Salem's Old Witch Jail
The Howard Street Cemetery with the old Salem Jail in the background.
The jail that housed accused people during the Salem witch hysteria of 1692-93 was a filthy rat infested dungeon located close to the north river. It was used to house criminals who were generally waiting to be executed.
Construction of the dungeon was approved by the town of Salem in 1683. The constuction of the jail was completed in 1684, and was constructed of hand hewn oak timbers and siding, and was 70 by 280 feet. There were no bars for strangely puritan prisoners accepted their punishment.
The few who did not and escaped were generally caught and killed. Either way the end result was the same.
The prisoners had to pay for their food, and were generally kept short of water so as to make them more likeley to confess.
Despite its terrible conditions the jail was a social gathering place.
The jail staff sold alcohol to people who came in the night to play chess. For a bond of one pound a prisoner could gain day release to visit family but had to return at night. The jailers stripped the women so as to examine and prick them in search of witches marks. Both the women and their family members were tortured for confessions. Many of the victims died in jail. The family then had to pay to have the body removed.
The saleries of the magistrate, sheriff, hangman and other staff had to be paid by the accused.
The prisoners were also billed for the fetters, chains and cuffs. Fees were also charged for being searched for witches markes. People with money were somtimes able to bribe their way out. Victims were taken from the jail by oxcart to the gallows hill. Their dead bodies left swaying from the branches of the locust trees could be seen from the centre of the town.
Eventually with the end of the witch hysteria the jail was closed and sold into private hands and used as a residence.
In 1863 it was purshased by Abner Goodell the state historian. In response to the public the Goodells opened the jail to the public in 1935.
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