Hiding Salem The Other Witch Hunt Of 1692 By Richard...

Book Analysis: Escaping Salem: The Other Witch Hunt of 1692 by Richard Godbeer In Escaping Salem: The Other Witch Hunt of 1692 by Richard Godbeer examined the witchcraft hysteria which happened in Stamford, Connecticut as the hysteria escaped from Salem, Massachusetts and how the panic of witchcraft caused by Katherine Branch in June of 1692, intensified beliefs and readjustments in the legal system in the Puritans society in Stamford, Connecticut. Consequently, Katherine Branch’s accusations in the summer months of 1692, propelled the Puritan community of Stamford into the witchcraft hysteria, as she claimed to have been bewitched and through spectral visions blamed those of who bewitched her; be they human or animal. As such, Puritans†¦show more content†¦However, when the husband comes home and seen Branch â€Å"still lying on the for, her eyes red from crying and her hands clasped as if held in place by an invisible force.† (p.15). when the husband, Daniel, seen Branch in such a state he recalls when his daughter his eldest, Joanna, similar torment and had yet to get over the event. Nevertheless, Branch continued to stay stiff and crying on the floor even after a midwife, Sara Bates, seen to her. When relief came to her in short bursts she stated, â€Å"†¦whilst out in the field gathering herbs she had been seized with a pinching and pricking at her breast† (p. 16). During Katherine’s fits, she would fall into trances, became stiff, cried and shook, as such she began to see spectral visions of the witches who had bewitched her in both human and animal forms. Thus, these bouts of fits Katherine Branch had after picking herbs caused the witch scare to settle in Stamford, Connecticut because in her spectral visions she will go on to accuse five women, who will be tried in the Court of Oyer and Terminer. Puritan society had class system much like every colony now which started with the elite or gantry, middle class, in denture servants and lastly the slaves. The Puritans community was on based off strict religious customs. However, the people do have a voice in this society called Public Opinion which is like a jury. Moreover, Godbeer portrayed the Puritans as abrasive towards