Jeff Daniels Learns his Family Testified in the Salem Witch Trials

[@OldSchoolDudeGaming]

Bro, I don't accept responsibility for my own living relatives for their opinions, let alone something my family did 340 years ago.

[@NickMak-m2c]

I honestly would have believed it, I read the stuff in those initial confessions about the peddler and all that, and it's truly compelling, not to mention kind of addicting, just the way they spoke, they way they thought, how mysterious everything still was. Like those magical periods of childhood where anything can happen, where you don't know the limits of what's possible.

[@mortalclown3812]

​@@NickMak-m2c The DSM-5 level of brokenness in one's psychological make up is more evident in comments like that than one may realize... obviously. Fgs. Dunning-Kruger on top of it.

[@PoisonelleMisty4311]

nothing says ‘family bonding’ quite like sitting around the dinner table and reminiscing about how your great-great-great-grandparent was a key witness in sending innocent people to the gallows. What a fun Thanksgiving story!"

[@stephr9859]

Literally we are all descended from Anyone alive 1000 years ago if you are of European descent so whatever😂

[@afimaci]

@@NickMak-m2c that doesn't mean one can't feel bad hearing all this. It's just shows that he is a decent human being, has some empathy towards the victims of those horrible events.

[@SpeiderSchneider]

We are not responsible for the sins of our fathers unless we repeat them.

[@brutustantheiii8477]

THANK YOU

[@brutustantheiii8477]

@NotaHero🌻of911 if your DAD hit someone with a car and willingly did it, then YOU are NOT responsible.

[@SAMZIRRA]

wow! ❤

[@gavinhelgeson2880]

Unless your WHITE

[@nillyk5671]

You are responsible if you lived a smooth life that was granted to you thanks to generational wealth. Wealth that was taken from others while their lives and families were being trampled on.

[@ReadingRambo152]

I love how authentic Jeff’s response is. This is heavy news, but he responds with his full mind and heart.

[@OldSchoolDudeGaming]

You have more of a relationship/in common with someone down the street than a relative that lived 340 years ago.

[@tucolalo8251]

Is jeff 400 years old? You know this is nonsense right? There has been so MANY new families that have been married into his lineage that they are NOTHING alike.

[@Hugatree1]

@@OldSchoolDudeGaming totally! I thought his response was weak, could have just said I’m sorry those people had to die such a terrible unjust death. No family is without their skeletons secrets and scandals

[@jaredleicht1656]

Jeff realized the illuminati in Hollywood would never hire him again for a movie. Lol

[@paulw5039]

Why would it be heavy news? I promise you every single one of us has relatives who have done as bad or worse. If you go back 10 generations that's 1022 ancestors. 20 generations = over 2 million of them. That's not including siblings, etc, that's direct ancestors, 2 million great, great, etc, grandparents.

[@rocketreindeer]

It sort of shows that even the most messed up families can produce a kind and decent person like Jeff.

[@erikasantoshafitness348]

It shows we all have a lot of ancestors!

[@pl6168]

Great perspective and true!

[@danielmullaney2069]

As far as we know... his ancestors were actors, and he's an actor..

[@monicaalva2423]

True. But also times were very different back then. It was very difficult to be separated from the church. All we can do is learn from our history and not repeat the same mistakes.

[@tabithasands2257]

Jeff like us all has a nite nite side

[@gumbo2180]

Nathaniel Hawthorne, who wrote The Scarlet Letter, was the great, great grandson of John Hathorne the lead judge in the witch trials of 1692. He is the only judge not to publicly apologize for his behavior. Nathaniel was burdened with guilt from his family’s legacy which lead him to write the Scarlet Letter; he also change the spelling of his name to disassociate himself from his great, great grandfather.

[@TJ-so9xo]

John Hathorne is my distant uncle. It was shocking to find this out. Horrified is a better word.

[@seanoxton5572]

@@TJ-so9xo Eh, you cant control what people did 400 years ago. I had family on both sides of the trials, accusers and accused.

[@stephensherry7236]

Great story. Don't know for sure if it helped assuage any guilt. We are all judged by the Almighty. Fair or not Fair, that's the way it is.

[@SoberChic81]

@@TJ-so9xo I

[@laurenmelanson4282]

I currently live on the land that once belonged to John Hathorne in Danvers, MA. Very interesting history.

[@AshleyLebedev]

“A mob is a place where people go to take a break from their conscience” - YES!!!!!

[@jeffreyday2414]

Also, the internet.

[@terintiaflavius3349]

​@@jeffreyday2414 The internet is the mob now.

[@JoshSweetvale]

​@@jeffreyday2414 The internet is a mob.

[@JulieRainyPDX]

That's so true, especially when the pitchfork people are encouraged by their cult leaders spewing lies and hate.

[@fdrstan]

Sounds a lot like the Jan 6 mob.

