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October 2020 Oct 2020

Days to the Gallows

2 weeks ago

Election Day was one of the most important colonial holidays in Puritan New England. Many people had the day off. After casting their vote and listening to the Election Day sermon, it was time for celebration. Of course, only freeholders or freeman could vote. But everyone celebrated afterwards with militia training, drink, wearing their best clothing and eating the election cake! There are many recipes online for Election Cake, including the Hartford Election Cake. Often like muster days, militia men showed off their skills, people sold their baked goods and children could play games. You had to be a freeholder or freeman to vote. No women, Jews, Blacks and servants were allowed to vote. I'm grateful that we all can vote now, so the message is, "On Nov. 3rd, get out and vote!!!" ... See MoreSee Less

Election Day was one of the most important colonial holidays in Puritan New England. Many people had the day off. After casting their vote and listening to the Election Day sermon, it was time for celebration. Of course, only freeholders or freeman could vote. But everyone celebrated afterwards with militia training, drink, wearing their best clothing and eating the election cake! There are many recipes online for Election Cake, including the Hartford Election Cake. Often like muster days, militia men showed off their skills, people sold their baked goods and children could play games. You had to be a freeholder or freeman to vote. No women, Jews, Blacks and servants were allowed to vote. Im grateful that we all can vote now, so the message is, On Nov. 3rd, get out and vote!!!

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Days to the Gallows

4 months ago

We all know Jesus was a carpenter...but did you know many of the men either married to an accused witch or accused themselves in the CT. Witch Trials were carpenters?
According to Professor Richard Ross, author of "Before Salem," Alice Youngs husband was a carpenter as well as Goody Bassett's husband(they first lived in Windsor for a time.) Ross speculates the Bassetts knew the Youngs in Windsor. Also, John Carrington(hanged with wife Joan) from Wethersfield was a carpenter. Many of the other accused were considered tinkers and handymen.
Why carpenters? Ross has a theory. Many carpenters were known to carve "witch marks" or "demon traps" on mantles or inside a building structure. These marks confused and confounded a witch, according to beliefs from England and of the times. The carpenter's "witch marks" prevented witches from making their own marks. But perhaps the authorities didn't trust or know what these carpenters were up to. Perhaps they etched marks that were protective of so called witches? We just don't know.
It makes one wonder how many colonial homes in Conn. still have witch marks on their mantles or hidden within the structures of the house?
Katherine Spada Basto, author "Days to the Gallows." ... See MoreSee Less

We all know Jesus was a carpenter...but did you know many of the men either married to an accused witch or accused themselves in the CT. Witch Trials were carpenters?
According to Professor Richard Ross, author of Before Salem, Alice Youngs husband was a carpenter as well as Goody Bassetts husband(they first lived in Windsor for a time.) Ross speculates the Bassetts knew the Youngs in Windsor. Also, John Carrington(hanged with wife Joan) from Wethersfield was a carpenter. Many of the other accused were considered tinkers and handymen.
Why carpenters? Ross has a theory. Many carpenters were known to carve witch marks or demon traps on mantles or inside a building structure. These marks confused and confounded a witch, according to beliefs from England and of the times. The carpenters witch marks prevented witches from making their own marks. But perhaps the authorities didnt trust or know what these carpenters were up to. Perhaps they etched marks that were protective of so called witches? We just dont know.
It makes one wonder how many colonial homes in Conn. still have witch marks on their mantles or hidden within the structures of the house?
Katherine Spada Basto, author Days to the Gallows.

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You uncovered new facts about the victims of the witch trials? Thanks for sharing them with us, the descendants of the innocent! We do appreciate your expertise. This is so interesting, Kathy. I'm going to read more about it.