Candy (Salem witch trials) facts for kids

Candy was a woman from Barbados of African descent who was forced into slavery. She was enslaved by Margaret Hawkes in a place called Salem Town (now Salem, Massachusetts) during the famous Salem witch trials.

In 1692, many people in Salem were accused of witchcraft. On July 1, 1692, two men, John Putnam, Jr. and Thomas Putnam, accused both Margaret Hawkes and Candy of harming three young women: Ann Putnam, Jr., Mary Walcott, and Mary Warren. These young women claimed they saw Candy as a "ghost" flying around and attacking them.

Candy's Examination and Release

Candy was questioned by the judges on July 4, 1692. During this questioning, she said she was a witch. However, she also said that Margaret Hawkes, her enslaver, had forced her to become a witch. Candy claimed that Hawkes made her sign a book that people believed belonged to the devil.

Even though she said she was a witch, Candy was found not guilty. She was then set free. It is interesting to note that there is no record of Margaret Hawkes ever being arrested for witchcraft. Margaret Hawkes was called "Mrs.", which was a title for women of higher social standing. Many other accused married women were called "Goodwife," a common title for married women.

How Candy Showed Her "Magic"

When the judges asked Candy how she and her enslaver harmed the girls, she offered to show them. She came back with some small dolls, called poppets. When she pinched, heated, or put water on these dolls, the girls who claimed to be harmed reacted as if they were feeling the same things. This was seen as proof by some at the time.

Candy's Language

The records of Candy's questioning show that she spoke in "broken English." This means she was probably new to speaking English. It suggests she had not been in the English-speaking colonies for very long.

Candy and Other Enslaved Women Accused

Candy was one of three enslaved women accused during the Salem witch trials. The other two were Tituba and Mary Black. The Salem witch trials were a time of great fear and confusion in the Province of Massachusetts Bay. Many historians believe the strange behaviors seen during this time were part of a widespread panic or a type of group illness.