[@chriss172]

History whether it's good or bad still needs to be learned, understood and embraced no matter what. Amazing to be able to find out all this information

[@LHLK-q2v]

No it doesn't we repeat things no matter what . some things don't need to be known just live your life the best you can today, retraumatizing people for things the had nothing to do with is insane

[@GirmaKassa-ip7ht]

@@LHLK-q2vknowing helps you to not repeat it. If you know and still repeat it then that must be a wicked bloodline

[@hadesmcfadden2982]

@@LHLK-q2v missing the entire point. Learning from history isn't to adopt the trauma and heap guilt upon those living today. Recognition of humanity's past triumphs and failures helps shape a better understanding of how to proceed as a whole. It's also not withstanding history that has been oppressed, not studied, or outright forgotten. Women and minority groups across the world have had their stories in history unwritten and unrecognized for centuries. That being brought to my attention through a study of history doesn't point the finger at me for past misdeeds, but I can learn from recognizing where my ancestors or our ancestors have failed and work to be better. Not sure what's so hard to understand about that. As far as repeating things? Yeah, we do, collectively sometimes the more things change the more things stay the same but it takes time. It took time f things up, will take time to undo. But progress has been made, no matter how regressive humanity may act.

[@kate2create738]

It really shows the complexities humans have when they are put under stress, times when either the ugly or good, or both, are revealed. Yet it’s those moments that end up defining us. Appreciate that Jeff was willing to share such a reveal to the rest of us, not every person has ancestry that relate to the glories of history, but stories like this are just as important to know about.

[@timothyschmidt1828]

Chandler was one of 512 eighth great-grandfathers. The others could be famous or infamous, rich or poor, butcher, baker or candlestick maker. Talking about the one famous individual among 516 is simplistic and disingenuous.

[@Redandranger]

@@timothyschmidt1828 So you admit that Chandler was a relative? That's all. Now go pout somewhere about some other petty injustice.

[@timothyschmidt1828]

Whoa, hold on there Red Ranger. Come on back to the barn. I never implied Chandler wasn't Jeff Daniels' (who I am a big fan of) distant ancestor, nor implied any "injustice", nor was I pouting. I found Chandler's very interesting. I was merely making a point about genealogy that many people don't think about. Petty? Pouting? That's all you Red.

[@buddyfett1341]

How did a distant relative he didn't know he had until that moment, shape Jeff Daniels life? At best it's a "neat party gag". Pointless.

[@kate2create738]

@@buddyfett1341 It's called a connection to history. Wait until you research and link your ancestors to some historical event, it gives any modern person to pause and think about what their ancestors were likely dealing with. It helps develop empathy. You're lack of understanding this as if it's pointless are the ones doomed to repeat history.

[@davidpumpkinsjr.5108]

If there's a dark page in the book of your family's past, don't just tear it out. Read it, learn it, turn the page and write a better story.

[@Artnotforthesakeofart]

This.

[@BIGMIKESKNUTTS]

@@ArtnotforthesakeofartThat.

[@jennaolbermann7663]

Well said.

[@bwktlcn]

Some of the best advice I’ve seen.

[@jarodmoses1126]

As a descendent of the brewsters, Dwight’s, sedwicks, amen to this!

[@joycestempa5647]

I’ve always really liked Jeff. He’s a good actor and for what little I know of him as a real person, he seems to be a stand up, regular, grounded guy……which is probably what makes him a good actor! I enjoy his story - thank you.

[@patrickbyrne5070]

Yes he does seem pretty different and separated from much of the Hollywood type bs. A thoughtful and kind man by all accounts.

[@billfarley9167]

He's well liked in Canada as well. Solidly grounded, empathetic and compassionate personalities always shine through. Jeff is all of that.

[@CrystalTwinStar]

So interesting to see such a comedic person be so somber. Very sobering, and I have deep respect for him for the level of remorse he showed for something that isn't even his fault. Bless him.

[@sbrock6385]

Thank you for your great work Mr. Gates. You help us realize that no family is without some questionable behavior, but it is how we acknowledge it that matters. We lose nothing of who we are now by owning the mistakes of the past. I understand and sympathize with Jeff, his disappointment was obvious, but he demonstrated how to gracefully and bravely acknowledge what could have been his ancestors motivations while still condemning the wrongness of their acts.

[@yodasmomisondrugs7959]

Owning mstakes of your OWN past, I really hope that's what you meant.

[@JimRPickens]

He was under no obligation to condemn anything anymore than if that act had committed by someone outside his bloodline. Each man must develop his own virtue or vice, it is not handed down.

[@isaaclaforce2011]

???? So we have to acknowledge and own the mistakes of everyone in our family tree now ?? Why not put in your neighbors as well since you live that close to someone that obviously when they do wrong it stems from living next to you.

[@GirlWithThePlumbobTattoo]

Sorry I don't take responsibility for anyone but myself.

[@joykind4258]

My ancestor's crime was poverty and begging for food after she was widowed. She was unjustly hanged as a witch when she allegedly verbally lashed out. Her name was Margaret Stephenson Scott. She is far removed from me, yet my heart hurts for her sorrow, fear and anguish. News like this is difficult to ignore.

[@ethanwashoe5868]

Is it possible she could have been paracticing whitch craft and was justly hanged?

