Abigail and Deliverance Hobbs Accused of Witchcraft | Salem Witch Trials Daily April 17, 1692

Abigail Hobbs and the Devil’s NicknamesWe take you straight into Salem Village on Sunday, April 17, 1692, where the specter of rebellious Topsfield teen Abigail Hobbs unsettles the afflicted with her bold claims about the devil and her contempt for her stepmother, Deliverance. Our account follows testimonies describing Abigail’s strange acts—sleeping alone in the woods, declaring she sold herself “body and soul,” and even “baptizing” Deliverance by throwing water in her face—alongside chilling warnings about “Old Nick,” “Old Cratten,” and the “Old Boy.” As accusations mount, Deliverance will later say that at the meetinghouse she saw birds, cats, and dogs urging her to “come away,” and both she and Abigail will confess to witchcraft as their colorful tales deepen.00:00 Welcome and Hosts00:05 Abigail Hobbs Appears00:24 Boasts of the Devil00:39 Wild Acts and Woods01:16 Threats and Old Nick01:46 Deliverance Accused02:06 Confessions and Tease