Site of Giles Corey’s House

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At the time of the Salem Witch Trials, Giles Corey owned a house and a 150-acre farm in Salem Farms (modern day West Peabody), which was also known as the village of Brooksby.

The property was located near the intersection of present-day Pine and Johnson Streets near Phelps Pond (modern day Crystal Lake).

Prior to this, Corey had been living in Salem town. In 1659, Corey sold his house and lot in Salem town, which was located on the west end of Essex Street and extended to the North River, and purchased the property in Peabody in 1660.

The "Trial of Giles Corey" illustration by Charles Reinhardt, circa 1878
The “Trial of Giles Corey” illustration by Charles Reinhardt, circa 1878

Corey then hired a carpenter to build his farmhouse, which was “twenty feet in length, fifteen in breadth, and eight feet stud.” (Upham 183.)

Corey’s neighbor, John Proctor, also moved to the area in 1666 when he leased the nearby Downing Farm. Corey had a reputation for being a difficult person who often quarreled with his neighbors, including Proctor, and was frequently in trouble with the law.

Corey was living on this farm in Peabody when he stood trial for beating his farmhand, Jacob Goodale, to death in 1676, when he was sued by another farmhand, John Gloyd, over a dispute with his wages in 1678, and when he stood trial for setting fire to John Proctor’s house in 1678. He was acquitted of the arson charges but was found guilty in the other cases and was fined.

Two decades later, on March 21, 1692, Giles’ wife Martha was arrested at their farm after being accused of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials. Giles Corey was also arrested for witchcraft on April 18.

In July of 1692, Corey deeded his house and farm to his sons-in-law, William Cleaves and Jonathan Moulton, due to “being under great troubles and affliction…and knowing not how soon I may depart this life…”

On September 19, 1692, Giles Corey was pressed to death in a field in Salem when he refused to move forward with his trial. Martha Corey was hanged a few days later on September 22.

“Giles Corey's Punishment and Awful Death”, illustrator unknown, in Witchcraft Illustrated by Henrietta D. Kimball, circa 1892
“Giles Corey’s Punishment and Awful Death,” illustration published in “Witchcraft Illustrated” by Henrietta D. Kimball in 1892

After the property passed to Corey’s sons-in-law, it was later acquired in the mid-18th century by the Taylor family who owned it for around 100 years.

In the 1840s, the owner at the time, Benjamin Taylor, uncovered the site of Corey’s house with his plow, according to historian Charles Wentworth Upham in his book Salem Witchcraft:

“The present proprietor, Mr. Benjamin Taylor, some twenty years ago, ploughed up the site of Corey’s dwelling-house; the vestiges of the cellar being then quite visible. It was near the crossing of the Salem and Lowell, and Georgetown and Boston railroads, about three hundred feet to the west of the crossing, and close to the track of the former road, on its south side. The spot is surrounded by beautiful fields; and their aspect shows that it must have been, in all respects, an eligible estate. What is known as ‘the Curtis field’ is a part of Corey’s farm.” (Upham 183)

On September 22, 1992, two memorial markers were erected for Giles and Martha Corey on the shore of Crystal Lake near Lowell Street, which was once a part of their farm, on the 300th anniversary of Martha Corey’s hanging.

The site of Giles Corey’s house is now an empty lot that is privately owned.

Sources:
Upham, Charles Wentworth. Salem Witchcraft: With an Account of Salem Village, and a History of Opinions on Witchcraft and Kindred Subjects, Volume 1. Wiggin and Lunt, 1867.
Dorn, Nathan. “The Crushing Death of Giles Corey of Salem, 1692.” Library of Congress Blogs, blogs.loc.gov/law/2020/10/the-crushing-death-of-giles-corey-of-salem-1692/
“Giles Corey.” Streets of Salem, streetsofsalem.com/2011/09/19/giles-corey/
“Peabody History.” Peabody Historical Society & Museum, peabodyhistorical.org/history/

About Rebecca Beatrice Brooks

Rebecca Beatrice Brooks is the author and publisher of the History of Massachusetts Blog. Rebecca is a freelance journalist and history lover who got her start in journalism working for small-town newspapers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire after she graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a B.A. in journalism. Visit this site's About page to find out more about Rebecca.

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