[@uncovidvaxxforthestrongand3582]

@@ethanwashoe5868 no

[@ladykatherinena3199]

@@ethanwashoe5868 Sir. Really? The woman was on the streets and homeless

[@ethanwashoe5868]

@@ladykatherinena3199 so they just made up she was a witch out of nowhere? And you believe that 🤔

[@All-Fun-N-Games]

​@@ethanwashoe5868Do you not understand that charges were often bought against people purely as expedient excuses to get rid of them? Witch trials were more often about church politics, family feuds, personal grudges and misunderstanding of mental illnesses than anything else.

[@dinahnicest6525]

I descended from Mary Bradbury. She was among the last to be accused and condemned. She escaped from jail at the age of 70. She must have had help. Everyone believed it was the sheriff.

[@carokat1111]

Good for her!

[@badcornflakes6374]

My family escaped the Egyptians that enslaved them long ago

[@WTPsychology]

Surprising my family testified against Susannah Martin. But then they testified on behalf of Mary!

[@bronwyntapani5674]

She is my 10th? Great grandmother!!

[@dinahnicest6525]

@@bronwyntapani5674 Pleased to meet you, Cousin. Someday I'll dig out the records and count the Greats our Grandmother accumulated on my line. I'll be back. Sounds like you know the precise lineage. I have our records too, but they're inconveniently stored. I'll get them out someday because it would be interesting to know where our lines converged.

[@HeatherQuinlan]

A lot of these accusations were land grabs so it's possible that Thomas Chandler wanted Samuel Wardwell's property. Thomas didn't want his brother-in-law's property and probably thought his own life might be in danger when he signed that petition.

[@katherinescooking]

It occurred to me these accusations might have been land grabs

[@KellsSmith1244]

Okay, follow the money. The older I get the more that makes sense.

[@Psydvckthefirst]

also maybe high consecration of psychotropic substances in water, it was researched and reported.

[@traceythompson1092]

@@Psydvckthefirst ergot from spoiled grains.

[@moblinmajorgeneral]

​@@Psydvckthefirst The original cause was that the rye was stored improperly in a storage barn, and because the winter of 1691 was so wet, the rye got damp, and the fungus made the little children go insane.

[@puncheex2]

My wife is descended from the brother of the three accused Towne sisters, two of whom were hanged that summer. Another direct descendant, Henry Kinne, was an accuser. The families reconciled 2 generations afterward, explaining how she is descended from each. I am descended from the Fiske's, jurors and jury foreman of the Townsend's trial. About ten years afterwards, the entire jury (those remaining) signed a letter of remorse for their actions in first returning an innocent verdict, then under pressure of the mob, reconsidering.

[@Kim-mz8co]

That makes your wife and I cousins. Thank you for posting your comments.

[@kimtowne2809]

I am descended from William Towne. His three daughters were accused of witchcraft, and I grew up hearing about the stories at home and from my relatives

[@Kim-mz8co]

@@kimtowne2809 Me, too! William Towne and his wife Joanna Blessing are my 9th Great-Grandparents. Best wishes from Cambodia to you and your family.

[@longsleevethong1457]

They conjured spirits that made you type that.

[@kbanghart]

​@@longsleevethong1457 hmm

[@lorrainezimmerman4831]

When I was in graduate school in Boston one of the books we had to read was Witches, Midwives, and Nurses. Many nurses were part of the Salem Trials. They were killed because they were taking care of the poor, but deemed as witches. We never caught a break!

[@ophelias4172]

It’s because they knew how to “cure” people. If enough of your patients survived, well, geez it’s not because you spent most of your time learning through observation what symptoms to look out for or what plant seemed to work against common illnesses. It was because the devil gave you help.

[@jax422]

That doesn’t make sense. First off, nurses didn’t exist in the 1600’s. Nursing didn’t become an occupation in the US until 1873 nearly 200 years after the trials. Not to mention only 20 people were killed and 2 died in prison. We know their names and occupations. Most were killed over disagreements between families, not because of their occupation, and none were nurses. There was no mass killing of nurses because again there weren’t any. There was one woman with the last name Nurse, Rebecca Nurse (née Towne), but that wasn’t her occupation.

[@methodmadness7508]

@@jax422 the women who were accused were midwives in their own communities who had knowledge of all sorts of herbal medicines both healing and damaging this made them a target they didnt work in hospitals they just had a lot of experience many other women were targets because they were just pretty or unmarried or outcasted due to eccentricities i dont think she meant nurses in the official term more just women who were healers

[@longsleevethong1457]

@@methodmadness7508that rebuttal was correct and warranted. Op was misleading which required a nuanced correction. Only a few were killed and why and a few were men. That can’t be stated enough….just read the other comments. Folks act like it was a holocaust.

[@judyisapunk7928]

Ann prudeater (whose land I currently live on) was a midwife and a nurse and was accused and hung of witchcraft because she had different oils and greases in her home.

[@Liz86000]

Poor Jeff, he’s such a great and decent man and one amazing actor !

