American Witches: A Broomstick Tour Through Four Centuries

by Susan Fair

Throughout history, the specter of witchcraft has both mesmerized and terrified us. But witches aren’t mere fairy book threats; American history is brimming with tales of their terror. From 19th-century murders to a bizarre monkey-faced creature straight from Hell to bewitched pigs hell-bent on revenge, American Witches: a Broomstick Tour through Four Centuries describes strange incidents that have long been banished to the margins of our history.

On a tour through four centuries of American witchcraft that’s both whimsical and startling, we’ll encounter 17th-century children flying around inside their New England home “like geese.” We’ll meet a father-son tag-team of pious Puritans who embarked on an anti-witch mission that involved undressing young ladies and overseeing hangings. And on the eve of the Civil War, we’ll accompany a reporter as he dons a dress and goes searching for witches in New York City’s most dangerous neighborhoods.

Entertainingly readable and rich in amazing details often left out of today’s texts, American Witches casts a flickering torchlight into the dark corners of American history.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Witches, Audiobook, Occult, Witchcraft, American History

Audible Audio

First published August 23, 2016

About the author

Susan Fair is most at home exploring the crossroads of weirdness and history. She lives on the shoulder of South Mountain in Western Maryland. Her writing has appeared in several newspapers, bunches of magazines, and on numerous websites, including the Rumpus.net and cryptomundo.com. A longtime public library worker, Susan's after hours adventures have included a long-term gig at a very strange museum - where she expounded on the virtues of a severed arm and a genuine wizard's spellbook - and hanging out with ghosthunters and monster trackers. She is the author of American Witches: a Broomstick Tour through Four Centuries (Skyhorse, 2016), Mysteries and Lore of Western Maryland, and Pilgrim Confidential: Shocking True Stories of the Pilgrims in the Strange New World (Globe Pequot, April 2020). You can contact her at sfair0629@gmail.com.

P.S. Susan Fair wants you to know that she actually reads waaaaay more books than she rates/reviews on goodreads.

P.P.S. Susan Fair very seldom gives a book a bad rating because if she doesn't like a book... wait for it... she doesn't finish it. And if she doesn't finish it, she doesn't feel as if she's got a right to "rate" it, you know?

P.P.P.S. Susan Fair is finished talking about herself in third person now.

https://www.instagram.com/sucafa/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/SusanFair7

Reviews

[Susan Fair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey Fellow Readers - I'm Susan Fair, the author of American Witches: a Broomstick Tour Through 4 Centuries. There's so much more to the history of witches in America than just the Salem trials - and so many obscure, bizarre, and almost unbelievable details that are absolutely true. The real-life stories of American Witches are sometimes poignant, sometimes humorous, (often both) and they're always thought-provoking. And American Witches has NEW revelations - including a new clue as to where Houdini got the idea to go undercover to expose fraudulent mediums, and a look at an original witch document written from Salem Prison that hadn't seen the light of day for many moons - until now!

[Amanda NEVER MANDY · Rating 2 out of 5]

**I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.**

By nature, I am a brutally honest person that likes to get straight to the point. I suck at lying and I suck at sugarcoating things. I try to avoid situations like this when I really don’t want to be me about something but know I am incapable of not being 100% me. See, I respect the hell out of authors and what they bring to the table. I do not have the courage to pour my heart and soul into something for the whole world to read and judge. I respect their courage but also respect that the reader has opinions and must not hold said opinions back to preserve the author’s feelings.

I will try to do this as kindly as possible.

This is a book about the poor treatment throughout history of people who were labeled as witches or were witches. I was pretty excited to win this book because I expected a detailed history. I did not expect it to be written from a comical perspective. With that being said, there isn’t anything wrong with adding a sarcastic tone to the story writing to emphasis how asinine the treatment of the accused was. BUT when it is not done well it comes across as inappropriate and poorly timed which is how this read to me.

The research done in to the history felt very basic. A lot of it was common knowledge and I really didn’t feel like I learned anything new. The final chapters regarding The Blair Witch Project did not seem to match the rest of what was presented. That wasn’t the first time I noted a flow problem with the book. There were countless other times things felt off and I had to skim back through it to try to determine where I lost the thread.

To put it simply, this book read like a high school research paper and I just can’t like that.

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everyone should read this just to remind them of how quickly hysteria can spread throughout a society. I was a bit disappointed, however, in that there is no mention of real witches, witchcraft actual practices or modern day wicca practitioners. The chapter on Mary Baker Eddy is interesting but goes beyond the scope of the book. I wish she had written a little more balanced book with a little more serious treatment of a very serious subject.

