meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
American History Tellers

Salem Witch Trials | A Descendant Remembers | 5

American History Tellers

Wondery

Society & Culture, Kids & Family, History, Education For Kids

4.718.3K Ratings

🗓️ 18 October 2023

⏱️ 43 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In the midst of the public hysteria surrounding the Salem Witch Trials, a respected Puritan woman named Rebecca Nurse was accused of using witchcraft to “afflict” girls in Salem. Despite her status as a pious church member, Nurse became one of the many innocent people to stand trial and be executed. Today, Lindsay is joined by one of Rebecca Nurse’s descendants, historian Margo Burns, to discuss the fate of her ancestor and other victims of the witch hunt.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Imagine its March 6th, 1712 when you were in the Parcinage in Salem Town, Massachusetts.

0:16.5

You're standing in your reverence dining room and a cold wind is howling outside.

0:20.8

A dozen members of the Salem Town Church have gathered around the reverence large oak

0:25.3

table.

0:26.3

It's been two decades since your mother, Rebecca Nurse, was tried and executed for witchcraft.

0:32.5

Three months ago, you finally convinced the Massachusetts government to clear her name.

0:37.5

But now you have one last obstacle to overcome.

0:40.4

Good afternoon.

0:41.9

The church members look up at you with stern faces.

0:45.1

Your heart pounds in your chest, but the weight of the last 20 years urges you on.

0:49.7

I stand before you today on behalf of my late mother, good wife Rebecca Nurse.

0:55.4

It has been nearly 20 years since the church expelled her from the congregation.

1:00.5

Doing so, destroyed any hope of her salvation.

1:03.7

The time has come for us to write this terrible wrong.

1:07.3

An older man named Jonathan Davis crosses his arms.

1:11.1

He's one of the most influential church elders and 20 years ago, he joined the chorus

1:15.5

of accusations against your mother.

1:17.5

Oh, is it truly necessary to revisit such a painful chapter?

1:21.4

Of course it's necessary.

1:23.4

My mother was a devout member of this church for many years, yet she was forced to endure

1:27.6

baseless accusations and the hatred of her neighbors.

1:31.6

Still her faith never wavered.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Wondery, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Wondery and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.