Do you know that Hocus Pocus is predicated on actual life murders and torture that killed practically 200 folks within the 1600s? Do I’ve your consideration? The Salem witch trials of the late 1600s claimed the lives of women and men believed to be precise sorcerers of the darkish arts who had been stated to be plaguing the city of Salem with black magic and satanic seduction. And ya know what… Disney made a traditional beloved family-comedy about it that you just, me, and nearly everybody we all know watch each single 12 months for Halloween. However what if I advised you that the REAL story wasn’t precisely a comfortable popcorn story you’d present your youngsters, however as a substitute a darkish and violent rampage that had nothing to do with speaking cats or wise-cracking zombies? In right now’s episode, we’re going to speak in regards to the REAL Salem witch trials and the way the story compares to the extensively beloved 90s nostalgia bomb that’s Hocus Pocus. And in addition, I’ve details about how Sarah Jessica Parker may ACTUALLY be linked to the actual story. Let’s get into it.
For these of you who don’t know, Hocus Pocus is the story of The Sanderson Sisters, a coven of sibling witches which are burned on the stake within the 1600s after being accused of witchcraft and their house is was a museum of the macabre practices they used. Then tons of of years later, a brand new Salem resident, a virgin named Max, lights the black flame candle of their museum which brings them again to life for one night time on Halloween to seize the souls of the city’s youngsters and stay younger eternally. So you understand, proper off the bat Disney is enjoying into the concept that these ladies had been, the truth is, witches and paints the sisters as likable antagonists who DO harbor ill-intent in the direction of the youngsters of the city. However in REAL life, none of this was ever really confirmed.
The film’s “Sanderson Sisters” are loosely based mostly on a trio of REAL sisters from the 1600s referred to as “The Towne Sisters,” who had been accused of witchcraft by the city of Topsfield, MA and used as a catalyst for the witch trials. See, whereas Hocus Pocus might have to depend on the sisters being precise witches to ensure that the film to work, in the actual story, the conviction of those ladies was rather more… sophisticated.
So, the place did this all begin? What made the city SO deadset on these sisters being twisted mistresses of evil? Effectively, would you imagine me if I stated that (like each battle within the 1600s) this all began over a property dispute? It’s not as attractive out loud because it appears within the script…
The Towne Household lived in Topsfield which bordered on what was then often called Salem Village. There farm was situated proper subsequent door to a revered Salem household, the Putnams. Whereas the 2 households might by no means agree on the place one farm property stopped and the opposite started, it hardly appeared like witchcraft. However the Putnams all the time had detrimental issues to say in regards to the Townes. And this sparked the preliminary battle. Over time, the Putnams would overtly accuse the Towne household of being evil witches with an agenda to achieve the belief of the locals. And seeing as earlier than these claims, the sisters had been a revered non secular household, it grew to become simple to see their standing as threatening in the event that they WERE fooling the townsfolk.
By the spring of 1692, worry was spreading like wildfire via Salem Village. Whispers of witchcraft had already claimed neighbors, buddies, and strangers alike — and shortly, they’d contact the lives of three sisters from the Towne household.
Rebecca Nurse was the eldest — seventy-one years outdated, frail, and nearly deaf. To everybody in Topsfield and Salem, she was recognized for her kindness, her unwavering devotion to God, and her calm presence. If ever there was a lady above suspicion, it was Rebecca. But in March, a now historic group of witnesses to witchcraft often called “the afflicted girls” started to convulse within the city’s meetinghouse, crying out that Rebecca’s “specter”/ghosts tormented them. Mainly, they claimed that she was spawning ghosts and spirits from past the grave to hang-out and possess them.
Previous grudges stirred: the Putnams, who had quarreled bitterly with the Towne household over land, pressed the cost. Regardless of dozens signing a petition in her protection, Rebecca was dropped at trial. At first, even the judges hesitated. However when one of many ladies screamed that Rebecca’s ghost pinched her in open court docket, the tide turned. On July 19, 1692, Rebecca Nurse was hanged on Gallows Hill. Her loss of life didn’t finish the accusations.
Solely weeks later, Mary Eastey — one other of the Towne sisters — was named. Like Rebecca, Mary was admired for her involvement with the church. She was arrested, then briefly launched when the court docket doubted the costs. However the ladies renewed their claims with better fury, insisting that her spirit tortured them at night time. Mary was taken once more, and this time there can be no escape. Earlier than her execution, she wrote a petition to the judges, begging not for her personal life however that they finish the shedding of harmless blood. On September 22, she too was hanged.
The youngest sister, Sarah Cloyce, additionally fell below suspicion. Her “crime” was strolling out of church in protest when the minister preached towards Rebecca, her beloved sister. To depart in such a style was seen as a daring protection of a witch — and in Salem, such defiance was harmful. Sarah was accused and imprisoned, however not like Rebecca and Mary, she survived. The insanity ended earlier than her trial was full, and ultimately she walked free.
And these aren’t the one instances of this occurring in these days. This was the puritan period the place over 200 women and men had been accused of those practices, and out of them, 19 had been hanged to loss of life, 1 man was pressed (or squashed) to loss of life, and not less than 10 extra died in jail of both hunger, or bacterial infections suffered from wounds they got throughout every day beatings. And that was in 1692 ALONE.
Now- clearly no one desires to look at THAT with their 6 12 months outdated child at Halloween- proper? RIGHT?
So, the final vibe of the complete story needed to be modified to go well with the kind of film that we’d wanna watch many times. With the film clearly selecting to border the sisters as precise witches and given the truth that the city does the truth is have a historical past of accused witchcraft, we in fact eat it up each single time.
Now, I additionally talked about that Sarah Jessica Parker might have a connection to this actual life story, and that’s true. It was found someday throughout the manufacturing of the movie (via analysis that Sarah Jessica Parker did for the function) that she is a descendant of Esther Elwell, who was accused of witchcraft within the Salem trials however survived as a result of the court docket dissolved earlier than her execution could possibly be carried out. Spooky.
And the similarities between the actual occasions and the movie solely grew to become extra scarce when the current Hocus Pocus 2 gave audiences an perception to the origin story of the witches and we study that they had been NEVER revered figures of their city, or wherever else.
In actual life although, the story is extra akin to Robert Eggers’ The Witch than it’s to quirky and charming adventures of Hocus Pocus. With Thomasin being accused of witchcraft that she ISN’T performing, till Black Phillip like… makes her a witch for actual after which the entire comparability falls aside. Though, personally I additionally wish to revisit The Witch each Halloween so… what does that say about me?
However clearly it’s simply extra enjoyable to think about these witch trials as spooky folklore for the autumn season, than it’s to consider a bunch of sisters that had been hanged and tortured over a few daisies overgrowing onto their neighbors’ garden.
However people, that’s the REAL story of the Towne sisters, or the closest real-life counterparts to the Sanderson Sisters, and their tragic downfall from revered public figures of their group, to outcasts who suffered a horrific destiny by the hands of the very folks they labored so laborious to intermingle with. Had been you having a very good day? Sorry if I ruined it for you. Completely satisfied Halloween season!
