meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
American History Tellers

Salem Witch Trials | An Evil Hand | 1

American History Tellers

Wondery

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

4.718.3K Ratings

🗓️ 20 September 2023

⏱️ 43 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In January 1692, two young girls in Salem Village, Massachusetts began behaving strangely. They screamed, barked like dogs, and writhed on the floor. A doctor concluded that the girls had been bewitched.

Under pressure from their elders, including Reverend Samuel Parris, the girls accused three local women of witchcraft. Soon, the bizarre symptoms began spreading throughout the small Puritan village, marking the start of the most lethal witch hunt in American history.

Listen ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/historytellers

Support us by supporting our sponsors!

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 February 1692 in Salem Village, Massachusetts.

0:19.2

You've just trudged through the snow for an hour after being called to the home of Reverend

0:23.3

Samuel Paris.

0:25.0

You're a doctor here to examine the Reverend's daughter and his niece.

0:29.0

You brush your shoulders free of snowflakes as you step up to the front door of the large

0:33.7

timber house.

0:35.6

Reverend Paris opens the door, his complexion is pallid, and he has dark circles under

0:40.5

his eyes.

0:41.7

Thank you for coming, doctor.

0:43.5

Please, come in.

0:46.5

Paris ushers you into a small dark entryway.

0:49.9

Perhaps we should begin with my nine-year-old Betty.

0:52.5

Of course.

0:53.5

When your servant came to call, she mentioned the girl has been having fits for several

0:57.4

weeks?

0:58.4

Precisely.

0:59.6

She stares into space as if in a trance.

1:03.0

When she comes to her senses, she screams.

1:06.4

Any other symptoms?

1:07.6

She forgets her chores.

1:09.6

And now she refuses to bow her head during prayer.

1:13.3

Her mother and I are at a loss.

...

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.