Tituba
Tituba was a Caribbean slave. Not only was she a slave, which was unusual in the area, she was a dark-skinned foreigner. As a child, she was sold to Reverend Parris. Then, Tituba was one of the first to be accused since she was considered a social outcast. Although she was innocent, Tituba revealed herself as a witch in response to Reverend Parris's bribe of freedom. The following quote is from her interrogation: |
"Judge: Did you ever see the devil?
Tituba: The devil came to me and bid me serve him.
Judge: Who have you seen?
Tituba: Four women sometimes hurt the children.
Judge: Who were they?
Tituba: Goody Osburn and Sarah Good and I do not know who the others were. Sarah Good and Osburne would have me hurt the children but I would not.
Judge: When did you see them?
Tituba: Last night at Boston.
Judge: What did they say to you?
Tituba: They said, "Hurt the children."
Judge: And did you hurt them?
Tituba: No. There is four women and one man. They hurt the children and them lay all upon me and theytell me if I will not hurt the children they will hurt me.
Judge: And did you hurt them?
Tituba: Yes, but I will hurt them no more.
Judge: Are you sorry you did hurt them?
Tituba: Yes
Judge: And why then do you hurt the,?
Tituba: They say hurt the children or we will do worse to you.
Judge: What have you seen?
Tituba: A man come to me and say serve me.
Judge: What service?
Tituba: Hurt the children. And last night there was an appearance that said, "Kill the children and if I would not go on hurting the children they would do worse to me.
Judge: What is this appearance you see?
Tituba: Sometimes it is like a hog and some times like a great hog.
Judge:What did they say to you?
Tituba: The black dog said, "Serve me." but I said, "I am afraid." He said if I did not he would do worse to me."
-Excerpt from the "Examination of Tituba"
This resulted in her sentence to prison. After the trials, she was freed from prison and was never heard of again.