Our Connection to the Unpleasantries of 1692 in Salem Village, Massachusetts

Salem Village (now Danvers) Massachusetts underwent several months of ugly times in 1692 when several young girls began acting strangely in a manner interpreted by their elders as being possessed by the devil. Under questioning and perhaps prompting, the girls singled out a couple of dozen of their neighbors, nineteen of whom were executed, mostly by hanging but one "pressing."

A central figure in the episode was Ann Putnam, 12-year old daughter of Thomas and Ann Putnam. The episode was has been related in a number of books plus the Arthur Miller play, "The Crucible" and the ensuing movie. Ann Putnam, Jr.'s name was changed to Ruth in the movie to avoid confusion with her mother, also Ann.

We have a genealogical connection to Ann Putnam:

Our lines back to the Putnam immigrants, John and Priscilla and to their great, granddaugher Ann Putnam who
figured prominently in the accusations which led to the Salem Witch Trials in 1692.

Ann accused nineteen people, eleven of whom were hanged.

A brief biography of Ann Putnam, Jr. appears at   http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/asa_put.htm

Another decent synopsis of young Ann's role:  http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schooladventures/salemwitchtrials/people/putnam.html

Click the "+" sign on this one for the expanded essay about Ann.

http://salem.lib.virginia.edu/people?group.num=G07&mbio.num=mb32

Ashley Peldon, Hollywood's Ann Putnam,  Jr.,
called Ruth in the movie.

Theories abound about the circumstances of the entire episode and possible "causes" of the actions of the girls.

A somewhat far-out explanation which I especially enjoy concerns the storage of barley over the winter in Colonial Massachusetts. It seems that damp barley in reduced temperatures may, on occasion, spoil in a particular manner which produce small amounts of lysergic acid diethylamide, or as it became more commonly known in the recent past, LSD. This theory holds that the girls were on LSD trips.

Probably a better theory involves some in-fighting among the Putnam family. Thomas Putnam was the brother of our ancestor Nathaniel and the father of Thomas Putnam (Jr.) who was the husband of Ann Putnam and father of Ann Putnam (Jr.)  (don't worry about it, they weren't imaginative naming children.) Thomas the senior had several children by his first wife, yet another Ann, who died in 1666 and he soon remarried Mary Veren. Thomas and Mary had one son, Joseph born in 1669 who became something of favorite with Dad.

Old Thomas was one of the richest men in the countryside and chose to make his youngest son Joseph is main heir. This was not a popular move with the offspring from the first marriage.

Analysis of the accusers and the accused in the Salem Village witch episode finds that accusers tended to be family members and friends of the members of the first family of old Thomas Putnam and the accused were often somewhat affiliated with, neighbors of and friends of Joseph Putnam. The evidence isn't overwhelming but has provided sufficient material and credibility to generate a couple of books for authors.

Spoiler Alert: Another Genealogy Pitch: Would I have an interest in the Salem Witch Trials if I did not know about our genealogical connection? I may have had an interest but I doubt I'd have about 12 or 15 inches of a bookshelf devoted to material on the topic without the visceral feeling that comes with this special connection.

Similarly, I would not have been likely to give a biography of Robert the Bruce to a grandson if I had not been able to tell him at the same time that the first King of Scotland was his 32nd great, grandfather. It just adds to the story.