In this transcript of the examination of fourteen-year- old William Barker, Jr., Barker 'confessed' to the magistrates that he was guilty of practicing witchcraft. At the time of this confession, Barker's father, William Barker, Sr., had confessed to practicing witchcraft just three days before. Fortunately, neither one was executed for his crime. The Salem witch hunts, which began in January 1692, had spread to nearby Andover by July, when Joseph Ballard, also from Andover, brought several "afflicted" girls with him to Andover to determine the cause of his wife's illness. Within weeks, more than fifty people were accused of witchcraft, many of whom subsequently confessed and were executed. The hysteria had died down by November 1692 and the witchcraft trials were over by May 1693, but before it was said and done, twenty-four people had been executed. When you read this document, compare it with the paintings of the trials done by Tompkins Matteson; do these different items complement each other?

Investigate the source using the zoom and navigational tools in the Flash player and then answer the questions below.

1			Discuss the charges against William Barker, Jr. Did you notice any discrepancies in this testimony?
2			Compare this deposition with the one given by Captain John Alden. Are there any similarities that strike you?
3			Using this testimony, the deposition given by Alden, and Matteson's paintings, discuss what type of picture you have of Salem in the year 1692.