Witchcraft in my Family History: Ancestral Connections to Salem Witch Hunts

Which Witch is Which? When I started my family research over 20 years ago, I became aware that my family had come to the United States before there was a United States. I had family on the Mayflower. I have discovered that when your family arrives in the gene pool early, you are related to a lot of people.

John Kelly Hartt’s family came to the colonies very early. Isaac Hartt was the first Hartt to come over, and his wife (Elizabeth) was one of those accused of witchcraft in Salem. I am also related to the Esty family and the three sisters who were accused of witchcraft in Salem are all related to me. Mary Esty is my grandmother, X 7, and her sisters are my great aunts.

I created the witch pages as part of this site partially because I am a nurse-midwife. History confirms that midwives where often associated with witchcraft and put to death. My own experience practicing as the first nurse-midwife in a small town made me realize that there is such a thing as a modern day witch hunt.

I hope you enjoy my pages on this topic. I’m also going to create a page showing how many US presidents my family is related to. It’s amazing!