15 Facts About Sarah Wildes

Sarah Wildes maintained her innocence throughout the process, and was later exonerated.

Sarah Wildes's husband's first wife was a member of the Gould family, cousins of the Putnam family, the primary accusers, and court records document the family feuds which led to her persecution.

Sarah Wildes was considered glamorous and forward as a young woman.

John Sarah Wildes testified against his first wife's brother, Lieutenant John Gould, in a treason trial, which further angered the family.

Shortly after, John's ex-sister-in-law, Mary Gould Reddington, began circulating rumors that Sarah Wildes was a witch.

When John Sarah Wildes threatened to charge her with slander, she retracted her claims.

Elizabeth then claimed to have been immediately affected by trembling joints when Sarah Wildes looked at her, and that a cat-like creature visited her that night, while she was struck dumb.

Sarah Wildes further claimed to have suffered crippling back pain when Sarah passed her at church.

Thomas Dorman reported that Sarah Wildes had purchased a beehive from him, and, subsequently, he lost much of his livestock, including geese and cattle.

Sarah Wildes Bibber is specifically named in the court records as having had a fit, claiming to see Sarah Wildes's specter "upon the beam", and the other accusers followed suit.

Sarah Wildes stated her innocence, going as far as to say she had never even seen the accusers before.

Sarah Wildes continued that Sarah recruited her to attend a black mass, and offered to cease tormenting her and reward her with clothing in return for her signing of the devil's book.

Humphrey Clark claimed that Sarah Wildes had once appeared in his bedroom at midnight.

Sarah Wildes was condemned by the Court of Essex County for practicing witchcraft.

Sarah Wildes was exonerated by the Massachusetts General Court in 1710, along with many other condemned.