HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 5154

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, February 26, 2026.

 The committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1927) of Steven Owens, Sally P. Kerans and William C. Galvin relative to exonerating certain individuals accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts, reports recommending that the accompanying bill (House, No. 5154) ought to pass.

For the committee,

MICHAEL S. DAY.

        FILED ON: 2/22/2026

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 5154

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act exonerating certain individuals accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

 SECTION 1. The first paragraph of chapter 145 of the resolves of 1957, as amended by section 105 of chapter 126 of the acts of 2022, is hereby amended by inserting after the words “Elizabeth Johnson, Jr.”, the following words:- , Margaret Jones, Alice Lake, Elizabeth Kendall, Anne Hibbens, Goody Glover,

 SECTION 2. The first paragraph of said Chapter 145 is hereby further amended by striking the words “in the year sixteen hundred and ninety-two”.

 SECTION 3. Said Chapter 145 is hereby further amended by inserting after the first paragraph the following 2 paragraphs:-

 Whereas, Hugh Parsons, Eunice Cole, and Elizabeth Morse were indicted, tried, and found guilty of “Witchcraft”; and

 Whereas, numerous others were named, accused, arrested, questioned, imprisoned, arraigned, presented, indicted or tried for “Witchcraft” or familiarity with the Devil, though not found guilty; and

 SECTION 4. The second paragraph of said Chapter 145 is hereby amended by inserting after the word “named”, the following words:- and other.             

 SECTION 5. The fourth paragraph of said Chapter 145 is hereby amended by inserting after the words “Elizabeth Johnson, Jr.” the following words:- , Margaret Jones, Alice Lake, Elizabeth Kendall, Anne Hibbens, Goody Glover, Hugh Parsons, Eunice Cole, Elizabeth Morse.