Gallows Hill Salem

                                    GALLOWS HILL, SALEM MASSACHUSETTS

 

Which site pictured above is the infamous gallows hill? The truth is historians really aren’t sure. There are many different theories and myths on where the actual site is located. Some believe that it is located at the site pictured on the left which was actually dubbed “Gallows Hill Park”. Although that location has the name, most researchers believe that the image on the right is the actual hill where the gallows was located.

The image on the right is located between Boston and Bridge Street in Salem, MA right next to Proctor Street which runs adjacent to the location. The hill is rather small and is covered by trees, rocks and located directly behind a Walgreens pharmacy. Researchers believed that this location would have been much more practical to conduct the hangings of those accused of being witches. The location of SITE 2 would have had a pond known as Bickford’s pond located directly at its base which connected to this North River. The North River traveled all throughout Salem and into modern day Danvers which was originally part of Salem Village.

One theory is that when Rebbecca Nurse was hanged at the gallows, her body was dumped at the base of the hill and next to the pond. Benjamin Nurse the son of one of the accused and condemned was noted traveling down the North River and picking his mother’s dead body up from the base of the hill and returning her back to Salem Village for burial. Researchers agree that it would make sense for the location to have been close to the river due to the simple fact that Nurse would have had a tough time dragging his mother’s lifeless body down from SITE 1 and into a boat. Nurse would then have had to continue the voyage by rowing the boat down the North River back to Salem Village. 

There are many different theories in regards to Gallows Hill. One thing I love about this topic is that it is still an unsolved mystery to some. I think it would be interesting to continue to research this topic and look for documents and artifacts left from that time period. 

Sources:

                           http://historyofmassachusetts.org/where-is-the-real-gallows-hill/

                           http://www.boudillion.com/gallowshill/gallowshill.htm

                           http://historicaldigression.com/2010/10/22/gallows-hill-lost-historic-site/