Thou Shalt Not Suffer a Witch to Live: Witch Trials in Early New England

Join the Norwalk Historical Society and Leslie Lindenauer a Professor and author, as we dive into the dark history of witch trials in early New England - it's gonna be a spooky ride!

In 1692-3 in Salem, Massachusetts the courts sentenced 19 people to hang and tortured a 20th to death. At least five more people died in J*il. When most people think about the historic American witch trials, it is the events in Salem that dominate.

Fewer of us are aware that dozens and perhaps hundreds of people were tried for witchcraft in New England beginning over four decades before the events in Salem. Many of those trials occurred in Connecticut. At least sixteen people in Connecticut and Massachusetts were executed for the crime, most of them women. This program will explore those trials and consider how popular representations of witches – and Salem! – have changed over time.

Light Refreshments. Purchase tickets online: $15

Net proceeds benefit the Norwalk Historical Society's education programs and exhibitions. The Norwalk Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

About Leslie Lindenauer

Leslie Lindenauer is a Professor in the Department of History, Philosophy, and World Perspectives at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury Connecticut, where she teaches courses in early American history, public history and museum studies, the American Revolution, local history, and gender studies. She holds an A.B. from Brown University, and an MA and PhD from New York University. She is currently working on an article examining the mythologies inherent in popular representations of early American witch trials. Her book I Could Not Call Her Mother: The Stepmother in American Popular Culture, 1750-1960 was published by Lexington Books.

About the Norwalk Historical Society

The Norwalk Historical Society was incorporated in 1899, dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich history of Norwalk, Connecticut. Through engaging programs, exhibits, and events, the Society connects the community to its historical roots and ensures that the stories of the past continue to inspire future generations. The Norwalk Historical Society is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

Two locations in Norwalk, CT: Mill Hill Historic Park, 2 East Wall Street and Norwalk Historical Society Museum, 141 East Avenue. For more information: norwalkhistoricalsociety.org, [email protected], or call 203-846-0525.

Host or Publisher Norwalk Historical Society