Which Witch City?
Reading through some local history, I came across this surprising entry for Northampton, MA:
By 1656, witch hysteria had reached this western outpost. One woman, Mary Parsons, was tried twice but acquitted both times.
I'm fascinated by these local outbursts of hysteria. We all know about Salem, of course. I also have an informative book (via Project Gutenberg) of witch trials in Connecticut. But I was unaware of a specific case in Northampton. I suppose I shouldn't be - Northampton is not that far from some of the Connecticut cases.
The case is unique to my knowledge for having a woman who was accused twice, and somehow managed to survive both times. Must have been quite a weak case, or run by dullards. After all, convictions were largely due to the greedy and the vain wielding the bludgeon of their fundamentalist beliefs to prey upon the weak...largely. Of course, Goody Parsons may have had real powers and bent the minds of her accusers to her favor. >:D
Any other lesser cases of witchcraft from the Colonies out there? Let's hear of 'em!
By 1656, witch hysteria had reached this western outpost. One woman, Mary Parsons, was tried twice but acquitted both times.
I'm fascinated by these local outbursts of hysteria. We all know about Salem, of course. I also have an informative book (via Project Gutenberg) of witch trials in Connecticut. But I was unaware of a specific case in Northampton. I suppose I shouldn't be - Northampton is not that far from some of the Connecticut cases.
The case is unique to my knowledge for having a woman who was accused twice, and somehow managed to survive both times. Must have been quite a weak case, or run by dullards. After all, convictions were largely due to the greedy and the vain wielding the bludgeon of their fundamentalist beliefs to prey upon the weak...largely. Of course, Goody Parsons may have had real powers and bent the minds of her accusers to her favor. >:D
Any other lesser cases of witchcraft from the Colonies out there? Let's hear of 'em!