Boston Witchcraft Historical Tour and Stories

The first witch execution in Boston was 1648 and four other women were executed for being witches over the next 40 years. Hear their stories and why they got accused.
You’ll learn the story of Goody Glover, who was the last accused witch to be executed in Massachusetts before the witchcraft hysteria erupted in Salem four years later that resulted in 25 deaths. This fascinating tour discusses witchcraft in Boston and some of the Salem trials that spilled over to Boston involving Reverends Increase and Cotton Mather, who played pivotal roles in the many of these witchcraft accusations.
You’ll learn about the hanging location, where the victims lived, who is interred in the cemetery, see where the jail was located and more.This captivating tour will paint the picture of the colonial belief that people could sign a pact with the devil and do harm to their neighbors with witchcraft.

Meeting Point

24 Beacon St

24 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02108, USA

We meet in front of the Massachusetts State House at the Bullfinch Entrance

What's included:

• tour guide,

What to expect:

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Massachusetts State House

24 Beacon St, Boston, 02133-1099, Massachusetts

It is our meeting spot but travelers will see the grandiose building. We will do our introduction there.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Statue of Mary Dyer

Massachusetts State House, Beacon St, Boston, MA 02133, USA

We will discuss what happened to this woman who was executed for speaking for what she believed in.

5 minutes

Anne Hutchinson Statue

Massachusetts State House, Beacon St, Boston, MA 02133, USA

We will discuss her role in the Antonimian controversy.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Boston Common

139 Tremont St, , Boston, 02111-1318, Massachusetts

We will make a stop at a historic spot on Boston Common and explain what happened there.

5 minutes

Park Street

Tremont St & Park Street &, Winter St, Boston, MA 02108, USA

We will discuss the "accused witch" who lived in this location and her story from 1688.

10 minutes

Granary Burying Ground

Tremont Street, Boston, 02108, Massachusetts

We will discuss the people buried in the cemetery who have connections to the witchcraft trials and what they did.

10 minutes

King's Chapel Burying Ground

Tremont Street, Between School And Park Streets, Boston, 02108-3201, Massachusetts

We will discuss the people buried in the cemetery who have connections to witchcraft trials and what they did.

10 minutes

Pemberton Square

243 Charles St, Boston, 02114-3002, Massachusetts

We will discuss Reverend John Cotton from the 1630s and his role in the Antinomian Controversy, Roger Williams and, eventually Witchcraft. We will also

5 minutes

Court Street

Court St, Boston, MA, USA

We will go to the site of the old jail where several people were imprisoned for witchcraft and died.

10 minutes

Union Street

Union St, Boston, MA 02108, USA

We will go to the location of the original Green Dragon Tavern and the new Green Dragon Tavern and discuss Chief Justice William Stoughton, who owned the original.

10 minutes

The Paul Revere House

19 North Square, , Boston, 02113-2405, Massachusetts

We will visit the Paul Revere house where Increase Mather had a home there that burned by fire. Mather and his son lived there and preached at a church nearby. They were critical in the withcraft trials in Boston and Salem.

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included