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Mark




What we choose to remember—and how—has a profound impact on how we understand ourselves and our world.


Since 2019, Margaux Crump and Jake Eshelman have been traveling across present-day America to document the locations where records indicate fifty-four individuals were accused of witchcraft and executed by the state. Operating on the premise that places hold memory and that cultural memory can be deeply rooted, this project investigates how the land and the people in these sites have honored, altered, hidden, perverted, or neglected the memories of these persecutions.


Below is a selection of images from the full project.




An overgrown bush on the grounds of the abandoned Westbrook Village. The exact location of the gallows where Alse Young (1647), Mary Johnson (1648), Joan & John Carrington (1651), Lydia Gilbert (1654), Mary Barnes (1663), Nathanial & Rebecca Greensmith (1663), and Mary Sanford (1662) were hanged is unknown. This is one of the possible execution sites. Hartford, CT. A placard designates a meeting room in the Windsor City Hall building. This is one of several small overtures acknowledging the executions of Alse Young (1647) and Lydia Gilbert (1654), who were posthumously pardoned by Windsor’s Town Council in 2017—largely due to the efforts of local activists. Windsor, CT. Shortly before attending a Haunted Happenings walking tour, three members of a witch-themed bachelorette party pose for a portrait beneath a fog machine set up on Liberty St., which itself is lined with wax museums, haunted houses, and—as of 1992—the Salem Witch Trial Memorial. Salem, MA A tree with hammock chairs on the present-day campus center lawn of St. Mary’s College of Maryland overlooks the small hill that is the likely execution site where Rebecca Fowler was hanged in 1685. St. Mary's, MD. A man walks down the aisle to pray at The Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston, which sits atop the location of the former Boston Neck Gallows—one of three possible execution sites where Ann Glover (1688), Margaret Jones (1648), Alice Lake (1650), Mrs. Kendall (1651), and Ann Hibbins (1656) were hanged. Boston, MA.
During her witch-themed bachelorette party, a bride-to-be poses for pictures in front of a crone witch statue surrounded by wax museums, haunted houses, and—as of 1992—the Salem Witch Trial Memorial. Salem, MA


Two dumpsters behind a gas station at the old Gallows Brook execution site where local tradition holds Goody Bassett was hanged for witchcraft in 1651. The brook officially disappeared from view in 1848 and is said to be buried beneath the railroad track. Stratford, CT. The interior of a local ice cream parlor named after Goody Bassett, who was tried and executed for witchcraft in 1651. Stratford, CT. Years after opening Goody Bassett’s Ice Cream parlor, the proprietor learned that an unassuming drainage ditch running directly beneath the building is the remains of Gallows Brook, where tradition holds Goody Bassett was executed for witchcraft in 1651. Stratford, CT. Mary Lee was found guilty of witchcraft and hanged aboard the Charity of London in 1654 somewhere en route between England and the Province of Maryland. In 1658, Elizabeth Richardson and Katherine Grady were also accused and hanged for witchcraft aboard similar vessels respectively bound for present-day Maryland and Virginia. Atlantic Ocean. Researchers at the Fairfield Museum and History Center examine old town homestead maps of the families involved in the trial and execution of Goody Knapp in 1653. Fairfield, CT. A community garden on what was formerly known as Try’s Field, where Goodwife Knapp was hanged in 1653. Her memorial is dedicated here as of August 2019. Fairfield, CT. Five members of the History Alive theater company alternate playing the role of Bridget Bishop during interactive productions of her historic arraignment, in which she stands accused of witchcraft. In these productions of “Cry Innocent: The People vs. Bridget Bishop”, the audience participates by cross examining witnesses, reviewing historical evidence, and ultimately deciding whether she should be released or stand trial. Today, Bridget's acquittal rate hovers around 50%, with results often correlating with the weather, the time of day (e.g. before or after lunch), and which member of the company plays the character of Bridget Bishop. Salem, MA. The corner of Albany Ave. and Vine St. in Hartford’s North End. The exact location of the gallows where Alse Young (1647), Mary Johnson (1648), Joan & John Carrington (1651), Lydia Gilbert (1654), Mary Barnes (1663), Nathanial & Rebecca Greensmith (1663), and Mary Sanford (1662) is unknown. This is one of the possible execution sites. Hartford, CT. An inscribed brick serves as a memorial for Mary Barnes, who was executed for witchcraft in 1663. Her brick is laid at the feet of a life-sized, bronze statue of Rev. Samuel Stone, who was involved in her trial. Hartford, CT. The current church at Abiquiu stands on the site of the original Spanish mission church. This was the epicenter of the decade long Abiquiu witchcraft outbreak. Abiquiu, NM. Sunlight shines into the western most room of the Governor’s Palace in downtown Santa Fe. Next to the window, a didactic display explains the history of the missing jail cells, which would have been just beyond this wall on what is now Lincoln Avenue. This is the most likely location where Agustin Tagle, Diego Tagle, Juan Tagle, Antonio Ulibarri, and Antonio Chimayo died in custody after being accused of practicing witchcraft in 1766. Santa Fe, NM. A pedestrian walks past one of the many storefronts in Salem selling witch-themed products primarily to tourists. Salem, MA. An apotropaic mark carved into the stairway of the Corwin house, now known as The Witch House. Marks like this were understood as an acceptable form of magic intended to protect the home from witches. Judge Jonathan Corwin was involved with the Salem witch trials. Salem, MA. After leading the Haunted Happenings parade, the Honor Guard of the Salem Police Department furl their flags, which feature their departmental crest of a flying witch silhouetted against a crescent moon. Salem, MA. The nighttime window display of an occult-themed portrait studio in downtown Salem, where customers choose witch costumes and pose for fantasy photo sessions. Salem, MA Three friends dressed up as witches make their way through crowded streets during the Haunted Happenings Halloween weekend in Salem, which hosts more than 900,000 people during the city’s festivities each October. Salem, MA A life-size diorama in The Witch History Museum imagines the apocryphal scene of young women dancing in the woods, where they were thought to commune with the Devil (pictured in the background).


