Escaping Salem The Other Witch Hunt Of 1692 Analysis

ESCAPING SALEM: The Other Witch Hunt of 1692 In Richard GodBeers novel “Escaping Salem: The Other Witch Hunt of 1692” he tells of a witch trial that took place in Stamford Connecticut in 1692. GodBeer starts readers off with the setting taking place in Daniel and Abigail Wescots household. He tells of a dilemma going on in the household pertaining to their servant; Katherine Branch. She was experiencing hallucinated fits that caused her to convulse and scream in pain. The ongoing fits led the Wescot’s and other citizens of Stamford into believing the fits were caused by bewitchment. The suspicion then leads Katherine Branch to tell of visitations from the devil in numerous forms, as well as being tormented by witches. She accuses Elizabeth

The sudden change in Kate’s health raises suspicion from Abagail Wescot; leaving her to believe that Kate was simply faking her symptoms. Though Abagail had reason to believe Kate was simply putting on a show she then worries as concern from Daniel Wescot raises attention. Despite the conflictions the Wescots felt into determining whether or not Kate was simply duping them or was genuinely experiencing the bewitchment their daughter had once experienced; both Daniel and Abagail found it suitable to seek any advice or opinions from neighbors determining the issues going on with Kate. When seeking medical advice from the local midwife Goody Bates, she and the wescots were open to believe that Kate’s fits could’ve been caused naturally. As stated “Goody Bates saw no reason to ignore the possibility of a natural explanation” (GodBeer, pg.17). This was an opinion and open minded thought Daniel was also open to believe in. That is until Kates symptoms began to show signs of bewitchment. This worried many other neighbors that came to aide eventually leaving Daniel to seek visitation from John Bishop, whom at the time GodBeer deemed him credible due to his education and experience in religion as well as his time served as pastor which was nearly fifty years (21). John

The type of evidence conducted was to find any “devils marking” on any of the accused women’s body. This tactic was both poorly used in the Stamford trials as well as Salem trials. The process of determining whether Clawson or Disborough bodies contained any markings consisted of gathering a group of women “faithfully sworn, narrowly and truly to inspect and search her body” (GodBeer pg.94). This form of evidence was unfair on the accused parts seeing as the abnormality on either of the woman’s body had been there due to natural causes. Salem practiced the same tactic by “examining the body of the accused for a small red circle. If the mark did not bleed or hurt when pricked with a pin, people believed the devil had magically caused it” (Wilson, pg.34). This tactic sharing similarities with evidence gathered for the Stamford witch trial, both in which were unfair in both cases. Another form of evidence used in the court was “Ducking” this tactic involved binding the suspects and then throwing them into a body of water; if the suspect sank the suspect was innocent; if the suspect floated, that meant the water had rejected their bodies as unholy and so they were found guilty. These forms of evidence showed unfairness on behalf of the two suspects, neither of the outcomes can be helped. Luckily the