Yesterday, I shared a bit about the Salem Witch Trials in 1692. Today, I wanted to let you know a few reasons why one could have been found to be a witch back then. Do you have any of these traits? If so, you could have been put on trial too.
1. You talk to yourself.
2. You are reclusive.
3. You have eccentric behavior.
4. You have had a dispute with your neighbor or a family in your town.
5. You don't go to church.
6. You don't go to the "right" church.
7. You speak French.
8. You were accused of lying.
If you do any of these things or someone thinks you have done these things, then you could be arrested and brought to trial. You would not be allowed to have a lawyer or witnesses to testify on your behalf.
If you plead innocent and the courts found you guilty (which everyone was found guilty) then you would be hung. If you plead guilty, then your life would be saved but, you would be in prison for life.
Those who were hung were not allowed to be buried in the cemeteries, as witches were not allowed to be buried in consecrated grounds. The family would have to take the body and bury it where no one would find out.
Even after the hysteria was over and the Witch Trials were found to be frauds many still had to stay in jail. Back then, you had to pay for your "room and board" while in jail. Even if you were arrested and found not guilty.
Those who were pour could not afford to pay the fees in order to get out of jail and some even ended up dying in jail.
If you were found guilty of being a witch then chances were good that your spouse would soon stand trial for being a witch also.
Often when we look back in our History we find strange things that we can't understand how people allowed to happen. The real scary thing is we never know when something just as foolish could happen in our time.
I, for one, am happy I didn't live back in 1692 because I fear I would have had to stand trial for being a witch. How about you?
If you were arrest back then and accused of being a witch, how would you have plead?
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