Before Salem

Witch Hunting in the Connecticut River Valley, 1647-1663

Richard S. Ross (Autor)

Buch | Softcover

344 Seiten

2017
McFarland & Co Inc (Verlag)
978-1-4766-6648-8 (ISBN)

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From 1647-1663 eleven people were hanged as witches on the New England frontier, in the Connecticut River Valley. This book examines why the witch hysteria first erupted in the Connecticut River Valley. It offers a fresh assessment of witch accusations, trials and executions, and discusses the witchcraft trials before Salem and the reasons for the continued witch hunting up to 1663.

Decades before the Salem Witch trials, 11 people were hanged as witches in the Connecticut River Valley. The advent of witch hunting in New England was directly influenced by the English Civil War and the witch trials in England led by Matthew Hopkins, who pioneered "techniques" for examining witches.

This history examines the outbreak of witch hysteria in the Valley, focusing on accusations of demonic possession, apotropaic magic and the role of the clergy.

Although the hysteria was eventually quelled by a progressive magistrate unwilling to try witches, accounts of the trials later influenced contemporary writers during the Salem witch hunts. The source of the document "Grounds for Examination of a Witch" is identified.

Richard S. Ross III is a retired college librarian and professor emeritus from Trinity College. His scholarly interests include 19th and 20th century German history. He lives in Broad Brook (East Windsor), Connecticut.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Preface

Introduction

1. The English Civil War and the Revival of Witch Hunting in England

2. The “old serpent” Disturbs the Peace of the New England Churches

3. Settling Windsor in the New England Wilderness

4. Conditions in Windsor Increase the Fear of Satan

5. Old England and the Origins of Witchcraft in New England

6. “The devil is amongst thee now”

7. “Ah! Witch! Ah! Witch!”

8. “The Devill will have you quick”

9. A More Compassionate Magistracy

10. “A world of sin was doubtlessly committed”

11. “The Glory is departed, & Evill come upon the people of God”

12. Demonic Possession and the Witch Hysteria in Hartford

13. “They seeke my inocent blood”

Appendix: Grounds for Examination of a Witch

Chapter Notes

Bibliography

Index

Erscheinungsdatum	01.04.2017
Zusatzinfo	24 photos, appendix, notes, bibliography, index
Verlagsort	Jefferson, NC
Sprache	englisch
Maße	152 x 229 mm
Gewicht	435 g
Themenwelt	Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Geschichte / Politik ► Allgemeines / Lexika
Themenwelt	Geisteswissenschaften ► Geschichte ► Regional- / Ländergeschichte
ISBN-10	1-4766-6648-2 / 1476666482
ISBN-13	978-1-4766-6648-8 / 9781476666488
Zustand	Neuware