HISTORY: Were Witches Really Burned at the Stake in Salem?
Between 1692 and 1693, accusations of witchcraft were made in and around the town of Salem in Massachusetts, leading to the arrests of about 150 people. These charges were taken seriously, and the ensuing trials resulted in the executions of 19 people. But how were these “witches” executed? Were any burned alive at the stake, a common punishment for convicted witches in Europe? After all, at the time Salem was part of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, an English colony. The answer is no; witches in England’s American colonies were killed another way. “At Salem no one was burned. Instead, … Read more