The Salem Witch Trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between 1692 and 1693. More than 200 people were accused, with 19 executed by hanging. The trials have become synonymous with mass hysteria and scapegoating. Let’s explore this fascinating period of history through some riddles and their answers.
Riddles
Riddle 1
I began in the house of the minister, my afflictions were deemed the work of the devil. Who am I?
Answer: Betty Parris, the daughter of Reverend Samuel Parris. Her strange behavior was the first indication that witchcraft was at work in Salem.
Riddle 2
My accusations against others led to the first arrests and executions of the trials. My own husband denounced me before I met my demise. Who am I?
Answer: Tituba, a slave in the Parris household, was the first to be accused of witchcraft. Her wild confessions implicated others, setting off a wave of accusations.
Riddle 3
Though only a child, my shocking accusations condemned many to the gallows. My remorse later in life could not undo the damage I had done. Who am I?
Answer: Ann Putnam Jr., just 12 years old at the time, claimed affliction by 62 people and testified against many of them.
Riddle 4
An orphan sent to live with my uncle’s family, my words carried weight in the courtroom, yet I too would later apologize for my actions. Who am I?
Answer: Abigail Williams, cousin of Betty Parris, was a major accuser during the trials.
Riddle 5
My rank and reputation made me a prime target for accusations from young girls. Though I escaped the noose, my wife was not so fortunate. Who am I?
Answer: Roger Toothaker, the town doctor, was accused but never formally charged. His wife Martha was hanged for witchcraft.
Riddle 6
Witches were said to gain power through familiars sent by the devil. This belief doomed many household pets like myself to untimely deaths. What type of animal was I?
Answer: Cats were seen as familiars of witches and often killed as a result.
Riddle 7
Accused by a slave whose testimony was then discredited, I was briefly jailed before being set free. My prominent role in the community spared me from further prosecution. Who am I?
Answer: Rebecca Nurse, a respected grandmother, was accused by Tituba but initially cleared due to her upstanding status. She was later convicted and hanged after Ann Putnam Jr. accused her.
Riddle 8
My execution was done secretly, for fear of protests over my staunch claims of innocence. I refused to confess or enter a plea, and died with dignity upheld. Who am I?
Answer: Rebecca Nurse refused to confess or enter a plea, and was hanged in July 1692 apart from other convicted witches, likely due to controversy over her conviction.
Riddle 9
My silencing of dissenting voices allowed the hysteria to escalate unchecked. Though I eventually realized the errors, my actions cost many their lives. Who am I?
Answer: Governor William Phips barred increase and Cotton Mather from speaking out against the proceedings, allowing the hysteria to worsen.
Riddle 10
I sailed from England with orders to investigate the proceedings, soon putting an end to the hangings. My level-headed inquiry restored order to the colony. Who am I?
Answer: Governor William Phips, upon returning from England, established the Court of Oyer and Terminer to fairly judge the witchcraft cases. This court dismissed charges against many and halted the hangings.
Riddle 11
Though only a boy, my resolute testimony helped save my mother from the gallows. “How can I testify against my mother who is not a witch?”, I reasoned. Who am I?
Answer: Benjamin Proctor, son of accused witch Elizabeth Proctor, boldly defended his mother against intense pressure to condemn her. His refusal helped secure her freedom.
Riddle 12
My execution was the first of many, setting the stage for the hysteria that followed. Though I repeatedly proclaimed innocence, it did nothing to stay the court’s hand. Who am I?
Answer: Bridget Bishop was the first to go to the gallows on June 10, 1692, kicking off a wave of executions. Her plea of innocence was disregarded.
Riddle 13
The accusers claimed my specter tormented them in spirit form, though I was far across the sea. Absence proved no alibi when suspicion ruled the day. Who am I?
Answer: George Burroughs was accused of witchcraft while away serving as a minister in Maine. He was arrested, convicted and executed in August 1692.
Riddle 14
My execution came last of all, delayed for my unwavering claim of innocence. Finally I relented and confessed, though it pained me to do so. Who am I?
Answer: John Proctor was hanged in August 1692 after initially refusing to confess to witchcraft. He finally gave a confession to avoid being tortured.
Riddle 15
My husband was pressed by stony judges to reveal my coven sisters. Though I escaped the gallows, many others were not so fortunate. Who am I?
Answer: Elizabeth Proctor, wife of John Proctor, was jailed for months but eventually released after her husband refused to implicate her.
Riddle 16
I was the first executed who refused to enter a plea, establishing my right to do so. Though it cost me my life, I was no coward. Who am I?
Answer: Giles Corey courageously refused to enter a plea, knowing it would lead to his death by the brutal process of pressing.
Riddle 17
I was a farm owner, accused of witchcraft but never formally charged. Though acquitted, my accuser and her family later sued me successfully for defamation. Who am I?
Answer: John Proctor, after being cleared of witchcraft, was sued by Abigail Williams for saying she had lied. He lost the suit shortly before his death.
Riddle 18
My death came not by hanging but by pressing, the gruesome process used on those who would not enter pleas. The heavy stones heaped upon my chest forced the air from my lungs. Who am I?
Answer: Giles Corey was tortured to death by pressing after refusing to enter a plea, taking days to die in agony.
Riddle 19
My battle with smallpox spurred talk of witchcraft when several girls caught the illness. Little did my community know I would start such hysteria. Who am I?
Answer: Salem resident Mary Sibley is believed to have spread smallpox to the afflicted girls, leading townspeople to suspect witchcraft at work.
Riddle 20
I was among the first three hanged together in June of 1692, convicted on the word of female accusers. My sons stood by helpless as I met my unjust end. Who am I?