[Steve Wiggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Susan Fair has a flair for writing with pluck and humor. And granted, there is something funny about rational adults believing in witches enough to put on trials and expend resources to rid society of them. The problem is it's difficult to suppress the realization that these were real women and men who died sometimes horrible deaths because of a misguided belief. Clowns may smile because they're sad, but it is difficult to remain happy about a tragedy.

Having said that, American Witches, as I mention on my blog (Sects and Violence in the Ancient World is an informative book. Fair shows that Salem wasn't the first, and wasn't by far the only, American trial of witches. The book starts off describing how on their way to America some early would-be settlers were hanged aboard ship for being witches. The idea is a haunting one. She next discusses cases before Salem, establishing the Mather Family (Increase and Cotton, Revs.) as largely responsible for witch hysteria. Some cases in Connecticut, especially, led to the trials in Salem.

This book isn't about Salem, but it does cover some of the trials there. Then Fair moves on to some less known instances of witch hysteria. Somewhat incongruously she describes the psychics of New York City in the nineteenth century—again, somewhat tragic figures living in poverty. The trial of the York hex witch, in Pennsylvania and the Booger Hole, West Virginia witch, both of which involved murder, were more recent. Some will question having a chapter on Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of Christian Science. No doubt she was influenced by Spiritualism, but she has many believers. The chapters are informative and entertaining, but with an underlying sense of tragedy.

I enjoyed the book; it was well written and apparently well researched. The snark was fun. Still, it's difficult to overlook the human cost here, and a voice condemning intolerance sometimes feels like the only correct response.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Fun read.
More like journalism than academic but thought provoking nonetheless. The chapter on Christian Science was hilarious. This should be read along side Catherine Albanese's "A Republic of the Mind and Spirit" for a litter look and the dark side of America's religious history.

[Nefertari · Rating 5 out of 5]

While a little more blithe than informational, this book about the history of people being accused of witchcraft in America managed to bring in new bits of information that I was unaware of! Thankfully, it doesn't all focus on Salem - I was a little afraid this was going to be another rehash of the famous trials, and luckily, it wasn't!

This book traveled through a history of accusations of witchcraft in Native American tribes, early accusations in colonial America, and other incidents since Salem. It's really pretty awesome!

[Bambi Unbridled · Rating 4 out of 5]

American Witches is a light and engaging account of some of the darkest times in America's history. Susan Fair has a good voice and tells the multitude of witchy tales in a modern voice with laymen terms that will appeal to even the most casual reader and/or student.

The history of witchcraft that ran rampant across America started even before people made it to the country. Bringing suspicions from England (and everywhere else), many would-be settlers never made it across the ocean due to bewitched voyages. Thus begins a journey through the history of America from the early settlers, through the Salem Witch Trials, American Indian witch hunts, and beyond. Accounts of bewitched children, livestock (especially pigs), unknown monsters, vessels and crops were not uncommon in the charges lodged against many society outcasts. Reading these fantastical tales that were all absolutely true really make you question human nature, and how neighbors could turn on one another with such viciousness.

While most of the book is an entertaining history lesson, there are also a few modern tidbits, some pop culture type info, including an insightful look at the Blair Witch Project and an interview with the director. While I found this book interesting and entertaining, keep in mind that history accounts are slower reads. That being said, I recommend this book to just about anyone that finds America's witchy history intriguing. It would also be a good read for students who find it difficult to learn from dry and boring history books. I know I certainly would have remembered more of my history lessons if they were written in this manner.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Full review posted at Bambi Unbridled.

[Sosanna Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun book to read. The majority of the books I read are either for work (computer in nature) or for research on Hecate. This book is neither. It was fun to sit down and just read a book for the value of the book. The author gives us a historic yet tongue in cheek look at American Witches from the journey to the new world to the Blair Witch. The information is clear and presented in a humorous manner. This book covers not only the historic Salem witchery but also some references to Native American tribes which I never really took into account when someone mentions American Witches. This book is a great one to have around to spend some quality time with a good book without the need to grab a note pad to jot notes. I certainly need to find more time for these type of books. The center of the book has some historic photographs related to the stories which I found to add a bit more "realism" to the book. This was a really great read and I highly recommend giving it a read.

