The Salem Witchcraft trials end: William Phips, Royal Governor of the colony of Massachusetts Bay, dissolves the Court of Oyer (French for “to hear”) and Terminor (French for “to decide”).  Phips orders that no more arrests be made and that those who are incarcerated awaiting trial be freed.  A total of 19 colonists were hanged; at least four died in jail.

       NOTE: This marked the end of spectral evidence in trials for the nearly three centuries.

       [restored 10/26/2024]