Salem Witch Trials

The year is 1692 the place is Salem Massachusetts home of the famous Salem Witch trials. Life is stressful for everyone who lives here, worried about whether or not they will be called and tried for being a witch. But there was also an outbreak of the small pox which made people go or seem delusional for there was no cure yet. Prisons were full of over 100 people, men and women, accused of being a witch. For it seems that there names were called out in the middle of the night by plagued young girls who were in some sort of pain, caused by these witches. So they all stayed in jail waiting for the trial, trying to prove their innocence, for if they were convicted of being a witch they would die.

So below is a diary from a young girl named Jannine Smith. A young girl who lived in Salem during the Witch Trials, and who was locked up by her father for fear she was a witch.

July 15, 1692

This is the first entry into my diary; I am hoping that doing so will help me stay sane. My name is Jannine Smith; I am seventeen years old living in Salem, Massachusetts. Let me describe myself a bit, I am five six with blonde hair and green eyes. I am told I look like everyone else but I think my blonde hair makes me stand out a bit. I live my life as any other Puritan child does, I go to church, help cook, clean, sew, etc. I guess you may say your basic chores. We do not have any toys to play with or games, but we do have a Bible and it has helped me learn how to read. I do not leave my home either as my father has decided to lock me up in the family attic. He says that I am a witch and that if I leave my home I will have to go to trial. A trail for being a witch where he fears I would ruin our family's name, so he locks me in. I think he loves me after all he still gives me food to eat and has not thrown me out to the dogs, so he has to love me right? If he ever found this book I have no idea what he would do, he would think this is a book of spells I know he would. So I must hide this well from him, I think I hear someone coming now. I better go and hide this before I am caught.

July 16, 1692

My second entry into my diary. Well today was not a good day, it seems that the town has convicted and killed six more witches. I believe they were not witches but what can I do I am stuck here in my attic all day. So with the six that were killed today that makes a total of 15 people killed, and it also makes me thankful for being locked up here as I do not want to be 16. But I wonder do people ever ask about me, do they wonder if I am alive, do they care? And what does my father tell them, does he say I am locked up or simply too busy to come out? Wait what is that I hear coming up the stairs, it is not just my father too many footsteps and voices for him alone. Guess I better hide this fast, I will write as soon as they leave.

July 16, 1692 Part II

Well I was right it was not just my dad but also a friend of his who has been asking for me, he wanted him to see I was ok here, that I was alive I guess. Wow I finally had a visitor; it is so good to talk to another person, even though I could only answer in one word sentences. But my father's friend kept looking at me so strangely, could my father have told him I was a witch? No why would my father jeopardize me and the family, if that was the case he would have let me out of the attic. With this excitement I am tired now so off to bed I go.

July 17, 1692

No more visitors will be allowed in the home, especially the attic. It seems my father's friend was calling my name last night while he slept, so the town says I put a spell on him. And of course with that they say I am a witch, but I know I am not no matter what they say. My father is ashamed he has no idea what to do; he will not even look at me. What am I going to do? No one knows me; I have no friends, after being locked up here. My father's friend I only saw this one time so how could I leave such a mark on him? Maybe he simply felt bad for me being stuck up here and felt that this was a way out for me? Or maybe he is coming done with the small pox; I hear a high fever can make people delusional? Oh God please help me here, help me, save me! I am not a witch I am a good Puritan girl.

July19, 1692

I have not been able to write in here for two days, people have been coming in and out asking me questions about my beliefs and my father's friend. They want to know when I started to practice witchcraft, how many spells I have done, and who is working with me. They brought in a priest too who asked me to accept God as our savor, when I told him I already have he said the devil was inside me. I cannot take this pressure anymore; I am only 17 I have my entire life to live yet. Why does my father not help me and stick up for me, am I that shameful? Did I not take my mother's place well once she died? Does he not love me anymore? In a day or two I am suppose to be locked up in jail while I wait for trial, they fear if I stay home I may get out and place a spell on the judge. Like I would ever do that to anyone, I was taught better then that. But I have to find a way to show I am innocent, that I could not be a witch but how? Hmm Maybe I can tell of all the things I have done since my mother died,