George Jacobs, Sr.

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

George Jacobs, Sr. (c.1620–1692) was accused of witchcraft during the Salem witch trials in Salem Village, Massachusetts, in 1692, and was found guilty and hanged on August 19, 1692. His son, George Jacobs, Jr. was also accused but evaded arrest. His accusers included his daughter-in-law and granddaughter.

Trial of George Jacobs

The painting below shows an important painting by Thompkins H. Matteson. The painting was not painted from observation but some time later based on the accounts of George's granddaughter. By moving your cursor across the painting you can identify Jacobs who is consoled by his son who was also called George. The painting is entitled "Trial of George Jacobs, August 5, 1692".

George Jacobs accused by his granddaughter - a reconstruction of his trial by Thompkins. H. Matteson

On the left of the painting is William Stoughton, who was the chief magistrate and went on to be a Governor thrice in Massachusetts. George's principal accuser was his own granddaughter, who was accusing George in order to save her own life. Jacobs' daughter-in-law is the woman standing who is being held back. She was thought to be mentally ill. The judge who is leading the accusation is thought to be an ancestor of Nathaniel Hawthorne, John Hathorne, who holds a book and points at George's granddaughter as if challenging her to substantiate her earlier written statements. In the foreground are a girl and boy who are having fits allegedly caused by Jacobs' wizardry. The boy is unknown but the girl may be Jacobs' servant or a principal accuser Ann.

Archival photograph of George Jacobs' house taken in the later 19th century or early 20th century

Archival photograph of the ruin of the house taken circa 1935, before it fell down entirely in 1938