Which Witch City?

[jackfaust]

Reading through some local history, I came across this surprising entry for Northampton, MA:

By 1656, witch hysteria had reached this western outpost. One woman, Mary Parsons, was tried twice but acquitted both times.I'm fascinated by these local outbursts of hysteria. We all know about Salem, of course. I also have an informative book (via

Comments

[talesinsdaughtr]

At least one in the town I grew up in; Rowley, MA. There was a piddly stone (no really, a boulder with words on it) erected by the side of rt. 133 in the early 90's to commemorate her.

[jackfaust]

And do you remember her name, and if she was convicted/killed or not?

[jackfaust]

Found it!

Margaret Scott, 1692. Hanged.

But, she's far from the only one. Rowley has been a hotbed of witchery since 1651! Look:

http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carlson/witchtrial/na.html

[talesinsdaughtr]

There were Scott's, Post's, and Bradstreet's still living in town when I was growing up there :)

[spitcurl]

My favorite story is the one about the adulterous witch-cow.

I feel like this took place in Boston, can't remember, but I remember the tour guide pointing to the hanging tree: A man was caught giving his cow the business. He pleaded witchcraft and seduction -- it was obviously the cow's fault! So they hung the cow from this big tree (still standing), to punish the cow for her crime.

When they caught the same guy with a second cow later on, they finally wised up and hung the man, so the story goes.

[jackfaust]

Those witch-cows!

I don't suppose you have a link, or a book title for this? My quickie search found nada, but then, I suppose no one wants to be the first on the Web to admit an interest in adulterous witch-cows.

[spitcurl]

Wish I did. I wish I remember where the tree was too!