H 5154
An Act exonerating certain individuals accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts
Jurisdiction
Massachusetts
Session
194th General Court (2025-2026)
Last updated at
Jun 14, 2026, 9:24 PM
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Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
SECTION 1. The first paragraph of chapter 145 of the resolves of 1957, as amended by section 105 of chapter 126 of the acts of 2022, is hereby amended by inserting after the words “Elizabeth Johnson, Jr.”, the following words:- , Margaret Jones, Alice Lake, Elizabeth Kendall, Anne Hibbens, Goody Glover, SECTION 2. The first paragraph of said Chapter 145 is hereby further amended by striking the words “in the year sixteen hundred and ninety-two”. SECTION 3. Said Chapter 145 is hereby further amended by inserting after the first paragraph the following 2 paragraphs:- Whereas, Hugh Parsons, Eunice Cole, and Elizabeth Morse were indicted, tried, and found guilty of “Witchcraft”; and Whereas, numerous others were named, accused, arrested, questioned, imprisoned, arraigned, presented, indicted or tried for “Witchcraft” or familiarity with the Devil, though not found guilty; and SECTION 4. The second paragraph of said Chapter 145 is hereby amended by inserting after the word “named”, the following words:- and other. SECTION 5. The fourth paragraph of said Chapter 145 is hereby amended by inserting after the words “Elizabeth Johnson, Jr.” the following words:- , Margaret Jones, Alice Lake, Elizabeth Kendall, Anne Hibbens, Goody Glover, Hugh Parsons, Eunice Cole, Elizabeth Morse.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Joint Committee on the Judiciary
Cosponsors
Edward R. Philips
Natalie M. Higgins
Sally P. Kerans
Steven Owens
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