New book examines history of American witch phobia

Witch hysteria never died down in America, says Owen Davies, professor of social history at the University of Hertfordshire in England, whose book “America Bewitched, The story of witchcraft after Salem,” was published in May. Davies, who has also written scholarly treatments of paganism, ghosts and books of magic spells, recently answered some questions from the Salem News.

How prevalent was the belief in and accusation of witches in America after 1692?

Numerous commentators during the 19th century considered the persecution of witches to have ended at Salem — bar a few extraordinary instances. The Salem trials were part of a colonial past distant from the enlightened and progressive state of independent America. This was a reassuring story, but completely false. I have found more cases of people being murdered as witches after Salem than were executed officially before 1692.

http://www.salemnews.com/lifestyle/x389851558/New-book-examines-history-of-American-witch-phobia