Salem witch trials

Historical eventSeptember 191692

Salem witch trials

Salem witch trials: Giles Corey was crushed to death for refusing to enter a plea to charges of witchcraft, reportedly asking the sheriff for "more weight" during his execution.

Everything on September 19Original source
Public domain

In context

When
Friday, September 19 1692334 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
17th century · 1690s
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

The Gregorian calendar was in use in Catholic Europe from 1582, but Britain and its colonies kept the Julian calendar until 14 September 1752 — sources from those places may date this event 10–11 days earlier.

At a glance

Dates: From 1692.

What happened

The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. More than 200 people were accused. Thirty people were found guilty, nineteen of whom were executed by hanging. One other man, Giles Corey, died under torture for refusing to enter a plea, and at least five people died in the disease-ridden jails without trial.

September 19 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 1692Salem witch trials
  2. 2008Learjet 60
  3. 2010Deepwater Horizon oil spill
  4. 2011Mariano Rivera
  5. 20162016 New York and New Jersey bombings
  6. 20172017 Puebla earthquake
  7. 2021Cumbre Vieja
  8. 20222022 Michoacán earthquake
  9. 2022Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II
  10. 2023Azerbaijan
  11. 2023The Mongol Khan

Also in 1692

  • February 13Clan MacDonald of GlencoeMembers of Clan MacDonald of Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands were massacred, allegedly for failing to pledge allegiance to the new mona…
  • June 10Bridget BishopBridget Bishop became the first person to be executed for witchcraft in the Salem witch trials in colonial Massachusetts.
  • June 71692 Jamaica earthquakeAn earthquake registering approximately 7.5 Mw caused Port Royal, Jamaica, to sink below sea level and killed approximately 5,000 people.

Everything we record for 1692 →

Sources

Cite this page

“Salem witch trials”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/salem-witch-trials-1692-september-19, accessed October 24, 2026.

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Questions about this entry

When did Salem witch trials happen?

September 19 1692 — 334 years ago, on a Friday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints.

How do I cite this page?

Use the ready-made citation near the sources at the bottom of the page, and follow the source link to cite the underlying record as well.

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