In this gripping episode of Witch Hunt, host Josh Hutchinson unravels the shocking tale of George Burroughs, a Harvard-educated minister who became an unlikely victim of the Salem Witch Trials.

Imagine a respected minister accused of being the ringleader of witches and a servant of Satan. How did George Burroughs, once a village minister, find himself at the center of one of history's most infamous witch hunts?

Josh takes listeners on a haunting journey through Burroughs' life, from his early days as a frontier preacher to his final moments on the gallows. You'll hear spine-chilling accounts of supposed supernatural feats, whispers of murdered wives, and tales of secret witch meetings led by this "little black beard man."

But was Burroughs truly guilty, or was he caught in a perfect storm of fear and injustice? The episode explores the web of accusations, the dramatic trial, and the heart-wrenching execution.

With twists and turns worthy of a thriller, this true story challenges our understanding of justice and the power of fear. From courtroom drama to family tragedy, the tale of George Burroughs will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about the Salem Witch Trials.

This is one witch hunt story you won't want to miss!

Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience

Mary Beth Norton, In the Devil's Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692

Bernard Rosenthal, editor, Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt

Marilynne K. Roach, The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-By-Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege

Stacy Schiff, The Witches: Suspicion, Betrayal, and Hysteria in 1692 Salem

Hear the first court proceedings of the Salem Witch Trials: the questioning of Sarah Good, Sarah Osburn, and Tituba on March 1 and 2, 1692.

⁠Listen to the full episode, "Salem Witch Hunt Saga: The First Arrests"⁠ Witch-Hunting in European and World History - Ronald Hutton

Donate: End Witch Hunts UK Advocacy Trip Fund

End Witch Hunts

Connecticut Witch Trial Exoneration Project

Massachusetts Witch-Hunt Justice Project

Witch Hunt Website

Salem Witch-Hunt Education Project

Learn more about SARA

Thank you for joining us for this narrative history of the Salem Witch Trials. This third part of our Salem Witch-Hunt 101 series focuses on the first arrests and interrogations of Sarah Good, Sarah Osburn, and Tituba in late February and early March 1692.

On Witch Hunt, the people and key events are real. The examinations are taken directly from the historical record. The depositions of afflicted persons Elizabeth Hubbard and Ann Putnam Jr. are paraphrased for natural conversation, while the deposition of the adult men Samuel Parris, Thomas Putnam, and Ezekiel Cheever is presented verbatim.

Join us as we spend time in the early moments of the infamous Salem Witch Trials, based on actual words from the historical documents. Whether you’re a history enthusiast or a curious listener, this episode promises to be both informative and enjoyable.

Links:

Witch-Hunting in European and World History - Ronald Hutton

Donate: End Witch Hunts UK Advocacy Trip Fund

End Witch Hunts

Connecticut Witch Trial Exoneration Project

Massachusetts Witch-Hunt Justice Project

Witch Hunt Website

Salem Witch-Hunt Education Project

Learn more about SARA