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Interesting US History
A Website Devoted to Interesting Events in U.S. History

 

 
 

 

ON THIS DAY IN UNITED STATES HISTORY

March 1, 1692

The Salem Witch Trials Begin

On this day in 1692, the first of several residents of Salem, Massachusetts are interrogated beginning what has become known as The Salem Witch Trials.

The first three accused and arrested were Sarah Good, Sarah Osborn, and Tituba (a slave of different ethnicity than the Puritans). Tituba was the first to confess to talking to the Devil and went on to accuse others.

By the time the panic was over, more than 150 townspeople were arrested and imprisoned with even more accused. Of those arrested, 19 were hanged and another was crushed to death under heavy stones for refusing to enter a plea to the charges.