June 10
Bridget Bishop First Executed in Salem Witch Trials
Bridget Bishop's execution on June 10, 1692, launched the deadly phase of the Salem witch trials, as colonial authorities relied on spectral evidence to convict the first of nineteen people hanged amid spreading accusations in Massachusetts.
Summary
By spring 1692, accusations of witchcraft had gripped Salem Village and surrounding Massachusetts communities amid social tensions and fears of the supernatural. Bridget Bishop, an independent woman with a prior witchcraft accusation, stood trial before the Court of Oyer and Terminer. Convicted on spectral evidence and neighbor testimony, she maintained her innocence. On June 10, 1692, Sheriff George Corwin escorted her to Gallows Hill where she was hanged, becoming the first of nineteen people executed during the trials. The swift execution set a precedent that accelerated further prosecutions before the hysteria subsided later that year.
Context
In the Puritan community of Salem Village within the Massachusetts Bay Colony, unexplained afflictions struck young girls in the household of Reverend Samuel Parris in February 1692. A local doctor attributed the fits and convulsions of nine-year-old Elizabeth Parris and eleven-year-old Abigail Williams to witchcraft, prompting the girls to name individuals they claimed responsible under pressure from adults.
What Happened
Accusations quickly expanded beyond the initial targets. On March 1, Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne, and the enslaved woman Tituba faced charges; Tituba confessed and implicated others, accelerating the cycle of denunciations that eventually involved more than 150 residents from Salem and nearby towns. Most accusations centered on middle-aged women, though men and even a young child were later named.
Aftermath
In June 1692 the special Court of Oyer and Terminer opened under Chief Justice William Stoughton. Bridget Bishop, known locally for her independent ways and prior reputation, stood trial first and was convicted despite proclaiming her innocence. On June 10, Sheriff George Corwin escorted her to Gallows Hill, where she became the first person hanged for witchcraft in the crisis.
Legacy
The court continued its work through the summer, leading to additional hangings and the pressing death of Giles Corey before Governor William Phipps dissolved the tribunal in October 1692. A new Superior Court of Judicature rejected spectral testimony, halted executions, and eventually freed remaining prisoners while issuing pardons.
Why It Matters
Bishop's execution launched the deadliest phase of the Salem witch trials, resulting in nineteen hangings and one pressing. It exposed flaws in colonial legal procedures reliant on spectral evidence and community pressure. Massachusetts authorities later repudiated the trials, granted compensation, and the episode became a cautionary tale about due process and mass hysteria.
Related Questions
Why was Bridget Bishop singled out first for trial?
She faced accusations from more individuals than any other defendant and had a local reputation that made her an early target in the widening investigations.
What kind of evidence convicted people in the Salem trials?
The court accepted spectral evidence, in which the afflicted claimed to see the spirits of the accused tormenting them, along with dramatic reactions by witnesses during proceedings.
How many people ultimately died in the Salem witch trials?
Nineteen people were hanged and one man was pressed to death; dozens more remained imprisoned until the crisis subsided.
What ended the Salem witch trials?
Governor William Phipps dissolved the special court in October 1692 after growing doubts about the proceedings, leading to a new court that rejected the earlier forms of testimony.
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Sources
- First Salem witch hanging | June 10, 1692 - HISTORY, A&E Television Networks. Accessed 2026-07-12.