A Guide to the Primary Sources of the Salem Witch Trials
Entries in Richard Godbeer's The Salem Witch Hunt: A Brief History with Documents, 1st ed.
Cross-Referenced to Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt
This page cross-references 71 of the transcription entries in Richard Godbeer's The Salem Witch Hunt: A Brief History with Documents 1st ed. (St. Martin's, 2011) with Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt (Camrbridge, 2009). The two works are transcribed differently: Records presents transcriptions of the manuscripts with letter-by-letter accuracy, but Godbeer presents modernized, edited versions, stating in his Note about the Documents, "For these handwritten documents I have corrected misspellings, inserted the missing letters in contractions, and provided some minimal punctuation to guide the reader... It has been my experience that students find unmediated versions of these documents utterly perplexing."
The items listed on this page as being in Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt do not represent its entire contents, only 71 of the 95 documents that appear in Godbeer. For the complete contents of Records -- including many items not included in Godbeer -- please consult this list. This page does not include the entire contents of Godbeer, either, which includes a variety of period texts that were outside the editorial scope of Records. Godbeer's selection concentrates on six cases: Sarah Good, Tituba, John Procter, Bridget Bishop, Dorcas Hoar, and George Burroughs.
Available to be borrowed at the Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780312484552

# (Pages) Godbeer Title Notes & Corrections Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt
#11 (pp. 54-61)Deodat Lawson's Account Godbeer includes the entire text of Lawson's tract; RSWH includes extracts. No. 17 *: Examination of Martha Cory, as Told by Deodat Lawson
No. 25 *: Examination of Dorothy Good, as Told by Deodat Lawson
No. 29 *: Examination of Rebecca Nurse, as Told by Deodat Lawson
No. 33 *: Examination of Dorothy Good, as Told by Deodat Lawson
#14 (pp. 68-69)Arrest Warrant for Sarah Good, February 29, 1692 Does not include the return of the arresting officer No. 1: Warrant for the Apprehension of Sarah Good, and Officer's Return
#15 (pp. 69-71)Examination of Sarah Good(as Recorded by Ezekiel Cheever), March 1, 1692 Godbeer has extracted only the examination of Good from this manuscript. No. 3: Examinations of Sarah Good, Sarah Osburn & Tituba, as Recorded by Ezekiel Cheever
#16 (p. 71)Elizabeth Hubbard against Sarah Good, March 1, 1692 No. 7: Deposition of Elizabeth Hubbard v. Sarah Good
#17 (p. 72)Ann Putnam Jr. against Sarah Good, March 1, 1692 No. 9: Deposition of Ann Putnam Jr. v. Sarah Good
#18 (pp. 72-73)William Allen, John Hughes, William Good, and Samuel Braybrook against Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne, and Tituba, March 5, 1692 No. 14: Statement of William Allen, John Hughes, William Good, & Samuel Braybrook v. Sarah Good, Sarah Osburn, & Tituba
#19 (p. 74)Abigail Williams against Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne, and Tituba, May 23, 1692 No. 207: Testimony of Abigail Williams v. Sarah Good, Sarah Osburn, & Tituba
#20 (pp. 74-75)Indictment against Sarah Good for Afflicting Sarah Bibber, June 28, 1692 No. 330: Indictment No. 1 of Sarah Good, for Afflicting Sarah Bibber
