George Burroughs: The Minister Among The Salem Witches
Public DomainGeorge Burroughs, like many other victims of the Salem witch trials, was a polarizing figure in town.
At his execution on August 19, 1692, Reverend George Burroughs recited the Lord’s Prayer — shocking the crowd of spectators. After all, witches and wizards weren’t supposed to be able to say prayers.
Despite this final act, he was hanged that day along with four others. But how did a minister become a victim of the Salem witch hunt?
Burroughs, like many of the other Salem witches, had enemies in Salem. He’d served as the town’s minister from 1680 to 1683 but left on bad terms after he ran up debts for his wife’s funeral. As frenzy tore through the town in 1692, several “afflicted girls” claimed that Burroughs had bewitched them.
Although the minister had since moved to Maine, two lawmen arrested him and brought him back to Salem. On their return journey, a terrible storm convinced the lawmen that the Devil had tried to free him.
During his trial, Burroughs made a number of statements that convinced Salem residents of his guilt.
He denied that his house was haunted — but admitted it had toads (which were thought to be a popular witch’s pet). The minister also said that he’d only baptized his eldest child and that he couldn’t remember the last time that he had taken communion.
To make matters worse, 30 people testified against Burroughs. They accused him of being secretive, having super strength, and using a specter.
Several of the girls who accused Burroughs offered a very similar sworn statement — perhaps dictated by one of his enemies in town — which read:
“I beleve in my heart that Mr George Burroughs is a dreadfull wizzard and that he has often tormented me and also the above named parsons by his acts of witchcraft.”
The minister was found guilty and sentenced to hang.
Burroughs’ recitation of the Lord’s Prayer at his execution did give some people in the crowd pause. But after he finished speaking, Cotton Mather — a fellow minister who disliked Burroughs so much that he refused to call him by his full name — addressed the crowd.
Burroughs, Mather said, was no true minister. Mather insisted that the “devil has often been transformed into an angel of the light.”
Shortly thereafter, Burroughs was hanged.
