The Salem Witchcraft Trials The newly arrived colonists traveled from England with their fears of witchcraft fully intact. Accusations, witch hunts and trials were a familiar and accepted part of their lives. Indeed, within a short time of settling these shores, there were a number of trials and even executions for what was considered a capital and felonious crime. Certainly, the largest and most famous of these unfortunateepisodes is the Salem Witch Crisis of 1692. Beginning inthe early winter months of 1692 and carrying on until Mayof the following year the people of the colony would see 19people hanged.At the Witch House we offer the latest research and scholarship on how the trials began and the circumstances that brought them to an end.The University of Virginia has undertaken a remarkabledigitization process that makes it possible to view theoriginal documents as well as their direct transcripts. The link is here:Witch Trial Documents
