HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3054        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Steven Owens

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

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

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3054        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

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

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

SECTION 3. Said chapter 145 is hereby further amended by inserting after the words “The above named”, the following words:- “and other”.

SECTION 4. Said Chapter 145 is hereby further amended by inserting after the first paragraph the following paragraph :- “Whereas, Hugh Parsons, Eunice Cole, and Elizabeth Morse were indicted, tried, and found guilty of “Witchcraft”; and”

SECTION 5. Said Chapter 145 is hereby further amended by inserting after the second paragraph :- “Whereas, numerous others were named, accused, arrested, questioned, imprisoned, arraigned, presented, indicted and/or tried for witchcraft or familiarity with the devil, though not found guilty; and”

SECTION 6. Said Chapter 145 is hereby further amended by inserting after the words “Elizabeth Johnson, Jr.” the second time they appear, the following words:- , “Margaret Jones, Alice Lake, Elizabeth Kendall, Anne Hibbens, Goody Glover, Hugh Parsons, Eunice Cole, Elizabeth Morse”.