[Pinar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an extremely entertaining read. The topic of witches in America is grim at first, although the writer makes it bearable with her sense of humor. It does get lighter in tone once the hangings stop and it's just weird stuff people believe and the distance they go for it. Not an academic resource but I did learn a lot of details along the way. The epilogue is about the Blair Witch Project and as one of those people who had seen the website before the film (and was, like, WTF) it was really interesting to read how that whole thing played out.

[Michael J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice overview of the history of witchcraft in America. Susan Fair provides a well-documented glimpse into the recorded instances of witches in America and the subsequent trials, imprisonments, and executions. She does so in a very entertaining and highly readable fashion. Fair has a nice flair for whimsy and gentle sarcasm, which runs throughout the book. I appreciate her perspective on a fascinating subject in American history.

[Mary Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much! Enough humor to keep it from being dry history and really interesting stories that I hadn't heard before. Coincedentally, I started reading The Scarlett Letter and had just read the quoted passage about his family's history with the witch trials when I came to the part of the book where he is quoted. The Blair Witch chapter was a blast from the past. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

[Doug Tabner · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most entertaining nonfiction books I've read in a long time. Although it was probably unintentional on the part of the author, Susan Fair, it was hard not to realize that the methods and hysteria surrounding witch hunts are still with us today. It's just that the modern version of "she's a witch" is "he's a racist" or "he's a sexist." Some things never change.

[Marsha Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous read!

I have read many written works on witchcraft history and, though informative, find them mostly dry and stilted. However, Susan Fair has written this delicious history of the American witch in a wonderful witty, humorous yet still thoroughly academic style that reads as easy and enjoyably as a favourite fiction novel. This is just fantastic work.

[Teresa]

* e-Arc provided by Edelweiss *

[Liberty Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bridget has just been asked by Judge Hathorne to talk about how she bewitched the girls of Salem.

Bridget: I know nothing of it. I am innocent to a Witch. I know not what a Witch is.

Hathorne: How do you know then that you are not a Witch?

On June 10, 1692, Bridget Bishop became the first person to be hanged for witchcraft in Salem.

i would so have been accused of witchcraft

[Ely · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thoughts about this book changed with pretty much every chapter. There were chapters I loved, and others that I really didn't. This is very much a basic look into the history of American witches, but still a good one nonetheless.

[Steve Cran · Rating 5 out of 5]

American witches were both the same and different from their counterparts is Europe. Like in Europe witches were blamed for catastrophes especially after a feud with a neighbor. Usually the witch craze swallowed up old women who where considered cantankerous and had no one to protect them. Witches also rode people and their their neighbors animals to their gatherings. Absent from the American witch is the rides out to the sabbath and the solstice celebration.

Quakers were prone to be accused of witchcraft, after all they were dissident Christians . It was not safe for old women to travel from Europe to the new world. If the sea turned stormy everyone looked for a scapegoat. An old woman with no one to look after her became the perfect target. Often times the woman would be thrown over board or hung.

The Salem Witch trials were the epicenter of witch hunting history. Lead by the famous witch finder General Cotton Mathers. Cotton was the son of Increase Mathers. Both were hot on the tail for witches. The first episode involved a washer woman staring at her mistress daughter and exchanging harsh words. Later the daughter started having fits. The washer woman would be punished. Another incident involved a preacher who was accused. On the flimsiest of testimony he has hung. Then there is Tituba and the girls.

The usual method for punishing witches. Was hanging . History would judge harshly those who put innocent women to death. Many would have heavy guilty trips over the stuff. The last chapter ends with a note about the Blair Witcu trials and how a fictitious witch changed life in the small town.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating read! This book covers American witch paranoia from the first trickle of Europeans crossing the Atlantic, to the Spiritualists of Victorian times and even Christian Science.

Admittedly the contents is pretty depressing; what with all the unjust executions, and ungodly (and probably nuts) clergymen, and mistreated women, and murder-y superstitions and such (a good chunk of this book focused on Cotton Mathers and the Salem Witch Trials soooooooo...); which is why I'm so grateful that the author had a good sense of humor, otherwise this book would have been a chore to read.

As it is, if you're like me and into macabre history and folklore/superstitions, I think this would make a simultaneously fun and sobering Halloween read~

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Susan Fair's fun and odd look at witches in America was an interesting read. This joyful read was far funnier than I imagined such a book would be, and also quite illuminating on the subject matter. Particularly engrossing is the content related to the Salem witches and all of those puritanical murderers and their religious-fueled paranoia. Particularly fascinating is how far into the future beyond the 1600s issues of witchcraft continued, even into the 20th century.

