Women History Blog

This week I found a blog that looks at all kinds of American women history. They have many categories from revolution women to civil war women. I looked specifically at a bunch of blogs on the witchcraft trials in Salem. Basically they outline the facts of one woman's life and fill in with details that may have been part of her life, given the time period.

The first woman I read about was Margaret Stevenson Scott. She was born in England 1615 and later married Benjamin Scott with whom she lived in Massachusetts. She had seven children before her husband died and left her a widow in 1671. When discussing the accusation against her, the author of the blog points out different factors of her life that made her easy prey to be called out as a witch. Her poverty, her status as a widow for a long period of time, and the fact that only three of her seven children lived to adulthood.

The next post was even more intriguing because it was the only witchcraft trial ever brought before Pennsylvania. William Penn even took part in questioning the "Witch of Ridley Creek". Apparently the woman was a Swede and the English went against her because English cows were not giving milk. They discussed the possibility that the English were jealous of the Swede's good farm land. Penn, however found the woman innocent of having powers and let her go.

The blog also used some interesting links to their sources that would be excellent research material.

Megan Fotheringham