The Salem witch trials of 1692 are a dark chapter in American history, when a wave of hysteria and fear led to the execution of twenty innocent people accused of witchcraft. These trials were fueled by superstition and religious zeal, resulting in the unjust persecution and death of many individuals. It is important to remember the victims of this terrible injustice, but it is also crucial to recognize those who were accused of being witches during this time. A memorial to the accused in the Salem witch trials would serve as a commemoration of those who were wrongly accused and suffered the consequences of the hysteria that swept through the community. This memorial would be a symbol of remembrance, acknowledging the tragedy that unfolded and honoring the lives that were needlessly lost. It would be a solemn reminder of the dangers of hysteria and the importance of fairness and justice in society.
The Proctor's Ledge memorial is meant to be a place of quiet reflection. It’s situated in a residential area, just a block from a Walgreens. It isn't the first witch trial memorial in Salem — another was unveiled in 1992 to mark the 300th anniversary of the hangings. Even so, some say this new one has been a long time coming.
On each side of the Memorial wall stands at a 45 degree angle to it a wall inscribed to include in their own words brave statements made by eight of the accused witches during their harrowing examination just across the street from the memorial location. Who could ve ever imagined amidst all the other fears they were facing at the time Indian attacks, invasion of the French, health epidemics that over a brief period of months, from February to September, that these 19 innocent people would be convicted of witchcraft and brought here to Proctor s Ledge to be hanged, she said.
It would be a solemn reminder of the dangers of hysteria and the importance of fairness and justice in society. The memorial could take the form of a statue or a monument, perhaps depicting a person or group of people who were accused during the trials. It could also include inscriptions or plaques detailing the names and stories of those who lost their lives.
Salem Witch Trials Memorial
A trip to Salem, Massachusetts without a visit to the Salem Witch Trials Memorial would be sadly incomplete. It is a Must See Gem & a Top 5 Salem Witch Trials Sites , located conveniently downtown. The Memorial consists of 2 parallel, low, stone walls, lined with benches engraved with the names of the 20 victims executed during the 1692 Witch Trials Executions. Along with the names are their execution/ death dates & form of execution- 19 were hanged & 1 was “pressed”, slowly crushed to death by stones. Spread out, each bench bearing a separate name makes you realize how many 20 people really are. It does not include the 5 names of those who died in jail, 4 awaiting trial or execution and a newborn baby, born in jail to a mother (along with a 4 year old sister) accused as ‘witches’. Background info on each of the 25 who paid with their lives is discussed in my Salem Witch Trial Victims post . The Salem Witch Trials Memorial was built & dedicated in August 1992, the 300th Anniversary of the Salem Witch Trials & Executions. A peaceful little nook in a park-like setting, it maintains a quiet, somber presence despite being carved into the heart of downtown. Between the parallel, bench-lined walls standing tall guard are Black Locust trees. Calmly watching over, they are the very type of trees it is believed that the accused were hanged from.
The entrance stones of the walkway are inscribed with the pleas of the accused: ‘Oh Lord! Help Me! God knows I am Innocent! Wholly Innocent of such Wickedness!’ – ‘I would confess, I would save my life… I do not plead guilty.’ – ‘I can deny it to my dying day.’… It would be easy to miss, driving by, or even walking, if you didn’t pay attention. It is quiet, understated & simple. Not touristy, not showy, just reverent remembrance of the innocents & their sacrifice. Reading the quotes, & their names, and the jarring end, “Hanged” is an emotional experience. You can feel the fear and desperation in their pleas. You can’t help but feel a growing, helpless panic as you read them. Knowing their fate. You feel a desperate hunger for the opportunity to go back and instill modern logic & reason, and bring the judges, the accusers, the witnesses to their senses. Sick in your gut for their terror & their pain & the tragedy, but also because you imagine with a shiver had it been you. Their pain is no more, cut short 300 years ago, but we feel its stain, still today. Mourning these souls that I never knew makes me ever grateful for my minor difficulties in this world today. I am blessed. The Salem Witch Trials Memorial is Free & always open. It’s between Charter & Derby Streets, behind the Peabody Essex Museum.
