Before the U.S. was founded in 1776, at least eight individuals in Maryland were accused of or indicted for witchcraft under the province’s statute entitled “An Acte against Conjuration Witchcrafte and dealing with evill and wicked Spirits.” One woman, Rebecca Fowler, was the only person to be executed after her conviction in 1685.
Why Maryland is looking to pardon its witches – and wants their descendants to get in touch At least one person was executed for witchcraft in Maryland.
Those accused are Elizabeth Bennett in 1665, Hannah Edwards in 1686, John Cowman in 1674, Mary Lee circa 1654, Rebecca Fowler in 1685, Virtue Violl in 1712 and Moll Dyer.
Heather A Bagnall, a Democratic delegate representing Anne Arundel County who wrote the resolution, says that misogyny played a large part in the trials and that the judicial procedures would not meet modern standards.
Beliefs in witchcraft were commonly held across the world and the British colonies in particular during that time, leading to the notable Salem Witch Trials, which resulted in the deaths of 25 people.
