Each year our museum is visited by hundreds of individuals who can trace their ancestry to the Salem witch trials. The New England Historic Genealogical Society estimates there are 15 million people who can make these connections, and with the advent of ancestry.com and other family research options, more and more people are learning about their history.
We offer resources for further research, including:
Descendant Packets which contain information and resources for 28 individuals who were involved in the events of 1692. More packets are currently being researched and written. Each packet contains: A biography; A list of related locations; A list of related reading; Information on related court documents; Additional descendant information (where available); A genealogical resource list; A descendant questionnaire.
Our Witch Trials Online Sites Tour allows you to view sites related to the 1692 Salem witch trials, in Essex and Middlesex counties, plus the greater Boston area. Select a town or city to learn about relevant locations and to view pictures. Included are original houses, foundations, grave sites, historical markers, and approximate locations of homes that are no longer standing.
Our museum bookstore also offers several books written by authors descended from people related to the Salem witch trials, among them: Emerson Baker, descendant of Roger Toothaker and author of A Storm of Witchcraft; Mary Beth Norton, descendant of Mary Bradbury and author of In the Devil’s Snare; and Kathleen Kent, descendant of Martha Carrier and author of The Heretic’s Daughter and A Traitor’s Wife.
A selection of digitized Salem witch trials documents can be found on the Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project website.
The most complete compilation of records regarding the 1692 witch trials is Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt, edited by Bernard Rosenthal.
Additional useful genealogy resources include:
New England Historical Genealogical Society
“We are located in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood, and are America’s leading research center for genealogists of every skill level. Visitors have access to millions of documents, manuscripts, records, books, microfilms, photographs, artifacts, electronic resources, and other items that preserve and reveal our nation’s history. NEHGS genealogists, archivists, and librarians are available to assist patrons with their research inquiries and provide orientations to the library collections.”
Massachusetts Historical Society
“Founded in 1791, the Massachusetts Historical Society is an invaluable resource for American history, life, and culture. Its extraordinary collections tell the story of America through millions of rare and unique documents, artifacts, and irreplaceable national treasures.”