The truth behind the Salem Witch Trials
Although the disputing theories behind the Salem Witch Trials are diverse and manifold, the truth of the Trials' origins may in fact, not be so surprising after all. Perhaps the Salem Witch Trials originated from more sundry beginnings; such as being a ploy for wealth and land. The origins of the Salem Witch Trials are quite controversial. The first person ever to be accused of witchcraft in The Massachusetts Bay colony, was Margaret Jones, a midwife from Charlestown. This case isn't very famous, and the only authentic information concerning this case, comes from two primary sources: Governor John Winthrop's journal, and Reverend John Hale's book, A Modest Enquiry in to the Nature of Witchcraft. …show more content…
When her patients weren't cured of their sicknesses and injuries, many people began to suspect Jones of practicing witchcraft. Another reason Jones was accused of witchcraft, was the result of a quarrel between her and her neighbors. After the argument, the neighbors reported some of their animals of acting strangely. This propelled the accusations further; things beginning to act strangely, was thought to be an effect of a charm being placed on a creature by a witch. These two incidents were only the beginning of a long-list of accusations that would eventually be held against Margaret Jones. Some of the other things that lead people to accuse Jones of being involved in the practice of witchcraft include the following: causing patients to go deaf by a single stroke of her hand, her medicines being tonics that would make illnesses progress beyond the help of any doctor or surgeon, she made predictions that came true, and she supposedly had visitations from an imp. Also called a familiar, an imp was thought to be a small demon that assisted a witch with their practice of the dark arts. These creatures would often appear as a humanoid figure or an animal. The presence of an imp was believed to be a
Although the disputing theories behind the Salem Witch Trials are diverse and manifold, the truth of the Trials' origins may in fact, not be so surprising after all. Perhaps the Salem Witch Trials originated from more sundry beginnings; such as being a ploy for wealth and land. The origins of the Salem Witch Trials are quite controversial. The first person ever to be accused of witchcraft in The Massachusetts Bay colony, was Margaret Jones, a midwife from Charlestown. This case isn't very famous, and the only authentic information concerning this case, comes from two primary sources: Governor John Winthrop's journal, and Reverend John Hale's book, A Modest Enquiry in to the Nature of Witchcraft. …show more content…
When her patients weren't cured of their sicknesses and injuries, many people began to suspect Jones of practicing witchcraft. Another reason Jones was accused of witchcraft, was the result of a quarrel between her and her neighbors. After the argument, the neighbors reported some of their animals of acting strangely. This propelled the accusations further; things beginning to act strangely, was thought to be an effect of a charm being placed on a creature by a witch. These two incidents were only the beginning of a long-list of accusations that would eventually be held against Margaret Jones. Some of the other things that lead people to accuse Jones of being involved in the practice of witchcraft include the following: causing patients to go deaf by a single stroke of her hand, her medicines being tonics that would make illnesses progress beyond the help of any doctor or surgeon, she made predictions that came true, and she supposedly had visitations from an imp. Also called a familiar, an imp was thought to be a small demon that assisted a witch with their practice of the dark arts. These creatures would often appear as a humanoid figure or an animal. The presence of an imp was believed to be a