Connecticut Witch Trial History with Beth Caruso and Tony Griego

Joined by author Beth Caruso and activist Tony Griego, we discuss the history of witch trials in colonial Connecticut. We talk about the first person to be hanged for witchcraft in the American colonies, Gov. John Winthrop Jr, the link between illness and witchcraft accusations, how a Christmas party led to accusations, and more.


Join our Discord to discuss the episode with us.

Beth Caruso,  One of Windsor: The Untold Story of America's First Witch Hanging

Beth Caruso, The Salty Rose: Alchemists, Witches & A Tapper In New Amsterdam

Annie Eliot Trumbull, "One Blank of Windsor", Literary Section, Hartford Courant, December 3, 1904 (requires newspapers.com subscription or free trial) 

John Putnam Demos, Entertaining Satan: Witchcraft and the Culture of Early New England

Paul B. Moyer, Detestable and Wicked Arts: New England and Witchcraft in the Early Modern Atlantic World

Petition

Mary-Louise Bingham’s YouTube video about Connecticut victims  

CT W.I.T.C.H. Memorial https://www.facebook.com/ctwitchmemorial

Salem Witch-Hunt https://www.facebook.com/SalemWitchHunt/

The Witch Trials Hysteria History of the American Colonies https://www.facebook.com/groups/witchtrialshistory

Samuel Wyllys Papers https://cslib.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15019coll10

A Note on Numbers

45+ total accused

14 convicted

11 executed

15 acquittals and 14 convictions (includes Elizabeth Seager (acquitted twice and convicted once)). The other cases did not go to trial.

Activism Timeline:

2005: “ad hoc committee”

2008/2009 attempted legislation

2016 CT W.I.T.C.H. Memorial

2022 Connecticut Witch Trial Exoneration Project

Thou Shalt Not Suffer: The Witch Trial Podcast links

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