05/28/2026
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Did you know that Andover has a connection to the Salem Witch Trials? In May of 1692, Martha Carrier, a resident of Andover, was accused of witchcraft during one of the darkest chapters in colonial history.
Martha's father was one of the original 23 settlers in Andover. She lived in poverty and was dependent on the family farm to supply them with a living. Martha nursed her father and two brothers when an outbreak of smallpox spread through the city in 1690 but could not save them. Thereby she became a land owner in her own right. Her husband and four of her children also contracted the disease. They were accused of bringing the disease to the city, but investigation has revealed that the disease was most likely brought by new immigrants from England. Thirteen people perished during the epidemic, and the Carriers were barred from entering public places. Martha was accused of witchcraft by a group of young women known as the Salem Girls. They would travel through Essex County identifying suspected witches by engaging in a theatrical display. The girls accused Martha of leading a 300 strong witch army, using her occult powers to murder and afflict people with terrible diseases and of being promised the dubious position of "Queen of Hell". Martha vehemently denied these charges and in turn charged her accusers with insanity. She was arrested on May 28, 1692.
Martha's trial started on May 31, 1692 and she was transported to the Salem Village Meeting House to face the accusing girls, overviewed by judges John Hathorne, Jonathan Corwin, and Bartholomew Gedney. When Martha entered the room, the girls all fell to the floor, writhing with cries of agony. Many of Martha's neighbors and family members took the stand and accused her of forms of witch craft.
Despite Martha's outspoken personality and strong will she was ultimately convicted and executed during the Salem Witch Trials.
Today, her story serves as a reminder of the dangers of fear, misinformation, and injustice — and highlights an important piece of Andover’s local history. [Wikipedia]
