By Thomas D’Agostino

The Howard Street Cemetery in Salem, Massachusetts is a regular stop on ghost tours. The many ancient graves are worth the trek alone, but it is another eerie sighting that the tour goers want to see, yet most Salem residents shudder at the thought of. The graveyard, dating back to 1801 was the field where Giles Corey met his tragic end during the Salem witch hysteria of 1692. Sheriff George Corwin condemned him for witchcraft. When asked to enter a plea, he used the legal tactic of “standing mute” and therefore his land could not be confiscated. With no plea entered, Corey technically remained innocent, and his property could not be legally seized.

On September 19, 1692, in an attempt to get a plea from the 81 year old man, Giles Corey was placed in the field under great boulders where the Howard Street Cemetery now sits. It is right behind the old Salem Prison which recently became apartments. When asked to enter a plea, he just said, “more weight.” This went on for three days.

Before he died from the immense weight of the boulders that were placed upon him, he cursed the village of Salem and all sheriffs who would ever preside in the little hamlet. The personal curse he placed on Corwin went to the effect that he would someday choke on his own blood. It seems that his curse has had some sort of influence on the town. Records reveal that every sheriff of Salem has since suffered the same illness resulting in death or an early retirement due to a heart or blood related malady. Corwin died at the age of 30 from a heart attack on April 12, 1696.

There is a legend that Giles Corey’s ghost always appears before something tragic happens. His ghost was seen roaming the cemetery just before the Salem fire of June 25, 1914 that destroyed 1,376 buildings and made over 18,000 people homeless or jobless. Corey’s ghost has been reported just before other smaller but significant terrible events in the Witch City. Many tourists have taken photographs of what appears to be either Corey’s ghost or one of the many others that are said to roam this active burial ground. 

Giles Corey’s burial site remains unknown to this day. George Corwin’s remains were hidden in the cellar of the family home out of the fear that the angry people of Salem who were wronged by his hand would tear his corpse to shreds. He was later buried in the Howard Street Cemetery in the family plot.

One more interesting note; the cemetery was opened in 1801 and the first interment was a 2nd mate aboard the Belisarius named Benjamin Ropes who died tragically, oddly enough, after being crushed to death by the foretopmast of the ship.

After meandering through the Howard Street Cemetery, take a trip to the Charter Street Burial Ground where the Salem witchcraft memorials are. This is actually the most popular of the Salem graveyards. It is here that the memorial to the people who were executed for the crime of witchcraft sits. Stone slabs mark the memory and death of each of the nineteen victims. There are claims that the place is haunted. People have seen apparitions and heard unearthly screams from the cemetery. Perhaps the spirits of those who perished due to the witch trials either at the gallows or in jail still wail for revenge and restitution. If you visit the graveyard you will see that the memorial is not accessible from the burial ground. Even in death long after the persecutions have ended, these individuals are still kept apart from their peers. Infamous witch judge Jonathan Hathorne is buried there. His descendant, Nathaniel Hawthorne added a “W” to his name in order to separate himself from the horrible family legacy.