[@gusmonster59]

Why 'poor Jeff'? None of us are responsible for ancestor's actions that happened before we were born. We aren't responsible for our parent's actions. We are only responsible for ourselves. Jeff has learned something bout a long dead ancestor who did a horrible thing. But it wasn't considered horrible at the time it happened. People felt it was their 'godly duty' to find and eradication 'witches'.

[@Liz86000]

@@gusmonster59 It WAS a horrible thing at the time too because it was all lies ! He didn’t see « the devil » etc… Though of course Jeff Daniels is not responsible, but it was a shocking thing to learn and I empathize with him. Having empathy for someone is not a bad thing, you know ?

[@olgivystent9221]

Poor Jeff? His family killed mine. I want reparations. If it works for the Afro-Americans, my claim goes further than theirs. Give me the money, Jeff.

[@Liz86000]

@@olgivystent9221 Go take your meds.

[@olgivystent9221]

@@Liz86000 I want reparations for the killing and torture of my ancestors. Works in Cali.

[@brianmeyer6926]

Am I the only one impressed that Jeff can read that crazy writing so fluidly?

[@mayiborrowadollar]

they transcribe it for them.

[@melodiemiller2104]

He is not? He is reading a transcribed part on the page

[@lovingmayberry307]

You're kidding, right?

[@brianmeyer6926]

@@mayiborrowadollar that makes sense.

[@BBRocker75]

I can do it. If you got a 1970-1980 good education you can do it. I got calligraphy classes in my school. Ok, it was a private school.

[@JA51711]

What a great response and sense of humble humor but on a real note so true it's not his fault what happened in the past. It's incredible what people can learn about family history. 🙏

[@Kim-mz8co]

3 of my relatives, that I know of, were hanged in the two months prior to the hangings discussed in this video. 3 sisters of one of my 8th maternal Great Grandfathers (my distant aunts) were accused of being witches. 71-year-old Rebecca Nurse was hung July 19, 1692. Her younger sister Mary Easty--the mother of 11 children, was released after two months imprisonment, but re-arrested and hung August 22, 1692 after 19-year-old Mercy Lewis said Mary tormented her in a dream--which was enough to have her re-tried as a witch and hung. My Aunt Sarah Cloyce was also accused and tried. Bray Wilkins was one of my maternal 9th Great Grandfathers. He didn't like who his granddaughter Margaret married due to the young man's earlier employment with one of his business enemies. He accused his granddaughter's husband of looking at him strangely at a family dinner and giving him kidney stones. John Willard was hung in Salem 3-days prior to my aunt Mary. "Religious" people have been accusing others of sh*t like this for centuries. In most of these cases in Salem, they were accusing other religious people for purposes of power, revenge, control, and greed--property of the deceased was up for grabs. Reverend Parris was as corrupt and power-hungry as they get. Accusers had much to gain from the deaths and guilty verdicts of people they accused.

[@wandertree]

These people used "religion" to achieve their own Satanic, evil ends. That's on them.

[@timefoolery]

My 11th great grandmother Frances Hutchins was the last accused and arrested. She escaped trial when the governor put a stop to it all.

[@karenlynningalls5851]

My many-times great grandfather Henry Ingalls was also Francis Dane's brother-in-law (his wife, who had already passed before 1692, was Henry's sister). Henry's other sister's daughter was Martha Carrier, also one of the 19 who were hanged, protesting her innocence all the time. They even tortured Martha's children to get them to accuse their mother.

[@geminimeg]

ppl need to remember religious persecution goes both ways. If you're being harassed and terrorized for your NON beliefs inc agnostics, wiccans, pagans, and atheists, you have rights also. There is an uptick of religious based harassment, not sure yet if its ppl wanting us to see negatively toward religion (Nazis ran a campaign similarly) or if its actually religious ppl. Either way, stand in your beliefs, its your right as long as you don't hurt other ppl as some Scientologists are finding out.

[@marniehowlandprestie9773]

Interesting! Mary Esty was my direct Great great+++ grandmother

[@sarkahalastova9667]

You can see how touched Jeff is by the fate of those poor people. What a decent, emphatic man.

[@cleverty1959]

Emphatic?

[@PoisonelleMisty4311]

"Wow, Jeff Daniels must feel so proud to learn that his family has a long-standing tradition of turning on their neighbors. Nothing says “great family legacy” quite like testifying against innocent people in a witch hunt, right?"

[@billfarley9167]

Couldn't find "emphatic" in the dictionary. Perhaps you mean "empathetic."

[@sarkahalastova9667]

@@billfarley9167 Sorry, not a native speaker. Hello from Prague.

[@amys2650]

My 10th great grandmother was hung at Salem 09/22/1692. RIP Mary Parker (Ayers) along with a few more that were accused and some testified. I still like you Jeff even though your 8th great grandfather accused my 10th great grandmother ❤.

[@Billidawn7]

I am also a descendent of Mary, there were a lot of children.

[@mrbubetube]

you're a descendant of a witch?

[@taylortrevor909]

*hanged

[@mr.fahrenheit7009]

Don't be a witch

[@intermilan9731]

Maybe ur ancestor had a Marxist mentality.

[@Norocos23]

Let's just all agree that we all come from messed up families.

