A Guide to the Primary Sources of the Salem Witch Trials
People Accused of Witchcraft in 1692
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For each person accused during the Salem witchcraft trials, you can access a large number (not all!) of the primary sources on-line, detailing what happened to them, as available in the original legal records and contemporary accounts. This is not an absolute definitive list, but it will get you started. The columns on the right will give you an idea of what kinds evidence exists in the case of each person as found in Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt.
Help using these primary sources
If you are trying to understand what happened to a specific person, please download this helpful guide concerning what sort of information you can find in the primary sources in each of these categories.

Accused: Sarah Cloyce, of TopsfieldReturn
No. 30: Deposition of Ann Putnam Sr. v. Martha Cory & Rebecca Nurse, and Testimony of Ann Putnam Jr. v. Rebecca Nurse, Martha Cory & Sarah Cloyce       √          
No. 39: Complaint of Jonathan Walcott & Nathaniel Ingersoll v. Sarah Cloyce & Elizabeth Procter √                
No. 46: Warrant for the Apprehension of Sarah Cloyce & Elizabeth Procter, and Officer's Return √                
No. 47: Council Record Pertaining to Sarah Cloyce, Martha Cory, Dorothy Good, Rebecca Nurse, Elizabeth Procter, & John Procter     √            
No. 49: Examination of Sarah Cloyce & Elizabeth Procter   √              
No. 57: Deposition of Samuel Parris, Nathaniel Ingersoll, & Thomas Putnam v. John Procter, Elizabeth Procter, & Sarah Cloyce       √          
No. 59: Deposition of Ann Putnam Jr. v. John Procter       √ √        
No. 61: Statement of Samuel Parris Concerning Abigail Williams & Mary Walcott v. John Procter, Elizabeth Procter, Sarah Cloyce, Martha Cory, Rebecca Nurse, Sarah Good & Dorothy Good       √          
No. 216: Census of Prisoners and Dates of Prison Transfers     √            
No. 217: Mittimus for Martha Cory, Rebecca Nurse, Dorothy Good, Sarah Cloyce, John Procter, & Elizabeth Procter     √            
No. 244: Testimony of Abigail Williams v. Rebecca Nurse & Sarah Cloyce       √          
No. 267: Deposition of Ann Putnam Sr. v. Rebecca Nurse, Sarah Cloyce, Sarah Bishop, & Elizabeth Cary       √          
No. 343: Deposition of Sarah Stephens & Margery Pasque v. Rebecca Nurse, Sarah Cloyce, & Faith Black       √          
No. 362: Deposition of John Putnam Jr. & Hannah Putnam v. Rebecca Nurse, Mary Esty, & Sarah Cloyce       √          
No. 549: Summons for Witnesses v. Mary Esty, Sarah Cloyce, Giles Cory, & Martha Cory, and Officer's Return         √        
No. 596: Petition of Sarah Cloyce & Mary Esty       √          
No. 602: Statements of John Arnold & Mary Arnold for Mary Esty & Sarah Cloyce     √            
No. 809: Indictment of Sarah Cloyce, for Afflicting Rebecca Towne (Returned Ignoramus)         √        
No. 810: Indictment of Sarah Cloyce, for Afflicting Mary Walcott (Returned Ignoramus)         √        
No. 811: Indictment of Sarah Cloyce, for Afflicting Abigail Williams (Returned Ignoramus)         √        
No. 869: Account for Payment Submitted by Isaac Little & John Harris, Sheriff's Deputy     √            
No. 870: Account for Payment Submitted by Robert Lord, Blacksmith     √            
What kind of primary source evidence does a check in each column indicate?
  • Complaint or Arrest - Either a formal complaint or an arrest warrant against this person exists.
  • Examination - An account of an examination (interrogation) or confession before local magistrates or in prison exists.
  • Imprisonment - A mittimus to move this person to/from jail, a recognizance or bond to release the person from jail, a reference in a jailer's bill, or a request for compensation for time spent in jail exists.
  • Evidence Entered - At least one deposition, statement, testimony or petition from any proceeding (preliminary hearing, grand jury or trial) for or against this person exists.
  • Grand Jury or Indictment - A deposition, statement or testimony sworn before the grand jury of inquest, a physical examination of the body of this person, or an indictment brought before a grand jury exists.
  • Jury Trial - An entry in a court record book or a contemporary account of the trial exists.
  • Conviction - A death warrant indicating that the person was convicted, a notation about the case in a record book of the conviction, a statement that the person was convicted in either a request for reversal of attainder or for compensation from the Crown exists.
  • Execution - The return of an officer on a death warrant, a statement that the person was executed in a request for reversal of attainder or for compensation from the Crown, or an entry in Samuel Sewall's diary exists.
  • Restitution - Accounts submitted for restitution, orders for payment to survivors, acts for reversal of attainder or for payments of restitution, proclamations clearing the accused

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