Joined by author Beth Caruso and activist Tony Griego, we discuss the history of witch trials in colonial Connecticut. We talk about the first person to be hanged for witchcraft in the American colonies, Gov. John Winthrop Jr, the link between illness and witchcraft accusations, how a Christmas party led to accusations, and more.
Join our Discord to discuss the episode with us.
Beth Caruso, One of Windsor: The Untold Story of America's First Witch Hanging
Beth Caruso, The Salty Rose: Alchemists, Witches & A Tapper In New Amsterdam
Annie Eliot Trumbull, "One Blank of Windsor", Literary Section, Hartford Courant, December 3, 1904 (requires newspapers.com subscription or free trial)
John Putnam Demos, Entertaining Satan: Witchcraft and the Culture of Early New England
Paul B. Moyer, Detestable and Wicked Arts: New England and Witchcraft in the Early Modern Atlantic World
Mary-Louise Bingham’s YouTube video about Connecticut victims
CT W.I.T.C.H. Memorial https://www.facebook.com/ctwitchmemorial
Salem Witch-Hunt https://www.facebook.com/SalemWitchHunt/
The Witch Trials Hysteria History of the American Colonies https://www.facebook.com/groups/witchtrialshistory
Samuel Wyllys Papers https://cslib.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15019coll10
A Note on Numbers
45+ total accused
14 convicted
11 executed
15 acquittals and 14 convictions (includes Elizabeth Seager (acquitted twice and convicted once)). The other cases did not go to trial.
Activism Timeline:
2005: “ad hoc committee”
2008/2009 attempted legislation
2016 CT W.I.T.C.H. Memorial
2022 Connecticut Witch Trial Exoneration Project
Thou Shalt Not Suffer: The Witch Trial Podcast links
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