Burroughs Suspected of Murder

Dead Wives Rise Up to Accuse

© Mary Trotter Kion

Nov 5, 2006
A glimpse into the Salem Meetinghouse., Jason Troy Kion
George Burroughs is arrested for witchcraft. It is suspected that he killed two previous wives, and maybe more.

Burroughs Arrested

Now the minister George Burroughs had been accused of being a witch, and serving as minister to a coven of witches in Salem Village. No matter that all of this the time he had been far away, living in Maine. He was arrested and returned to Salem Village for questioning.

Ann Putnam, Jr. Talks With Murdered Wives

But before this took place Ann Putnam, Jr. again had a horrible vision. Again Burroughs, or rather his spectra, presented himself to the girl. He told her that his dead wives would appear to her and tell her many lies. Then two woman wearing winding sheets appeared to Ann. Their faces, when they looked at Burroughs, were red with anger. They told Ann that they were the two wives of Burroughs that he had murdered.

Burroughs Gives Evil Eye

In the time it took to apprehend Burroughs and bring him back to Salem other bewitched persons cried out accusing him of tormenting them. One claimed that he had told her that he had killed three of his children. Another man claimed that Burroughs had put the evil eye on him. Some soldiers testified that the minister had supernatural strength. Also in that space of time, more persons were accused of witchcraft and jailed, awaiting trial and their fate.

When Burroughs' examination began it was not in his favor that his second wife, now deceased, had been the widow of John Hathorne's brother William who had died mysteriously. And, of course, during his questioning each time he looked at the afflicted girls they either went into fits or collapsed.

The Reverend George Burroughs: continues with: The Hanging of George Burroughs: Minister Convicted of Witchcraft in Salem.

Previous: Burroughs Accused of Witchcraft: A Witch's Church in Salem Village.

Some Accused of Witchcraft in Salem

Tituba, the Caribbean Indian slave woman.

Dorcas Good, four-year-old daughter of Sarah Good.

Sarah Osborne of Salem Village, went from being prosperous to poverty to being accused of witchcraft.

Martha Cory was accused of bewitching Ann Putnam, Jr.


The copyright of the article Burroughs Suspected of Murder in American History is owned by Mary Trotter Kion. Permission to republish Burroughs Suspected of Murder in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.




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