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Days to the Gallows

3 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.

Days to the Gallows

5 months ago

Very interesting visual montage of probable gallows and witch hangings through parts of our history. Connecticut is featured prominently in the selections; therefore, it would be fairly easy to find these places. Visual images have their own silent stories and power...thank you Tony Griego and Deb Ra! ... See MoreSee Less

Echoes of the Witch

echoesofthewitch.com

Echoes of the Witch is a collaborative photographic documentary project exploring cultural memory, power, and the land as they manifest through American witch executions. The project is a collaboration between visual artist Margaux Crump and documentary photographer Jake Eshelman.

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