Investigating Salem Ancestry & the Lasting Impact of the Witch Trials
In 1692, both sides of my ancestors were living in Europe, a long way away from Salem, Massachusetts. When I research my family history, the only chance of having any connection to witch hysteria would have to have been in either Italy during the Renaissance or maybe (and that is a big maybe) to Lukh, Russia, in the mid-1600s.
My ancestors wouldn’t arrive in America for another 200 years, well after the misfortune happened in Salem, Massachusetts. Yet, even without a direct lineage to those who were persecuted in New England between 1692 and 1693, I have found that researching Salem ancestry provides insight into the shaping of early American families and communities.
While Salem wasn’t the first case of Witch Hysteria in the colonies of America, it was by far the bloodiest. The indelible mark it left on our society brought about religious divisions in the Puritan church, helping the Baptists and Methodists to gain popularity and bringing about legal reform that included more emphasis on individual rights. They also exposed and highlighted the dangers of religious extremism and theocracy, leading to a greater emphasis on the separation of church and state in American society.
In this post, I’ll share tips for tracing lineages to Salem and explore the far-reaching influence the witch hysteria had on American history. Influences that have been felt for generations, even by Americans, with no direct link to the trials.
Digging into Your Salem Roots:
- Search genealogy sites for Salem family names that match your own. Look closely at the records of victims, accusers, judges, and others involved in the trials.
- Consult books and online indexes of Salem witch trial participants. Cross-reference with your family tree for potential connections. I recommend the Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project and the Congressional Library. You can research the names of those accused and convicted on FamilySearch or Ancestry.
- Study probate files, deeds, church records, and maps to pinpoint ancestors living in Salem area during the trials. The Massachusetts government has a database online of historical documents, as do FamilySearch and Ancestry.
- Consider DNA testing for possible genetic ties to Salem founders or later descendants. PLEASE NOTE that autosomal DNA only goes back 5 to 6 generations. The Salem Witch Trials occurred about 13 generations ago, so the best ways to utilize DNA testing and DNA cousins would be to either concentrate on a Y-DNA or mtDNA, which follow your male (Y-DNA) and female (mtDNA) ancestors or to use a mixture of traditional Genealogy Research, mixed with Genetic Genealogy (see the next point). Companies like FTDNA, 23andMe, and MyHeritage are popular for Y-DNA testing, whereas those three and LivingDNA offer specific testing for mtDNA.
- Use WikiTree to see the trees already built about those affected by the Salem Witch Trials. Did they have children? Where did those children move to? WikiTree is a fantastic and free place to start your Salem Witch research. The trees are documented and will help you have a place to start looking for your possible Salem Witch connection.
The Enduring Impact on American History:
While I continue searching my own roots, it’s clear the Salem hysteria had a profound impact on generations. From influencing pop culture through TV shows like Sabrina the Teenage Witch, plays like The Crucible, films like Hocus Pocus or The Blair Witch Project, books from The Scarlet Letter to Harry Potter, and even influencing the late designer Alexander McQueen, who created a whole fashion line dedicated to his ancestor Elizabeth How.
The Witch Trials also led to:
- Increased Skepticism: The Salem witch trials highlighted the dangers of mass hysteria and false accusations. This increased skepticism of accusations based solely on superstition, and began to demand more evidence and due process in legal proceedings.
- Legal Reforms: The Salem witch trials exposed flaws in the colonial legal system. In response, there were efforts to reform legal procedures to prevent unjust trials and executions. This contributed to the development of more stringent rules of evidence and greater protections for accused individuals in future legal systems.
- Decline in Belief in Witchcraft: The trials marked a turning point in the belief in witchcraft. Prior to Salem, many people believed in the existence of witches and the reality of witchcraft. However, the hysteria and tragic outcomes of the trials led to a decline in belief in witches and the practice of witch hunts in New England and beyond. They also led to a greater emphasis on rational thought and scientific evidence.
- Social Stigma: The legacy of the Salem witch trials left a lasting social stigma for the town of Salem and its residents. It took many years for the town to overcome this dark chapter in its history, but it eventually embraced its past and incorporated it into its cultural identity.
Even without a direct ancestor at the trials, researching Salem can shed light on your family story within the context of American history and the cultural changes still felt 330 centuries later.
OTHER Witch Trials in America:
Connecticut Witch Trials (1647–1663): At least 34 witchcraft trials took place in Connecticut during this period, resulting in 11 executions. The first was Alse Young in 1647, hanged in Windsor. Records can be found in the Connecticut State Library’s research guide on witchcraft.
Pennsylvania Witch Trials: Margaret Matson was accused of witchcraft in 1684, but acquitted. In 1692 she faced another trial. About 50 witch trials occurred in Pennsylvania. The University of Pittsburgh has collected original documents.
Maryland and Virginia Witch Trials: In Maryland, Grace Sherwood was convicted of witchcraft in 1706 in Virginia, where she underwent a water test. Learn more at The Uncommon Wealth of Virginia.
This Halloween season, take time to explore the history of Witch Trials in America and start investigating your own ancestral ties to Salem or other Witch Trials. You may uncover more than just witches in that family tree!
Do you have a Salem Connection? Share it with me!
The best way to learn about history is from the people who lived through it.
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Aryn is a genealogist who researches family trees, a lover of local cemeteries, and a social history enthusiast. She helps people discover their family roots and heritage