| dc.description.abstract | This dissertation will summarize the history of Salem and the events that led up and through the Trials, but more importantly will look at why statistically more men were accused, convicted, and executed in Salem than in other parts of the English commonwealth, as well as events that transpired after Governor William Phips ended the trials in 1693. I will also argue that the concept of reparations as used in Salem is more comprehensive and thoughtful than elsewhere, and that in those reparations, the families of male victims were awarded a statistically significant larger sum of money. This qualitative study of the Salem Witch Trials and their aftermath draws upon evidence from the leading historians on the events of 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts and from the primary source records edited by Bernard Rosenthal et al. in Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt, as well as the University of Virginia, Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project. The UVA database offers primary sources from the time of the trials and depositions. The site maintained by the University of Virginia provided access to the Essex County records books that detailed the events individuals had been involved in years preceding the trials. In addition to textual research, I also committed to personal investigation of the history of Salem and New England. Over the course of my research, I made three trips to Salem and the surrounding region, as well as Maine. While in Salem, I was fortunate to view documents housed in the Peabody Essex collection as well as the local library. I also traveled to the Danvers Archives and spoke directly with town historian and trials descendant Richard Trask, who provided invaluable insight into the social perspective of the trials, as well as assisting to find more primary source documents. On the final trip, Itraveled to Portland, Maine to visit their historical archives. The archives yielded information about George Burroughs and his time in Maine, Additionally, I was able to meet with Hope Shelley who resides in Maine and wrote a book about the history of Wells which included the time Burroughs resided in Maine, it was through Ms. Shelly that I acquired the image of the map detailing the route Burroughs was taken back to Salem to face his accusers. This paper explored the disparities in reparations paid to victims and the families of the Salem Witch Trials. One focus is on those families that lost a loved one and were of higher standing in the community received more money from the Commonwealth, their status consequently earned their families more compensation, while those seeking money for the loss of a female recouped less. By the late 1600s, reparations were moving from a monetary restoration of financial losses, to restoration of reputation and acknowledgement and apology by the persecutors. In addition, the number of men accused and convicted in Salem is an aberration from the rest of New England at the time, as well as in England. As has been demonstrated, Salem was the first significant use of reparations to value social standing, not just material losses, and thus those with higher overall standing in the community were compensated at a far higher rate. Men such as Burroughs and English, not to mention Proctor and Corey, had contributed a great deal to the community and were seen as leaders. Their status consequently earned their families more compensation, while those seeking money for the loss of a female recouped less. | |
