The bill to exonerate those accused of witchcraft in Massachusetts has been renamed H.1927.
This legislation was proposed by Rep. Steven Owens (Cambridge and Watertown) and will clear the names of 8 individuals convicted of witchcraft in Boston and recognize all others who suffered witchcraft accusations in Massachusetts.
If you are interested in helping out, please register to volunteer here, or show your support for this legislation by signing our petition and by writing or calling your legislators. We are currently (November 2025) looking for people to submit written testimony in support of H1927, share the petition, and talk to your Massachusetts legislators about co-sponsoring the bill.
View An Act Exonerating Certain Individuals Accused of Witchcraft in Colonial Massachusetts here or download the file below.
What does H1927 do?
H1927 updates a 1957 resolution, which cleared the name of Ann Pudeator by adding the names of Margaret Jones, Elizabeth Kendall, Alice Lake, Hugh Parsons, Eunice Cole, Ann Hibbens, Elizabeth Morse, and Goody Glover.
There is also a clause that provides exoneration for all who were accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts, whether or not they were convicted.
Amended Resolution
RESOLVE RELATIVE TO THE INDICTMENT, TRIAL, CONVICTION AND EXECUTION OF ANN PUDEATOR AND CERTAIN OTHER PERSONS FOR “WITCHCRAFT” IN THE YEAR SIXTEEN HUNDRED AND NINETY-TWO.
Whereas, Ann Pudeator, Bridget Bishop, Susannah Martin, Alice Parker, Margaret Scott, Elizabeth Johnson, Jr., Margaret Jones, Alice Lake, Elizabeth Kendall, Anne Hibbens, Goody Glover, and Wilmot Redd were indicted, tried, found guilty, and sentenced to death and executed for “Witchcraft”; and
Whereas, Hugh Parsons, Eunice Cole, and Elizabeth Morse were indicted, tried, and found guilty of “Witchcraft”; and
Whereas, the above named and other persons may have been illegally tried, convicted and sentenced by a possibly illegal court of oyer and terminer created by the then governor of the Province without authority under the Province Charter of Massachusetts Bay; and
Whereas, numerous others were named, accused, arrested, questioned, imprisoned, arraigned, presented, indicted, and/or tried for witchcraft or familiarity with the devil, though not found guilty; and
Whereas, Although there was a public repentance by Judge Sewall, one of the judges of the so-called “Witchcraft Court”, and by all the members of the “Witchcraft” jury, and a public Fast Day proclaimed and observed in repentance for the proceedings, but no other action taken in regard to them; and
Whereas, The General Court of Massachusetts is informed that certain descendants of said Ann Pudeator, Bridget Bishop, Susannah Martin, Alice Parker, Margaret Scott, Elizabeth Johnson, Jr., Margaret Jones, Alice Lake, Elizabeth Kendall, Anne Hibbens, Goody Glover, Hugh Parsons, Eunice Cole, Elizabeth Morse, and Wilmot Redd are still distressed by the record of said proceedings; therefore be it
Resolved, That in order to alleviate such distress and although the facts of such proceedings cannot be obliterated, the General Court of Massachusetts declares its belief that such proceedings, even if lawful under the Province Charter and the law of Massachusetts as it then was, were and are shocking, and the result of a wave of popular hysterical fear of the Devil in the community, and further declares that, as all the laws under which said proceedings, even if then legally conducted, have been long since abandoned and superseded by our more civilized laws no disgrace or cause for distress attaches to the said descendants or any of them by reason of said proceedings; and be it further
Resolved, That the passage of this resolve shall not bestow on the commonwealth or any of its subdivisions, or on any person any right which did not exist prior to said passage, shall not authorize any suit or other proceeding nor deprive any party to a suit or other proceeding of any defense which he hitherto had, shall not affect in any way whatever the title to or rights in any real or personal property, nor shall it require or permit the remission of any penalty, fine or forfeiture hitherto imposed or incurred.