[@ThutUPB]

Well given the fact that around the year 1700 there were hundreds of our direct ancestors alive, what's the chance that not a single one of them was bad?

[@TheLyricsGuy]

@@ThutUPB Exactly. Go back far enough, and you come from literally hundreds/thousands of different individual people.

[@MrPeach1]

and that we are all messed up also.

[@maloneaqua]

@@MrPeach1that’s the part people don’t like.

[@JimRPickens]

Perhaps we, in this age, are the most messed up of all.

[@mygirl1129]

These discoveries, I think, are endlessly fascinating!!!!!

[@gaia_x_3322]

I love this program and watch it regularly.

[@TTM9691]

Well, somebody cast Jeff Daniels in a production of The Crucible immediately! I love how he's being asked what he thinks was in the mind of his ancestor. 😆

[@catharineburke4494]

Daniel Day Lewis already had a part in the Movie The Crucible.

[@TTM9691]

@@catharineburke4494 Yeah, but it's a famous play that's done, like, ALL the time. And Jeff Daniels does plays, like, ALL the time. Duh. (PS and it's not that great of a movie) (and the movie was done more than 20 years ago). When people mention The Crucible, Catharine, they're not talking about the ok movie that was done in the 90s, they're talking about the play that is done all the time.

[@JamesBond-uz2dm]

@@catharineburke4494 The picture was shot in Essex, Massachusetts.

[@cleverty1959]

​@@catharineburke4494So??

[@Abdus_VGC]

Thank you for that amazing moment in Gettysburg when you shout 'Boyonets'. You were Chamberlain at thar moment, love it❤

[@annetteshimkus1779]

Well thought through responses from Mr. Daniels.

[@davidvergara607]

Jeff Danielle's is a true human being. He is no coward to right an wrong.

[@UntappedShesources]

“Now the Salem witch trials are my fault,great!..I can handle that.” 🤣🤣🤣

[@ultrafree9597]

FOR JEFF AND HENRY: Thomas Chandler is my 9th Great grandfather and Sarah Phelps is my 7th Great Grandmother. Somehow I stumbled onto this video. Also, Sarah Phelps' G Granddaughter Levicy "Fields" Sands (my 5th G Grandmother) has an incredible story! If she would not have survived, I would not be here to write to you. --> Levisa sole survivor of her family at 5 years old Francis Willa (Jackson) Sands’ first husband James “Jim” Sands’ great grandmother Levisa "Levicy" Fields also knew the fear and violence of the Indian Wars. "When Levisa was about five years old, her family lived in a log cabin about three miles from a fort, established at or near the present site of Charleston, West Virginia. Mr. Fields and his wife had seven children, including Levisa. One day some little distance from the cabin, Levisa was up in an apple tree breaking apple blossoms. The family dog saw Indians approaching the cabin and barked, thus attracting the attention of both Levisa and her father to the Indians. Levisa sat still up in the tree and her father hid under a log. The Indians ran into the cabin, killed and scalped Mrs. Fields and six of the children, and then went to the clearing and killed and scalped Mr. Fields. They set fire to the cabin, and ran away. They did not discover Levisa, and when she saw them leave, she climbed down from the tree and went to the fort."-- Chapman, Berlin B., Chapman Family: A Study in the Social Development of Central West Virginia, [The] (Tulsa, OK: Mid-West Printing Co., 1942), p.8. [Located at University of Nebraska Library, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-4100.]

[@kimberlysweet3521]

This blew my mind knowing this bit of history.

[@nicholasflores254]

Does anyone ever go on this show and are told," your ancestors were janitors"?

[@bwenluck9812]

@Nicholas Flores Yes, I believe it happened to Annie Lennox.

[@gumbo2180]

Not usually because your ancestors who didn’t own property or do anything interesting don’t usually leave much written about them. Here they are reading court documents.

[@TJ-so9xo]

Martha Stewart had ancestors who did all the stuff she loves....gardening, butcher, baker, candlestick maker! It was crazy. But no one famous.

[@annieseaside]

Absolutely, MOST humans were working class or peasants, but this is a for profit TV show. 10 generations back gives hundreds of people’s life stories. The Editors choose the ones that make the best TV.

[@ej3016]

Julie Walters (maybe she was on Who Do You Think You Are) family were all farmers - like Annie Lennox she still let them do the episode

[@ChrisPappaPerkins]

One of my ancestors was Mary ( Perkins) Bradbury who was accused in the trials but managed to get away until things later died down

[@dinahnicest6525]

I descended from her too. She was said to change into a blue boar. She was in her 70s at the time. She escaped from jail, obviously with help. Everyone thought it was the sheriff. Things had already begun to die down.

[@lstone3633]

I am descended from her as well. Hello to you cousins from Canada.

[@cdonorab]

She's not my ancestor, but I am a descendant of her brother. Find her fascinating. Got some interesting cousins!

[@bronwyntapani5674]

I am descendant also!!

[@kristineanderson4983]

My relative (name Brigett Bishop) was the first to be hanged in the witch trials. My (I think 8th great grandfather and grandmother) were also hanged. We have copies of the arrest records. Bishop was also my grandmother's name. When we found all this out, it was a big 'wow!'

