Bridget Bishop was the first person executed for witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts, during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692.

Reputedly outspoken, flashy in her costume (by Puritan standards) and often unruly in her behavior, Bridget was an obvious choice to be the first person actually hanged, as her death would cause the least amount of dismay among the public. Bridget was close to 60 years old at the time of her death. She was married three times in her life. Once to George Wasselbe, who died at a young age. She then married a second time to Thomas Oliver, a prominent businessman with whom she had one daughter, Christian. She was accused of bewitching Thomas Oliver to death but was acquitted for lack of evidence. Her last marriage was to Edward Bishop, a sawyer whose family ran a prosperous tavern in Beverly. He signed against her, but his own son and daughter-in-law were also taken to jail on charges of witchcraft only days before Bridget's arrest.

She denied all charges of witchcraft during the trials, saying "I know not what a witch is".

Further readings

Salem witch trials | 1632 births | 1692 deaths | People executed for witchcraft