Backround
“George Burroughs, noted for his physical strength despite his small stature,
came to Salem Village as minister in 1680, at age twenty-eight. He was born
into a well-to-do family in Suffolk, England, but was brought up by his mother
in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Having graduated from Harvard in 1670, he preached
in Falmouth, Maine, until an Indian attack in August 1676 forced him to flee to
Massachusetts. After a period as minister in Salisbury, he came to Salem
Village, where he buried his second wife and married his third. He remained in
the village for less than three years, leaving after deep disagreements with
Thomas Putnam and his allies. He returned to Main but in May 1692 was brought
back to Salem Village a prisoner, having been arrested for witchcraft. His
unusual strength was used against him as evidence of his complicity with the
devil.”
came to Salem Village as minister in 1680, at age twenty-eight. He was born
into a well-to-do family in Suffolk, England, but was brought up by his mother
in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Having graduated from Harvard in 1670, he preached
in Falmouth, Maine, until an Indian attack in August 1676 forced him to flee to
Massachusetts. After a period as minister in Salisbury, he came to Salem
Village, where he buried his second wife and married his third. He remained in
the village for less than three years, leaving after deep disagreements with
Thomas Putnam and his allies. He returned to Main but in May 1692 was brought
back to Salem Village a prisoner, having been arrested for witchcraft. His
unusual strength was used against him as evidence of his complicity with the
devil.”
Religious Prosecution
One man fueling the attacks on Burroughs was Cotton Mather. Cotton Mather was at
this time known for his cautionary writings on how spectral evidence in the
trials should be used. However, as Rosenthal suggests, in Burroughs' case Mather
put aside his views on the unreliability of spectral evidence, further
suggesting that Mather's hatred of Burroughs was based on Burroughs' role as a
religious dissident.
For this reason, Burroughs can be viewed as the one person executed for
witchcraft for his religious beliefs. As Puritan dissenter
Burroughs was attacked by the Puritans and seen as harmful to their society. The
first question asked of Burroughs at his trail was whether his children were all
baptized. He said only one of them was. On August 3, 1692, many testified
against Burroughs. Young girls such as Elizabeth Hubbard, Mercy Lewis, Susannah
Sheldon, Mary Walcott and Ann Putnam all claimed that he had come to them and
tried to force them to sign his book which Elizabeth said was written in words
"as red as blood". Mercy Lewis claimed that Burroughs "carried me up to an
exceeding high mountain and shewed me all the kingdoms of the earth and told me
that he would give them all to me if I would writ in his book"(Salem Witchcraft
Papers). Accused witches such as Abigail Hobbs and Mary Warren charged him with
bringing them into the world of Satan. He was the "ring leader of them all"
holding the meetings in Salem and trying to force many away from God and to
Satan.
this time known for his cautionary writings on how spectral evidence in the
trials should be used. However, as Rosenthal suggests, in Burroughs' case Mather
put aside his views on the unreliability of spectral evidence, further
suggesting that Mather's hatred of Burroughs was based on Burroughs' role as a
religious dissident.
For this reason, Burroughs can be viewed as the one person executed for
witchcraft for his religious beliefs. As Puritan dissenter
Burroughs was attacked by the Puritans and seen as harmful to their society. The
first question asked of Burroughs at his trail was whether his children were all
baptized. He said only one of them was. On August 3, 1692, many testified
against Burroughs. Young girls such as Elizabeth Hubbard, Mercy Lewis, Susannah
Sheldon, Mary Walcott and Ann Putnam all claimed that he had come to them and
tried to force them to sign his book which Elizabeth said was written in words
"as red as blood". Mercy Lewis claimed that Burroughs "carried me up to an
exceeding high mountain and shewed me all the kingdoms of the earth and told me
that he would give them all to me if I would writ in his book"(Salem Witchcraft
Papers). Accused witches such as Abigail Hobbs and Mary Warren charged him with
bringing them into the world of Satan. He was the "ring leader of them all"
holding the meetings in Salem and trying to force many away from God and to
Satan.
He's a wizard! Or is he?
Burroughs' trial was the only one attended by Increase Mather. Mather believed
that if someone could perfectly recite the Lord's Prayer then he or she was not
a witch. However, as Robert Calef writes in his book More Wonders of the
Invisible World "Mr. Burroughs was carried, through the streets of Salem to
Execution; when he was upon the Ladder, he made a Speech for the clearing of his
Innocency, with such Solemn and Serious Expressions, as were to the Admiration
of all present; his Prayer (which he concluded by repeating the Lord's Prayer)
was so well worded, and uttered with such composedness, and such (at least
seeming) fervency of Spirit, as was very affecting, and drew Tears from many (
so that is seemed to some that the Spectators would hinder the Execution)".
that if someone could perfectly recite the Lord's Prayer then he or she was not
a witch. However, as Robert Calef writes in his book More Wonders of the
Invisible World "Mr. Burroughs was carried, through the streets of Salem to
Execution; when he was upon the Ladder, he made a Speech for the clearing of his
Innocency, with such Solemn and Serious Expressions, as were to the Admiration
of all present; his Prayer (which he concluded by repeating the Lord's Prayer)
was so well worded, and uttered with such composedness, and such (at least
seeming) fervency of Spirit, as was very affecting, and drew Tears from many (
so that is seemed to some that the Spectators would hinder the Execution)".
What it Meant
George Burroughs' ability to recite the lords praryer stuck the people of salem into a proverbial lions's den. They were beggining to question the validity of the trials. They now had to make a decision; face that they made a mistake or continue to persecute the innocent. In the words of George Sewall "Men think tis' a great dishonor to change thier minds, but there is no greater folly than to not give right place to reason " The decision was almost made. And things were about to change.
Read more at: http://www2.iath.virginia.edu/salem/people/burroughs.html
Read more at: http://www2.iath.virginia.edu/salem/people/burroughs.html