Giles Cory was a wizard strong.
A stubborn wretch was he;
And fit was he to hang on high
Upon the locust tree.
So, when before the magistrates
For trial he did come,
He would no true confession make
But was completely dumb,
"Giles Cory," said the Magistrate,
"What have you here to plead?
To these who now accuse thy soul
Of crime and horrid deed?"
Giles Cory he said not a word,
No single word spoke he.
"Giles Cory," said the Magistrate,
"We'll press it out of thee."
They got them then a heavy beam,
They laid it on his chest;
They loaded it with heavy stones,
And hard upon him prest.
"More weight!" now said this wretched man;
"More weight!" again he cried;
And he did no confession make,
But wickedly he died.
This anonymous poem, believed to have been written in the mid-nineteenth century, is a memorial to 82-year-old Giles Cory, the only person in American history known to have been legally pressed to death.
For eight months in 1692, colonists in Massachusetts went on a witch hunt. From March to September, one hundred seventeen women and thirty-nine men were accused and imprisoned. Within a four month period, fourteen women and five men were hanged and one old man was pressed to death. This hysteria devastated families and communities.
This information came from a book called Cry "Witch" The Salem Witchcraft Trials by Lawrence Gain and Juliet H. Mofford.
The photo you see is one part of a memorial for those who lost their life during this time. There is a separate bench for each person put to death. Giles wife was hanged September 22, 1692
Salem is a beautiful historic community. This weekend they had wonderful Revolutionary war reenactments.
But as a consequence of the witch trials on every street corner you will see advertisements for psychics, tarot card readings, seances, magic, spells,and ghost tours.
This is such a great shot and the history is very interesting. I read a book about the Salem witch trials and was so fascinated by the frenzy created by false rumors. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks so much for the poem that went with it.
brilliantly captured