JOHN PROCTOR, SR.
John Proctor, Sr. was a farmer and tavern owner in Salem Village. He did not have a big connection in the Trials until his servant, Mary Warren, began having fits. It is suggested that he was a brutal man. He would threaten to beat the fits out of Mary (Hansen, 53). He threatened to burn her fit out of her with a pair of hot tongs, he threatened to drown her. In her fits she would almost hurt herself. He told her if it happened again he would not rescue her (Hansen, 60).
Soon Proctor was accused of witchcraft. Looking back, it is hard to see why he would have been accused. There was no reason to believe he was a witch. That is until Joseph Bailey and his wife claimed to see the specter of John Proctor and his wife. They were passing the Proctor house when Bailey said he was struck hard in the chest, but there was no one around except for his wife. He saw Proctor and his wife (who were in prison during this incident), but his wife saw nothing. For awhile, Bailey's wife was asking him questions, but he was unable to speak. He was then struck on the chest again. He saw a woman coming towards them, but his wife still saw nothing. When Bailey looked again there was a cow in place of the woman. After they passed the Proctor house, they had no other problems (Hansen, 90-91).
Proctor claimed he was innocent all the way to the end. He was executed on August 19.
Soon Proctor was accused of witchcraft. Looking back, it is hard to see why he would have been accused. There was no reason to believe he was a witch. That is until Joseph Bailey and his wife claimed to see the specter of John Proctor and his wife. They were passing the Proctor house when Bailey said he was struck hard in the chest, but there was no one around except for his wife. He saw Proctor and his wife (who were in prison during this incident), but his wife saw nothing. For awhile, Bailey's wife was asking him questions, but he was unable to speak. He was then struck on the chest again. He saw a woman coming towards them, but his wife still saw nothing. When Bailey looked again there was a cow in place of the woman. After they passed the Proctor house, they had no other problems (Hansen, 90-91).
Proctor claimed he was innocent all the way to the end. He was executed on August 19.