Springfield’s Witch Hysteria Precedes Salem Trials in New Exhibit
SPRINGFIELD — Long before the notorious Salem witch trials, the early Massachusetts town of Springfield found itself engulfed in its own witch hysteria, centering around Hugh and Mary Parsons. A new exhibit at the Springfield Museums titled "Witch Panic! Massachusetts before Salem" delves into the unsettling atmosphere that led to accusations of witchcraft against the couple.
Founded in 1636 by William Pynchon and others, Springfield was a small settlement of about 100. As strange illness and unexplained events began to plague the town, fears of witchcraft surfaced, particularly following the deaths of Pynchon’s granddaughters in 1648 and the mysterious sickness of the minister’s children in 1651. A bizarre incident involving a missing cow’s tongue further fueled suspicions against the Parsons.
Elizabeth Kapp, the museum’s curator, emphasized how societal expectations and stereotypes made the Parsons ideal scapegoats. Hugh, a less-than-amiable brickmaker, was already under scrutiny for his odd behavior, while Mary, a divorced woman from Wales, faced accusations herself for seeking answers about local misfortunes.
After a failed slander trial, where Mary accused another woman of witchcraft, the couple were arrested in February 1651. Mary was tried for alleged witchcraft and infanticide. While acquitted of witchcraft, she confessed to wrongdoing in the death of her child, although it was never substantiated. Hugh languished in prison for 15 months before his conviction was overturned.
Kapp noted that historian Malcolm Gaskell described these events as the "first American witch panic," laying the groundwork for the later, more infamous Salem trials. The exhibit, featuring extensive documentation and curated by Kapp and her team, runs until November 2, showcasing this significant chapter of local history and America’s longstanding fascination with witchcraft. Springfield Museums President Kay Simpson hopes the exhibit draws visitors to explore this captivating narrative.
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