A Putnam Family Tragedy and Deaths Misattributed to Witchcraft

We share the heartbreaking moment that hit Salem Village on April 13, when Hannah Putnam and John Putnam Jr. lost their infant after calling for a doctor, later describing the baby’s death in a June 29, 1692 joint deposition as “cruel and violent.” We also trace how, amid reports of more than 70 people afflicted during the Salem Witch Trials, natural deaths were wrongly blamed on witchcraft—pointing to cases like Elizabeth Ballard and Timothy Swan in Andover and Daniel Wilkins in Salem Village, who were said to be afflicted before they died. We dig into how earlier deaths were retroactively pinned on the accused, including claims that Martha Carrier committed multiple murders based on spectral accusations.00:00 Daily Introduction00:05 Putnam Family Tragedy00:36 Afflictions and Deaths01:05 Retroactive Murder Claims01:17 Spectral Accusations Wrap Up