Sarah Osborne was one of the accused women during the Salem witch trials in 1692. She was born in 1643 in England and later immigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Osborne was married twice and had children from both marriages. However, she faced social stigma as both of her marriages were considered scandalous at the time. Osborne was described as a wealthy widow who lived on her own estate in Salem Village. She was known for her unconventional lifestyle, which included marrying an indentured servant and being involved in land disputes.
The three suspected witches were transported to Boston and incarcerated until their trial. When Good was questioned by the judge, she denied all involvement in the occult and instead incriminated Osborne. Sarah Osborne, however, died shortly after, avoiding the gruesome sentence she was likely to receive. Unfortunately, even after diverting suspicion from herself, Good was unable to avoid conviction.
After his wife was suspected of witchcraft, Massachusetts governor Sir William Phips pardoned the accused and released the remaining prisoners, putting an end to the witch trials. Jail keeper John Arnold made a note of the number of days in jail in his ledger, adding that her prison bill- one pound and three shillings- had been left unpaid.
She was known for her unconventional lifestyle, which included marrying an indentured servant and being involved in land disputes. During the witch trials, Osborne was accused of practicing witchcraft by several teenage girls, including Ann Putnam Jr. and Mercy Lewis.
Sarah osborne salem witch triala
Many would say she had it coming. For years she had lived under a cloud of disapproval. When rumors of witchcraft started spreading in 1692, Sarah Osborne's name sprung instantly to people's lips. She had long been ill, and according to some, her husband beat her. But her worst sin, perhaps, was greed.
She had begun life as Sarah Warren in Watertown, Massachusetts. In 1662, she married Robert Prince, who had purchased a on-hundred-and-fifty-acre farm in Salem. His sister was married to Captain John Putnam, who lived next door. Putnam was part of a faction that supported Salem Village's new parson, Samuel Parris, and the villages independence from Salem. Prince died in 1674, leaving his land in trust to Sarah, on the understanding that she would divide it between their two sons, James and Joseph, when they came of age. As executors, Prince had named his two brothers-in-law, John and Thomas Putnam.
Now widowed with two small children, Sarah sought help tending the farm. She found a young Irishman, Alexander Osborne, purchasing his indenture for fifteen pounds sterling. Though considerably older than he, the two became romantically involved. Eventually they married, but the notion of an unmarried man and woman sharing the same roof-even temporarily- had set tongues to wagging. An even bigger scandal was looming.
Sarah, perhaps anticipating more children, decided to challenge her late husband's will and fight for control of his property.
The legal battle lasted years. Before it was resolved, Sarah and Alexander Osborne were long dead, and her sons were fifty two and forty eight. But the Putnam's revenge was as swift as the court proceedings were slow.
In February of 1692, Thomas Putnam, his brother Edward, and two others rode to Salem to file complaints against Sarah Osborne, Sarah Good, and Tituba for wreaking "mischief" against Ann Putnam Jr. and three local girls. Though she had been bedridden for more than a year, Sarah was arrested the following day and carted to Salem Village for questioning.
On May 10, as the witch hunt was just taking off, Sarah Osborne became its first victim, her heart giving out in the jail's gloom. Frail even before enduring the difficult voyage to Boston, she had lain in the cold for nine weeks and two days. Jail keeper John Arnold made a note of the number of days in jail in his ledger, adding that her prison bill- one pound and three shillings- had been left unpaid.
Source: "The Victims" 2nd chapter of Death in Salem, The Private Lives Behind the 1692 Witch Hunt, by Diane E. Foulds
Imagine a time when there was no truth. Where your enemies sought a revenge so fierce that only bloodshed could satisfy it. Where a simple lie can determine your fate yet the evidence of your innocence was nowhere to be found. This was Salem, Massachusetts during the witch trials.
These girls claimed to have witnessed her tormenting them through spectral appearances, causing them to have fits and behavioral changes. Many members of the community believed these accusations and saw Osborne as a threat to their religious beliefs and way of life. Osborne's trial began on May 29, 1692, at the Court of Oyer and Terminer. She faced a panel of judges who were determined to find witches and preserve the community's purity. Despite her fragile health and difficulty in hearing, she defended herself against the accusations, denying any involvement in witchcraft. However, the court's biased and flawed legal proceedings resulted in Osborne being found guilty. On June 10, she was sentenced to imprisonment and execution by hanging. However, Osborne's execution was postponed due to her poor health, and she died in prison on May 10, 1692, before the scheduled execution date. The case of Sarah Osborne highlights the hysteria and injustice that surrounded the Salem witch trials. Her unconventional lifestyle, coupled with the religious fervor and fear of witchcraft, made her a prime target for accusations. Like many others, Osborne became a victim of the mass hysteria and irrationality that plagued the Salem community during this dark period in history..
Reviews for "The Role of Sarah Osborne in the Mass Hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials"
1. John Doe - 2/5 - "I found 'Sarah Osborne Salem Witch Trials' to be quite disappointing. The storyline was slow and lackluster, and I struggled to connect with any of the characters. The pacing was off, with long stretches of dull dialogue and little action. Additionally, I feel that the historical accuracy was questionable, with a number of anachronistic elements that took me out of the story. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this film to anyone looking for an engaging historical drama."
2. Jane Smith - 1/5 - "I had high hopes for 'Sarah Osborne Salem Witch Trials,' but unfortunately, I found it to be an absolute bore. The acting was incredibly wooden, and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. The film failed to capture the suspense and tension that is often associated with the Salem Witch Trials, and instead, it dragged on with unnecessary subplots and uninteresting side characters. The editing was also quite poor, with choppy transitions that made the film even more difficult to follow. Save yourself the time and skip this one."
3. Amanda Johnson - 2/5 - "As a fan of historical dramas, I was disappointed by 'Sarah Osborne Salem Witch Trials.' While the costumes and set design were visually appealing, the story itself fell flat. The pacing was slow, and I struggled to maintain interest in the plot. The characters lacked depth and development, making it difficult to invest emotionally in their stories. I also found the ending to be anticlimactic and unsatisfying. Overall, I felt like this film had the potential to be so much more, but it fell short in execution."