During the Salem witch trials, more than 200 people were accused of witchcraft, most of them being women, 20 of them being found guilty and then promptly executed. Out of those 20, 19 were hanged for their “crimes”, the first being Bridget Bishop, on June 10 and a single man, Giles Corey, was crushed to death for standing up for his wife. On top of the 20 executed, at least another 13 accused also died awaiting trial in prison.

Bridget Bishop was the first person hanged for witchcraft in the Salem Witch Trials on June 10th. She was married 3 times and would often go around gossiping about fights with her various husbands and she is said to have had an “outrageous lifestyle” by puritan standards. She also had the habit of wearing black hats and colorful outfits which didn’t help her during the trial.

Giles Corey was a farmer who lived with his wife, Martha Corey. In 1692, she started questioning the sincerity of the accusation of witchcraft. She was then, of course, accused herself and was sent to jail. Giles, sure of his wife’s innocence, spoke out against the accusations and was then also accused of witchcraft. When the time came, he refused to stand trial and was punished for it, being sent to death by pressing under heavy stones. He was executed on September 19 and his wife was then hanged on September 22.