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People of the Salem Witch Trials: Mercy Lewis
Mercy Lewis was one of the more prolific accusers during the Salem Witch Trials. Her life before the Salem witch trials was extremely tragic, and she would go on to become one of the loudest voices during the accusations.
Life Before the Salem Witch Trials
Mercy Lewis was born in Falmouth, Maine, in 1675. Her village was attacked several times, and she settled in Salem after the deaths of most of her family members. She was just 14. She would go on to work for George Burroughs and then Thomas Putnam. Burroughs would go on to become the only minister executed during the trials.
While working for the Putnam family, Mercy befriended Ann Putnam Jr. as well as Ann’s cousin, Mary Walcott. These girls would become fellow accusers.
When the Witchcraft Accusations Begin
Mercy’s accusations of witchcraft in Salem followed several others. She was not the first, but she was extremely confident and vocal in her accusations. The 19-year-old had a lot to say.
In April 1692, Mercy claimed that Satan came to her with the offering of a gift . . . if only she would write her name in his book. She also claimed that Satan appeared to her under the mask of George Burroughs, that he had these elaborate ways in which…
