Note to historic sites, societies, & libraries
In January 2018, I launched the Witches of Massachusetts Bay website for witch-hunt historians, researchers, descendants, and the curious. Having researched New England witch hunts for 20+ years, I realized a travel and history website would be beneficial not only for cultural tourists but for reminding us how the witch accusations and trials teach us as individuals and as a society about discrimination and social injustice.
Cultural Tourism
The 2016 attendance numbers in the Boston Business Journal for Massachusetts museums showed the Salem Witch Museum in 8th place with 379,657 visitors. Although some attendees were dressed in Halloween costumes, they left the museum knowing more about the tragedy of the 19 innocent people hanged and 150+ jailed in 1692/3. Besides the curious and the scholars, there are millions today who are descendants of witch-hunt victims, judges, jury members, and accusers—some of whom are actively seeking connections with history.
“Annually, tourists in Massachusetts generate about $15 billion in spending. …Cultural Tourism is the travel industry’s term describing travel and visitation activities directed at an area’s arts, heritage, recreational, and natural resources. It’s not a new phenomenon (tourists have come to Massachusetts for decades to experience these things), but it is a new way of connecting with visitors eager for a cultural excursion. These multicultural and multi-generation visitors make destination choices related directly to a region’s performance, artistic, architecture, and historical offerings.” —Mass Cultural Council
My website is for those people seeking a connection, wanting to learn more about the witch hunts. And that’s where you come in. First, let me say I am following my passion, not looking for your money. Here’s how you can help my WitchesMassBay website and get additional publicity for your organization:
Roadtrips
Relevant historical and genealogical societies, museums, historic sites, libraries, and cemeteries are listed on the Roadtrips pages by town. In time, I would like to include detailed information about how each one fits into the witch-hunt theme. For example, the Macy-Colby House in Amesbury displays the wooden cradle from executed “witch” Susannah (North) Martin’s family; the Old North Parish Burial Ground in North Andover includes burials of accused witches William Barker Sr. and his son William Barker Jr.; the Danvers Archival Center has books, manuscripts, and pamphlets on witchcraft; and the Beverly Historical Society offers tours of the house where Rev. John Hale wrote his Modest Inquiry book on witchcraft. On the Roadtrips pages, I’ve also tried to include online book and record links.
I haven’t visited all these great places and I don’t know all that’s hidden in archives and closets and even underground. But you probably do for your organization. People interested in the 17th-century witch hunts are looking for those artifacts, records—for any connections to this historical time period. If you have any corrections, additions, and/or updates for Roadtrips, please email me.
Events
If you have upcoming events related to the witch hunts or to the families involved, please let me know. For example, the Massachusetts Historical Society had a lecture on King Philip’s War, which Mary Beth Norton showed in her book, In the Devil’s Snare, had much to do with displaced and traumatized families involved in the Salem witch trials. Talks on 17th-century magic and counter-magic fit, but modern-day practicing witchcraft does not.
Research
The Research section includes lists of accused witches and old place names—as well as digital collections, books, records, and multimedia online that encompass more than one location. Again, any corrections, additions, URLs, and/or updates are encouraged.
Blog
The blog is for witch-hunt-related news, the latest research, Q&As with historians, book notices, collections highlights, etc. For example, I did a Q&A with a novelist about her book on accused witch Abigail (Dane) Faulkner; used Google Maps’ fix function to correct which Bishop lived where; and discovered the often overlooked witch trial items at the Supreme Court in Salem. If you have ideas, please suggest them. If you want to know when a new blog post comes out, go to the blog page and sign up to receive notifications. (The box is on the top of the right column.)
If you want to keep up with my updates on roadtrips, events, research, stories, news, and more, sign up for my occasional e-newsletter. If you’d share the Witches of Massachusetts Bay website with your visitors (or even link to it on your website), I’d really appreciate it. And, if you have any questions, send me a note.
Stay in Touch
Twitter: https://twitter.com/witchesmassbay
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/witchesmassbay/
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/witchesmassbay