Original image from woodcut illustrations in Joseph Glanvill’s “Saducismus Triumphatus or, Full and Plain Evidence Concerning Witches and Apparitions,” published posthumously in 1681 in London. The book purported to provide proof of witches’ magical powers, and attacked skeptics of these abilities. It would become influential during the Salem Witch Trials a decade later. Public domain image.
In our next episode, released Tuesday, we begin a two-part investigation into how New England’s religious attitudes have changed. Using Connecticut as a case study, we look at the rise and fall of colonial theocracy.
Reading List
The 1692 Salem Witch Trials – The Salem Witch Trial Museum
How religious is your state? – Pew Research Center
Connecticut Witch Trials and Posthumous Pardons, by Sandra Norman-Eady and Jennifer Bernier – The Office of Legislative Research
The Oldest Schools in America, by Sarah Fundin – University of South Carolina
Godly Learning: Puritan Attitudes Towards Reason, Learning and Education, 1560-1640, by John Morgan – Google Books
The Beginnings of New England: Or, The Puritan Theocracy in Its Relations to Civil and Religious Liberty, by John Fiske – Google Books
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut – Lonang Institute
Complete History of Connecticut, Civil and Ecclesiastical, Volume 1, by Benjamin Trumbull – Google Books
"Elizabeth Clawson ...Thou Deseruest to Dye," Ronald Marcus – The Stamford Historical Society
Case of Mercy Disbrough – CT State Library
The New England States: Their Constitutional, Judicial, Educational, Commercial, Professional and Industrial History, Volume 1, by William Thomas Davis – Google Books
Charges of Catherine Branch against Elizabeth Clawson (Elizabeth Clauson), Mercy Disbrough (Mercy Disbrow) and Goody Miller – CT State Library
Saducismus triumphatus: or, Full and plain evidence concerning witches and apparitions, by Joseph Glanvill – The Internet Archive
From Theoracy to Pluralism, by Peter Hanson - Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute
The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts – Official Website
Annals of an old parish; historical sketches of Trinity church, Southport, Connecticut, 1725 to 1848, by Edmund Guilbert – The Internet Archive
The History of Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut, from the Settlement of the Town in 1639 to 1818: 1700-1800, by Elizabeth Hubbell Godfrey Schenck – Google Books
Just say “amen,” by Judith Ann Schiff – Yale Alumni Magazine
Music Notes (In order of appearance)
Heinous Bienfäng and His Cheap Moves - Satan's Camaro (Q-Burns Abstract Message Remix)
Visager - Witch's Hut
The Columbines - The Devil is Crossing Me
Telepathic Teddy Bear – The Churches
All songs used under a Creative Commons Attribution International license.