Witch Hunts Past and Present

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Sara Berthiaume

Inspired by learning more about the Salem Witch Trials, I decided to take a look at other locations and times in history where witch hunts took place. There were very early witch hunts in ancient times, but I do not know of anyone who has been able to trace his or her ancestry back to, say, Rome in 170 B.C.. In the Late Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Inquisition sponsored a few witch hunts, but things really began to heat up around 1484, when two Inquisitors published Malleus Maleficarum, an infamous treatise on witches. The publication of Malleus Maleficarum kicked … Continue reading →

History and Hauntings in New Hampshire

Posted on October 17, 2011 by Sara Berthiaume

Families with roots in New England may have American roots that date back quite a few generations. New England was one of the first places in America to be settled by Europeans, so many of the first families of European descent to live in America made their homes there. Fortunately, the history of New England is very well preserved in museums, books, monuments, and other forms of historical memorabilia. If your family has roots in New England, particularly in New Hampshire, you may find it interesting to know that there are walking tours where you can explore the lore and … Continue reading →

Oops, Our Bad – The Tragedy of the Salem Witch Trials

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Sara Berthiaume

It’s October, and people are thinking about all things Halloween. Since I am from Massachusetts, I think that it is a good time to talk about a place that I visited a long time ago when I was a Girl Scout – Salem. People from all over the world come to Salem, Massachusetts to learn more about the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. The Witch Trials undoubtedly played a large part of the lives of all that were living in New England during that time. My ancestors were still in other countries at that time, but other people are able … Continue reading →