PRESS RELEASE Celebrate genealogy and ancestral connections to Salem, Massachusetts, during a weekend of lectures, tours, and research November 8, 2019, Salem, MA. Residents and visitors are invited to celebrate their ancestral and immigrant connections to Salem, Massachusetts, during the …

Salem Ancestry Days Planned for May 1-4, 2020 Read more »

Wicked Salem by Sam Baltrusis covers 300-plus years of history and people in three categories: the Witches, the Murderers, and the Cursed. The book includes stories about Bridget Bishop, George Jacobs Sr., and Mary Estey; self-confessed Boston Strangler Albert DeSalvo, …

Wicked Salem: Exploring Lingering Lore and Legends Read more »

As the first man accused of witchcraft at the 1692 Salem trials, John Proctor’s position was unique. Born in England in 1631, his family had lived in the Bay Colony since 1635. Proctor was a well-known yeoman farmer, with property …

Unwavering faith: The testament of John Proctor Read more »

Once part of acreage owned by Giles and Martha Corey of Salem Farms (now Peabody), Crystal Lake filled with sediment over time.  Neglected and overgrown, the property was revitalized through a multi-year project completed in November 2018. The city of …

Giles and Martha Corey at Crystal Lake Read more »

Every October it’s inevitable that new publications on the Salem witch trials are published. It’s odd because the witches of our Halloween imaginations have nothing to do with the innocent people hanged in 1692. This time one of the new …

Capitalizing on seasonal interest in the Salem witch trials Read more »

If your ancestors lived in Massachusetts Bay Colony during the 17th century, at some point they were affected by the Salem witch trials of 1692. Perhaps they were one of the accused witches, one of the participants (afflicted “girls,” accusers, …

Misconceptions about the 1692 Salem witch hunt Read more »

In 1892, Salem—which basked in its architectural splendor, its rich maritime history, and its scientific and educational pursuits—wanted to bury its dark past. But as the 200th anniversary of the Salem Witch Trials approached, publishers and businessmen stirred up the pot …

The house where witchcraft started Read more »

As mentioned in a previous blog post, Which Bishop? The one who got away, Sarah (Wildes) Bishop and her husband Edward ran an unlicensed tavern in Salem Village near the Beverly line. Bridget Bishop, wife of Edward the sawyer, lived …

Where did accused witch Bridget Bishop live? Read more »