[@TJ-so9xo]

I did my genealogy and found out I had ancestors in Salem in the late 1690's so I went searching hoping to find one accused of witchcraft but instead I was absoultely horrified to find out I am actually related to Magistrate Hawthorne! It was also a big horrific WOW ! My deepest apologies to your family from mine....in hindsight boy was my ancestor wrong!

[@jakeadams7278]

I just recently discovered that Susannah North Martin is a relative of my grandmothers family. She’s my 10th great grandmother!

[@heidimetz7698]

My mother is related to bridget bishop also.

[@jonathonscott6448]

My wife has recently found out that my great grandmother was one of the one persecuted during the Salem witch trials her name was Margaret Kinsey Stephenson she was hung for being a witch

[@billrener4897]

I have a pen pal whose maiden name is Gedney. She's a descendant of Bartholomew Gedney, who was one of Salem's prosecutors. She's 70-years-old now and, unbelievably, she's in prison. In 2005, she did her husband in.

[@bwenluck9812]

@Bill Rener Karma???

[@marybaker8582]

For sure, this man has ancestors with interesting stories.

[@TJ-so9xo]

very interesting. I am related to Magistrate Hawthorne.

[@freelikeyve]

Y’all still write to each other?!

[@billrener4897]

@@freelikeyve It started out as writing. Now ,though, it's email. And we talk too. BTW she'll get out in June 2026. Thanks for asking.

[@helanna9843]

My mom always said not to look at ancestry because you never know what you will find. I have never feel guilty for anything someone else has done - only my actions.

[@SilentKnight43]

@helanna9843 No offense, but your mom should've had a more open-mind. There's a lot to be learned from ancestry. My father's been working on our family geneology for the past 15 years and the stuff he's discovered has been fascinating. We're distant relatives of the Edison family (yep, Thomas Edison) - and although I'll never invent a longer lasting lightbulb, it was interesting to read about the Edison family's Canadian roots in New Brunswick and their migration to Ontario around the north shores of Lake Erie before their eventual immigration south to the States. Never turn your back on your ancestral roots. It's not always negative.

[@barbp2768]

I hope you’ll reconsider searching your ancestry. I do genealogy research and discovered exciting ancestors. Mayflower Descendant is just one of them.

[@barbp2768]

@@SilentKnight43That’s awesome! Congratulations! Keep researching!

[@SilentKnight43]

@@barbp2768 Your Mayflower ancestry is just as fascinating and significant as my Edison connection. Cool stuff!

[@rebeccasimpson6784]

My 8th great grandfather Jarvis Ring and his brother Joseph testified against Susannah Martin during the Witch Trials. Jarvis went on to a successful life. His brother Joseph met a horrific end as part of the Massachusetts militia, fighting Native Americans.

[@sunrise-vx5ld]

I'm descended from Susannah North Martin

[@nunyabusiness3516]

I love that he owned how bad the deeds of his ancestor was, unlike most. He took the good and didn't gloss over the bad.

[@MasterBlaster-nz3uv]

I wish all other groups of people would do the same. It would be so refreshing and honest.

[@duganred]

What’s it matter? Seriously, if that how you judge someone, I think that’s more your problem

[@tucolalo8251]

Is jeff 400 years old? You know this is nonsense right? There has been so MANY new families that have been married into his lineage that they are NOTHING alike.

[@alexamerling79]

Shows incredible humility and grace.

[@Butterfly-ue1ph]

The fact he never made excuses for his ancestors’ actions during the Salem Witch Trials!

[@LegacyToursNewOrleans]

"Put her lights out." 😆😆😆 I really enjoy this - the funny statements as well as the direct connections that are made to historical events. It's such an interesting way to get perspective on history.

[@EndeavoursRadio]

I had remembered hearing the name Samuel Wardwell before. Turns out he was featured as part of Scott Foley's lineage on Who Do You Think You Are?

[@stephanieyee9784]

Wow, that's pretty strange. The ancestors of these two men were contemporaries.

[@brownel2]

So if Jeff and Scott ever work on the same movie or tv show, I guess Jeff owes Scott an apology!

[@samyouwell00]

I know him…

[@donnacopeland4826]

Samuel Thomas Wardwell was my 9 GG father

[@paulfranklin4276]

Love the show dude keep up the solid work

[@cas5324]

My 8th great uncle was John Willard. He was a counstable in Salem and involved in arresting the accused withces. He was particularly disturbed about having to arrest Rebecca Nurse( Towne) and was very vocal about it. He was, of course, then accused by his inlaws of witchcraft for speaking out. He fled to the home of my 8th grandfather, Henry Willard, where he was later arrested, and brought back to Salem and hanged in August, 1692. John's widow married Robert Towne two years after his death and from what I read, never spoke to her family again.

[@terisaisherwood3006]

Jeff Daniels is awesome!

