Bridget Bishop 

(c. 1632 – 10 June 1692) was the first person executed for witchcraft during

the Salem witch trials in 1692. Nineteen were hanged, and one, Giles Corey was pressed to death.
Altogether, about 200 people were tried.

Traditional historical interpretation[edit]

“'Goodwife Bishop her Neighb'r wife of Edw: Bishop Jun'r might not be permitted to receive the Lords
Supper in our church till she had given her the said Trask satisfaction for some offences that were
against her .viz because the said Bishop did entertaine people in her house at unseasonable houres
in the night to keep drinking and playing at shovel-board whereby discord did arise in other families
& young people were in danger to bee corrupted & that the s'd Trask knew these things & had once
gon into the house & fynding some at shovel-board had taken the of peices thay played with &
thrown them into the fyre & had reprooved the said Bishop for promoting such disorders, But
received no satisfaction from her about it”

— John Hawthorn and Jonath Corwin, Bridget Bishop Executed, June 10, 1692: The Examination of
Bridget Byshop at Salem Village 19. Apr. 1692  [6]

Recent historical interpretation[edit]

One interpretation of the historical record suggests that she was a resident of Salem Town and thus
not the tavern owner. Perhaps she did not know her accusers. This would be supported in her
deposition in Salem Village before the authorities stating, "I never saw these persons before, nor I
never was in this place before."[1] The indictments against her clearly note that she was from
"Salem"[2] which meant Salem Town, as other indictments against residents of Salem Village
specified their locations as such.[3] She was often confused with Sarah Bishop, one of the other
accused during the Salem trial.[4] While men were still being accused of witchcraft, it was mostly
women being indicted during this time period. They were often quickly accused and sentenced to
death within days. Bridget Bishop had already been accused and deemed innocent a whole decade
following up to the witchcraft hysteria.[5]