History Hour at Essex Meadows: Connecticut Witch Trials

About this event

Essex Historical Society and Essex Meadows present History Hour. This new program will feature a speaker, author, presenter, or musician once a month. History hour is FREE and open to the public. We recommend arriving to Hamilton Hall by 9:50 am. as seating is available first-come, first-served. No need to register for this event. In the unlikely event that the program changes or needs to be canceled, please check EHS social media and website. About the Speaker Donald Perreault, a retired history teacher at Valley Regional High School in Deep River, Connecticut, has devoted much of his career to uncovering and sharing the history of the lower Connecticut River Valley. He has been recognized for his efforts to bring the region’s history to local communities and schools. Perreault is the author of Forgotten Voices: A History of Slavery in Saybrook, Connecticut and Voices of the Valley: An Oral History of the Mill Workers of the Pratt Read Ivory Factory. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas and a master’s degree from Wesleyan University. His work has included serving as an educational consultant to the Connecticut River Museum, collaborating with the Chester Historical Society on the design and construction of its award-winning Museum at the Mill, and helping curate the Old Saybrook Historical Society’s exhibit on slavery. Saybrook’s Witchcraft Trial of 1661 In 1661, the fledgling community of Saybrook faced one of the greatest crises in its early history. For three years, a series of troubling events had unsettled the settlement, threatening the community’s sense of security and stability. As tensions mounted, accusations began to fly—culminating in allegations of witchcraft. The ensuing witchcraft trial reflected a community in crisis: a frightened population searching for answers, a climate of suspicion and uncertainty, and individuals who became convenient targets for blame. This little-known episode would prove to be an important…

Description from essexhistory.org