taken to the whipping post instead.” He told Sibley that when Mary’s fits began, he kept her busy at the spinning wheel and threatened to punish her if she exhibited any more afflicted behavior. This approach worked until he had to leave home for the day, at which point her fits resumed.
Reverand Parris discovered that Mary Sibley had instructed Tituba on how to make the Witch Cake. He called Mary into his study and sternly lectured her on the error of her diabolical methods. Despite his girls’ grave illness, the Witch Cake had only exacerbated their condition.
At the house of Stephen Sewall in Salem Town, Betty Parris suffered from such severe seizures that Sewall feared for her life. Upon recovering, she described seeing a dark figure tormenting her. The figure promised to give her anything she desired, including a trip to a golden city, but only if she obeyed him.
Meanwhile, Reverend John Hale prayed with one of the afflicted girls who confessed to attempting fortune-telling using an egg and glass.
March 26th
Deodat Lawson traveled to Salem Town and spoke with Stephen Sewall, who recounted Betty’s near fatal encounter and affliction by the Devil. Following their conversation, Lawson and other Salem ministers accompanied Magistrates Hathorne and Corwin to the Salem Jail, where they questioned Dorothy Good at the prison keeper’s house. Dorothy spoke of a little snake that suckled on her hand, showing them a small red mark the size of a flea bite on the joint of her forefinger. When asked if the Devil had given her the snake, she replied, “Oh no, my mother did.”
March 27th
This Easter Sunday in Salem Village was also a Sacrament Sabbath for the village church. Reverend Parris spoke of the evil gripping his family and the congregation. “dreadful witchcraft broken out here a few weeks past” he said, noting that two of the “vehemently suspected” individuals recently examined were “members of this church and another of Salem.” Parris reminded the congregation that this was not the first time Christ’s church had been invaded by Satan’s followers. Reading from John 6:70, “Have I not chosen you, the twelve? Yet one of you is a devil?” as he finished the passage, a woman stormed out of the church, slamming the door behind her. The startled congregation realized the woman was Rebecca Nurse’s sister, Sarah Cloyse.
Later, the afflicted girls testified that Sarah Cloyse had gone outside to the gate, curtsied to the Devil, and placed her hand on his book in a show of allegiance.
March 28th
One of Rebecca Nurse’s sons-in-law, John Tarbell visited the Putnam home seeking information on who first accused his mother-in-law. Young Ann recalled the evening she saw a pale woman sitting in her grandmother’s chair but didn’t recognize who it was. Tarbell asked who had named her. Mercy Lewis claimed it was Mrs. Putnam, but Mrs. Putnam insisted it was Mercy who had identified Rebecca Nurse.
William Rayment and Daniel Eliot visited Ingersoll’s Ordinary and found the afflicted girls seemingly free of their symptoms. Rayment mentioned he had heard a rumor that the magistrates would examine Elizabeth Proctor the next day. Mrs. Ingersoll expressed her disbelief. Suddenly, one of the girls cried out, “There is Goody Proctor,” pointing at empty air and exclaimed, “Old witch. I’ll have her hanged.” Mrs. Ingersoll quickly scolded them, but the girls turned it into a joke. “We must have some sport,” one of them said.
March 29th
At the Parris parsonage, Abigail Williams was being tormented by the specter of Elizabeth Proctor while, simultaneously, Elizabeth’s specter was tormenting Mercy Lewis at the Putnam home. Samuel Barton and John Houghton arrived at the Putnam home to assist in caring for the afflicted. Thomas and Ann Putnam Sr. informed the ment that Mercy had cried out the name Elizabeth Proctor during her fit. Mercy interjected, explaining that she had simply cried out, “there she is,” and if she mentioned a name, it was unintentional and without her realizing it.
March 31st
At Reverend Parris’s parsonage, forty witches gathered outside to hold the Devil’s supper. Female witch deacons Sarah Good and Sarah Cloyse served red bread and a red drink. Meanwhile, inside the house, Rebecca Nurse’s specter was tormenting Abigail Williams.
