Were any of those accused of witchcraft actually found to be innocent during the trial?

by jjake101

Seems like if were accused of witchcraft by Joe Bloggs down the street you were pretty much screwed...

JackalSkull

Someone asked a very similar question the other day, maybe you'll find some of the answers there helpful.

mormengil

100 people were put at some risk of execution during the Salem Witch trials in Massachusetts.

Of these, there were 22 people executed by the Salem Witch Trials. 21 found guilty and executed. One pressed to death during the course of refusing to enter a plea. 5 other people died in prison, one having been convicted but died before being executed, 1 having been found not guilty, but died before being released, 2 died in custody before being tried, and one infant was born and died in prison before her mother was executed.

So, of the 100 people at risk, 27 died. 27% died.

2 people were convicted, but escaped before being executed.

4 people were convicted (or pled guilty), but pardoned.

25 people were tried, found not guilty, and survived.

1 person was released from prison after the trials were ended without having been tried.

11 people were released on bond and never came to trial.

8 people escaped before coming to trial.

4 people were indicted by a grand jury but never came to trial.

6 people were arrested but never indicted.

2 people had arrest warrants issued but evaded arrest.

10 people were named but no arrest warrant was issued.

So, 73 people in jeopardy survived the Salem Witch Trials.

73% of people in jeopardy survived.

Of those actually tried, 21 were executed for witchcraft, 1 was executed in the course of trying to force a plea. 1 died in prison despite being found innocent, 2 were found guilty but escaped, 4 were found guilty but pardoned, and 25 were found not guilty. Of the 54 people tried, 31 survived.

In these trials at least, you had a 57% chance of surviving a trial for witchcraft, and a 73% chance of surviving an accusation.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_of_the_Salem_witch_trials