Did You Know Thursday – Ghosts of Salem

With the history in Salem, Massachusetts it’s no wonder that there are so many ghost stories surrounding this sleepy New England town.

But did you know that Salem, Massachusetts has some true ghost stories of witch trial ghosts as well as, pirates, sailors, and bootleggers who haunt some of Salem’s most famous locations?

Let’s touch on the history of witches first and why they are such an integral part of Salem’s history. Generally, early witches were thought to be people who practiced witchcraft, using magic spells and calling upon spirits for help or to bring change. Most witches were believed to be pagans doing the Devil’s work. Makes sense, right? However, most of these so-called witches were simply natural healers, can you imagine if something like this happened today? When many look for natural alternatives to modern medicine. 

One of the earliest mentions of witches is actually in the Bible. Specifically, in the book of Samuel, which is believed to be written between 931 B.C. and 721 B.C. But witches aren’t just mentioned there, other Old Testament verses condemn witches, warn against divination, incantations or using witches to contact the dead. 

To read more about the witch hysteria that took place in both Europe and in Salem click here. 

In Salem, Massachusetts, all hell broke loose in 1692, the hysteria began when a group of young girls accused both men and women of practicing witchcraft. Witch hysteria was widespread in colonial New England and the general belief was that these “witches” influenced the young girls who were then possessed by the Devil. It’s no surprise that Parris’ daughter Elizabeth (age 9) and his niece Abigail (age 11) were the first to start experiencing fits. The girls shrieked, made odd sounds, threw things and contorted themselves into bizarre positions. The town doctor believed bewitchment was to blame. 

Ultimately, around 150 people were accused and 18 were put to death. While most were women 6 men were convicted and executed. 

Now that you have a little background lets delve into the ghouls who haunt some of Salem Witch Trial locations! 

1. Giles Corey, who was pressed to death after being convicted of being a warlock, appears as a bad omen. 

Interestingly enough, Giles Corey was actually a supporter of the witch trials and even threw his wife under the bus after she was accused. That was until Corey himself was accused of being a warlock. As he was being tortured, rumor has it, that he cursed both the Sheriff and the entire town of Salem. Corey was publicly pressed to death, and the severity of his execution led many to question the validity of the witch trials.

Turns out that 4 years after Giles Corey cursed the Sheriff, he died at the ripe old age of 30 years old of a massive heart attack. Corey’s ghost supposedly frequents the Howard Street Cemetery where he is generally regarded as a bad omen. For example, witnesses saw his ghost before the Great Salem Fire of 1914.

2. The Johnathan Corwin House (currently known as the Witch House) has direct ties to the Salem Witch Trials. So, it has to be haunted, right?

The Jonathan Corwin House (Witch House) was the home of Judge Jonathan Corwin and is known for being the only structure still standing in Salem with direct ties to the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. It was Corwin himself who investigated the claims of witchcraft after the accusations arose. This resulted in Corwin sending 18 folks to their untimely deaths. 

The house turned museum is a must visit and was featured on TV’s Ghost Adventures. The investigators experienced equipment malfunctions, felt a cold breeze and a touch on the arm, and heard a child’s voice. 

Unfortunately, I didn’t experience any of those things on my visit to the Witch House, but I absolutely believe that it’s haunted! 

3. Old Burying Point Cemetery, of course, it’s haunted! 

Not only is Judge Hathorne (aka “The Hanging Judge”) known for his role in the Salem Witch Trials, buried here. At night, light anomalies are caught on camera and some of the local homes are thought to be haunted by ghosts that are buried at this site. 

The restaurant located in the back corner of Burying Point Cemetery, Murphy’s Pub, is apparently very haunted. People have reported spotted a Victorian-era lady in a powder blue dress and a full-bodied apparition of a boy there with a picnic basket.

If that’s not creepy enough, the co-owner of the Salem Night Tours says he’s heard stories and has seen persuasive photographic evidence supporting claims that a casket broke through the restaurant’s wall. 

As you would imagine, there are many more haunted sights in Salem. I hope to take a ghost tour one of these days and catch sight of some of those ghosts myself!

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