Abigail Williams

Abigail Williams, an orphan, was one of the original and foremost accusers in the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. She came to live with her uncle when her parents passed away. She was the twelve year old niece of Reverend Parris and was around the witchcraft Tituba performed. She was one of the girls who had taken part in the "circle of young girls" practicing voodoo and fortune telling under the direction of Samuel Parris' Indian slave, Tituba. Williams began to show symptoms, most notably, that she threw fits. According to Rev. Deodat Lawson, an eyewitness, she began to have fits in which she ran around rooms flailing her arms, ducking under chairs and trying to climb up the chimney. She played a major role in the Salem Witch trials as one of the prominent accusers. Abigail suffered fits and outbursts during the trial. Abigail's accusations continued and included complaints against Martha Cory, George Burroughs, Bridget Bishop, Elizabeth and John Proctor, Mary Easty, John Willard, Mary Witheridge, and Rebecca Nurse. Overall Abigail Williams made 41 legal complaints and gave formal testimony in seven cases.