Family Trees ABRAHAM DAYNES of New London WILLIAM DEINS of Taunton JOHN DANE SR.of Roxbury DEANS of Ireland My DAINES Branch JOHN DOANE of Eastham WILLIAM DAINES of Norfolk
Other Pages in this site BURIAL RECORDS FAMILY PHOTOS FAMILY REUNION HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS MILITARY SERVICE RECORDS EXPLORING NORTH AMERICA SEPARATING FACT FROM FICTION FAMILY CREST SALEM WITCH TRIALS FAMILY LORE
Collateral Connections THE HOWE FAMILIES: Daniel of Lynn 1631 & Long Island 1640; Abraham of Watertown and Marlborough; Edward of Watertown 1634; brothers: James Sr. of Roxbury 1637 and Abraham of Roxbury 1638; Edward of Lynn 1636; John of Sudbury 1640; Samuel of Concord 1642; Daniel of Boston 1651; WILLIAM MUNROE FAMILY GOSNOLD FAMILY WILLIAM LUDDINGTON FAMILY of Malden and New Haven
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SALEM WITCH TRIALS
The Dane family did not escape the madness that prevailed in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. The accusations of witchcraft spread to the outlying towns and many people were unjustly accused. Some signed confessions of their sins and others went to the gallows. Some were levied fines and others died in prison or were hung. It is largely based upon this phenomenon in our countries early development that our Founding Fathers made certain that one basic right was a presumption of innocence rather than guilt, and consequently the concept of separation of church and state. Just recently, the Governor of Massachusetts pardoned any remaining "accused witches"- who were denied Christian burial and the town of Salem has erected monuments commemorating the innocent victims of mass hysteria fueled by a firmly rooted Puritan religious conviction that man is inherently evil. The Rev. Frances Dane (son of John Dane Sr. of Roxbury) was pastor at a church in Andover, MA. He spoke vehemently against the accusations of witchcraft, which incidentally included his children and grandchildren, and had it not been for his reputation, he may have been denounced as well. Statement by Rev. Francis Dane of Andover, MA 1693
See the following links to Salem Witch Trials:
http://etext.virginia.edu/salem/witchcraft/texts/transcripts.html