Glebe House Museum on Moll Cramer and Witchcraft in Connecticut
DEC 10, 202548 MIN
Glebe House Museum on Moll Cramer and Witchcraft in Connecticut
DEC 10, 202548 MIN
Description
<p>In this episode, Josh and Sarah speak with the creative team behind "The Witch of Woodbury," a theatrical production at Connecticut's Glebe House Museum that brings 17th-century witch trial victims to life through performance.</p><p><strong>Featured Guests:</strong></p><ul><li><p><strong>Linda Barr-Gale</strong> - Actress portraying Moll Cramer for 13 years and production writer</p></li><li><p><strong>Loriann Witte</strong> - Director of Glebe House Museum, portraying Rebecca Greensmith</p></li><li><p><strong>Maribeth Cummings</strong> - Actress portraying Katherine Harrison for 5 years</p></li><li><p><strong>Vail Barrett</strong> - Actor portraying accuser Thomas Allyn</p></li></ul><p><strong>Key Topics:</strong></p><ul><li><p>The legend of Moll Cramer, the "Witch of Woodbury" who was banished to Tophet Road</p></li><li><p>Connecticut's witch trial history from 1647-1663, including 11 executions</p></li><li><p>How Governor John Winthrop Jr. transformed Connecticut's approach to witchcraft accusations</p></li><li><p>Accused Witch Katherine Harrison's well-documented case and its role in changing spectral evidence standards</p></li><li><p>Executed woman Rebecca Greensmith's role in the Hartford Witch Panic of 1662</p></li><li><p>The perspective of accusers like Thomas Allyn and the climate of fear in colonial Connecticut</p></li><li><p>Using theatrical performance to make history accessible and memorable for modern audiences</p></li></ul><p><strong>Historical Context:</strong> The performance emphasizes the stark differences between Connecticut's evolving legal standards under Winthrop and the later Salem trials.</p><p><strong>Learn More:</strong></p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.glebehousemuseum.org/"><u>Glebe House Museum</u></a><u></u></p></li></ul><li><ul><li><a href="https://connecticutwitchtrials.org/"><u>Connecticut Witch Trial History</u></a></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://endwitchhunts.org/"><u>End Witch Hunts Nonprofit</u></a></li></ul></li>