The Salem witch trials are filled with strange and tragic stories. But few are as strange or as tragic as that of Roger and Mary Toothaker and their family. Join us for a live broadcast: On Monday, September 30 at 3pm we'll be broadcasting live at Tapley Memorial Hall. Sponsored by the Danvers Historical Society, our panelist for this episode include: Emerson Baker, Rachel Christ-Doane, and Daniel Gagnon. Get all the details Host Greg Houle's book: The Putnams of Salem: A Novel of Power and Betrayal During the Salem Witch Trials, is now available. Learn more

Host Greg Houle's book, The Putnams of Salem: A Novel of Power and Betrayal During the Salem Witch Trials, is now available. In this short bonus episode, he talks about the novel. Learn more at theputnamsofsalem.comBuy the book: Amazon, Bookshop.org, BN.com

Host Greg Houle explores the role his own ancestors, the Putnam family, played in fueling the witch crisis, investigating the complex motivations behind their actions and reflecting on how this history still resonates with us today. Join host Greg Houle on Friday, August 30 at 7pm EDT for a virtual discussion about his book The Putnams of Salem: A Novel of Power and Betrayal During the Salem Witch Trials. Get the details here. Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter. and TikTok

While the majority of people living in Salem in 1692 were completely swept up in the witch hysteria, there were more than a few brave souls who cast a skeptical eye at what was going on. We tell some of their stories.  Preorder Greg Houle's book, The Putnams of Salem: A Novel of Power and Betrayal During the Salem Witch Trials Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter. and TikTok

John Willard was both an outsider and a bit of a hustler, looking to earn wealth through land speculation. These qualities didn’t serve him well when the witch hysteria struck Salem in 1692 and John Willard found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time.   Preorder Greg Houle's book, The Putnams of Salem: A Novel of Power and Betrayal During the Salem Witch Trials Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter. and TikTok

In many ways, the Salem witch trials have taken on a life of their own over the last three centuries. In this episode, we’re joined by John Howard Smith, professor of history at Texas A&M University - Commerce, who helps us sort through the myths and realities of the witch crisis.  Prof. Smith’s most recent book is A Dream of the Judgment Day: American Millennialism and Apocalypticism, 1620-1890 He is currently finishing up the drafting of his  new book, Heathens and Other Adversaries against Us: Religion, War, and Racial Identity in Colonial New England. Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter. and TikTok Learn about Greg Houle's forthcoming book, The Putnams of Salem: A Novel of Power and Betrayal During the Salem Witch Trials.

We explore the myth of religious freedom in early American history, addressing the intolerance of the Puritans  and the challenges faced by other religious groups. And we see how these aspects begin to evolve following the witch crisis.  Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter. and TikTok Learn about Greg Houle's forthcoming book, The Putnams of Salem: A Novel of Power and Betrayal During the Salem Witch Trials.

Cotton Mather was a third generation minister born into Puritan royalty, a nepo baby long before anyone had ever used the term. But his involvement in the Salem witch trials — and defense of the trials afterward — led to his eventual vilification. We’re joined by Professor Rick Kennedy who helps us sort through Mather’s complex role in Puritan New England.  Learn about Rick Kennedy Learn about Rick Kennedy’s book The First American Evangelical: A Short Life of Cotton Mather Rick Kennedy’s latest book is Winds of Santa Ana: Pilgrim Stories of the California Bight Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter. and TikTok Learn about Greg Houle's forthcoming book, The Putnams of Salem: A Novel of Power and Betrayal During the Salem Witch Trials

We often think of the population of seventeenth-century New England as homogenous—made up entirely of Anglo-Puritans and the natives who had been living in America for centuries. Yet there were others in New England as well, including a very small, yet significant minority of enslaved Black residents. In this episode, we tell the story of two of them, Mary and Candy, who got caught up in the witch crisis. We are grateful to Jonah Hoffmann and the Salem Witch Museum for this blog post, which proved valuable for producing this episode.  Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter. and TikTok Learn about Greg Houle's forthcoming book, The Putnams of Salem: A Novel of Power and Betrayal During the Salem Witch Trials

