The Salem Witch Hysteria Started Here! 🧙‍♀️ | Salem Village Parsonage | Danvers, Massachusetts

Salem Village Parsonage - Danvers, Massachusetts

In 1681 the Salem village inhabitants built a home for their minister at this site. Ministers residing here were George Burroughs (1681-83), Accused in 1692 of being a witch and hanged; Deodat Lawson (1684-88), Author of the first volume about Salem village witchcraft; Samuel Parris (1689-96), Minister during the witchcraft hysteria; Joseph Green (1698-1715), noted diarist and area peacemaker, Peter Clark (1717-68), famed theological author, and Benjamin Wadsworth (1772-1826), who tore down the old parsonage in 1784.

It was in this house in 1692 that Tituba, Rev. Parris' slave, told the girls of the household stories of witchcraft which nurtured the village witchcraft hysteria and resulted in the deaths of 23 persons. This house was the scene of many incidents during the hysteria, and is one of the most important sites in colonial American history. Archaeological excavation began here in 1970.

THE 1734 ADDITION

In 1717 Rev. Peter Clark became minister at Salem Village. The 1681 parsonage was in poor condition, so that by the early 1730's Clark asked the inhabitants to come to a decision either to build a new house or renovate the old one. In January, 1734 the inhabitants voted to remove the leanto and to build an addition on the back west side of the parsonage.

This new addition was two and one-half stories high, included a side door which faced the west and a roof which ran perpendicular to the 1681 parsonage. The cellar foundation was composed of cut and faced stones and included a jog for a chimney.

Rev. Clark used this addition as a study, and it was here that he composed many of his sermons and printed theological works. Samuel Holten, later to become an important political figure as a member and as a signer of the Articles of Confederation, spent four of his formative years here with Rev. Clark, learning under the minister's tutelage.

At the time of the Revolution, Rev. Benjamin Wadsworth resided here as minister of the Danvers First Church. Wadsworth responded with a musket to the Salem Alarm of February 26, 1775; and upon news of the Lexinton Alarm on April 19, 1775, he gave benediction to the Danvers minutemen prior to their march.

By 1784 the parsonage was in terrible condition, and the parish was unable to pay for a new home. Upon being given land west of this site, Wadsworth built himself a new house. The 1681 parsonage was torn down, most of the foundation stones removed, and the 1734 addition was eventually sold and moved.

According to famed author Nathaniel Hawthorne, the workers had great difficulty moving the addition. They were informed by an old resident that the house was still under the influence of the devil, and would remain so unless the roof was taken off. Finally the roof was removed and the house successfully moved. It remained on a Sylvan Street site until the 1870's.

THE 1681 SALEM VILLAGE PARSONAGE

In February, 1681, the Salem village inhabitants voted, "We will build a house for the Ministry and provid convenient Land for that end. The Dementions of the House are as followeth: 42 foot long; twenty foot Broad; thirteen foot stude: Fouer chimleis no gable ends."

The house faced south and included a half-cellar on its west side which was composed of dry laid fieldstones, and which was entered by means of a stairway from the porch (front entry). The east side of the house did not include a cellar, the house sills resting on ground stones. The first floor consisted of two rooms separated by the front entry and a massive brick chimney structure. Two bed chambers were located on the second floor. Each of the house's four rooms included a fireplace. By 1692 a "saltbox" leanto was attached to the rear of the house, and used as a kitchen.

Rev. George Burroughs first lived in this house followed by Rev. Deodat Lawson. In 1689 Rev. Samuel Parris, his wife Elizabeth, daughter Elizabeth, and nice Abigail Williams came to live here.

The witch hysteria and subsequent legal proceedings resulted in the imprisonment of over 150 persons and the deaths of 23, including former Parsonage resident George Burroughs.

Continued to be occupied by the Salem Village and Danvers ministers, the 1681 parsonage was finally torn down in 1784, and the land reverted to a pasture.

By 1970 the property was owned by Alfred and Edie Anne Hutchinson, who were approached by history student Richard B Trask with a proposal to find and excavate the site. The resulting "Danvers Dig" was accomplished through the efforts of numerous volunteers assisted by archaeologist Roland Wells Robbins. In 1988, with state assistance, the Town of Danvers purchased the site as an historic landmark.

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