Salem was a bucket list destination for me. One of my ancestors, Lydia Gilbert, was hung in Connecticut in 1654, well before the Salem witch trials of 1692. Very sad, as she obviously had children. She was in a group of townspeople watching a few soldiers maneuver and march with their guns. One of the soldiers struck the butt of his gun on the ground, at which point it misfired and killed him. She was accused of bewitching him.
In Europe, about 40,000 people were accused and executed for supposed witchcraft. With historical perspective, we now know that contagious hysteria and misguided religion was to blame.
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- Between 1692 and 1693, at least 20 people were executed for “witchcraft” out of the 200 accused.
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- Catching up with one of my coven.
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- The police proudly wear this patch. The high school football team is the witches, too!
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- Made me think about Lydia Gilbert.
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- A touching memorial funded by the ancestors of the accused.
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- Hanging out with the high witch crowd.
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- Not all the witches killed were women. Giles Corey was crushed to death. The card is a wistful hello from his many times over great grandchild.
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- Just another day in Salem.
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- The names of the accused.
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- Mischief managed. Now that’s a conversation stopper.
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- The local ice cream joint.
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- Bewitched! I wanted to be Samantha when I was little. Still do!
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- Frankenstein’s tip jar.
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- Spooky outdoor sculpture.
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- Right?
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