John Proctor (1631-1692)

Innocent man executed for witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials

Vital Statistics

 * Son of John Graye Proctor and Alice ??
 * 1631-Oct-09 : Birth at Assington, Suffolk Co, England
 * 1674-Apr-01 : Marriage to Elizabeth Bassett in Essex Co, MA
 * 1692-Aug-19 : Death by hanging at Salem, Essex Co, Massachusetts Colony

Salem Witch Trials
Prior to the Witchcraft hysteria, John had been a successful farmer in Salem Village.

John and his wife, Elizabeth Bassett, had a 17-year old servant girl, Mary Warren (1675-1732), who was friends with the Putnam girls, the leading accusers of witches during the hysteria that gripped Salem in 1692.

John was a bit more practical and disbelieved the accusations going on. He suggested that the afllicted girls should have a good whipping to help them be more truthful. After that statement, Mary ceased her false accusations. But then the other girls turned on her and accused her of witchcraft. This turned her again and they then made accuasations against John and his wife as an act of revenge.

John and his wife were arrested and tried and both found guilty of witchcraft. Because Elizabeth was pregnant, she was given a temporary reprieve on her death sentence. John was hanged at Gallows Hill on Aug 19.

While in jail, the sheriff confiscated all their goods, property and cattle, even pots and pans in the kitchehen cupboard. When Elizabeth was later released she was greatly impoverished for many years.