Trip to Northeast USA October 2005       Of course, there is a reason why all this is here. In 1691, at the home of the minister, Samuel Parris, his slave, Tituba, a woman from Barbados, was entertaining two young girls, Parris's daughter Betty and his niece, Abigail Williams, by telling them stories and teaching them some folk magic or fortunetelling.  Tituba probably did not understand the implications of introducing those activities to the girls, in the Puritan mind. The girls started having fits, appearing possessed, and when asked what their affliction was, they accused townspeople of casting spells on them.  By the end of 1692, more than two dozen people had been accused of witchcraft, and of those 19 had been executed, 4 died in prison.  In 1693, a few of those who had pled guilty (the only survivers) were released.  Most died soon thereafter, due to the illnesses and disease they had acquired in prison. The trials themselves did not follow recommended procedures of the time, allowing spectral evidence from children.  The town officials put an end to the trials, after enough well respected people had been accused, many put to death, so that doubts were arising as to whether all of them were witches. On this page are pictures of the home of witchcraft trial judge, Jonathan Corwin.  The house has been moved about half a block from its original location and the furnishings, while authentic to the period (late 1600s), are not necessarily authentic to the house.             Created:  October 18, 2005 Updated:  September 21, 2006