Rachel Christ-Doane — The Untold Story of Dorothy Good: A Tragic Life After the Salem Witch Trials

Rachel Christ-Doane

Perhaps the most devastating story from the Salem witchcraft trials is that of Dorothy Good, the youngest person to be arrested and jailed in 1692. At the age of four years old, Dorothy was accused of practicing witchcraft and confined to prison for nearly eight months. Historical accounts of the Salem witch trials always reference this tragic individual and conclude her story with reference to the reparation payment awarded to her father in 1712. Recent research conducted by the Salem Witch Museum has revealed new information about the adult life of Dorothy Good. Town records paint a tragic picture of her life after the witchcraft trials. This presentation will discuss this new discovery and ongoing research.

Rachel Christ-Doane (FB @salemwitchmuseum, IG @salemwitchmuseum, TikTok @salemwitchmuseum, YouTube:youtube.com/c/TheSalemWitchMuseum) is the Director of Education at the Salem Witch Museum. She holds a BA in History from Clark University and a MA in History and Museum Studies from Tufts University.