Witch Hunt Victim Stories: George Burroughs

In this gripping episode of Witch Hunt, host Josh Hutchinson unravels the shocking tale of George Burroughs, a Harvard-educated minister who became an unlikely victim of the Salem Witch Trials. 

Imagine a respected minister accused of being the ringleader of witches and a servant of Satan. How did George Burroughs, once a village minister, find himself at the center of one of history's most infamous witch hunts?

Josh takes listeners on a haunting journey through Burroughs' life, from his early days as a frontier preacher to his final moments on the gallows. You'll hear spine-chilling accounts of supposed supernatural feats, whispers of murdered wives, and tales of secret witch meetings led by this "little black beard man."

But was Burroughs truly guilty, or was he caught in a perfect storm of fear and injustice? The episode explores the web of accusations, the dramatic trial, and the heart-wrenching execution.

With twists and turns worthy of a thriller, this true story challenges our understanding of justice and the power of fear. From courtroom drama to family tragedy, the tale of George Burroughs will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about the Salem Witch Trials.

This is one witch hunt story you won't want to miss!

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

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

Bernard Rosenthal, editor, Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt

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

Stacy Schiff, The Witches: Suspicion, Betrayal, and Hysteria in 1692 Salem