Mary Black: Enslaved Woman Accused of Witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials

Show Notes

Episode Description

This episode examines the story of Mary Black, an enslaved woman accused of witchcraft in April 1692, and the complex household she lived in. Mary Black was owned by Nathaniel Putnam, a politically active Salem Village leader who opposed Reverend Parris before the trials began and later defended Rebecca Nurse—yet left no documented advocacy for the enslaved woman in his own household.

What You’ll Learn

The racial dimensions of the Salem witch trials and how court records identified accusers differently
How Mary Black’s experience contrasts with white accused women who had community defenders
Nathaniel Putnam’s complex role: opposing Parris, defending Rebecca Nurse, while owning Mary Black
The stark silences in historical sources around enslaved and women of color in colonial New England
Mary Black’s examination, nine-month imprisonment, and eventual clearing by proclamation

Key Figures Discussed

Mary Black – African enslaved woman accused April 21, 1692
Nathaniel Putnam – Mary’s owner, Salem Village political leader
Rebecca Nurse – white woman Nathaniel defended

Keywords: Salem witch trials, Mary Black, enslaved women, Nathaniel Putnam, racial history, colonial New England, 1692, Tituba, Rebecca Nurse, Salem Village