Introduction: The Supernatural Lens on Mental Illness

For much of history, there was little to no understanding of mental health conditions as medical or psychological phenomena. Behaviors that we now recognize as symptoms of various mental illnesses, such as hallucinations, delusions, seizures, and extreme emotional disturbances, were often interpreted through a supernatural lens. If a medical explanation couldn’t be found, the cause was often attributed to evil forces, divine punishment, or demonic influence. This intersection of fear and the unknown is crucial to exploring the psychology behind witchcraft accusations.

A classic example is the Salem Witch Trials of 1692-1693. The four young girls who were the initial accusers exhibited symptoms like convulsions, screaming, strange postures, and claims of being pinched or bitten by invisible entities. These symptoms, while terrifying at the time, are now widely considered by historians to have stemmed from psychological distress and the intense, fear-filled religious atmosphere of Puritan New England.

Accusations of bewitchment or possession often arise during times of social upheaval, fear, and religious fervor. In such environments, individuals who were already marginalized or experiencing mental health challenges might have been more susceptible to being accused. The tragic outcomes for many highlight the devastating consequences of misunderstanding in the absence of scientific knowledge about the human mind.

But it wasn’t just children who were accusers in the infamous Salem Witch Trials. Adults also insisted their neighbors were witches. Let’s take a look at the early life of Anne Putnam Sr., a central accuser, to consider what may have led her to accuse three of her neighbors in Salem Village: Rebecca Nurse, Martha Cory, and John Willard.

Anne’s Formative Years: A Portrait of an Accuser

Anne Putnam Sr.’s serious allegations in 1692 require an in-depth study of her early life, including not only the environment and actions of her family but also the Puritanical belief system that most likely impacted her throughout her life.

Ann grew up in a family of social standing and wealth. Her father, George Carr, immigrated from England before 1635, and his being granted a plot of land at Ipswich suggests he brought wealth with him. Because of his strong will and business savvy, George teamed up with prominent citizens, further increasing his high societal standing. George also traded his share of a vessel for a slave named James, establishing him in the slave-owning class.

Opportunity continued to knock for George. In 1639, he was offered a substantial land grant in the town later known as Salisbury, where he was also granted Carr Island in the middle of the Merrimack River. A ferry was later added, establishing the only route from Boston to the eastern frontier. This made the ferry a strategic asset during the brutal conflict in the mid-1670s known as King Philip’s War.

Anne, the youngest child, was born in 1661. She would have been 14 or 15 years old during King Philip’s War, old enough to comprehend the events she may have witnessed. How did this experience affect her mental well-being? What frightening details did Anne overhear about the war? Her imagination may have amplified these conversations, causing her to worry about her own safety.

Family dynamics were further strained by loss. Anne’s older sisters Elizabeth and Sarah were both sent away to live with other families. Did one-year-old Anne feel Sarah’s absence? She may have sensed the emotional changes in her mother, potentially laying the groundwork for future difficulties.

The Disputed Inheritance

Additional family dynamics are revealed in a petition from Anne’s brother-in-law, James Bailey. Shortly after George’s death in 1682, James stated that George was too sick on his deathbed to draw up a will. In the petition, he declared that his wife, Mary, had a distinctly close relationship with her father, while Anne’s relationship is not mentioned. One could argue that Anne was considered the least favorite child.

James further explained that Anne’s mother, Elizabeth Carr Sr., favored her sons, which is why she worked behind the scenes to settle the estate among her boys, leaving the daughters out. After months in the courts, the estate was settled, with the daughters receiving far less than the sons. One can only imagine how Anne felt. Having received the least from her father’s estate and nearly losing her rightful portion at his death, she was clearly the least favored child, likely reinforcing a sense of neglect.

A Family History of Mental Illness and Belief in Witchcraft

The question of Anne Putnam Sr.’s mental health is further illuminated by her family’s history. Her brother, John, experienced a severe mental health crisis after his father threatened to disinherit him, becoming “melancholy and by degrees much crazed” until his death.

Furthermore, George Carr believed that a neighbor, Mary Bradbury, had practiced bewitchment against his family. He claimed she had transformed into a blue boar and attacked his horse. Whether this was imagined or something they actually witnessed, one thing is certain: they all believed in bewitchment as part of their everyday reality.

The Carr family were Puritans, and the belief that someone could be in league with the devil was very real. This belief was passed down through generations. Anne married Thomas Putnam Jr. of Salem Village in 1679. She had a child who died shortly after birth in 1690 and was pregnant again when she made her accusations a year later.

