Ghosts of Salem

Gallows Hill is among Salem’s most famous site related to the witch trials of 1692.  However, no one is certain of its historic location.

Today, a site called Gallows Hill rises above a children’s playground and sports field.  It’s surrounded by single-family homes in a quiet residential neighborhood.

But, is it the hill where the “witches” were actually hung?

Evidence is scant and unreliable.  Most researchers use Sydney Perley’s 1933 map of Salem, showing Gallows Hill near Pope and Proctor Streets, near an inlet from North River.

Upham’s 1866 map of Salem Village offers similar information, and was probably among Perley’s resources.

We can learn a lot from the land formations of 1692, and compare them with areas that have — and haven’t — been filled since then.

In addition, British psychic Gavin Cromwell and I conducted paranormal research at Halloween 2008.  Our discoveries suggest at least one more spiritually-charged location near the current Gallows Hill site.

We may never be able to document the exact location of the hangings, or where most of the so-called witches’ bodies were buried, including Giles Corey* who is remembered for one of the Salem curses.

However, additional psychic research may reveal locations where unmarked graves and landmarks connect us with Salem in 1692.  That’s among my goals as I work on this book.

*Giles Corey’s first wife, Mary (1621 – 1684), is buried beneath a small stone at the Burying Point Cemetery, near the Witch Memorial.  Her name appears as “Mary Corry” with a note that she was the wife of “Giles Corry.”

(Remember, spellings weren’t standardized until the 19th century.  Many family names appear with various spellings on historic records and monuments.)

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