Identifier	Thesis 1590
Author	Hyman, Ryan.
Title	The Hartford area witch-hunts : 1647-1683
Publisher	Central Connecticut State University
Date of Publication	2000
Resource Type	Master's Thesis
Abstract	My intent in this thesis is to show that the witch trials in the Hartford area during the Seventeenth Century were unique. The accused witches did not all share any single common bond. There was no one link to connect all of the accused to one another. The witches in Connecticut Colony differed greatly from the better known witches of Salem; Massachusetts. The witches in the Hartford area were spread out over a thirty-six year period and lived in four different towns. Many historians try to develop links to connect all witches to each other. The Hartford area witches do not fit into that type of mold. Some of the accused witches did share a link with another witch, but there was no common characteristic that connected all the accused. The thesis is divided into chapters starting with the facts which were found in both primary and secondary sources. The setting of the trials is presented to show where the hunts took place. There is a sketch of each of the accused witches to get a better idea of the variety of people who were accused as witches. It is often revealing to see the similarities rather than the differences. Yet some of the accusers are also dealt with to paint a picture of the other side of the coin. It is significant to see the differences between the accusers and accused. The witches' sketches are divided into three sections: the early period of the trials, the Hartford hysteria ofl662-63, and the later cases. The following chapter deals with the punishments that the witches had to endure. The evidence that was used in this thesis was obtained through various sources. Primary documents such as probate records, court records, maps, and inventories were among the sources used. The secondary sources used were by both modem historians as well as historians from the past. These helped with the facts, but more importantly displayed their own theories on the witch-hunts and trials in all of New England during this period. The historians provided me with the theories that I could use to compare with mine. As it turned out the sample of witches that I researched were quite different than those of many of the other historians. Lastly all the theories are tied together and my pattern emerges. Tables and maps were added to aid the readers in their research.
Notes	Thesis advisor: Katherine Hermes.; "... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in History."; M.A.,Central Connecticut State University,,2000.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 80-89).
Subject	Witchcraft--Connecticut--Hartford--17th century. Trials (Witchcraft)--Connecticut--Hartford--17th century. Hartford (Conn.)--History--17th century.
Department	Department of History
Advisor	Hermes, Katherine A.
Type	Text
Digital Format	application/pdf
Software	System requirements: PC and World Wide Web browser.
Language	eng
OCLC number	45302794
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The Hartford area witch-hunts : 1647-1683

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