#21 (pp. 75-76)Sarah Bibber against Sarah Good, June 28, 1692 No. 335: Deposition of Sarah Bibber v. Sarah Good
#22 (p. 76)Sarah Gadge and Thomas Gadge against Sarah Good, June 28, 1692 No. 336: Depositions of Sarah Gage & Thomas Gage v. Sarah Good
#23 (p. 77)Joseph Herrick Sr. and Mary Herrick against Sarah Good, June 28, 1692 No. 337: Deposition of Joseph Herrick Sr. & Mary Herrick v. Sarah Good
#24 (p. 78)Samuel Abbey and Mary Abbey against Sarah Good, June 29, 1692 No. 352: Deposition of Samuel Abbey & Mary Abbey v. Sarah Good
#25 (p. 79)Henry Herrick and Jonathan Batchelor against Sarah Good, June 29, 1692 No. 353: Deposition of Henry Herrick & Jonathan Batchelor v. Sarah Good
#26 (p. 80)Samuel Sibley against Sarah Good, June 29, 1692 No. 354: Testimony of Samuel Sibley v. Sarah Good
#27 (pp. 80-81)Death Warrant for Sarah Good, Rebecca Nurse, Susannah Martin, Elizabeth How, and Sarah Wilds (July 12, 1692) and Officer's Return (July 19, 1692) No. 418: Warrant for the Execution of Sarah Good, Rebecca Nurse, Susannah Martin, Elizabeth How, & Sarah Wilds, and Officer's Return
#28 (pp. 82-87)First Examination of Tituba (as Recorded by Jonathan Corwin), March 1, 1692 No. 6: Two Examinations of Tituba, as Recorded by Jonathan Corwin
#29 (pp. 87-90)Second Examination of Tituba (as Recorded by Jonathan Corwin), March 2, 1692
#30 (p. 90)Elizabeth Hubbard against Tituba, March 1, 1692 No. 12: Deposition of Elizabeth Hubbard v. Tituba
#31 (p. 91)Ann Putnam Jr. against Tituba, March 1, 1692 No. 13: Deposition of Ann Putnam Jr. v. Tituba
#32 (pp. 91-92)Indictment against Tituba for Covenanting with the Devil, May 9, 1693 No. 844: Indictment of Tituba, for Covenanting (Returned Ignoramus)
#33 (p. 93)Elizabeth Booth against John Proctor, April 11, 1692 No. 55: Deposition of Elizabeth Booth v. John Procter
#34 (p. 94)Abigail Williams against John Proctor, May 31, 1692 No. 246: Testimony of Abigail Williams v. John Procter
#35 (p. 94)Physical Examination of John Proctor and John Willard, June 2, 1692 No. 272: Physical Examinations of the Bodies of John Procter & John Willard
#36 (p. 95)Mary Warren against John Proctor, June 30, 1692 No. 391: Deposition of Mary Warren v. John Procter
#37 (pp. 95-96)Petition of John Proctor, July 23, 1692 No. 433 *: Petition of John Procter from Prison
#38 (p. 97)John DeRich against John Proctor and Others, August 4, 1692 Godbeer's citation of the original manuscript is incorrect. No. 481: Testimony of John DeRich v. George Jacobs Sr. et al.
#39 (p. 98)Samuel Sibley against John Proctor, August 5, 1692 No. 501: Statement of Samuel Sibley v. John Procter, as Recorded by Samuel Parris
#40 (pp. 99-100)Petition for John Proctor and Elizabeth Proctor, August 5, 1692 No. 496: Petition in Support of John Procter & Elizabeth Procter
#41 (p. 101)Petition for John Proctor and Elizabeth Proctor, August 5, 1692 No. 495: Petition in Support of John Procter & Elizabeth Procter
#42 (pp. 102-105)Examination of Bridget Bishop (as recorded by Ezekiel Cheever), April 19, 1692 No. 63: Examination of Bridget Bishop, as Recorded by Ezekiel Cheever
#43 (pp. 105-106)William Stacy against Bridget Bishop No. 231: Deposition of William Stacy v. Bridget Bishop
#44 (p. 107)Sarah Churchill and Mary Warren against Bridget Bishop and Others, June 1, 1692 No. 258: Testimony of Sarah Churchill v. Ann Pudeator and Testimony of Mary Warren v. Bridget Bishop, Elizabeth Cary, George Jacobs Sr., & Ann Pudeator
