Today in History May 27 1647 Achsah Young becomes the first woman known to be executed as a witch in Massachusetts

Alse (or Alice) Young of Windsor CT, born c 1600. was the first person known to have been executed for witchcraft in the thirteen American colonies. Her crime was reportedly nothing more serious than preparing herbal remedies for neighbors. This event marked  the start of the terrible saga of persecution, torture, and death culminating in the Salem trails 45 years later. Young was hanged May 26, 1647 in the meetinghouse square in Hartford, the site of the present Old State House https://rockyhillhistory.wordpress.com/2011/05/26/convicted-witch-alse-young-of-windsor-hanged-may-26-1647/

Tapping the Scales of Justice - A Dose of Connecticut Legal History Witches and Witchcraft The First Person Executed in the Colonies In 1642 witchcraft was punishable by death in Connecticut. This capital offense was backed by references to the Bible, i.e., Ex: 22, 18; Lev: 20, 27; Deu: 18, 10, 11. Alse Young (sometimes also referred to as Achsah or Alice) of Windsor, Connecticut was the first person executed for witchcraft in America. Alse was hanged at Meeting House Square in Hartford on what is now the site of the Old State House. A journal of then Massachusetts Governor John Winthrop states that "One of Windsor was hanged." The second town clerk of Windsor, Matthew Grant also confirms the execution with the May 26, 1647 diary entry, "Alse Young was hanged." Although Connecticut may not have experienced the same level of hysteria as Salem Massachusetts, Alse Young was not the last person hanged for witchcraft. Mary Johnson of Wethersfield was executed in 1648 after having confessed to entering into a compact with the devil. Joan and John Carrington also of Wethersfield were executed in 1651. Rebecca and Nathaniel Greensmith and Mary Barnes were found guilty of witchcraft and were hanged in Hartford on January 25, 1663. Ann Cole had accused Rebecca Greensmith of making her have strange fits. Witchcraft was last listed as a capital crime in 1715. The crime of witchcraft disappeared from the list of capital crimes when the laws were next printed in 1750. _________________________________________________ Sources of Information: George Lincoln Burr, editor, "Narratives of the Witchcraft Cases 1648-1706" Wilson H. Faude & Joan W. Friedland, "Connecticut Firsts", (1985) David D. Hall, editor, "Witch-Hunting in Seventeenth Century New England" R.G. Tomlinson, "Witchcraft Trials Of Connecticut", (1978) For other accusations and mentions of witchcraft in the colonial records of Connecticut: Mr. Willis asked to go to Saybrook to examine suspicions of witchcraft Witchcraft listed as a crime punishable by death Goodwife Garlick Mercy Disborough, Elizabeth Clawson, Goody Miller, Mrs. Staples Water Test on Mercy Disborough and Elizabeth Clawson Mary Johnson Doses of Connecticut Legal History   http://www.jud.ct.gov/lawlib/history/witches.htm