People of the Salem Witch Trials: Betty Parris
Elizabeth (Betty) Parris was one of the earliest accusers of the Salem Witch Trials. Betty and her cousin, Abigail Williams, made accusations that would lead to the deaths of over 20 people in Salem Village and affect the lives of many more.
Betty’s Life Before the Witch Trials
Betty was born on November 28, 1682 to Samuel, a minister, and Elizabeth Parris. Betty lived with her parents, two siblings, and Abigail. The family also enslaved a woman named Tituba and a man named John.
In 1689, the family moved from Boston to Salem Village after Samuel was granted a position at the church there.
The Beginning of the Witches
Several versions of the story suggest that upon arriving in Salem Village, Betty and Abigail began to engage in divination games. The games seem relatively on par with playing games like MASH to find your future husband. One version of the story suggests that the girls were afraid of something they saw.
It was in February of 1692 that the girls began to report having dreams about the devil. The girls became strangely ill, convulsing and barking like dogs. According to Isaac Reed, the girls were frequently “falling into fits and claiming to have visions” (76). The family tried to…