Anne Putnam in the Salem Witch Trials

According to documents from 1692, Anne deposed that the ghosts of two deceased people appeared to her, claiming John Willard had “killed” them. Willard was later convicted and hanged. Imagine testimony from ghosts being accepted as evidence. In another deposition, Anne claimed that the dead children of her sister appeared to her, saying that Rebecca Nurse had killed them. As a result, Rebecca Nurse, a respected member of the community, was also hanged. During the trial, Anne experienced such a meltdown that her husband had to carry her from the courtroom.

A Modern Family Crisis: The Case of Angela Flores

These extreme beliefs and psychological factors are still experienced today, especially when the untreated mental health needs of guardians affect vulnerable children. The outcomes are often devastating.

In 2022, Angela Flores, a mother of six, was held on $6 million bond after admitting she killed her three youngest children. One night, she had a crisis, holding a Bible and screaming that her family was abusing her. During questioning, she told officers she had killed her children, but a well-being check was not performed. The next morning, her 16-year-old son found the children, and they were declared deceased.

Angela was charged with three counts of First-Degree Murder. Her ex-husband stated that she was never a religious woman, yet she called him a week before the murders making disturbing comments about God. Once in custody, Angela told police that her children were possessed by demons and she jumped on them as a form of exorcism. It is possible that Angela was experiencing psychosis.

Parallels Across Centuries

Did Anne Putnam suffer a similar disconnect? Was she experiencing grief compounded by hormonal imbalance that manifested in hallucinations? After all, Anne “saw” shapes of deceased persons who “revealed” an alleged murderer.

Why was Angela fearful her children were possessed? According to her ex-husband, she was exhibiting sudden behavioral changes.

Coercion was a strong factor between Angela and her son, as she manipulated him into being an accomplice. Was manipulation also at play with Anne Putnam’s daughter, Anne Jr.? Twelve-year-old Anne Jr. witnessed her mother’s erratic behavior when Anne Sr. was allegedly being attacked by specters. Historians strongly conclude that Anne Sr. was responsible for at least some of the accusations made by Anne Jr. How might the manipulations in both these cases stem from the mental health crises of these troubled mothers?

While the outward manifestations and social contexts differ, the psychology of witchcraft accusations illustrates a consistent and dangerous pattern. Mental health crises, when combined with perceived supernatural threats, continue to lead to deadly outcomes for the vulnerable.

Sources

• Salisbury Town Records 1638-1858, p.17, image 18.
• The Hammatt Papers: Early Inhabitants of Ipswich, Massachusetts, 1633-1700 by Abraham Hammatt, p.48.
• The Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury, Massachusetts; with some related families of Newbury, Haverhill, Ipswich and Hampton by David Webster Hoyt, p.8, p.84.
• George Carr Home and Ferry, Sites of – Salem Witch Museum.
• Vital Records of Salisbury, MA to the End of the Year 1849, p.40, Topsfield Historical Society, 1913.
• Salisbury Birth Records 1637-1743, p.14.
• Vital Records of Salisbury, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849, p.537.
• Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001.
• EQC Vol 8, pp.354,355.
• Boston Marriage Records 1646-1799, image 111.
• The Estate Settlement of George Carr, Image 87.
• Baker, Emerson W., A Storm of Witchcraft, The Salem Trials and the American Experience, p.122: Oxford University Press.
• Death Record of John Carr, 25 Dec, 1689.
• Deposition of William Carr for Mary Bradbury. Massachusetts Court of Oyer and Terminer Records.
• Deposition of Richard Carr and Zerubable Endicott v. Mary Bradbury. Massachusetts Court of Oyer and Terminer Records.
• Los Angeles Police Department Press Release, May 11, 2022.
• San Fernando Valley News Portal, “Arraignment of Mother in Murder of Flores & Yanez Children”.
• CBS Los Angeles, “Exclusive: Social Media Posts by Angela Flores Paint Picture of Woman Who Just Moved to a New City”.
• LA mom Held on $6M bail May Have Believed 3 murdered Kids were Demon-possessed: report | Fox News.
• Ten to Life, Anna Elise YouTube Channel: “Angela Flores: LA Mother Kills Her Three Children on Mother’s Day With Help From Her 16 Year Old Son.”
• Testimony of Ann Putnam Sr. v. John Willard, William Hobbs, and Martha Cory. Massachusetts Court of Oyer and Terminer Records.
• Deposition of Ann Putnam Sr. v. Martha Corey and Rebecca Nurse, and testimony of Ann Putnam Jr. v. Rebecca Nurse, Martha Cory, and Sarah Cloyce. Massachusetts Court of Oyer and Terminer Records.