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All the United States Massachusetts Old North Burying Ground

Old North Burying Ground

The site of the Andover Witch Hunts, which ended with more witch accusations and arrests than Salem.

North Andover, Massachusetts

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rleising96
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  rleising96 / Atlas Obscura User
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Old North Parish Cemetery   keithdaly / Atlas Obscura User
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About

When you think of witch trials, Salem and their famous trials are the first that come to mind. However, in a sleepy farming community a few miles north of Salem, there was another similar type of hysteria. The Andover Witch Trials swept over the small community surpassing the events in Salem in accusing and arresting more "witches." 

Under the influence of radical preacher Reverend Thomas Barnard, the witch hysteria began when Benjamin Abbot accused Martha Carrier of bewitching him after he fell ill directly after an argument with Carrier. Despite declaring innocence, she was arrested and sentenced to be hanged on August 19th, 1692. Between July 15th and September 7th, more and more arrests were made of those accused of witchcraft. As part of the Andover Witch Trials, the famous "touch test" was used by Reverend Thomas Barnard at the meeting house to produce evidence leading to the arrest of 18 accused witches.

Eventually, public opinion began to turn on the witch trials thanks to the work of Barnard's co-pastor Rev. Frances Dane. Of the more than 40 accused witches, only three were convicted and sentenced to death: Martha Carrier, Mary Ayer Parker, and Samuel Wardwell.

Located in what is currently North Andover, few reminders exist of this sordid past. Among the meeting house, churches, and houses that were the backdrop for these trials, only the burial ground, and Abbot's house are still around today. Within the burial ground lies the final remains of many of the actors in the witch trials, both accusers and accused. Among them are Barnard and Justice of the Peace Dudley Bradstreet.

 

Related Tags

Witches History & Culture Burial Places

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Parking is available on the street near the burying ground, as well as further down the road at the Town Common.

Community Contributors

Added By

rleising96

Edited By

keithdaly

  • keithdaly

Published

March 28, 2023

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Sources
  • https://www.legendsofamerica.com/ma-andover/
  • https://salemwitchmuseum.com/locations/andover-meeting-house-site-of/
  • https://www.northandoverhistoricalsociety.org/first-burying-ground
Old North Burying Ground
31-99 Academy Rd
North Andover, Massachusetts, 01845
United States
42.688492, -71.116617
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Bradford College

Haverhill, Massachusetts

miles away

Winnekenni Castle

Haverhill, Massachusetts

miles away

The Mysterious Witch Bonney

Lowell, Massachusetts

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Massachusetts

Massachusetts

United States

Places 556
Stories 43

Nearby Places

Bradford College

Haverhill, Massachusetts

miles away

Winnekenni Castle

Haverhill, Massachusetts

miles away

The Mysterious Witch Bonney

Lowell, Massachusetts

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Massachusetts

Massachusetts

United States

Places 556
Stories 43

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