Giles Corey – What Happened During the Salem Witch Trials?
If you’ve ever wondered what exactly happened during the Salem witch trials, here are a few things you need to know.
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Corey refused to enter a plea to be tried
There were many men and women arrested and accused of witchcraft during the Salem witch trials. Corey was one of them. During his trial, he refused to plead guilty or to accept a jury trial.
He was not the first to refuse to put himself on the stand during these trials. His reputation is a bit shady, and his motives unclear. However, his case will be remembered for its supreme defiance.
As part of the Salem witch trials, Corey was arrested by George Herrick on April 18, 1692. He was indicted alongside his wife Martha. Corey testified against his wife, but he attempted to recant the alleged statement. The court listened to his testimony, but he refused to be retested.
Unlike his wife who was executed, Corey was tried and found guilty. He was sentenced to the death penalty. After his arrest, he deeded his land to his sons-in-law.
Despite his objections, Giles Corey was committed to jail, and the sheriff’s office ordered him to be pressed to death. It is not known whether he died in the process. Regardless, he was the subject of the first recorded “peine forte et dure” or pressing torture.
Several of the other notables in the Salem witch trials are:George Jacobs Sr. and John Willard. Other notables include Samuel Wardwell, Bridget Bishop, and George Burroughs. Corey was one of six men hanged during these trials. In addition to these notables, Corey and his wife were full members of the Village church. This was a measure of community respect.
One of the more unusual aspects of Corey’s trial was that it was held in a church building. Normally, a magistrate would have the privilege of conducting a trial in a courtroom. Corey’s plea was insisted upon three times. Eventually, Judge Jonathan Corwin ordered the burial of Corey in an unmarked grave.
Hysteria overtook the local justice system
During the Salem witch trials, the town of Salem, Massachusetts suffered from an unusual outbreak of hysteria. This occurred during the early colonial period and spread to neighboring towns. These trials resulted in the execution of innocent people accused of witchcraft.
The trials were believed to be orchestrated by Satan and his minions. Spectral evidence, a type of testimony based on otherwise invisible spirits, was considered by most people to be the only proof.
The trials also spawned a number of myths, including the idea that people were possessed by the devil. Several young girls became afflicted and claimed that they saw invisible spirits. Others were afflicted by a fungus called ergot. Ergot, which is found in cereals, wheat and rye, causes muscle spasms.
A slave named Tituba, who lived with the Reverend Parris and his family, was the first to be accused of being a witch. She told the magistrate that she was acting as an informant. Another woman, Sarah Osborn, became a target of suspicion. Her sister Abigail was also accused.
During the trials, many other young girls were afflicted with similar symptoms. They would convulse into strange positions or crawl under furniture. In some cases, they claimed to see the devil.
The accused witches were a mix of eccentrics and God-fearing people. Many accused were members of the Quaker faith. However, they were not allowed the right to defend themselves under English common law.
Trials continued for several months. Eventually, 14 people were hanged. After this time, the trials ended. Governor Phips halted the trials in October. He ordered that the court’s successors disregard spectral evidence.
Some people suggested that a wave of hysteria was the cause of the witch trials. Other people thought that the spectral evidence was an illusion.
A fungus was blamed for the hysteria
A fungus called ergotism was blamed for the hysteria during the Salem witch trials in Massachusetts. The trials were held in 1692. As a result, more than 150 people were accused of practicing witchcraft and put to death.
Historians have struggled to explain what caused the madness. Some have attributed it to political manoeuvring, socioeconomic issues, and sexual repression. However, a recent study suggests that it may have been caused by a fungus.
According to Linnda Caporael, a behavioral psychologist at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, the Salem witch trials were probably caused by ergotism. She explains that ergotism is a form of convulsions and delusions that can result from ingesting food contaminated with a fungus known as Claviceps purpurea. This fungus grows in damp, warm environments and can cause muscle spasms, hallucinations, and delusions.
Ergot is found in rye, wheat, and other grains. It is also an ingredient in LSD, a hallucinogenic drug.
According to Linnda Caporael, the fungus was present in the area before the trials began, indicating that it would have flourished in a damp, warm environment. There are also indications that the fungi caused a climate of fear that spread throughout the colony.
In the spring of 1692, a group of young girls accused several local women of witchcraft. These accusations began a wave of hysteria that plagued the town. More than 200 people were eventually accused and put to death.
While many of the victims were female, males were not spared. Five men were killed in the witchcraft trials. Two dogs were also reportedly executed for supposedly supernatural crimes.
The trials were fueled by suspicions of neighbors, political manoeuvring, and a desire to punish the alleged perpetrators. They were followed by false accusations and lapses in due process.
Corey was hung
Giles Corey was a hard working farmer. He lived with his wife Martha on a farm in the southwest part of Salem village. Corey was accused of being a witch by Mercy Lewis. During the Salem Witch Trials, he refused to admit his guilt. Instead, he defended his wife’s innocence vigorously.
The Coreys were members of the Church of England. Giles had two natural daughters. However, he had no offspring with Mary. They left the farm to their sons-in-law. Corey also served wine at the sacrament.
Corey was a strong and unafraid man. In fact, he was often portrayed as a martyr during the Salem Witch Trials. It was his death that contributed to the public’s opposition to the trials.
Giles Corey was arrested by George Herrick on April 18. His wife, Martha, was pressed to death on September 17. Corey died after being subjected to pressuring. Corey did not confess to being a witch, but he told the court that he would die in jail.
Martha Corey was interrogated by Justices Hathorne and Corwin. She told them not to believe the children, who were hysterical and distracted. But when the girls began to testify, the questioning of Martha was interrupted with piercing screams.
Several other witnesses testified against Corey. Alice Booth testified that Corey had a large amount of wine at the sacrament and that he had served bread. Abigail Hobbs said that Corey had been a witch. Bridget Bishop and Elizabeth Booth also testified against Corey.
Corey’s case was examined by Justices John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin on the second day. During the next day’s examination, he was named as a witch.
After Corey’s death, the case was dismissed by the Governor of Massachusetts. As a result, all of the remaining prisoners were freed.
Corey was buried in the Nurse family burial ground
The Salem witch trials of 1692 were not without their dark side. During the witch hunts, several men and women were killed. In addition to those who were accused, there were four who died in “witch jails” – shallow graves.
One of the most infamous trials involved Giles Corey. He was accused of witchcraft along with his wife Martha Corey. While the trial was going on, Corey refused to cooperate with court authorities. Instead, he wanted to avoid being convicted.
As part of his effort to keep his name clean, Corey refused to take the stand and argued that he had no knowledge of what he was being charged with. But he refused to enter a plea of innocence or guilt, and his trial was eventually abandoned.
Corey’s nemesis was Sheriff Corwin, who tortured him in his attempts to get him to enter a plea. Corey eventually succumbed to his torture.
During the trials, Corey was able to deed some of his land to his sons. However, he still had to live in prison. At one point, he was pressed with heavy stones.
Another story has it that Corey cursed Sheriff Corwin. This may have been the case. Corey’s ghost still haunts the area around Howard Street Cemetery.
Some historians believe Corey did not even want to be tried. Rather, he wanted to die a peaceful death. During the trial, he refused to admit guilt, and he did not participate in the tussle that would have led to his execution.
Those accused of witchcraft were often deprived of their possessions. It was considered to be a serious crime, and those who were convicted had their personal estates confiscated. Several women were buried in shallow graves, and the bodies of the afflicted were not properly reclaimed by their families.