Answer: Rebecca Nurse was hanged on June 19 alongside Sarah Good and Susannah Martin, based on testimony from Ann Putnam Jr. and the other afflicted girls.
Riddle 21
Old and bedridden, I was no threat to any soul. Yet the girls condemned me readily when misfortune struck Salem village. Who am I?
Answer: Sarah Osborne rarely left her bed due to illness and age, yet was one of the first accused of witchcraft after the afflictions began.
Riddle 22
I was among the first arrested, my rebellious nature and low status making me an easy target for accusations. My death was early, but far from the last. Who am I?
Answer: Sarah Good, a homeless beggar, was an early target due to her disagreeable nature. She was one of the first three hanged in June 1692.
Riddle 23
My wife and I were both charged with witchcraft, but I met my end while she was spared. I died refusing to break and confess. Who am I?
Answer: John Proctor was executed in August 1692 for refusing to confess, though his wife Elizabeth was set free after he refused to implicate her.
Riddle 24
I stood by my wife when she was accused, even divorcing her to prevent the loss of my estate. But it was not enough to save her from the gallows. Who am I?
Answer: Giles Corey supported his wife Martha when she was charged. However, his attempts to preserve his estate by divorcing her failed when she was convicted and executed.
Riddle 25
Mycoat and hat were said to have stood erect after I was hanged, signs of the devil’s dark magic upon me. These fanciful tales did nothing to resurrect me. Who am I?
Answer: George Burroughs was accused of using witchcraft to make his coat and hat stand upright after he was executed. Of course these were just stories and he remained dead.
Riddle 26
I hosted the afflicted girls in my home, encouraging their shocking accusations against godly townsfolk. My agenda was clear, though its aim was untrue. Who am I?
Answer: Thomas Putnam allowed the afflicted girls to live in his home and pressed them to accuse prominent townspeople he had quarrels with.
Riddle 27
My wife and I were jailed on charges of witchcraft, and though I escaped death, my time in prison ruined my health and fortune. Who am I?
Answer: Edward Bishop, along with his wife Sarah, was accused of witchcraft and jailed. Though released, the experience wrecked his health and wealth before his death in 1695.
Riddle 28
My tavern welcomed many who found themselves accused of wicked arts. Providing drink and care to the condemned, I aided them as I was able. Who am I?
Answer: Samuel Shattuck ran a Salem tavern that served as refuge for those charged with witchcraft, earning him their gratitude and trust.
Riddle 29
I bravely spoke against the proceedings, urging caution in believing the rash claims of bewitched children. My wisdom helped turn the tide toward sense and mercy. Who am I?
Answer: Increase Mather, a prominent minister, publically questioned the validity of spectral evidence, helping curb the zealotry of the trials.
Riddle 30
My attempts to defend my wife led to my own jailing. Unable to prove her innocence, I was powerless to stop her execution. Who am I?
Answer: Peter Cloyce tried to save his wife Sarah from conviction but was thrown in jail himself for challenging the magistrates’ faulty methods. Sarah was later hanged.
Riddle 31
I was hired to transcribe the examinations of the accused witches, but was shocked to hear talk of supernatural devils and pacts. Who am I?
Answer: Samuel Parris, the Salem minister, brought in Ezekiel Cheever to document the examinations. Cheever was surprised by the talk of spectral witchcraft.
Riddle 32
My lowly station made me an easy scapegoat when children started falling ill. Though I claimed innocence, it fell on deaf ears. Who am I?
Answer: Tituba, as a slave, was one of the first accused of witchcraft when the afflictions started, though she maintained her blamelessness.
Riddle 33
My wife begged me to falsify evidence to save myself from the gallows. I refused and paid with my life to stay true. Who am I?
Answer: George Burroughs was pressured by his wife to give false confessions in exchange for his freedom. He courageously chose death over lies.
Riddle 34
I hosted the judges during the witch trial proceedings and allowed my home to be the site of cruel examinations. Who am I?
Answer: Nathaniel Ingersoll and his tavern, the Ingersoll Ordinary, accommodated the judges hearing cases related to the Salem witch hunt.
Riddle 35
My grandmother, mother and I were all imprisoned after being accused by the bewitched children. We survived, but many were less fortunate. Who am I?
Answer: Mary Esty was jailed along with her mother Ann Dolliver and daughter Margaret Jacobs on charges of witchcraft, but all three managed to avoid execution.
Riddle 36
I was appointed by Governor Phips to investigate the witchcraft accusations, but my court only worsened the hysteria with its zeal for convictions. What am I?
Answer: The Court of Oyer and Terminer, meant to fairly judge the witchcraft cases, instead hastily condemned many on flimsy spectral evidence.
Riddle 37
My wife was convicted of witchcraft while I sat powerless on the jury. Her consorting with the devil was a lie I dared not refute. Who am I?
Answer: Thomas Fiske sat on the jury during his wife Elizabeth’s trial and false conviction for witchcraft but did not speak in her defense.
Conclusion
The Salem Witch Trials represent a dark moment of hysteria and injustice in colonial America. We remember the innocent lives lost and broken, as well as those who courageously stood for truth in the face of fear and zealotry. While many of the key figures acted out of genuine, if mistaken, piety and concern, others cynically exploited the climate of fear for their own selfish purposes. The lessons learned continue to inform our legal system today. By understanding this complex historical episode through the viewpoints of its many participants, we hopefully gain wisdom to avoid such travesties in the future. Though the riddles provide but a brief glimpse into this tragic saga, may we take care to judge rightly in our own age.
