The Witch House (Jonathan Corwin House)

Massachusetts · United States · Museum

The Witch House (Jonathan Corwin House) — Massachusetts · United States · Museum

Judge Jonathan Corwin's house from 1675 — the only building still standing in Salem with a direct connection to the witch trials.

The Jonathan Corwin House — known locally as The Witch House — is a historic house museum in Salem, Massachusetts. It was the home of the judge Jonathan Corwin (1640–1718) and is one of the few buildings still standing in Salem with a direct connection to the witch trials of 1692.

When reports of witchcraft began to circulate in Essex County, Corwin was called in as one of the magistrates to conduct preliminary investigations. He and John Hathorne — another local magistrate — held hearings in early March 1692, at which testimony was taken from Tituba, Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne, the first three women accused of being witches.

During the 1692 witch trials Corwin was called upon to investigate allegations of diabolical activity as a flood of witchcraft accusations arose in Salem Village (today Danvers) and the neighbouring communities. He replaced the judge Nathaniel Saltonstall, who resigned after the execution of Bridget Bishop. Corwin sat on the Court of Oyer and Terminer, which ultimately sent 19 people to the gallows. The accused were brought to Corwin's home for preliminary examinations.

It is known with certainty that Jonathan Corwin bought or completed the house at some point during 1675, which is why that date is used today as the approximate year of construction. The residence is now run as a museum by the City of Salem and is open seasonally.

Source: Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Witch_House

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Where is The Witch House (Jonathan Corwin House) located?

The Witch House (Jonathan Corwin House) is in Massachusetts, United States.

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Accounts are drawn from local folklore and visitor reports.

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