In the year 1692, peculiar and incomprehensible events occurred in Salem village, after a group of young girls had sinister episodes. “They would fall on the floor, shaking and trembling in seizures, or sit and stare off into space, unaware of the world around them. They would cry and shout curses uncontrollably” (Magoon 7). The settlers in Salem village grew scared as more girls became victims of these episodes. The village began to believe that witchcraft was to blame for these events. All together, eight girls were affected by these disturbing fits, which included: Abigail Williams, Ann Putnam, Mercy Lewis, Betty Parris, Elizabeth Hubbard, Mary Warren, Betty Pope and Mary Walcott (Magoon 39). These eight girls all had similar symptoms including,
“lethargy, seizures, temporary paralysis, and distraction. Their skin showed bite marks and pinches; they also felt pinpricks. The girls were observed cursing uncontrollably, barking, and with their eyes rolling back and to the sides. At times, their arms and legs twisted. They also spoke of hallucinations or ‘spectral visions’ (Magoon 39).
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The girls named three women: Sarah Good, Tituba, and Sarah Osborne. Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne and Tituba all testified in the Salem court. Osgood and Good both denied all charges of witchcraft. While Tituba acknowledged that the devil did speak to her and told her to torment the girls, but she never acted on these. Tituba stated that there were withes meeting in secret in Salem. The settlers of Salem were frightened knowing that this was not the end. The community of Salem substantially increased their efforts to find these individuals who were practicing witchcraft, thus bringing terror to their community. The witch hunt was now on for Salem