Salem Witches Were Not Burned

Everyone knows about the Burning Times, the period of history when witchcraft hysteria gripped parts of Europe and North America and thousands of people died. These events took place over hundreds of years, and across many different countries. Popular media has created this image of witches being burned at the stake, which persists today. In fact, though many of the accused were burned, most were actually hanged (or executed by other means).

The most celebrated and well-known of these events are the trials at Salem, Massachusetts that took place during 1692. Though more people died elsewhere, people today frequently associate the killings of witches with this one town. So, these various half-truths of the times have gotten rolled into the "Witch Burnings at Salem".

That's really not correct. According to court records of those trials, there were 20 people put to death for witchcraft in Salem, but none of them died by fire. They were all hanged (save one, who was pressed to death).

Salem Witch Trial Victims

June 10, 1692
Bridget Bishop

July 19
Rebecca Nurse
Susannah Martin
Elizabeth Howe
Sarah Good
Sarah Wildes

August 19
George Jacobs Sr.
Martha Carrier
George Burroughs
John Proctor
John Willard

September 19
Giles Corey (pressed to death)

September 22
Martha Corey
Margaret Scott
Mary Easty
Alice Parker
Ann Pudeator
Wilmott Reed
Samuel Wardwell
Mary Parker

There were also a number of people jailed, but who died in prison before they could be executed.

And of course, the final irony of the 'Witch' Burnings, is that just because these people were accused of witchcraft, doesn't make them all witches. It's believed that most (if not all) of those who died were upstanding Christians, just like those who pointed the fingers.

So when talking about history, make sure to use "Salem Witch Trials" rather than the "Witch Burnings at Salem".