March 13, 1692: Church Members Accused of Witchcraft

March 13
1 min

Episode Description

In this episode of Salem Witch Trials Daily, we revisit Sunday, March 13, 1692, as Salem Village gathers at the meetinghouse and extraordinary claims disrupt worship after Samuel Parris begins his sermon, including an incident involving Bathsheba Pope and Martha Corey’s alleged specter. We also discuss the next day’s dramatic demonstration by Ann Putnam Jr. that draws attention from multiple adults. Back at the Thomas Putnam household, we cover Ann Putnam Jr.’s report of being assaulted by an unknown specter and how, with prompting from Ann Putnam Sr. and Mercy Lewis, she ultimately identifies the figure as Rebecca Nurse—marking a rapid escalation in accusations immediately following Martha Corey’s identification.


00:00 Salem Meetinghouse Sunday

00:13 Spectral Blinding Incident

00:31 Ann Putnam Hands Stuck

01:01 Rebecca Nurse Accused

01:36 Witch Hunt Escalates


Sign the petition to exonerate Massachusetts witch trial victims

Find My Massachusetts Legislators

The Thing About Witch Hunts / About Salem YouTube channel

⁠Salem Witch Trials Daily Hub

The Thing About Salem: https://aboutsalem.com⁠

⁠The Thing About Witch Hunts: https://aboutwitchhunts.com⁠

Mary Beth Norton, In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692

Bernard Rosenthal, ed., Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt

⁠Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience

⁠Marilynne K. Roach, The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege

Peabody Essex Museum Salem Witch Trials Collection

See all episodes