Biography
In a February summer of 1692, twenty men and women were hung or tortured to death after having been convicted of witchcraft. The hysteria of the witches began on the previous winter and was over by early autumn of 1692.To pass the cold winter days of 1692, several girls began meeting at Reverend Parris’ home to partake in a fun and innocent activity. The Parris’ slave from Barbados,Tituba, entertained the girls with her stories of witchcraft and demons. This may seem nearly like a ghost story in modern times, back then religion was very important to the community Tituba also told the girls’ fortunes. Reverend Parris’ daughter, Betty, and her cousin, Abigail Williams, were listening to Tituba's stories and became frightened by the stories and fortunes with demons and witches. The two girls began to act strangely shortly after the story telling. Both girls would dart swiftly around the house,throw horrible fits of rage and would scream,sweep or writh as if they been hurt or in pain. Reverend Samuel Parris called William Griggs,the Village’s doctor,because he thought the girls’ behavior might be an strange illness. The doctor examined the girls and failed to find any medical cause for their fits and odd behavior. William concluded after his research on Betty and Abigail presuming, we must be bewitched.
During that time period, most people believed one could make an agreement with the devil in exchange for evil powers. For example,many wicked folk tales ad a character exchange their souls for mystic powers. This was considered a great sin, and Betty and Abigail didn't speak out immediately to being sinners. It could have gotten them killed if anything was said to the officials. Coming to the end of February, they began to accuse the home slave,Tituba, and other women in Salem Village of conspiring with the devil and practicing witchcraft. Other girls in the village who had been invited to Betty's house before to listen to Tituba's stories, including Ann Putnam, Elizabeth Hubbard, Susannah Sheldon, and Mary Warren, began to have similar fits of rage and they joined in the accusations against the men and women of Salem. Soon, many villagers were arrested and jailed on charges of witchcraft.
During that time period, most people believed one could make an agreement with the devil in exchange for evil powers. For example,many wicked folk tales ad a character exchange their souls for mystic powers. This was considered a great sin, and Betty and Abigail didn't speak out immediately to being sinners. It could have gotten them killed if anything was said to the officials. Coming to the end of February, they began to accuse the home slave,Tituba, and other women in Salem Village of conspiring with the devil and practicing witchcraft. Other girls in the village who had been invited to Betty's house before to listen to Tituba's stories, including Ann Putnam, Elizabeth Hubbard, Susannah Sheldon, and Mary Warren, began to have similar fits of rage and they joined in the accusations against the men and women of Salem. Soon, many villagers were arrested and jailed on charges of witchcraft.