[@-DRIP]

When I was a late teen my dad took me on a car ride late at night which was uncharacteristic of him because he always followed his personal rules but he parked by a lake, we had a long talk, he eventually ended the conversation with “Son, I love you very much, and I don’t want you to ever want to be me like you try to be, be yourself, but continue doing what is right. Do what is right”. He began weeping on my shoulder sobbing like a child would on their father’s shoulder. I have never seen my father do that and I have never seen him do that ever since. He buried his mom and was present when they burnt my grandpa cuz he died of Covid. I knew he lived his life alone so later in life after I carried my friend’s casket and sent it to the hearse for him to be burnt. There was no grave, just a small plaque memorial with a little dying balloon by a small little tree. I went there with my parents and when I went out my mom tried to open the door but my dad just held onto her shoulder shaking his head no and they both let me weep as I spent 30 minutes talking to my friend talking about my feelings. I put a quarter in his casket and on his tree “just in case” the ferryman didn’t let him get his his way “through”. I don’t know what I believe in, cuz I lost so many people. Overdose, decapitation, simple suicide, etc. but he wasn’t supposed to go. I miss you man.

[@bigmike2464]

I heard the biggest thing about the Witch Trials, it was more about getting the lands of the accused; basically, MONEY and POWER, disguised as witch hunting

[@TattooedGranny]

Such a dramatic clip! I love this show so much.

[@HoosierSHU]

Mary Parker was my 9th great grandmother. It is heart breaking to hear her name accused of such nonsense. 💔😭 I hold no grudge on the descendants.

[@SortOfEggish]

You'd be insane if you did

[@skontheroad]

You guys were close, huh?

[@skontheroad]

You guys were close, huh?

[@marksheiman1538]

Salem Massachusetts in 1692 was on a giant bad trip.

[@corbinrodgers3325]

From all that bad grain with ergot on it straight tripping literally

[@marksheiman1538]

@@corbinrodgers3325 u said it. Of course; this is 250(1942-1692) years before hoffman developed LSD.

[@gusmonster59]

Salem was nothing compared to the European Witch hunts that hanged (or burned) far more many people than Salem ever did.

[@marksheiman1538]

@@gusmonster59 or the Spanish inquition.

[@rosiehawtrey]

Look up Belgium in the Congo and the Holodomor. Ditto unit 731 and the fun you can have with a solution of Carbolic Acid and Saline and some SOE agents.. Don't ask us about what they did with the rats and the hot coals. I really mean it..

[@ajdarko8531]

I grew up in a religious family who believed the "devil" was in many things. When I asked why we weren't allowed to go to movie theaters, they just told me the devil was there. What my grandmother was actually referring to by the "devil" is from her belief that ppl still smoked and drank at movie theaters like they did when she was young. I imagine these Puritans saw the devil in a lot more mundane things at that time.

[@Seashellsbytheseashore21]

People still do drink at the movies.

[@luigiprovencher]

There's a reason why they call it Spirits. Look it up. It ain't good.

[@ajdarko8531]

@r d 🤣 not openly. Apparently they used to sell alcohol to pretty much anyone back then.

[@keivajones1865]

Well, she's not all the way wrong...watch carefully the movies they've always put and the occult symbolism and agendas that r within movie

[@johnwelsh2769]

Your grandmother was right. My shoes are still sticky from my last visit.

[@ElectroOverlord]

My Dads mother was a Wardwell, looked it up on the LDS genealogy site and yep, apparently related to Jeff and live in the same area around Ann Arbor. Groovy!

[@ashamanbrian]

I'm also related to someone heavily involved in the trails. Ann Putnam Jr. She was one of the primary accusers in the trail who's testimony help convict and hand 20 people, then much was the only accusers to recant and apologize for her role. Can't pick you family. It a example of mass hysteria and a excellent example why you should always reserve judgment and never just follow the crowd. I sure later generation will examine these times and wonder how could they do that?

[@tracieplsn]

I am too. Her first cousin Gen Israel Putnam is my 7x Great grandfather. Fun fact Ann Putnam was the only one of the “afflicted” girls who later apologized for her actions. I think she was only 12 during the trials. You can fid the letter online.

[@Lily_The_Pink972]

It's my understanding that research into the crops and weather of the time show that its likely the harvest was affected by wet weather. This caused a fungus called ergot to grow on the crops and poisoned the flour made from them. The symptoms of ergot poisoning (ergotism) are the same as those suffered by the young women and villagers of Salem. There was a similar instance in France in the mid 20th century.

[@dbl0douche353]

My teacher in 5th grade was Mimi Wardwell. In New Hampshire. I remember learning all about her distant relative Samuel Wardwell who was tried as a witch in Salem. Cant believe shes related to Jeff Daniels too!

[@Racingbro1986]

I think it’s horrific to have someone account for what their relatives 10 generations ago did.

[@bethparker1500]

So don't watch this show. Bad surprises can happen.

[@L8-4A-D8]

It always seems to be the case on this show. I guess it's what creates the drama

[@AirFire18]

I don’t think it’s bad, we still carry our ancestor dna and only we can apologize for those who aren’t here. We all carry it. It may be unfair, but it’s the legacy we all hold

[@JimBobJoeB0b]

@@AirFire18having the dna of a bad person does not mean you deserve to be held accountable for something you didn’t do.