What kept running through my mind as I read was how close we are to such witch hunts even today. Take some religious fervor, add a pinch of paranoia, some xenophobia or other prejudices, and a ton of irrational fear, stir with a populist leader who plays into these fears and, well, you can figure the rest. Cotton Mather walks among us.

While we can't write the history books, we can at least marvel and be entertained by the history herein.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed that this book included other stories outside of Salem. Some of the cases were started while at sea with accused being hung on ships. The Southern states, with their deer familiars, had a tendency to not punish, while the Northern states saw their witches put to death. A good portion of the 17th Century witch hunts were lead by the Mather family who saw witches everywhere, and anything could make a person a witch. The 18th century saw this cases decrease as people became more skeptical. Although the belief spread to Native American tribes. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the belief in witches disappeared. Witchcraft was seen in other ways though: murder cases and Christian Science. Fair also interjected a great amount of humor in her writing and one of my favorite parts was how she listed some statistics as awards. This is a great read for those interested in the subject.

[John Krowka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witches Are People Too

I admit that I enjoyed the many “weird” stories in this book. Who wouldn't want to know more about the murder of a supposed witch in Booger Hole, WV or bewitched pigs? Susan's Fair's ability to relate events from the past to our modern sensibilities is so uncanny that one might wonder if she had some help from down below! What I liked most about this book was how the witches and other characters were given names and made to come alive as real people. The only name I was familiar with before reading this book was Cotton Mather. Who knew that Ann Glover, a poor, eccentric Irishwoman who was the last witch hanged in Boston would be remembered by the City Council with the proclamation of November 16 as Goody Glover Day? The book is replete with many fascinating tales and makes for a very enjoyable read.

[Silas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting look at the history of witchcraft persecution cases in America. That designation is taken rather lightly, since it involves anyone regarded as a witch or involved in the occult or fortunetelling, up to and including Christian Scientists. It then shows its age by capping it off with a look at the Blair Witch movie and its effect on the area in Maryland where the film was set. There are some interesting new anecdotes here, and considering how much I have read about witchcraft and the occult, that's impressive. This was an interesting look at some usually ignored history.

[Yola Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! A weird trip full of dark humor, surprising new stuff, a wry look at human nature - and lotsa witches! Really cool pop culture stop off with the story behind the Blair Witch Project & an interview with cool director Eduardo Sanchez, as well as a look at a really cool witch letter that apparently no one has seen in generations. The book helps to see how and why all these crazy incidents involving witchcraft occurred. And there's surprising new stuff about Howard Houdini and his spiritualist de-bunking! All in all super fun, well researched, and enlightening. I have a whole new appreciation of Witches!

[❀⊱RoryReads⊰❀ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

This book has a fun, lighthearted tone that is often at odds with the horrific punishments and torture described. When you read what was done to these poor people, mostly older women, there's nothing amusing about it.

There is plenty of careful research here and some interesting, less famous stories of witchcraft in America. So many of the books available focus on the notorious Salem witch trials; this one even has stories that took place on ships headed for the new world.

All in all, a good starting place for people who want to know more about this dark time in our history but are looking for something lighter.

[Ann Feutz · Rating 3 out of 5]

American Witches is a mostly entertaining historical read, though there were times when I felt the story dragged on a bit. I enjoyed that the book went beyond the Salem Witchcraft Trials of 1692 and that it also explored overseas voyages, Native American culture, Civil War, York Hex Trial, the Christian Science movement, and even the Blair Witch phenomenon. The "Witch Awards" was probably my favorite chapter.

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much fun- entertaining as well as educational. I especially liked the early colony witch stories. I think the author took some liberties to speak for the historical figures or read between the lines of what first hand accounts reported but it did not make the story telling any less enjoyable. A fun page turner.

[Julie · Rating 1 out of 5]

A little goes a long way with this book. The author's jokey and snarky tone was funny at times, but it got old pretty quick. Her humorous take on the history of witches in America would make for a good magazine article but 350 pages of it? No. It's wearisome. I read about 25% of the book before deciding I have better things to do with my time.

[Melanee · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting foray into the history of witchcraft, but definitely not what I️ was expecting. At times I️ felt the author was trying too hard to make the book funny, and it ended up feeling awkward. Had she just stuck to the story, it would have come across much better.

[Chris Meads · Rating 4 out of 5]

American Witches retells the history of witchcraft from Europe to the New World, including parts of the Indian history. There is even a chapter on the Blair Witch Project (which I have never seen). So if you want to read up on witches and witchcraft, this is one book to read.

[Wren]

*ARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss*