# How many "witches" were executed in America? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 19, 2024, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-witches-were-executed-in-america/1004478 "2024-07-19T23:02:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2024, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-witches-were-executed-in-america/1004478/1 "2024-07-19T23:02:30Z")
I know 19 in Salem, and 5 more died in prison. Connecticut executed 11. However- I can not find any totals or occasions besides those two events. Clearly, those were the “main events”. But were there others? Oddly the only “witch” in Salem was Tituba, and she pled guilty and got off by accusing others. (She was sent to gaol, however.) her fate is unknown. Note- in America, the 'witches" were not burned at the stake- most were hanged. (_Hung_ is the normal tense, but not in this one sense) ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-witches-were-executed-in-america/1004478/2 "2024-07-20T14:07:29Z")
So again I this shows how bad Google has gotten. When you search for this it gives you loads of links about what it thinks you want (namely about the famous American witch trials at Salem) but next to nothing about what you actually asked for This is the best I can find: > Between 1647 and 1692, 57 people were brought to trial in New England for witchcraft resulting in 16 convictions and 14 to 16 executions, [https://www.darientimes.com/news/article/How-America-s-witch-trials-began-in-16562145.php](https://www.darientimes.com/news/article/How-America-s-witch-trials-began-in-16562145.php) However as it goes on to say “156 people accused of witchcraft from 1692 to 1693, resulting in 30 convictions and 19 executions.” So it’s safe to assume the total is much higher than that initial number would indicate ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-witches-were-executed-in-america/1004478/3 "2024-07-20T14:15:41Z")
Something I think a lot of Americans don’t appreciate is how Salem and other American witch trials were just a speck in the context of the larger European witch trials of the early modern period. From about 1400 to 1775, about 100,000 people were prosecuted for witchcraft in Europe and 40,000 to 60,000 were executed. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-witches-were-executed-in-america/1004478/4 "2024-07-20T19:46:30Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > However as it goes on to say “156 people accused of witchcraft from 1692 to 1693, resulting in 30 convictions and 19 executions.” So it’s safe to assume the total is much higher than that initial number would indicate Yep, I mean we know of the 19 and the 11, so that is 30. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-witches-were-executed-in-america/1004478/5 "2024-07-20T20:45:55Z")
Yes, but also how which trials varied in Europe considerably, with Spain, famous for an unexpected inquisition, doing very few trials, and Germany/HRE going witch crazy. ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2024, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-witches-were-executed-in-america/1004478/6 "2024-07-28T15:44:47Z")
Here’s a list of 20; > **[Wilmot Redd](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilmot_Redd)** > > Wilmot Redd (a.k.a. Wilmot Read and Wilmot Reed) (early 17th century – September 22, 1692) was one of the victims of the Salem witch trials of 1692. She was born in Marblehead, Massachusetts, and executed by hanging on September 22, 1692. Her husband was Samuel Redd, a fisherman. She was known for her irritability, but she was given little serious attention. > Redd was apprehended on May 28, 1692, by local constable James Smith. The warrant was signed by Magistrates Jonathan Corwin and John Hathor... ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2024, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-witches-were-executed-in-america/1004478/7 "2024-07-28T18:24:53Z")
Witchcraft is legal now, right? Asking for a friend…