Show Notes
What if Boston’s colonial past held witch trial stories just as gripping as Salem’s but almost entirely overlooked? This week, Sarah and Josh sit down with D. Brenton Simons, President Emeritus and former CEO of American Ancestors (New England Historic Genealogical Society), to uncover the witches, criminals, and scandal-makers that Boston’s official history left out.
Meet Our Guest
D. Brenton Simons spent 18 years leading American Ancestors, one of the world’s foremost genealogical organizations with over 500,000 members in 139 countries. He is the author of Witches, Rakes, and Rogues, a collection of true Boston stories spanning 1630 to 1741, and was honored by King Charles III for his contributions to Anglo-American history.
What You’ll Discover
Boston had a witchcraft period spanning over a century, and the stories from it look nothing like what popular culture has taught us. Brenton walks us through cases that defy every stereotype, including a wealthy, well-connected woman whose “disagreeable” personality made her a target after her husband’s death, an Irish Catholic servant whose foreign language and customs terrified a Puritan community, and women whose only real crime was practicing folk medicine and refusing to be pushed around.
The research behind this book took five years and required digging through court records, personal diaries, and archives. The result is a portrait of real people navigating a world where the devil felt as immediate and dangerous as a neighbor’s grudge.
Highlights
- The woman who appears as a background character in The Scarlet Letter and the real, devastating story behind her name
- How the Goodwin children’s afflictions during the Goody Glover case reveal something very human about fear and attention
- The connection between Mercy Short’s post-traumatic experiences and the Salem trials
- Why the discovery of a black cat may have saved Boston from a second wave of witch hunting
- What happened to accusations that never became trials, and why those stories matter just as much
Genealogy Connection
For descendants of Boston and Connecticut witch trial victims, this episode is essential listening. Brenton discusses his research connecting Mary Hale, Winifred Benham Sr., and the Benham family line across generations and colonies. If you have colonial New England ancestry, you may have more connections to these stories than you realize.
Resources
- American Ancestors / New England Historic Genealogical Society
- American Ancestors on YouTube: archived lectures and programming
- Witches, Rakes, and Rogues by D. Brenton Simons
- End Witch Hunts
Connect With Us
The Thing About Witch Hunts is produced by End Witch Hunts, the only U.S. nonprofit dedicated to witchcraft accusation awareness. Find us wherever you listen to podcasts and on YouTube.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with anyone who loves colonial history, genealogy, or untold American stories.
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