Tapping the Scales of Justice - A Dose of Connecticut Legal History
Witches and Witchcraft
The First Person Executed in the Colonies
In 1642 witchcraft was punishable by death in Connecticut. This capital
offense was backed by references to the Bible, i.e., Ex: 22, 18; Lev: 20,
27; Deu: 18, 10, 11.
Alse Young (sometimes also referred to as Achsah or
Alice) of Windsor, 
Connecticut was the first person executed for witchcraft
in America. Alse was hanged at Meeting House Square in Hartford on what is
now the site of the Old State House. A journal of then Massachusetts
Governor John Winthrop states that "One of Windsor was hanged." The second
town clerk of Windsor, Matthew Grant also confirms the execution with the
May 26, 1647 diary entry, "Alse Young was hanged."
Although Connecticut may not have experienced the same level of hysteria as Salem Massachusetts,
Alse Young was not the last person hanged for witchcraft. Mary Johnson of
Wethersfield was executed in 1648 after having confessed to entering into a
compact with the devil. Joan and John Carrington also of Wethersfield were
executed in 1651. Rebecca and Nathaniel Greensmith and Mary Barnes were
found guilty of witchcraft and were hanged in Hartford on January 25, 1663.
Ann Cole had accused Rebecca Greensmith of making her have strange fits.
Witchcraft was last listed as a capital crime in 1715. The crime of
witchcraft disappeared from the list of capital crimes when the laws were
next printed in 1750.
Sources of Information:
George Lincoln Burr, editor, "Narratives of the Witchcraft Cases 1648-1706"
Wilson H. Faude & Joan W. Friedland, "Connecticut Firsts", (1985)
David D. Hall, editor, "Witch-Hunting in Seventeenth Century New England"
R.G. Tomlinson, "Witchcraft Trials Of Connecticut", (1978)
For other accusations and mentions of witchcraft in the colonial records of Connecticut:
Mr. Willis asked to go to Saybrook to examine suspicions of witchcraft
Witchcraft listed as a crime punishable by death
Goodwife Garlick
Mercy Disborough, Elizabeth Clawson, Goody Miller, Mrs. Staples
Water Test on Mercy Disborough and Elizabeth Clawson
Mary Johnson