The Curse Of Giles Corey Is One Of The Creepiest Massachusetts Legends
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Sophia
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The Salem witch trials are one of America’s most infamous episodes of mass hysteria. Between 1692 and 1693, the people of Salem prosecuted at least 200 people for witchcraft. Nineteen people were executed, including a local man named Giles Corey. The circumstances surrounding Giles Corey’s execution are so ghastly and dramatic that they have fed rumors of a curse that has persisted for hundreds of years.
Giles Corey was a prosperous Salem farmer who, along with his third wife, was accused of witchcraft on April 18, 1692.
Corey was 80 years old at the time of his arrest. Reports claim that he actually believed the witchcraft accusations levied against his wife, until he was also arrested.
Corey was 80 years old at the time of his arrest. Reports claim that he actually believed the witchcraft accusations levied against his wife, until he was also arrested.
One of his accusers claimed that she had seen Corey appear as a spirit before her. She claimed that his spirit tortured her and forced her to pledge her soul to the devil.
Corey refused to plead either guilty or innocent. Under the law at the time, a person who did not plead couldn’t be tried for a crime.
Corey refused to plead either guilty or innocent. Under the law at the time, a person who did not plead couldn’t be tried for a crime.
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Unfortunately, authorities exploited a grisly loophole in the law by subjecting Corey to "peine forte et dure," meaning "hard and forceful punishment." This was an attempt to force him to plead.
On September 17, Sheriff George Corwin ordered wooden boards to be across Corey’s naked body and heavy stones to slowly be added.
On September 17, Sheriff George Corwin ordered wooden boards to be across Corey’s naked body and heavy stones to slowly be added.
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Corey endured this "death by pressing" for three days without crying out in pain. He was asked to enter a plea three times. Each time he replied: "more weight."
Corey died on the third day, but not before uttering a curse on the town of Salem and on the sheriff of the town. Since he died without being tried, his land and assets remained in his name and were passed to his children instead of being claimed by the government.
Corey died on the third day, but not before uttering a curse on the town of Salem and on the sheriff of the town. Since he died without being tried, his land and assets remained in his name and were passed to his children instead of being claimed by the government.
Corey’s ghost is said to have been seen walking the Howard Street Cemetery before every major disaster that has struck Salem. He was allegedly seen the night before the Great Salem Fire of 1914.
However, the creepiest part of the legend may be the belief that Corey’s curse has afflicted every person who has taken the position of Sheriff of Essex County. Chillingly, every sheriff since Corwin has supposedly died or resigned due to a blood or heart problem.
The curse is said to have been broken by the decision to move the sheriff’s office from Salem to Middleton in 1991. Since then, Salem’s sheriffs have stopped dying from heart and blood problems.
Do you believe in the curse of Giles Corey?
Do you believe in the curse of Giles Corey?
You can learn more about Giles Corey and the witchcraft trials in Salem by visiting the town’s website.
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Salem, MA, USA