#45 (pp. 108-109)Physical Examinations of Bridget Bishop and Others No. 271: Physical Examinations No. 1 & No. 2 of Bridget Bishop, Rebecca Nurse, Elizabeth Procter, Alice Parker, Susannah Martin, & Sarah Good
#46 (pp. 109-110)John Bly Sr. and Rebecca Bly against Bridget Bishop, June 2, 1692 No. 281: Deposition of John Bly Sr. & Rebecca Bly v. Bridget Bishop
#47 (p. 110)John Bly Sr. and William Bly against Bridget Bishop No. 280: Testimony of John Bly Sr. & William Bly v. Bridget Bishop
#48 (pp. 110-111)Richard Coman against Bridget Bishop, June 2, 1682 No. 282: Testimony of Richard Coman v. Bridget Bishop
#49 (pp. 112-113)John Louder against Bridget Bishop, June 2, 1692 No. 278: Testimony of John Louder v. Bridget Bishop
#50 (pp. 113-115)Samuel Shattuck and Sarah Shattuck against Bridget Bishop, June 2, 1692 No. 279: Deposition of Samuel & Sarah Shattuck v. Bridget Bishop
#51 (p. 116)Susannah Sheldon against Bridget Bishop and Others, June 3, 1692 It is unclear why Godbeer dates this document on June 3, or who the "Others" might be, since only Bishop is mentioned in the text. No. 283: Deposition of Susannah Shelden v. Bridget Bishop
#52 (pp. 117-120)Examination of Dorcas Hoar (as Recorded by Samuel Parris), May 2, 1692 No. 102: Examination of Dorcas Hoar
#53 (p. 120)Sarah Bibber against Dorcas Hoar, July 2, 1692 No. 402: Deposition of Sarah Bibber v. Dorcas Hoar
#54 (p. 121)Elizabeth Hubbard against Dorcas Hoar, July 2, 1692 No. 403: Deposition of Elizabeth Hubbard v. Dorcas Hoar
#55 (pp. 121-122)Ann Putnam Jr. against Dorcas Hoar, July 2, 1692 No. 404: Deposition of Ann Putnam Jr., v. Dorcas Hoar
#56 (p. 122)Mary Walcott against Dorcas Hoar, July 2, 1692 No. 405: Deposition of Mary Walcott v. Dorcas Hoar
#57 (p. 123)Mary Gage against Dorcas Hoar and Others, September 6, 1692 No. 556: Deposition of Mary Gage v. Dorcas Hoar, Sarah Wilds, & Sarah Bishop
#58 (pp. 124-126)John Hale against Dorcas Hoar, September 6, 1692 No. 557: Testimony of John Hale v. Dorcas Hoar
#59 (p. 126)Joseph Morgan and Deborah Morgan against Dorcas Hoar, September 6, 1692 No. 560: Depositions of Joseph Morgan & Deborah Morgan v. Dorcas Hoar
#60 (p. 127)John Tuck against Dorcas Hoar, September 6, 1692 Godbeer left off Joseph Tuck's supporting statement in the transcription of this manuscript. No. 561: Deposition of John Tuck v. Dorcas Hoar and Statement of Joseph Tuck v. Dorcas Hoar
#61 (pp. 127-128)Petition of John Hale, Nichlas Noyes, Daniel Epes, and John Emerson Jr., September 21, 1692 No. 676: Petition of John Hale, Nicholas Noyes, Daniel Epps Jr., & John Emerson Jr. for Dorcas Hoar
#62 (pp. 130-131)Benjamin Hutchinson against George Burroughs and Others, April 22, 1692 No. 85: Statement of Benjamin Hutchinson v. George Burroughs
#63 (pp. 131-132)Examination of George Burroughs (as recorded by Samuel Parris), May 9, 1692 No. 120: Examination of George Burroughs and Statement of Abigail Hobbs v. George Burroughs
#64 (pp. 132-133)Elizar Keyser against George Burroughs, May 9, 1692 No. 123: Statement of Elizer Keyser v. George Burroughs
#65 (pp. 133-134)Mercy Lewis against George Burroughs, May 9, 1692 No. 124: Deposition of Mercy Lewis v. George Burroughs, and Statement of Thomas Putnam & Edward Putnam v. George Burroughs
