The Thing About Witch Hunts The Boston Eight: Exonerate Massachusetts' Forgotten Witch Trial Victims
Episode Description:
Massachusetts has an opportunity to make history, and you can be a part of it. On November 25, 2025, Bill H.1927 goes before the Massachusetts Joint Committee on the Judiciary. This legislation will exonerate 8 individuals convicted of witchcraft in Boston and recognize everyone else who suffered accusations across Massachusetts. Between 1648 and 1693, more than 200 people were formally charged with witchcraft in Massachusetts. Only 31 from Salem have been cleared. The rest have been forgotten—until now.
Co-hosts Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack, who helped co-found the Connecticut Witch Trial Exoneration Project and successfully passed Connecticut's witch trial absolution bill in 2023, share how YOU can help Massachusetts finish the job.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
The 8 individuals convicted in Boston who have never been exonerated: Margaret Jones, Elizabeth Kendall, Alice Lake, Hugh Parsons, Eunice Cole, Ann Hibbins, Elizabeth Morse, and Goody Glover
Why this matters today: Witch hunts didn't end in the 1600s—they're still happening around the world
The history of Massachusetts exoneration efforts from 1703 to 2022
How Connecticut proved it's possible with overwhelming bipartisan support in 2023
Exactly what you can do to support H.1927, whether you live in Massachusetts or anywhere else in the world
Key Facts:
200+ individuals were accused of witchcraft in Massachusetts between 1638 and 1693
38 people were convicted (30 in Salem, 8 in Boston)
25 people died: 19 hanged in Salem, 5 hanged in Boston, and Giles Corey pressed to death
Only Salem victims have been exonerated—the 8 Boston convictions remain unaddressed
The Boston Eight:Five Executed:
Margaret Jones (1648) - The first person executed for witchcraft in Massachusetts
Elizabeth Kendall (1647-1651) - Falsely accused by a nurse covering her own negligence
Alice Lake (c. 1650) - Mother of four, judged for her past
Ann Hibbins (1656) - A widow, called "quarrelsome" for speaking her mind
- Goody Glover (1688) - Irish Catholic widow executed just 4 years before Salem
Three Convicted But Not Executed:
Hugh Parsons (1651) - Conviction overturned, released 1652
Eunice Cole (likely 1656) - Convicted and imprisoned, though records are incomplete
Elizabeth Morse (1680) - Sentenced to death but eventually released
CRITICAL DATE: November 25, 2025
The Joint Committee on the Judiciary holds a hearing on H.1927 at 10:00 AM
This bill MUST get through committee to move forward. If it doesn't receive a favorable report, it gets sent to "study" where it becomes invisible and inactive.
How YOU Can Help RIGHT NOW:1. Sign the Petition (From Anywhere in the World)
change.org/witchtrials Goal: 3,000+ signatures
Keep it short: 2-6 sentences is enough! Include:
Why this bill matters to you
That these people were innocent
Why Massachusetts should complete its exoneration work
- Connection to modern witch hunts (optional)
2. Submit Written Testimony (From Anywhere in the World)Where to submit: Details at massachusettswitchtrials.org
3. Contact Your Massachusetts Legislators (MA Residents)
- Email your state representative and senator
- Ask them to support H.1927
- Ask them to co-sponsor the bill
- Tell them: "Massachusetts exonerated the Salem victims but left the Boston victims behind. Please honor all witch trial victims."
4. Spread the Word
Share this episode and use hashtags:
#H1927
#WitchTrialJustice
#MassachusettsHistory
#mawitchhuntjusticeproject
- #EndWitchHunts
5. Get a Support Pin
Purchase the Massachusetts Witch-Hunt Justice Project pin on Zazzle (under $5) Link in show notes and at massachusettswitchtrials.org
Sign the Petition to Exonerate the Boston 8
The History of Witch Trial Exonerations in MassachusettsAbout the MA Witch Hunt Justice ProjectPurchase a MA Witch Hunt Justice Project Memorial Pin