More than 375 years later, amateur historians, researchers and descendants of the accused witches and their accusers hope Connecticut lawmakers will finally offer posthumous exonerations.
In 2006, former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine gave an informal pardon to Grace Sherwood, a widowed midwife who was blamed by neighbors for ruining crops, killing livestock and creating storms and subsequently accused of being a witch. With her hands bound, Sherwood was thrown into a river to see if she floated, which was purported to indicate guilt. She managed to set herself free and spent seven years in prison.
Many historians believe fear and anxiety among the religiously strict English settlers led to the witch trials, noting how life was very difficult, given epidemics, floods, cold winters and starvation. Often, accusations started as a quarrel, or the death of a child or a cow, or even butter that couldn’t be churned.Such was the case of Mary Johnson, a servant in Wethersfield, Connecticut, who was accused of “familiarity with the Devil.
“It’s important to right the wrongs of the past so we learn from them and move on and not repeat those mistakes,” said Joshua Hutchinson, of Prescott Valley, Arizona, who traced his ancestry to accused witches in Salem and is the host of the “Thou Shalt Not Suffer: The Witch Trial Podcast.” Beth Caruso, an author, co-founded the CT Witch Trial Exoneration Project in 2005 to clear the names of the accused. The group is encouraging people who discovered through genealogy research that they are descendants of victims to contact Connecticut state legislators and urge them to support exoneration legislation.
Indonesia Berita Terbaru, Indonesia Berita utama
Similar News:Anda juga dapat membaca berita serupa dengan ini yang kami kumpulkan dari sumber berita lain.
Connecticut may exonerate accused witches centuries laterIt's been more than 375 years since Alse Young became the first person on record to be executed in the American colonies for witchcraft. salem connecticut kprc2 click2houston
Baca lebih lajut »
Connecticut weighs exonerating accused witches who were executed in the 1600s: 'This was wrong'Connecticut is considering exonerating accused witches who were executed in the 1600s.
Baca lebih lajut »
Snap Revenue Flat in Q4 Amid Ad Woes, Snapchat Climbs to 375 Million Daily UsersSnapchat’s parent continues to reel from a pullback in ad spending, with Snap posting $1.3 billion revenue for the fourth quarter of 2022 — up just 0.1% year-over-year, its lowest quart…
Baca lebih lajut »
Connecticut may exonerate people accused of witchcraftMore than 375 years since the first person was executed in the American colonies for witchcraft, lawmakers may exonerate those accused in the Connecticut witch trials.
Baca lebih lajut »
Accused witches may finally get exonerated after nearly 4 centuriesAmateur historians, researchers and descendants of the accused witches and their accusers are urging Connecticut officials to officially acknowledge this dark period of the state’s colonial history.
Baca lebih lajut »
Egg farm fire investigation in Connecticut is underwayAn investigation into a blaze at an egg farm in Bozrah, Connecticut is currently ongoing, according to a statement Monday from egg producer Hillandale Farms.
Baca lebih lajut »