Mar 09 2009
Tituba, Rev. Parris’ Slave
You wouldn’t think a man of the gospel would condone slavery by owning a slave of his own, but it is the 1690s and slavery was a well-accepted practice.
Evidently, Tituba , Rev. Samuel Parris’ slave and perhaps former concubine, had influenced his daughter, Elizabeth, as well as her cousin, Abigail Williams with stories/religious practices she learned during her early life’s history.
She may not have been black, as has been accepted. Tituba may have been from one of the indigenous tribes of S. America and sold into slavery, ending up in Barbados where Parris had acquired her. He was not in the ministry at the time, but a bachelor, a merchant, thus leading to some speculation that the woman may have been a secret lover.
Parris had acquired another slave named, John. John and Tituba eventually married and from their union a daughter was born. She was named Violet.
Tituba executed the household responsibilities expected of a family slave. However, when Elizabeth began acting strangely, under the advise from Mary Sibley, their neighbor, Tituba bakes a witch cake. This item consisted of the urine of the afflicted and rye, then fed to the family dog.
Some animals were considered to be the “familiars” of witches. Thus, it was believed, that, if the dog ate the cake, the dog would reveal who the witch was that was tormenting Elizabeth.
Instead of the anticipated result, Tituba finds herself at the mercy of Rev. Parris’ fury, and accused of witchcraft. The hysteria’s tentacles really begin to entwine and snare the community.
More to come…