#66 (p. 134)John Putnam Sr. and Rebecca Putnam against George Burroughs, May 9, 1692 No. 126: Deposition of John Putnam Sr. & Rebecca Putnam v. George Burroughs
#67 (p. 135)Mary Walcott against George Burroughs, May 9, 1692 No. 129: Deposition of Mary Walcott v. George Burroughs
#68 (p. 136)Simon Willard and William Wormall against George Burroughs, May 9, 1692 No. 130: Depositions of Simon Willard v. George Burroughs, and Testimony of William Wormall v. George Burroughs
#69 (p. 137)Abigail Hobbs, Deliverance Hobbs, and Mary Warren against George Burroughs and Others, June 1, 1692 No. 255: Deposition of Abigail Hobbs, Deliverance Hobbs, & Mary Warren v. George Burroughs, Sarah Good, Sarah Osburn, Bridget Bishop, Giles Cory, Rebecca Nurse, Elizabeth Procter, Alice Parker, Ann Pudeator, Abigail Soames, John Procter, & Lydia Dustin
#70 (p. 138)Mary Webber against George Burroughs, August 2, 1692 No. 446: Testimony of Mary Webber v. George Burroughs
#71 (p. 139)Ann Putnam Jr. against George Burroughs, August 3, 1692 No. 457: Deposition of Ann Putnam Jr. v. George Burroughs, and Statement of Thomas Putnam, Peter Prescott, Robert Morey, & Ezekiel Cheevers v. George Burroughs
#72 (p. 140)Physical Examination of George Burroughs and George Jacobs Jr., August 4, 1692 No. 474: Physical Examinations of George Burroughs & George Jacobs Sr.
#73 (pp. 140-141)Hannah Harris against George Burroughs, August 5, 1692 No. 492: Deposition of Hannah Harris v. George Burroughs
#74 (pp. 141-142)Thomas Greenslit against George Burroughs, September 15, 1692 No. 634: Deposition of Thomas Greenslit v. George Burroughs
#75 (p. 142)Sarah Wilson and Martha Tyler against George Burroughs, September 15, 1692 Transcription of only the bottom half of this manuscript. No. 636: Memorandum: Major Brown, Thomas Evans, Thomas Ruck, Martha Tyler, & Sarah Wilson Jr. v. George Burroughs
#76 (pp. 145-146)Confession of William Barker Sr., August 29, 1692 No. 525: Examination of William Barker Sr.
#77 (pp. 147-148)Recantation of Margaret Jacobs, undated No. 753 *: Plea of Margaret Jacobs
#78 (pp. 148-149)Declaration of Mary Osgood, Mary Tyler, Deliverance Dane, Abigail Barker, Sarah Wilson, and Hannah Tyler, undated No. 749 *: Petition of Mary Osgood, Mary Tyler, Deliverance Dane, Abigail Barker, Sarah Wilson Sr., & Hannah Tyler
#79 (pp. 150-151)Increase Mather's Conversation in Prison with Mary Tyler, undated This is only a portion of the entire record of Mather's conversations with prisoners, as first published in 1815. No. 699 *: Recantations of Mary Osgood, Eunice Frye, Deliverance Dane, Abigail Barker, Mary Tyler, Sarah Wilson Sr., Mary Bridges Sr., Mary Marston, Sarah Churchill, Hannah Post, & Mary Post, as Reported by Increase Mather
#80 (p. 151)Sarah Ingersoll for Sarah Churchill, undated No. 261: Statement of Sarah Ingersoll & Ann Andrews Regarding Sarah Churchill
#85 (pp. 165-166)Letter from William Phips to William Blathwayt, Clerk of the Privy Council in London, October 12, 1692 No. 693 *: Letter of William Phips to the Privy Council
#92 (pp. 177-178)Reversals of Conviction, Judgment, and Attainder, October 17, 1711 No. 931: An Act to Reverse the Attainders of George Burroughs et al. for Witchcraft
#93 (pp. 179-180)The Massachusetts General Court Makes restitution, December 17, 1711 No. 934: Order for Payment of Damages by Governor Joseph Dudley


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