The Thing About the Salem Witch Trials · Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack

Portland, Maine's ties to the Salem Witch Trials

February 21, 2026·11 min·1 clip

How did Maine's brutal wars and royal governor's actions directly fuel the Salem Witch Trials?

This episode explores the connections between Portland, Maine and the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. Hosts Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Japp of *Salem Witch Trials Daily* examine how Maine's frontier status influenced the crisis. They focus on individuals from the Falmouth settlement, now Portland, who became central figures in the trials. Maine was part of Massachusetts and endured brutal conflicts like King Philip's War and King William's War. Historians link the trauma and economic stress from this frontier warfare directly to the panic in Salem. Royal Governor Sir William Phipps, born in Maine, left the trial proceedings to return and fight on the frontier. The hosts detail the story of George Burroughs, accused of being the witches' ringleader. Burroughs was a minister who served in Maine during the 1670s and again in Falmouth from 1683 to 1689. He survived multiple French and Wabanaki attacks on the Falmouth settlement. Burroughs had also been the minister in Salem Village from 1680 to 1683 before returning to Maine. He relocated to Wells, Maine, just months before the devastating Fort Attenborough attack. The episode posits that Burroughs's experiences with frontier violence made him a suspect. His movement between Salem and Maine illustrates the direct personal links between the two regions. Governor Phipps's departure highlights how the colony's leadership was distracted by the Maine conflicts. The narrative suggests the witch trials cannot be understood without this geographic and military context. The survival of attacks like those on Falmouth created a pervasive climate of fear. This fear, combined with religious fervor, primed communities for accusations. The hosts adopt an educational and conversational tone, presenting historical connections clearly. The style is narrative, weaving together biography, military history, and social analysis. Listeners interested in colonial American history and the lesser-known roots of the Salem trials will find this episode compelling. Those seeking only a retelling of the Salem courtroom events might find the geographic focus too narrow.

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