Burying Ground of the Family Who Just Escaped the Salem Witch Trials.
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Published 2023-10-26
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THIS STORY:
Witch trials and hangings were rampant throughout New England from the middle 1600's. The only escape for the accused or condemned was to confess and claim to negate the pact with the Devil, or to escape south out of New England to New York or Pennsylvania where witchcraft was not punished. Most of the accused were not wealthy enough to escape south fast enough to stay ahead of the sheriff sent to detain them.
The Elder Ballou family saw the handwriting on the wall and left Salem just before the witch hysteria permeated through Salem, Massachusetts. And it is here in Cumberland, Rhode Island, where they finally found their refuge from possible persecution, torture and death, which others later endured.
In the late spring 1692, a number of unnatural or unexplained events took place and members of the town of Salem were frightened about their future survival. About that same time, a group of adolescent girls in Salem began having strange fits, during which they accused several people, primarily middle-aged women, of being witches.
Some young girls there had learned that by having screaming spasms and accusing women of witchcraft, the adults started paying attention to them. As their importance grew, so did the number of their accusations. The evidence they stated was always spectral: based on dreams and visions. Officials convened a court to hear the charges of witchcraft.
Many of the accusers came from a traditional way of life tied to farming and the church, whereas a number of the accused witches were members of a rising commercial class of small shopkeepers and tradesmen.
Amazingly, those who confessed to being witches – whether it was true or not – were not executed. The Puritans believed that once a person made a full confession, his or her fate should be left in God’s hands, not man’s. These confessors were kept apart from the other prisoners, and were called upon to testify in other trials if they could be helpful to the prosecution. 55 people in the Salem area confessed to witchcraft in 1692.
From June through September of 1692, 19 men and women were carted to Gallows Hill, a barren slope near Salem, for hanging. Another man named Giles Corey, of an age over 80 years, was pressed to death under heavy stones in an empty field on Howard Street, which was next to the jail in Salem Village. He had refused to submit to a trial on witchcraft charges. More than 100 others were still in jail – among them some of the town’s most prominent citizens.
The witch hysteria began to spread to other communities, which greatly concerned some citizens. On October 3, 1692 Increase Mather, then president of Harvard, denounced the use of spectral evidence: “It were better that ten suspected witches should escape than one innocent person be condemned.” In response Massachusetts Governor William Phipps prohibited further arrests, released many accused witches and dissolved the Court on October 29.
Then, almost as soon as it had begun, it was over. Phipps pardoned all who were in prison on witchcraft charges by May 1693. On January 14, 1697, the General Court ordered a day of fasting and soul-searching for the tragedy at Salem. In 1702, the General Court declared the trials unlawful; in 1711, they passed a bill restoring the rights and good names of those accused and granted 600 pounds restitution to their heirs.
THIS CHANNEL:
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The Angel face you see is the Haserot, named “The Angel of Death Victorious". The stoic angel is seated on the marble gravestone of canning entrepreneur Francis Haserot and his family. Holding an extinguished torch upside-down, it represents a symbol of life extinguished.
IN THE END, DEATH ALWAYS WINS. LEST THE FACES NOT BE FORGO
All Comments (21)
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I have a ancestor who survived the Salem witch trials, her name was Sarah. She was called a witch because she got pregnant by her second husband (1st husband passed)when she was older. She never conceived in her younger years, Because she was a very mature woman they thought it was witchcraft.. Sarah must have made a deal with the devil to get pregnant. Her husband put his life on the line and petition to spare her life and the unborn and he succeeded. We found this out about a year ago, she was on my mother’s side of the family tree. I think she was a amazing woman ❤
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Ron, you would be a wonderful pastor. The care and respect you show for people who have passed away..
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The symbol of the oil lamp on those headstones is a symbol of Christian preparedness, as in the parable of the 10 virgins waiting for the bridgroom; 5 were unprepared because they ran out of oil and while they were off getting more, the groom locked them out. The 5 wise ones brought extra oil and went into the feast.
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this was cool! We think one of our ancestors was a Mary Bradbury that was accused of being one of the witches. She ended up getting away from being killed.
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These old cemeteries are so full of history and so beautiful at the same time. Rhode Island is such a gorgeous state.
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The Ballou Meeting House Rd cemetery was even spookier back in the 70s when there were no houses around. Lived down the road from there. As a teenager friends and I went to visit it on Halloween night. Very creepy! 👻
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In England they had small headstones if they didn't have much money. As you paid the stonemason by the letter, they could only afford the initials. Love your channel ❤
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Tombstones from the 1700s fascinate me the most bc they’re becoming more rare as time goes on. Just starting & already creeped out can you imagine walking around there just a few hours later in the dark by yourself? I can’t. 🎃 👻
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Grandmother lived on Mendon Rd. Cumberland, RI. Our family loves to cemetery walk.
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Cool cemetery! I'd love to go wandering around there. In my town in western NY we have those same kind of vaults built into the ground with the iron doors. The cemetery was built in the 1850s, I believe. I can't wait to see more of these places. Thank you, Ron.
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What a spooky little cemetery! Thanks Ron! I love the names, Comfort, Welcome etc 😊
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So many died so young back then. More sad than creepy. Great video as always though, thanks.
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Very spooky and creepy and a haunting cemetery Ron...loved it...👻🎃🦇🕷️🕸️👍... Mary M
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Elder Ballou is the among the best of the old New England Cemeteries. Watching YouTube, I can feel the Presence of the people there and imagine them, the individuals they were and their personalities. To be there in person would be, well no words to describe the experience. Thanks Ron for the great video!
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Great video! The crunching of the leaves underfoot, the fog rolling in, the beautiful red, orange and gold leaves on the graves. Watching thus, I can almost smell October.🍁
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Salem is such a beautiful place. I love it more every time I go there 😊❤
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Ron to bad you couldn't go to Center Church in New Haven. Part of the graveyard is actually under the Church. Not sure if there are any interesting stories but just the fact that they left the graveyard intact and built above it is interesting. You can go into the (basement) in see the stones.
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As the fog come rolling in I couldn't help but think "They're coming for you Ron" lol... Always interesting...Thanks for sharing!!!!
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This looked like an incredible spot for exploring....great work sir!
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Worst drivers in the country here in RI! I know those places very well, Whipple were a prominent family of Cumberland. Amazing history up there, we have to hit the monastery next time!
