Witch Trial Stories Across the River from Salem in Historic Beverly with Roger Herson

Show Notes

Project 1692: Beverly’s Hidden Salem Witch Trials Story with Descendant Tour Guide Roger Herson

Crowds flood Salem, Massachusetts each October, but across the river, Beverly holds key Salem Witch Trials history—home to Reverend John Hale’s later writing and to figures and events often mislabeled as “Salem” stories. We talk with lifelong North Shore guide and 12th-generation Massachusetts native Roger Herson, a descendant of the trials (including Thomas Oliver, husband of Bridget Bishop), who leads visitors through court records to replace folklore with documented truth. Roger shares how DNA research revealed multiple ancestral ties to the accused, why original documents matter, and what common misconceptions persist—about Bridget Bishop, Sarah Bishop, alleged stepchild accusers, and John Hale’s influence. He highlights Beverly’s overlooked roles, from William Griggs’s residence to Dorcas Hoar’s complex story, and previews Historic Beverly’s Thursday-night Project 1692 walking tours as a quieter, research-grounded alternative to Salem’s October crush.

Chapters

• 00:00 Beverly Beyond Salem
• 02:06 Meet Roger Herson
• 02:42 DNA Discovery Story
• 05:26 Bridget Bishop Myths
• 09:23 Beverly Role in 1692
• 12:28 John Hale Reckoning
• 18:20 Dorcas Hoar Legend
• 19:35 Project 1692 Tour
• 24:42 How to Visit
• 25:22 Closing Thanks

Links

• Historic Beverly
• Ancestry Tour Agents
• Salem Witch Trials History YouTube
• The Thing About the Salem Witch Trials
• Salem Witch Trials Daily
• The Thing About Witch Hunts

Transcript