In Escaping Salem The Other Witch Hunt Of 1692, Richard

In Escaping Salem: The Other Witch Hunt of 1692, Richard Godbeer reconstructs a particular witch hunt that is less known than its counterpart, the Salem Witch Trials. This trial, which took place in the Stamford, Connecticut area in the seventeenth century, demonstrated the theologies as well as the natural and supernatural beliefs of early New Englanders. These factors played an important role in how these settlers viewed the world and its peculiar mysteries. The perspectives of key participants, such as Katherine â€Å"Kate† Branch, Daniel and Abigail Wescot, Elizabeth Clawson, Mercy Disborough, Sarah Bates, and Jonathan Selleck, displayed the range of reactions and thoughts of early New Englanders regarding the supernatural world. With†¦show more content†¦This is evident when Kate had her second round of fits. Once Kate realized that her symptoms could incite talk in the close-knit town, she decided to have another fainting fit. Sarah Bates described Kate as a lif eless corpse when she arrived at the house. However, when Kate overhears that she is about to be bled, she jumps back to life almost immediately (Godbeer 18). This shows that Kate was truly conscious the entire time. She only let go of her act once she believed she was about to be harmed. However, after learning that the pain would be minimal, she agrees to be bled. After she is bled, Kate lets out a scream and her mistress, Abigail Wescot, declares that â€Å"She is bewitched† (Godbeer 19). This prompts Kate into a laughing outburst, astonishing Sarah Bates once again. The fact that Kate only laughed after her mistress professed that she was bewitched exposed her guiltiness. She laughed because her acting turned out to be believable. She had successfully fooled her mistress with her false symptoms. Furthermore, her deceiving symptoms of bewitchment are also evident in her accusations, specifically her accusation of Mercy Disborough. When Abigail Wescot believed Kate was â₠¬Å"no longer in her right senses,† she proceeded to name Mercy Holbridge, later known as Mercy Disborough, as the woman who she thought was responsible for Kate’s torments (Godbeer 38-39). Before this statement, Kate was unable to name the womanShow MoreRelatedAbdeali Dalal. Dr. Jenkins. History 1301. February 13,1541 Words   |  7 Pages Abdeali Dalal Dr. Jenkins History 1301 February 13, 2017 â€Å"Escaping Salem; The Other Witch Hunt of 1692† â€Å"Escaping Salem; The Other Witch hunt of 1692† was penned and published by Richard Godbeer in 2005. Godbeer expressed his views on what he called basic witch trials in Salem and more importantly, in Stamford, Connecticut Massachusetts. The same year that Salem witch hunt and trials began in 1692, another witch hunt took place in Stamford, the Western Connecticut to when a woman (ElizabethRead MoreHiding Salem : The Other Witch Hunt Of 1692 By Richard Godbeer1145 Words   |  5 PagesBook Analysis: Escaping Salem: The Other Witch Hunt of 1692 by Richard Godbeer In Escaping Salem: The Other Witch Hunt of 1692 by Richard Godbeer examined the witchcraft hysteria which happened in Stamford, Connecticut as the hysteria escaped from Salem, Massachusetts and how the panic of witchcraft caused by Katherine Branch in June of 1692, intensified beliefs and readjustments in the legal system in the Puritans society in Stamford, Connecticut. Consequently, Katherine Branch’s accusations inRead MoreThe Witch Hunt Of 1692 By Richard Godbeer1548 Words   |  7 Pages Many people are aware of the witch hunt that occurred in Salem, Massachusetts in the year 1692, however these same people may not be as familiar with the other witch hunt that also occurred in New England during the same year. Escaping Salem: the other witch hunt of 1692, written by Richard Godbeer, is a historical monograph that reconstructs the, mostly unheard-of witch hunt, that occurred in Stamford, Connecticut. The book also gives its readers insight into the minds of early American citizensRead MoreEscaping Salem Essay909 Words   |  4 PagesEscaping Salem: The Other Witch Hunt of 1692 American Economic and Social History September 26, 2012 The seventeenth century was full of challenges; political, social, and economical. Across the board individuals struggled to live, although the conditions had much improved from the beginning of the colonies. Women in particular had a difficult time fitting into this patriarchal this society. Women were defined by men and were seen as an accessory to men. In the colony of New England womenRead MoreEscaping Salem : The Other Witch Hunt Of 1692 Essay1323 Words   |  6 PagesESCAPING SALEM: The Other Witch Hunt of 1692 In Richard GodBeers novel â€Å"Escaping Salem: The Other Witch Hunt of 1692† he tells of a witch trial that took place in Stamford Connecticut in 1692. GodBeer starts readers off with the setting taking place in Daniel and Abigail Wescots household. He tells of a dilemma going on in the household pertaining to their servant; Katherine Branch. She was experiencing hallucinated fits that caused her to convulse and scream in pain. The ongoing fits ledRead MoreThe Other Witch Hunt Of 1692 By Richard Godbeer1704 Words   |  7 PagesJURISPRUDENCE IN THE FACE OF WITCHCRAFT Jasmine Lee History 1301: American History Dr. Jennifer Jenkins 1 November 2016 Escaping Salem: The Other Witch Hunt of 1692 by Richard Godbeer is an examination of accusations of witchcraft by Katherine (Kate) Branch, the subsequent trials that occurred, and how the Stamford trials contrast with the infamous Salem witch trials that took place the same year. The charge of witchcraft preyed on the fears of the community and had the potential to turnRead MoreWhat Happened During The Salem Witch Trials1300 Words   |  6 PagesHappened During the Salem Witch Trials? The Salem Witch Trials were a tragic time in the history of America. The witch trials officially began in February 1692. In January 1692, eleven-year-old Abigail Williams and nine-year-old Elizabeth (Betty) Parris in Salem Village, Massachusetts, began experiencing fits, including violent distortions and uncontrollable outpourings of screaming. Doctor William Griggs diagnosed the two girls with bewitchment. Puritans believed that a witch must draw an individual