We explore the enigmatic figure of Reverend Samuel Parris, the man who sat at the spiritual head of Salem Village during the witch crisis. We trace Reverend Parris' journey to Salem, which is set against a backdrop of privilege, adventure, and numerous setbacks. Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter. and TikTok Learn about Greg Houle's forthcoming book, The Putnams of Salem: A Novel of Power and Betrayal During the Salem Witch Trials

New governor, William Phips, under the guidance of a new charter for Massachusetts, faces a crisis as the accusations of witchcraft spread and the suspects pile up jails. With no judicial system to handle the chaos, he establishes a new court, led by William Stoughton, and we set the stage for the epic tragedy to come.  Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter. and TikTok Learn about Greg Houle's forthcoming book, The Putnams of Salem: A Novel of Power and Betrayal During the Salem Witch Trials

William and Deliverance Hobbs, and their teenage daughter Abigail, were among the most interesting families involved in the Salem witch crisis. Having lived on the rugged and dangerous Maine frontier for a decade prior to arriving in Salem, the Hobbs family took center stage on April 19, 1692, when Abigail made some explosive claims before the magistrates.   Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter. and TikTok  Learn about Greg Houle's forthcoming book, The Putnams of Salem: A Novel of Power and Betrayal During the Salem Witch Trials

Giles Corey's torturous death was a particularly dark chapter in a vary dark tale. With the help of our guest, Rachel Christ-Doane, director of education at the Salem Witch Museum, we dive into Corey's horrific story, and explore the escalation of fear during the crisis. Learn more about the Salem Witch Museum __ Join us on Facebook, Twitter. and TikTokLearn about Greg Houle's forthcoming book, The Putnams of Salem: A Novel of Power and Betrayal During the Salem Witch Trials

While she wasn’t the first to be accused, on June 10, Bridget Bishop became the first person to be executed for witchcraft during the crisis. But her conviction by the new Court of Oyer and Terminer planted some initial seeds of doubt.   Join us on Facebook, Twitter. and TikTok    Learn about Greg Houle's forthcoming novel, The Putnams of Salem: A Novel of Power and Betrayal During the Salem Witch Trials

Daniel Gagnon is back to discuss the shocking accusations against and prosecution of Rebecca Nurse. Dan is the author of A Salem Witch: The Trial, Execution, and Exoneration of Rebecca Nurse and a member of the board of directors of the Rebecca Nurse Homestead in Danvers, MA.

On March 23, 1692, a warrant was issued by the magistrates to take into custody yet another accused individual. By now, the magistrates and marshals were getting used to this exercise. The witch hysteria had been building for several weeks, and the accusations were flying. But this time, however, the accused was not one of the usual suspects.    Watch Rachel Christ-Doane, director of education at the Salem Witch Museum, discuss her research about the life of Dorothy Good.

George Burroughs was the former minister of the church at Salem Village. But in late April, 1692, a complaint was filed against him on behalf of several people who claimed he was a witch who had inflicted them. Days later, he was arrested in Maine and brought back to Salem in chains to face these charges. In a story filled with strange and unusual characters, George Burroughs’ story is among the strangest of them all.   Tell us what you think at greg@putnamsofsalem.com Join us on Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok

Mary Warren, the 20-year-old indentured servant of John and Elizabeth Proctor, was both accused and an accuser; afflicted and an inflictor during the Salem Witch Trials. How could this be? We examine Mary’s twisting tale as a means for helping to understand the complexities and nuance of the witch hysteria in general.    Tell us what you think at greg@putnamsofsalem.com Join us on Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok

What exactly is witchcraft and magic and what did it mean to New Englanders in the late seventeenth century? We’re joined by historian Alyssa Conary who helps us understand these important questions.

During the turbulent month of March 1692, accusations of witchcraft from a handful of girls turns into a full-blown crisis. In this episode, we unravel the events of this pivotal month to reveal the critical role that it played in turning the Salem witch hunt into an unprecedented disaster.