The beginning of the problem can probably be traced to Rev. Samual Parris who before becoming a minister worked as a merchant in Barbados. Upon his return to Massachusetts he brought back two slaves.

One of the slaves "Tituba" cared for his nine year old daughter "Elizabeth" called Betty and his 11 year old niece "Abigal". Tituba passed on stories to the girls about voodoo.

The girls were fascinated with voodoo and soon started playing with it. They were soon joined by other girls in the village and started telling each others fortune.

One of their methods was to float an egg white in a glass of water and predict their future husbands. For reasons that no one is sure the girls started having fits, making strange noises and contorting their bodies.

It is hard to say whether the girls believed they were possessed or whether the whole thing started as an act which got out of control. It is my opinion it was an act which got beyond the girls control and was fuelled by fanatical adults.

Rev. Parris brought in Dr. William Griggs who could diagnos no medical condition for the girls so he diagnosed bewitchment. The 17th century Puritans believed in witchcraft as a cause of sickness and death.

Because they believed that witches gained their power from the Devil it was decided to find the witches responsible and kill them. The girls were then placed under enormous pressure to name names.

SALEM WITCH TRIALS, the accused of Salem Witch Trials Rather then admit to what probably started out as a game the girls were caught up in a wave of religeous fanatiscm. The first accused were the slave Tituba, Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne.

Warrants for their arrest were issued and the Salem Witch Trials had started. All three appeared in the house of Nathaniel Ingersoll before Salem Town Magistates John Hawthorne and Jonathan Corwin.

As each women stood to testify the girls fell into fits claiming the womans specter was biting them, pinching them and roaming the room appearing as a animal or bird. After being beaten earlier and under pressure the slave Tituba admitted to being a witch.

She stated that a black dog had threatened her and ordered her to hurt the girls. She also said that she had ridden through the air on a pole to witches meetings with the other two accused.

Tituba then claimed that there were more witches, about six in number, led by a tall, white haired man. All three women were taken to a prison in Boston.

Goode and Osborne were put in heavy iron chains, with Osborne dying there.

An all out hunt began for more witches for the salem witch trials. The girls were placed under more pressure to name more witches for the salem witch trials.

Ann Putman Jr. with the help of a vengeful mother named Martha Corey. Martha Corey was a member of the Salem Village congregation.

Martha maintained her innocence in court but the girls fits of torment and anguish in court convinced the magiststes she was a witch. Even her husband testified against her.

The next woman to be named was Rebecca Nurse. She was a church member and an outstanding member of the community.

By now the magistrates and everyone else believed whatever the girls said. Ann Putman Sr. was Rebeccas accuser, apparently now she had joined the ranks of the afflicted.

Following Rebecca Nurse was four year old Dorcas Good. Good, although only a child, was sent to prison and placed in chains.