Today is Monday, June 15, 2020.

On this day in 1648, midwife and Medicine Woman

Margaret Jones was executed for witchcraft in Boston.

She was the first woman killed for the crime in Massachusetts Bay Colony,

pre-dating the infamous Salem witch trials by almost 50 years.

Welcome to today in true Crime, a parcast original. Due to the graphic

nature of today's crimes, listener discretion is advised. Please exercise

caution for all listeners under 13.

Today we're talking about the first woman executed for witchcraft in Massachusetts,

Margaret Jones.

Let's go back to the morning of June 15th, 1648 as she awaited her doom. Margaret Jones had not slept at all that night. The heat in her cell was stifling and she was too busy praying to sleep anyway.

She did not truly believe that she would be delivered from her fate no

matter how much she prayed, but perhaps the Almighty would show mercy to her husband Thomas, who

had been accused of similar crimes.

As the morning wore on, a small group of visitors interrupted these desperate thoughts.

They entered Margaret Sel, watching her warily.

Their familiar faces were filled with fear.

She knew them all.

They were her neighbors.

Some had even brought children along, she realized,

noticing the 12-year-old hail Boy watching from among them.

One by one the adult members of the group spoke, each urging her to confess and repent her crimes.

...