In the “Salem Witch Trials: Restoring Justice” exhibition at Peabody Essex Museum, a ghost image of a painting depicting the trial of George Jacobs Sr. reflects in a glass vitrine housing wall planks from the historic Salem jail, where those arrested on suspicion of practicing witchcraft were incarcerated and tortured. Salem, MA


In response to protests by Christian evangelists publicly condemning witchcraft, guising, and non-believers, a tourist dressed as a witch lets her middle finger fly for a photo op at the “Bewitched” statue, which stands on the exact location of the former family mansion of judge John Hathorne, who served as a magistrate during the Salem Witch Trials. Salem, MA Onlookers regard the facade of The Salem Witch Museum. Salem, MA A personalized card left by a descendant of Susannah Martin at the Salem Witch Trials Memorial: "Proudly remembered by your eighth great-granddaughter." Salem, MA


In memory of 


1647    Alse Young, Hartford, Connecticut 
1648    Mary Johnson, Hartford, Connecticut
1648    Margaret Jones, Boston, Massachusetts
1650    Alice Lake, Boston, Massachusetts
1651    Mrs. Kendall, Boston, Massachusetts
1651    Mary Paine Bassett, Straftord, Connecticut
1651    Joan Carrington, Hartford, Connecticut
1651    John Carrington, Hartford, Connecticut
1653    Goody Knapp, Fairfield, Connecticut
1654    Lydia Gilbert, Hartford, Connecticut
1654    Mary Lee, Atlantic Ocean
1656    Ann Hibbins, Boston, Massachusetts
1658    Katherine Gradey, Atlantic Ocean
1658    Elizabeth Richardson, Atlantic Ocean
1662    Mary Sanford, Hartford, Connecticut
1663    Mary Barnes, Hartford, Connecticut
1663    Rebecca Greensmith, Hartford, Connecticut
1663    Nathanial Greensmith, Hartford, Connecticut 
1675    [Name once known], Jemez Springs, New Mexico
1675    [Name once known], location respectfully witheld
1675    [Name once known], location respectfully witheld
1675    [Name once known], Santa Fe, New Mexico
1685    Rebecca Fowler, St. Mary’s, Maryland
1688    Ann Glover, Boston, Massachusetts
1692    Susannah Martin, Salem, Massachusetts
1692    Sarah Wildes, Salem, Massachusetts
1692    Bridget Bishop, Salem, Massachusetts
1692    Rebecca Nurse, Salem, Massachusetts
1692    Sarah Good, Salem, Massachusetts   
1692    Elizabeth Howe, Salem, Massachusetts
1692    George Burroughs, Salem, Massachusetts
1692    George Jacobs Sr., Salem, Massachusetts
1692    Martha Carrier, Salem, Massachusetts
1692    John Proctor, Salem, Massachusetts
1692    Giles Corey, Salem, Massachusetts
1692    John Willard, Salem, Massachusetts
1692    Martha Corey, Salem, Massachusetts
1692    Mary Eastley, Salem, Massachusetts
1692    Mary Parker, Salem, Massachusetts
1692    Alice Parker, Salem, Massachusetts
1692    Ann Pudeator, Salem, Massachusetts
1692    Wilmot Redd, Salem, Massachusetts
1692    Margaret Scott, Salem, Massachusetts
1692    Samuel Wardwell Sr., Salem, Massachusetts
1692    Ann Foster, Salem, Massachusetts
1692    Mercy Good, Salem, Massachusetts
1692    Sarah Osborne, Salem, Massachusetts
1692    Roger Toothaker, Salem, Massachusetts
1693    Lydia Dustin, Salem, Massachusetts
1766    Agustin Tagle, Santa Fe, New Mexico
1766    Diego Tagle, Santa Fe, New Mexico
1766    Juan Tagle, Santa Fe, New Mexico
1766    Antonio Ulibarri, Santa Fe, New Mexico
1766    Antonio Chimayo, Santa Fe, New Mexico


And others yet unknown.
© Copyright 2019—2024, Margaux Crump & Jake Eshelman
All rights reserved.