History repeats itself unless we intervene.
Between 1647 and 1688, five women were hanged for witchcraft in Boston, Massachusetts. Margaret Jones, Elizabeth Kendall, Alice Lake, Ann Hibbins, and Goody Glover were convicted in trials that denied them basic justice, subjected them to torturous examinations, and ultimately took their lives based on superstition, fear, and prejudice.
Nearly four centuries later, their names remain tainted by wrongful convictions. But that can change, and you can be part of making it happen.
What is Bill H.1927?
Bill H.1927, proposed by Rep. Steven Owens of Cambridge and Watertown, will clear the names of 8 individuals convicted of witchcraft in Boston and recognize all others who suffered witchcraft accusations in Massachusetts. This legislation represents more than clearing historical records. It’s about acknowledging injustice, honoring the memory of those who suffered, and learning from our past mistakes.
The five women who were executed in Boston have never been exonerated. While the 31 individuals convicted or pressed to death during the Salem Witchcraft Trials have been cleared by the General Court, those accused in the years before Salem have been all but forgotten.
Why These Five Women Matter
Margaret Jones (executed 1648) was a woman whose medicines were deemed too effective, her skill too powerful. When neighbors’ misfortunes occurred, she became the scapegoat. She maintained her innocence to the very end.
Elizabeth Kendall (executed between 1647 and 1651) was falsely accused by a nurse who blamed her for a child’s death, a child who had actually died from the nurse’s own negligence. Even after the nurse’s fraudulent testimony was revealed, Elizabeth was never exonerated.
Alice Lake (executed c. 1650) was a mother of four who had been judged harshly for choices she made as a young woman. That judgment haunted her and was weaponized against her when witchcraft accusations arose.
Ann Hibbins (executed 1656) was called “quarrelsome” for speaking her mind and refusing to accept unfair treatment. Her husband had been an Assistant in the Massachusetts General Court, but even her connections couldn’t save her from being targeted as a widow with property.
Goody Glover (executed 1688) was an Irish Catholic widow whose first language was Gaelic. An outsider within her community, she became an easy target when children exhibited strange behaviors.
These women were not witches. They were healers, mothers, widows, and immigrants who became victims of mass hysteria, misogyny, and injustice.
The Legislative Path Forward
The Joint Committee on the Judiciary will hold a hearing on Bill H.1927 November 25, 2025. This hearing is a critical opportunity for citizens to voice their support for exoneration and justice.
Here’s what you need to know about participating:
Written Testimony
You can submit written testimony to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. Written statements allow you to:
- Share why this legislation matters to you
- Explain the historical significance of exonerating witch trial victims
- Connect past injustices to ongoing witch hunts happening around the world today
- Advocate for full accountability and acknowledgment
What to Include in Your Testimony
When crafting your testimony (whether oral or written), consider including:
- Your connection to the issue: Are you a descendant? A Massachusetts resident? Someone who cares about justice?
- Why exoneration matters: This isn’t just about history. It’s about acknowledging that innocent people suffered grave injustices and that we, as a society, commit to learning from these mistakes.
- The human cost: These individuals suffered imprisonment, interrogation, loss of reputation, loss of income, separation from their families, illness, and death.
- The truth about witchcraft accusations: These women did not have a diabolical pact with the devil. They were innocent people falsely accused.
- Human responsibility: It was human agency that executed alleged witches, not a community deluded by the devil. People made these choices and people must take responsibility for the injustice.
- The broader significance: Witch hunts didn’t end with Salem. They continue today in many parts of the world. Understanding this history helps us recognize and resist witch hunting wherever it occurs.
- Request for action: Ask the committee to support H.1927 and move it forward for a full vote.
How YOU Can Take Action Right Now
1. Sign the Petition
Visit change.org/witchtrials and add your name to the thousands calling for justice.
2. Contact Your Legislators
Find your Massachusetts representatives and senators. Tell them you support Bill H.1927 and ask them to co-sponsor it. Personal constituent communications make a real difference.
3. Prepare and Submit Testimony
Whether you plan to testify in person or submit written comments, your voice matters. Contact the Joint Committee on the Judiciary to learn about upcoming hearing dates and registration requirements.
4. Spread the Word
Share this blog post, the petition, and information about the bill on social media. Use hashtags like #H1927, #WitchTrialJustice, and #MassachusettsHistory to amplify the message.
5. Learn More
Visit our websites to deepen your understanding:
- massachusettswitchtrials.org: Learn about the 8 convicted individuals and the broader witch trial history
- endwitchhunts.org: Discover how historical witch hunts connect to contemporary witch hunts
- witchhuntshow.com & aboutsalem.com: Listen to our podcasts diving deep into these stories
- malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1927: Read the bill at the legislature’s official site.
Why This Matters Today
The patterns that led to the witch trials (scapegoating outsiders, punishing women who challenged social norms, using fear to justify injustice) are still happening in the same form today.
Around the world, people are still being accused of witchcraft. They still face violence, imprisonment, and death because of these accusations. Witch hunts never stopped. They continue in parts of Africa, Asia, and beyond, with devastating consequences for victims and their families.
At End Witch Hunts nonprofit, we know that witch hunting didn’t evolve into something else. It’s still witch hunting. People are still being beaten, burned, and killed because neighbors, family members, or community leaders accuse them of using harmful magic or witchcraft.
By formally exonerating these victims and apologizing for what was done to them, Massachusetts can demonstrate that it’s possible to confront this injustice honestly, both historically and in its ongoing, present day reality. This legislation acknowledges that real people suffered real harm in colonial Massachusetts, just as real people continue to suffer from witchcraft accusations today.
Massachusetts exonerated all those convicted during the Salem witch trials of 1692 and 1693, but left these five women behind. They remain the only people executed for witchcraft in New England who have never been cleared. It’s time to finish the job.
When we advocate for Margaret Jones, Elizabeth Kendall, Alice Lake, Ann Hibbins, and Goody Glover, we also stand with every person around the world who is being accused of witchcraft right now. Their stories are separated by centuries but united by the same persecution, the same violence, the same injustice.
The Time to Act is Now
Legislative windows can close quickly. The Massachusetts legislature needs to hear from citizens who care about justice, not just historical justice, but justice for all victims of witch hunting, past and present.
Five women hanged for witchcraft have waited nearly four centuries for their names to be cleared.
Will you be one of the voices that finally brings them justice?
Massachusetts Witch-Hunt Justice Project
A project of End Witch Hunts. For more information, volunteer opportunities, and updates on the hearing schedule, visit massachusettswitchtrials.org
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