Cursed Be the Salem Poor

Getting Familiar with Dogs and Cats

Oct 17, 2006

Cats were well known as witch’s familiars., Brodebund© ClickArt 750,000

Upon becoming a witch, the person is given an animal as a familiar, and can kill or harm both humans or animals.

The Puritan belief was that the devil, or demons, did their best, or worst, work on poor people. This reasoning stemmed from the assumption that a poor person, having far less than the well to do, was more susceptible to agree to do the devil's work for the riches they were promised. When the Salem Witch-hunt and trials began this seemed to hold true, that is until the more wealthy and affluent persons began to be accused of witchcraft.

The Mark of the Witch

Once the human had forsaken the Christian church and went over to the devil's side, he or she was given a devil's mark. During the witch trials in Salem body searches of accused witches were conducted, seeking these marks. Any mole, abnormal growth, or blemish, if found was usually promptly declared a witch's mark, thus sealing the fate of the accused.

Getting Familiar

The witch inductee was also provided with a "familiar." This familiar normally was an animal such as a cat, dog, or bird, all of which were actually evil beings designated to do the witch's evil work. However, the familiar was to report back to the devil regularly to let him know how the dirty work was going. During the Salem Witch Trials the afflicted accusers often reported that their assailants were in possession of a yellow bird that constantly nursed between the accused person's fingers.

Witch Powers

The witch had certain powers. He or she could cause storms or start fires. They could also cause someone to fall ill by just an evil glance from the witch or by the witch touching them. The witch could harm not only humans but also animals, going so far as killing them if he chose. Certainly the witch could destroy crops, and as in the case of the young accusing girls of Salem the witch could cause a person to have hallucinations. But not all was bad. The witch, once it had cast a spell on someone, could remove spells. It could even heal sickness.

Sources:

Jackson, Shirley. The Witchcraft of Salem Village. Random House, New York, 1956.

The copyright of the article Cursed Be the Salem Poor in American History is owned by Mary Trotter Kion. Permission to republish Cursed Be the Salem Poor in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.