This Week on “The Morning Show”: Author Peter Muise on Elizabeth Morse, “Witch of Newbury” Feb 6th
February 5, 2025This Week on “The Morning Show”:
Author Peter Muise on Elizabeth Morse,
“Witch of Newbury”
Peter Muise, author of “Legends and Lore of the North Shore” will visit this week to discuss the history of accused witch Elizabeth Morse of Newbury, now Newburyport, who was tried and found guilty of witchcraft in 1697. Sentenced to be hanged, she was reprieved and sentenced instead to lifelong confinement in her husband’s home near what is now Market Square.
I became aware of Morse when I finally noticed a plaque commemorating her on the side of a building at the corner of Liberty and State Streets.
Like me, you may have walked right by this sign many times unaware of its amazing content. When drawn to your attention, you may be, as was I, astonished by and curious about the life of Mrs. Elizabeth Morse, Witch of Newbury.
Peter will talk about the Puritan theology underlying belief in witchcraft, and how it led to their view that it was always and necessarily the result of consorting with the devil. He will also describe the dynamics of the Morse family and its contribution to Elizabeth’s strange and tragic situation, as well as the spectral skepticism of appeals court judges that led to her reprieve.
Peter discusses the pre-Enlightenment worldview that led to numerous witchcraft trials throughout Europe prior to the infamous Salem witch trials. He also explains why Ireland, in contrast to other nations, had relatively few witch trials.
How to Find “The Morning Show”
Broadcast at 9 AM on Thursday on WJOP (FM 96.3), and on Channel 9
After Broadcast:
Visit http://www.NCMHub.org, click YouTube, then Playlist & scroll down to the “Morning Show”; or
Listen on WJOP (FM 96.3) on Friday at 8 AM, or the following Tues. 4 p.m. or Wed, at 3 p.m.
Listen on the Sound Cloud; Go to NCMHub.org and click on the Cloud, then scroll down.
Thanks for watching!
