The principles used to organize the records in this edition differ from those used in previous major witchcraft transcription collections, although three basic features of each document have been important factors in the arrangement of the entries in all editions: who is named in the document, what type of legal document it is, and when it was used. The main challenges for organizing such a collection concern what to do when a record names more than one accused person, when the type of document has been used in more than one hearing or its use is not immediately apparent, when it has no dating whatsoever, and when combinations of these occur. Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt attempts an arrangement that deals with all of these challenges not only in a consistent, logical way, but in such a manner that the volume can be used as both a reference book of transcriptions of the manuscripts in their entirety, and a chronological presentation of the entire episode as it unfolded over time, for the first time prioritizing dating over case in the arrangement.

DATING THE RECORDS

Each record has been tagged with one to five dates, based on when it was first prepared, had material added to it, or is known to have been used in an official proceeding. The full transcription of each record is placed at the earliest date that can be established for it. Any subsequent dates are listed directly below the title of the full transcription. When a record has multiple dates, the subsequent entry titles appear in italics on the appropriate date, followed by a reference back to the original entry. In the example of a warrant, the subsequent entry indicates when the officer reported back to the court, but does not include the text of the return. Approximately 28 percent of the records have two dates associated with them, another 4 percent have three dates, and a rare handful have four or five dates. Examinations often have additional dates because the examinations sometimes took place over several days, and additional dates on arrest warrants are found in the officers’ returns on the following day. Most of the additional dates on depositions, testimonies, and statements are indications that the record was sworn to during a grand jury proceeding or at trial, after its initial creation or use.