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Home » Colonial America

Mary Warren and The Salem Witch Trials

Published: Jul 31, 2018 · Modified: Nov 8, 2023 by Russell Yost · This post may contain affiliate links ·

Marry Warren, although only 18 years old, was the oldest accuser during the Salem Witch Trials. Her testimony was vital in incriminating Elizabeth and John Proctor.

the salem witch trials

She was arrested for the practice of witchcraft herself but was released. What happened to her after the Salem Witch Trials is not documented.

In early March 1692, Warren began having fits, claiming that she saw the ghost of Giles Corey. John Proctor told her she was just seeing his shadow and put her to work at the spinning wheel, threatening to beat her if she pretended to have any more fits. For some time, she did not report any more sightings, but she started to have fits again.

Warren was kept hard at work at the Proctor home and was told that if she ran into fire or water during one of her fits, she would not be rescued. When her seizures did stop, she posted a note at the Meeting House one Sabbath eve to request prayers of thanks.

That night, Warren stated that John Proctor woke her to torment her about posting the note. On April 3, 1692, Samuel Parris read Mary's note to the church members, who began to question Warren after the Sunday services.

Some took her answers to their questions to mean that the girls had lied. Warren told them she felt better now and could tell the difference between reality and visions.

The other girls became angry with Mary and began accusing her of being a witch because she had told the high court that all the girls were lying and that they saw the devil.

She was formally accused of witchcraft on April 18, 1692. Under questioning, she continued to have fits, confessing under duress to witchcraft and began to accuse various people, including John and Elizabeth Proctor, of witchcraft.

Online Resources

  • Wikipedia - Mary Warren
  • History of Massachusetts
  • The History Junkie's Guide to the Salem Witch Trials
  • The History Junkie's Timeline of the Salem Witch Trials
  • The History Junkie's List of People involved in the Salem Witch Trials

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