The Witchcraft Delusion in Colonial Connecticut (1647-1697)

The study reconstructs the witchcraft phenomenon in colonial Connecticut by mining court records, indictments, depositions, and contemporary writings to show how theological belief and popular fear became legal prosecution and communal panic. It outlines doctrinal definitions and statutory responses, describes courtroom procedures and tests of guilt, and recounts notable accusations, trials, and executions. The narrative examines investigative practices such as searches for marks and the use of spectral testimony, evaluates the roles of ministers, magistrates, jurors, and witnesses, and places Connecticut episodes within broader New England and European patterns of accusation and persecution.