
Seymour Public Library hosts historian, Jason Scappaticci, for a free Zoom Lecture, The Connecticut Witch Trials, on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 6:30 P.M.
Here in New England, when you think of witches, Salem, Massachusetts is often the first location that comes to mind. In 1692, the first ​“witch” of the Salem Witch Trials was hanged.
But it is actually Connecticut, some forty-five years prior to Salem,that was the first of the thirteen colonies of Colonial America to execute a ​“witch”. On May 26, 1647, Alse Young from Windsor, CT was executed.
By 1662, still some thirty years prior to the first Salem execution, ten other citizens of Connecticut, eight women and two men, would follow Alse Young to the same fate.
Connecticut Governor, John Winthrop the Younger, is given credit with ending the Connecticut injustices and the executions in 1669 by demanding multiple witnesses provide the same testimony of witchcraft prior to a citizen’s conviction.
Come learn about this interesting and largely forgotten part of Connecticut’s history.
Jason Scappaticci earned his BA in History from Utica College and his MA from Trinity College in American Studies.
This program is free to all. Registration is not necessary. The library is located at 46 Church St. in Seymour, CT. For more information call 203 – 888-3903.