Before Salem: Witchcraft in Boston’s North End, 1688: Cotton Mather, Martha Goodwin, and the Making of a Witchcraft Panic

Before Salem examines a notorious 1688 witchcraft case from Boston’s North End and its connection to the Salem witch trials. James S. Pasto discusses the Goodwin family, whose four children were thought to be bewitched, and Cotton Mather, the prominent Puritan minister who became deeply involved in the case.

The talk places the accusations within the larger history of Puritan Boston, considering the beliefs, fears, and social pressures that fueled witchcraft allegations. Drawing on cultural anthropology, it also explores how witchcraft beliefs operate across societies, why accusations emerge, and how the events in Boston helped prepare the way for the Salem trials of 1692.

When: Wednesday, November 18, 2026

Showtimes: 6:30–7:30 p.m.

Venue: North End, 25 Parmenter St., Boston, MA 02113

Presenter: James S. Pasto, Ph.D., of Boston University and the North End Historical Society

Event type: Author talk

Audience: Adults and older adults

Language: English

Tickets: Price not available

Registration: Registration is not required.

Sponsor: Friends of the North End Branch of the Boston Public Library, supported by the John D. McGonagle Foundation

Accessibility: Disability accommodations and language services can be requested through the department listed in the event’s contact information. At least two weeks’ notice is requested to arrange accommodations.

Venue hours: The North End location is listed as open from noon to 8 p.m. on the event date.

Contact: northend@bpl.org or 617-227-8135

Additional information: Questions may also be directed to the Friends of the North End Branch Library at info@friendsnelibrary.org.