Since the only known remains & exact location of an executed Salem Witch Trial victim is at the Rebecca Nurse Homestead, nearby, the Salem Witch Trials Memorial serves as a grave marker for mourners to show their respects for all the executed. The remains of the others have been lost to history, taken away in the night by loved ones and buried in secret, except Giles Corey. His body is buried where he was tortured to death, somewhere among what is now the Howard Street Cemetery visited with this site in my Salem Witch Trial Sites- Itinerary Part C . The actual site of the hangings has been rediscovered in recent years. It has a small memorial and is also visited in my Salem in a Day Part C Itinerary . Nearby Danvers (Salem Village & start of the 1692 Witch Hysteria) has an equally moving & beautiful Memorial to the Witch Trial Victims that I discuss in my post Salem Part A.
One of the Salem Witch Trial Memorial walls lines the Old Burying Point Cemetery , c 1637, aka Charter St. Cemetery. Just yards away from the Memorial to those executed, at least 2 of the 1692 Witchcraft ‘Judges’, John Hathorne & Bartholomew Gedney now lie. Others who were accused (& not executed), as well as family members of the victims, & some who even testified against them rest here, too.
The Cemetery also includes a Mayflower passenger, the only one anywhere that you can visit with the original gravestone at the site where they were buried. Captain Richard More was laid to rest here in the late 1600s. Richard had a very interesting tale of his own. He was not a Pilgrim, himself (which was a religious distinction, though “pilgrim” & wrong year of death was added centuries later to his headstone). Though, he was shipped over with the Pilgrims on the Mayflower at 6 years old. Without their parents, he made the journey along with 3 little siblings, ages 4- 8. All of the siblings died that 1st winter. He would have been at the 1st Thanksgiving & he grew up in Plymouth colony, before moving in his adulthood to Salem. He survived the 1692 witch trials & was buried there a few years after. He may have been the oldest surviving male and only missed being the very last living Mayflower passenger by just a few years.
It is the 2nd oldest cemetery in the U.S. The oldest is in Duxbury, also in Massachusetts, & is the 8th oldest maintained cemetery in the world. The Cemetery is small, Free, and open Dawn to Dusk, year round.
- See our Plymouth, Mass Itinerary & Posts to Explore the Mayflower Pilgrims, the 1st Thanksgiving & Plimoth colony:
The weight of truth, symbolized in the granite box and book, is also represented smashing through the falsehood of history, depicted by a pair of large scale reproduction metal shackles divided in two by the book and resting broken upon the block of granite. Curtis M. White, a talented blacksmith, staff member of the Saugus Ironworks National Park and at the time the resident overseer of the Rebecca Nurse Homestead, hand-forged the chains. Carved on the face of the block granite is the inscription "In memory of those innocents who died during the Salem Village witchcraft hysteria of 1692."
The goal would be to create a space that encourages contemplation and reflection, providing a place for visitors to learn about the history of the witch trials and pay their respects to the accused. By memorializing the accused in the Salem witch trials, we can create a lasting tribute to these innocent victims and ensure that their stories are not forgotten. This memorial would not seek to diminish the suffering of those who were executed, but rather to shed light on the larger context of the trials and acknowledge the wider impact it had on the community. In conclusion, a memorial to the accused in the Salem witch trials would serve as a poignant reminder of the dark period in American history. It would offer a space for reflection and remembrance, highlighting the harm caused by superstition and ignorance. By honoring the accused, we can ensure that their stories are told and that we never forget the injustices they endured..
Reviews for "Keeping the Flame Alive: The Importance of the Memorial to the Accused in the Salem Witch Trials"
1. Elizabeth - 2 stars - I visited the Memorial to the accused in the Salem witch trials expecting to feel a sense of solemnity and reverence for those who suffered during this dark period of history. However, I was disappointed by the size and the lack of information provided at the memorial. The memorial consists of a small stone with the names of the accused, but it fails to provide any context or explanation for the events that took place. It felt like a missed opportunity to educate visitors and honor the memory of these innocent people. Overall, I left feeling unsatisfied with the experience.
2. John - 1 star - I found the Memorial to the accused in the Salem witch trials to be a complete waste of time. It's just a small stone with names engraved on it. There are no plaques, no information boards, nothing to provide any insight into what actually happened during the witch trials. I expected a memorial to be more thoughtfully designed and informative. Instead, I was left feeling confused and unimpressed. If you're looking to learn about the Salem witch trials, I suggest skipping this memorial and visiting a museum or reading a book instead.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - As someone who has always been fascinated by the Salem witch trials, I was excited to visit the Memorial to the accused. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The memorial is very small and easy to miss. There is no signage or indication that it is a memorial, and it lacks any kind of visual or interactive elements. It felt like a missed opportunity to engage visitors and bring the history to life. Overall, I was disappointed by the lack of effort put into this memorial and left feeling underwhelmed.