1. In seventeenth-century New England a witch was believed to be an individual who sold their soul to the Devil. In return for this sacrifice, the Devil was thought to provide this person with supernatural powers that could be used to wage war against faithful Christians. As it was believed any person could become a witch, man, woman, or child, these frightening creatures were understood to by hiding in plain sight and could be blamed for a range of misfortunes.

    At this time, Massachusetts Bay Colony operated under English law, which defined witchcraft as a capital crime publishable by death. Though a serious criminal offense, witchcraft suspicions rarely escalated to trial in colonial New England. In fact, in the 25 years leading up to the Salem witch trials, only one person was executed for witchcraft in Massachusetts.

    There is no contemporary evidence that indicates anyone accused of witchcraft in Salem was in fact a witch. Instead, it is clear those who confessed did so under extreme pressure and fabricated elaborate stories under duress.

    It is interesting to note the practice of folk magic persisted in both England and New England throughout this period. Though frowned upon by the church, many people continued to use charms and old folk remedies in an effort to cure illnesses, find lost objects, protect their homes, or find witches hiding in the community. These practices were not necessarily associated with being a witch, a much more insidious crime, and the use of simple folk magic rarely led to a witchcraft accusation.