Ann Putnam Jr.: Predator or Victim?
As a child, Ann's future was full of potential. She was quick witted, well educated, and intelligent. Unfortunately, the year she turned 12, Ann set in motion events that would destroy her life and haunt her until the day she died.
During this time, Salem was divided into 2 sections, Salem Town, a prosperous economical center, and Salem Village, a farming community. The Putnam's, who owned the largest share of farmland in Salem Village, were the leaders of a group who wanted the village to separate from Salem Town. They believed the town had become too individualistic, opposing the communal nature of the Puritans.
Hoping to solidify the separation, the villagers established their own church. One of the first preachers was Rev. George Burroughs. Many citizens opposed Rev. Burroughs and refused to pay their taxes (and thus his wages), leaving him destitute. After refusing to preach unless he was paid, Rev. Burroughs openly made plans to leave. These actions made him a personal enemy of the Putnam family.
In 1689, at the invitation of the Putnam's, Rev. Samuel Parris moved to Salem Village to lead worshipping at the Salem Village Meeting House. He brought with him his wife, daughter Betty, niece Abigail Williams, and his slave Tituba and her husband John.
Puritan children were expected to behave under the same strict codes their parents followed. Any display of emotion was discouraged. Toys and games were seen as sinful distractions. Girls were expected to help tend the house, performing the same chores as their mothers. As an escape from such a routine and boring life, Ann spent the winter months of 1692 at the Parris home. Ann, Betty, and Abigail were often joined by other girls who came to listen to Tituba's tales of witchcraft, demons, and mysticism, activities that were strictly forbidden by Puritan law. This rebellion most likely filled the children with fear and guilt.
One game had the girls drop an egg white into a glass of water to see what shape it would form. One night, Ann saw the shape of a coffin. A short time later, Ann, Betty, and Abigail started acting rather peculiar. They would babble nonsense, convulse, and complained of pains, like those from pins being thrust into their bodies. The girls were taken to the doctor and diagnosed as victims of witchcraft, primarily because there was no other plausible explanation for the symptoms. Urged to name their tormentors, the girls accused Tituba, an elderly Sarah Good, and homeless beggar Sarah Osborne.
The girls and their stories were brought before Magistrate John Hathorne. Because witchcraft was a crime, he organized an inquiry and grand jury to investigate the "witches." The Salem witch-hunt had begun. During the examinations, the circle of girls would instantly succumb to their afflictions whenever the accused looked at them. As soon as the accused touched a part of their body, the girls would come to.
In March 1692, Ann shocked the town when she accused Martha Corey, a solid member of the church. Despite a lack of hard evidence, Martha was sent to prison. This bold accusation ignited the fear that any of the villagers could be a witch.
Next, the girls accused Rebecca Nurse, a kind and generous elderly woman who was well liked by the community. They claimed Rebecca's specter would float into their rooms at night to pinch and torture them. Rebecca maintained her innocence, but was held for trial none the less.
By the end of May 1692, over 200 people had been jailed after being charged with witchcraft. Though not the only villagers to make accusations, the Putnam family was heavily involved in the trials and many of the arrests. Thomas was the chief filer of complaints in the village and Ann Sr. spent many days in court claiming to be inflicted by numerous people. Ann Jr. went on to accuse 62 people of witchcraft, including 4-year -old Dorcas Good and former Rev. George Burroughs. She claimed Rev. Burroughs was the "Black Minister," master of all witches in Massachusetts and leader of the Salem Coven.
The influence of the Putnam's became evident as the trials went on. Most of the afflicted and the accusers had some kind of a relationship with the Putnam's. A great number of those accused by the Putnam's themselves, including Rebecca Nurse and Rev. Burroughs, previously had disputes with the family.
Ann Jr. was likely manipulated by her parents and elders to achieve their goals. Thomas maintained complete control over the actions of both Ann and one of the other young accusers, 17-year-old servant Mercy Lewis. Some believed that the elder Putnam's persuaded the girls to accuse particular people - people whose death would benefit the family. Ann's testimony of Rev. Burroughs was among the weirdest and most gruesome of all the trials. This testimony mirrored her father's feelings of hatred for the Reverend.
On October 29, 1692, Governor Phips dissolved the Court of Oyer and Terminer, which had overseen the trials. In May of 1693, he pardoned the remaining accused. The witch-hunt was over. In all, 19 people had been hanged and one man crushed to death.
Ann Putnam Jr., the leading instigator, went on to lead a sad and lonely life. Her father died on May 4, 1699 and her mother followed a month later. Nineteen-year-old Ann was left to raise her siblings by herself. In August 1706, Ann stood before the congregation of her church and asked for forgiveness stating:
"...it was a great delusion of Satan that deceived me in that sad time, whereby I justly fear that I have been instrumental, with others, though ignorantly and unwitting, to bring upon myself and this land the guilt of innocent blood...."
Ann died unmarried in 1716 at the age of 37 and was buried alongside her parents in an unmarked grave. She was the only one of the accusers to publicly ask for forgiveness.
Articles in this Topic
