the salem witch trials.
was anyone there at them in a past life?
do you know why it started?
who finished it?

In Massachusetts the first victim of witchcraft was hanged in 1648, for giving herbal cures.
In Salem it all started when a young girl named Betty became ill, having fits, running around in a crazy manner and complaining of pain and fever. The townsfolk belived this to be the work of the Devil, and talk of witchcraft increased when other playmates of Betty became ill in the same way.
The failure of the doctor to even diagnose the illness, made bewitchment seem even more likely.

The first accused in Salem was a woman called Sarah Osbourne. She did not attend church regularly, was known to enjoy the company of gentlemen, and owned property that had been left to her by her husband upon his death a few years before, refusing to turn it over to the church for 'safe keeping', or hand it over to her husbands children, for whom she was minding the estate.
Her accuser was her step-son's 12 year old cousin Ann Putnam, who was also related to Betty.
Geez I WONDER why she was accused?? She was jailed in Feb 1692 and executed in May of that same year...

The second woman was called Martha Corey and was believed to have procreated with an indian man, and given birth to a half-caste (mixed blood) son.
She was also accused by Ann Putnam, in March 1692, and was executed in September of that year.
Her husband Giles was also accused and because he refused to confess OR deny the accusations he was placed under a wooden board and pressed to death by the addition of stones and boulders.

The third woman accused was a coloured slave woman named Tituba.
It appears that she was accused and tried simply because of her race. And because of the way she was raised, (to believe that whites knew everything and were always right) she confessed to the accusations and so her life was spared. She was sent to prison instead of being executed. Was she really so well programmed by the whites, or was she just incredibly smart?? Whichever you think, she survived the whole insanity.

It would seem that each person accused had done something against their accuser or had something the accuser wanted. Some had money, others had property, others had wives/husbands/daughters.
Many of the accusers were children, sometimes working on their own initiative, but prompted in some cases by the adults in their lives.

This group of children, decided that they would 'cash in' on this as good fortune. They accused some to 'pay them back' for having been mean to them, or threatened them with it in case they tried to chastise them in the future.
Between them they held the entire community in fear, as not a one of any of the adults dared say a wrong word to any of them, incase they should be their next 'witch' victim.
It was a scandal and should never have happened, but humans are incredibly suggestible, and as soon as one witch was 'discovered' many more were bound to follow.

As for the end of everything.... Well whoever said that the persecution of Witches was over??

What those little darlings needed was a really good spanking on the bottom!
The little brats.

Them.........
Me............

I think that it is a good lesson for everyone to learn.
Not all children are the completely innocent little angels adults often perceive them to be.
I know that to begin with it was just a game, and then a small amount of vengeful glee came into play as they realised the power they wielded, but as things drew to a conclusion they were terrified at what they had done, and too scared to admit that it had all been a huge mistake.
I don't think they knew to begin with how it would all end.
But they enjoyed the power and the revenge, and I think more adults should admit to the evil potential in their offspring, especially if they are a member of a large group or gang.
It's only by acknowledging the possibility that you as adults and parents can stop it becoming an actuality.