Why was Sarah Good accused of witchcraft?

Answer 1

SARAH GOOD

Sarah Good is an excellent example of a "socially undesirable" member of the community which made her prone to being accused of witchcraft and evil doings. Most of the people who were accused of witchcraft were either looked down upon by the towns folk or were envied for their land and position in the community. Also, an outspoken individualist or a "strong" woman was also frowned upon by the community and whom was therefore

"punished" by the accusation of witchcraft. Sarah Good was well known to the people of Salem Village. The community viewed her as a distracted and melancholic woman whose erratic behavior caused most people to believe the accusations of witchcraft against her. William Good, Sarah's husband, was a laborer who made a meager income which caused the Goods to rely on the charity and goodwill of their neighbors. At times, the Goods were forced to move in with their neighbors, an arrangement which never lasted for long. Sarah Good's actions and attitudes caused friction with their hosts and eventually the Good's would be asked to leave. Some neighbors began to notice that their livestock would sicken and sometimes die after the Good's left their households which caused much suspicion and fear towards Sarah. On March 1, 1692, Sarah Good was taken to Ingersoll's Tavern in Salem Village, where she was examined by magistrates John Hawthorne and Jonathon Corwin. Over fifteen people gave statements claiming that Sarah Good bewitched their cattle and other livestock. Others would claim that Sarah would cause objects to disappear or would bewitch their families. When Sarah Good was questioned about these incidents, it was noted that her answers were given in mean-spirited and spiteful ways, using abusive words. During her examination, she stated that Tituba and Sarah Osborne were also fellow witches and she claimed that they frightened her into afflicting the girls. Sarah's husband, William, also testified that he was afraid of her, that she was an enemy of God and he also believed she was a witch. Based on this "evidence", she was ordered bound over for trial. Good's daughter, Dorcas, then only five, soon joined her mother in jail because the afflicted girls accused the young girl of biting them. Sarah Good was pregnant at the time of her arrest and gave birth in jail. Because of the lack of medical assistance and the unsanitary conditions, her newborn baby died. Her trial was set for June 30th, 1692, which was also the trial date for Rebecca Nurse, Susannah Martin, Elizabeth Howe and Sarah Wilde. All five were found guilty of witchcraft and were sentenced to death. At Sarah Good's execution, the Reverend Nicholas Noyes pleaded and urged Sarah to confess her guilt. He told her that he knew she was a witch and Sarah Good called the Reverend a liar and stated that she was no more a witch than he was a wizard. Her final remarks to Reverend Noyes before her execution were that if he took her life, God would give him blood to drink. Sarah Good was hanged July 19, 1692. Good was executed on July 19. She failed to yield to judicial pressure to confess, and showed no remorse at her execution. In fact, in response to an attempt by Minister Nicholas Noyes to elicit a confession, Good called out from the scaffolding, "You are a liar. I am no more a witch than you are a wizard, and if you take away my life God will give you blood to drink." Her curse seems to have come true. Noyes died of internal hemorrhage, bleeding profusely at the mouth. Despite the seemingly effectiveness of her curse, it likely just further convinced the crowds of her guilt. Good was one of the first three women to be brought in at Salem on the charge of witchcraft, after having been identified as a witch by Tituba. She fit the prevailing stereotype of the malefic witch quite well. Good's habit of scolding and cursing neighbors who were unresponsive to her requests for charity generated a wealth of testimony at her trials. At least seven people testified as to her angry muttering and general turbulence after the refusal of charity. Particularly damaging to her case, was her accusation by her daughter. Four- year-old Dorcas Good (Sarah's only child) was arrested on March 23, gave a confession, and in so doing implicated her mother as a witch. At the time of her trial, Good was described as "a forlorn, friendless, and forsaken creature, broken down by wretchedness of condition and ill-repute." She has been called "an object for compassion rather than punishment." Sarah married a former indentured servant, Daniel Poole. Poole died sometime after 1682, leaving Sarah only debts, which some sources credit her with creating for Poole. Regardless of the cause of the debt, Sarah and her second husband, William Good, were held responsible for paying it. A portion of their land was seized and sold to satisfy their creditors, and shortly thereafter they sold the rest of their land, apparently out of dire necessity. By the time of the trials, Sarah and her husband were homeless, destitute and she was reduced to begging for work, food, and shelter from her neighbors.