George Jacobs was born about 1617, probably in England, and was farming near Salem, Massachusetts, by the 1640s. He and his wife attended church infrequently, and he was known for his "salty tongue" and quick temper. He was in court in 1677 for striking a man while in a rage. George was accused by his own granddaughter of practicing witchcraft, and arrested on May 10, 1692. He went on trial August 5, and after failing to properly recite the Lord's Prayer (George was illiterate), he was found guilty. On conviction he stated, "Well burn me or hang me. I'll stand in the truth of Christ." George and four others met their ends on Gallows Hill two weeks later. His last words were, "I am falsely accused. I never did it." In 1693 George's widow Mary married a man who had been widowed by the witch trials, and in 1711 the General Court of Massachusetts made reparations of 79 pounds to the heirs of George Jacobs. George's family buried his body on his farm, and some of his descendants, still living on the site, unearthed his remains in 1864, and found a tall arthritic toothless skeleton. His remains were taken to Salem in 1992, and reburied as part of the ceremony marking the 300th anniversary of the trials.
George Jacobs was born about 1617, probably in England, and was farming near Salem, Massachusetts, by the 1640s. He and his wife attended church infrequently, and he was known for his "salty tongue" and quick temper. He was in court in 1677 for striking a man while in a rage. George was accused by his own granddaughter of practicing witchcraft, and arrested on May 10, 1692. He went on trial August 5, and after failing to properly recite the Lord's Prayer (George was illiterate), he was found guilty. On conviction he stated, "Well burn me or hang me. I'll stand in the truth of Christ." George and four others met their ends on Gallows Hill two weeks later. His last words were, "I am falsely accused. I never did it." In 1693 George's widow Mary married a man who had been widowed by the witch trials, and in 1711 the General Court of Massachusetts made reparations of 79 pounds to the heirs of George Jacobs. George's family buried his body on his farm, and some of his descendants, still living on the site, unearthed his remains in 1864, and found a tall arthritic toothless skeleton. His remains were taken to Salem in 1992, and reburied as part of the ceremony marking the 300th anniversary of the trials.
Inscription
HERE LYES BURIED
YE BODY OF
GEORGE JACOBS SR
DEC AUGUSY YE 19
1 6 9 2
WELL! BURN ME OR HANG ME,
I WILL STAND IN THE TRUTH
OF CHRIST
Family Members
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