Salem Witch Trials
30 January 2019
From 1692 to 1693, more than two hundred people were accused of practicing witchcraft and for being in cahoots with the devil in Salem Village, Massachusetts. The first accusations were made be a group of young girls. In January 1692, Betty Parris and Abigail Williams began having fits, including violent contortions and uncontrollable outbursts of screaming. After a doctor, diagnosed the girls with bewitchment, other young girls in the community began to exhibit similar symptoms. In February, arrest warrants were issued for the Parris’ slave, Tituba, along with two other women–the homeless beggar Sarah Good and the poor, elderly Sarah Osborn–whom the girls accused of bewitching them. This was the start of the hysteria spreading across Salem.
One woman accused of being a witch was Candy, an enslaved woman. Candy’s owner, Margaret Hawkes, was first accused of being a witch by her neighbors in Salem Town. By connection, Candy was also accused. They were both tried on July first, 1692. According to court records, Candy, who came to Salem Town from Barbados, spoke limited English, and when questioned, Candy revealed to the courts that it was her owner, Hawkes, who had made her a witch and taught her the craft. After being asked if her owner made her into a witch, Candy replied,“Yes, in this country [Margaret] give Candy witch.” Candy then went on to detail how Hawkes made her into a witch by bringing up the “devil’s book,” and had her write her name in it. When asked if she was a witch, Candy replied, “Candy no witch in her country. Candy ‘s mother no witch. Candy no witch, Barbados.” After the trial, Candy and her owner were jailed. Later, both Candy and her owner were found not guilty and released.