Convicted of witchcraft during the famous Salem trials in the 17th century, an American woman could be granted amnesty thanks to the efforts of a group of fourth graders in the state of Massachusetts. Elizabeth Johnson Jr. lived in the town of North Andover about 30 kilometers from Salem, Massachusetts. She had been condemned to death in 1693 during the gigantic “witch” hunt that took place in the region, leaving an indelible mark in American history.
Pardoned, Elizabeth Johnson Jr. was not executed and died in 1747 at the age of almost 77. Unlike the other “witches” convicted during the trials, she has never been exonerated by justice. A task that several students from North Andover Middle School have decided to take on as part of their civic education class.
The children “made it possible to right a historic wrong”
The teens researched historical sources showing that Elizabeth Johnson Jr. had arguably been accused of witchcraft because she was single and may have had a mental disability. “Part of our introductory civic education course focuses on the idea of identity, values, stereotypes and civic dialogue,” explained Professor Carrie LaPierre. “So analyzing Ms. Johnson’s situation from that point of view helped the students gain perspective and empathy,” for her, she adds.
The 13 and 14-year-old college students did not understand why Elizabeth Johnson Jr. had not been granted an amnesty. A simple reason: she had no immediate descendants able to mobilize to rehabilitate her memory. The eighth graders therefore wrote letters to their local elected officials and helped State Senator Diana DiZoglio draft a bill to rehabilitate Elizabeth Johnson Jr, which was recently introduced and is unlikely to raise any opposition. . More than 150 people, mostly women, were accused of witchcraft between 1692 and 1693 during the Salem trials dominated by fear, paranoia and superstitions.
A total of 30 were found guilty, including Elizabeth Johnson Jr., and 19 of them were hanged. The state of Massachusetts has formally cleared 29 of them, according to Ms. DiZoglio. “The time has simply come to finish the job and rehabilitate the memory of Elizabeth Johnson Jr. once and for all,” said the Democratic senator. “This project may seem insignificant, but the children’s efforts have made it possible to right a historic wrong, and I want them to be proud of that,” concluded Carrie LaPierre.
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