Why were the witchcraft charges so disproportionately directed at women? Were people then more distrustful, suspicious of women than men? Was it assumed that a witch was much more likely to be a woman than a man?
Hi Rob! Thank you for reading. This is an excellent question, and I wish I had a straightforward answer for you. You're right to point out the disproportionate number of women accused and charged -- the ratio is about 4:1 women to men accused, and many of the men were implicated by association with accused women or for other reasons (like existing property disputes). Plus, many of the accusers were women too. The reason why is still being debated in the scholarship on witchcraft in early America. It seems too easy an answer to say that it comes from misogyny -- men organizing women to accuse other women out of fear of their power (especially in the case of Mary Parker, for example, a wealthy widow with a lot of land)... Some have said it was the only way women could act out in an otherwise very strict society, in which they had little political or religious power, but this too seems a little too easy, as women had power in the home and may not have been thinking of themselves as powerless in the ways we might. Perhaps it is simply a self-fulfilling prophecy, as the early colonists brought notions of witchcraft with them, from England, for example, where women were also predominately accused and so they might have been predisposed to suspect women first. I know this isn't an answer, as such, but it's a great question and one to keep thinking about!
I wonder if the ancestors of these people you write about have ben impacted personally by this history. It would be interesting to hear from them. I wonder how I would react if I know this about my ancestors.
To answer that question as one of the descendants of Mary Bridges I havent personally been affected nor has any of my family. However, it has led me down some interesting moments and created some great memories. In my research I have found a few cousins and learned a lot about my families involvement in the Trials. It's been absolutely thrilling to say the least.
I am à descendant of Mary Lovett Tyler, who was acquitted in 1693, along with her 3 daughters. The humiliation caused Hopestill Tyler to move his family to Preston, CT.
Hello there cousin :) Turns out we're connected by marriage. I dont know specifics yet but im digging! Nice to meet you :) I think Mary married Job Tyler and Job had a daughter named Hannah Bridges. Its kinda muddy but ill figure it out. Either way this is very exciting to me. :)
Hi Tina! I agree -- it's so interesting to hear from the descendants of the people involved in the trials. It's one of my favorite parts of reading the comments on this series, as so many people have shared their connections to the past through those accused (and even those who were doing the accusing!).
It was my understanding that Mary Parker was accused by William Barker and referred to as an in-law. I’ve been trying to pull together how the Parkers, Ayers and Barkers are all related for years. If you know how I can find that (or can post about it), I would be forever grateful!😊
Hi Deana, yes -- Mary Parker was accused by William Barker Jr during his confession (http://salem.lib.virginia.edu/n10.html#n10.2) "...he knows Goody Parker to be a witch..." As for their familial relationship, let me do more looking! I'd love to write an article about William Barker, he seems like an interesting figure to be sure! Stay tuned, and thank you for reading!
Why were the witchcraft charges so disproportionately directed at women? Were people then more distrustful, suspicious of women than men? Was it assumed that a witch was much more likely to be a woman than a man?
Hi Rob! Thank you for reading. This is an excellent question, and I wish I had a straightforward answer for you. You're right to point out the disproportionate number of women accused and charged -- the ratio is about 4:1 women to men accused, and many of the men were implicated by association with accused women or for other reasons (like existing property disputes). Plus, many of the accusers were women too. The reason why is still being debated in the scholarship on witchcraft in early America. It seems too easy an answer to say that it comes from misogyny -- men organizing women to accuse other women out of fear of their power (especially in the case of Mary Parker, for example, a wealthy widow with a lot of land)... Some have said it was the only way women could act out in an otherwise very strict society, in which they had little political or religious power, but this too seems a little too easy, as women had power in the home and may not have been thinking of themselves as powerless in the ways we might. Perhaps it is simply a self-fulfilling prophecy, as the early colonists brought notions of witchcraft with them, from England, for example, where women were also predominately accused and so they might have been predisposed to suspect women first. I know this isn't an answer, as such, but it's a great question and one to keep thinking about!
Thanks very much for your thoughtful & thorough response. We'll just wait for someone to write a definitive book on the topic.
I wonder if the ancestors of these people you write about have ben impacted personally by this history. It would be interesting to hear from them. I wonder how I would react if I know this about my ancestors.
To answer that question as one of the descendants of Mary Bridges I havent personally been affected nor has any of my family. However, it has led me down some interesting moments and created some great memories. In my research I have found a few cousins and learned a lot about my families involvement in the Trials. It's been absolutely thrilling to say the least.
I am à descendant of Mary Lovett Tyler, who was acquitted in 1693, along with her 3 daughters. The humiliation caused Hopestill Tyler to move his family to Preston, CT.
Hello there cousin :) Turns out we're connected by marriage. I dont know specifics yet but im digging! Nice to meet you :) I think Mary married Job Tyler and Job had a daughter named Hannah Bridges. Its kinda muddy but ill figure it out. Either way this is very exciting to me. :)
Hey cousin,
Send me your email address. I will send some information to you.
Hi Tina! I agree -- it's so interesting to hear from the descendants of the people involved in the trials. It's one of my favorite parts of reading the comments on this series, as so many people have shared their connections to the past through those accused (and even those who were doing the accusing!).
It was my understanding that Mary Parker was accused by William Barker and referred to as an in-law. I’ve been trying to pull together how the Parkers, Ayers and Barkers are all related for years. If you know how I can find that (or can post about it), I would be forever grateful!😊
Hi Deana, yes -- Mary Parker was accused by William Barker Jr during his confession (http://salem.lib.virginia.edu/n10.html#n10.2) "...he knows Goody Parker to be a witch..." As for their familial relationship, let me do more looking! I'd love to write an article about William Barker, he seems like an interesting figure to be sure! Stay tuned, and thank you for reading!