[@tucolalo8251]

@@bethparker1500 Is jeff 400 years old? You know this is nonsense right? There has been so MANY new families that have been married into his lineage that they are NOTHING alike.

[@RoyADane]

According to my late father, one of my ancestors had an uncle who was one of the judges at the Salem Witch Trials and another uncle who was one of the accused. I bet that led to some interesting conversations at Thanksgiving dinner...

[@OrbAttraction]

I do feel for Jeff knowing that his forefathers had a hand in many deaths. Crazy to think what's hiding in our forefathers closets 😬

[@env0x]

i looked up my geneology and found i have both ancestors who were accused of and ancestors who testified against witchcraft. it was pretty prevalent back in the day, not just in salem, but in all of england, wales, scotland... it was very common.

[@timhamilton2212]

It’s very interesting that every single person who discovers details of their ancestry will experience the feeling of both pride and shame.

[@fedvvvv]

That is absolutely insane! Super cool you can trace all this.

[@corrinenolan344]

Direct descendant of Anne Alcock Foster, mother of Mary Foster Lacy. My great ancestor was in the Salem prison, lying about riding a broom to take blame and save her daughter and granddaughter from hanging. She was a widow running her own homestead. Her neighbor lady got sick, doctor couldnt explain the sickness, the womans husband blamed my ancestor. Perhaps he didn't want a neighbor that was a female head of the home. We will never know. They chained her to a wall so that she wouldn't fly away. That's where she died after 21 weeks in prison . God love her for doing what she had to do to protect her family. I believe she was 73. Her daughters and granddaughters' execution was lifted once it all came to an end.

[@robincrowflies]

Women carry so much unhealed trauma. 🖤

[@karenwoodward7291]

Secrets Of The Dead, another PBS series, did a program on the Salem witch trials. I forget the title of that program but a modern forensic detective study was done to figure out what really happened to those girls that started the mess and it was facinating! That program was several years ago.

[@EndoftheBlock7224]

It should be easier to understand how so many could do such a thing as the "Salem Witch Trials" after what happened 2019 globaly. Human nature DOES NOT CHANGE. Love your personalized history.

[@pavlal.4552]

I was thinking exactly the same. We might have modern means of transport, clothing and a bit more knowledge about human anatomy, but humans as such DO NOT change. Mob will remain mob.

[@rachelroseg1775]

Truth

[@DrJarimba]

This is so interesting. great channel and quite unique.

[@reneeroque678]

It was so sad to discover that my husband's aunt was Margaret Scott, she was hung in this trial at the age of 77

[@kjmav10135]

Thomas Chandler was one of my great grandfathers, too. So weird to hear his name at random. Don’t worry, Jeff! You are not alone in your ancestor guilt. I’m also related to the Nurses, AND the Danes. If you’re related to one person in the Witch Trials, you’re very likely related to others involved in the trial. There are millions of us who are descended from these people.

[@allisongrinnell5107]

I just found out that one of my ancestors was convicted in the Salem Witch Trials. Thankfully because Old Pharaoh was in his late 70s he only served 5 months.

[@passerineblue]

Rev Francis Dane is my 10th great grandfather. My 9th great grandmother was Rebecca Nurse, who was hung. Most of the others who were hung or otherwise died (or narrowly escaped) were close relatives: Mary Esty (aunt), Proctor (uncle), Martha Carrier (cousin), Parker (cousin), Roger Toothaker (died in prison, cousin), Ann Alcock Foster (died in prison, 9th great grandmother), Abigail Dane Faulkner (sentenced to hang, but given a reprieve due to pregnancy, 9th great grandmother), and Proctor's wife (also spared the noose due to pregnancy, aunt). I am also closely related to men who spoke out against the insanity, in addition to Rev. Dane: Rev. Samuel Willard (uncle), Rev. John Hale (initially in favor of the trials until they came after his young wife, uncle) and Robert Calef (wrote a pamphlet against the trials, which no one in America would publish, uncle). The number of ancestors who testified against the "witches" or signed petitions in their support are too many to count. Other connections: the sheriff and the man in whose tavern the trials were held were both uncles. I have spent decades studying this phenomenon. Amazingly, the trial records (down to receipts for $ paid to the sheriff for arresting the "witches") are housed in the University of VA. Fascinating reading.

[@reginabyram]

Well hello distant cousin. My 8th great grandmother was Martha Carrier

[@SAMZIRRA]

Jeff Daniels is an amazing man, talent, comedian, human being.

[@JohannesVanDerStuyvebode]

Do you know him personally?

[@kenfu9334]

thanks for sharing that awesome story with us mr daniels and mr henry louis gates jr

[@dawsynasay4841]

I’m a direct descendant of Rebecca Towne as she is my 10th great-grandmother on my fathers side. I’m also a direct descendant of Ann Foster through my mothers side. It’s weird to think that several of my ancestors were accused of witchcraft and hanged for crimes they didn’t commit.

[@williamgreen1196]

Why can’t these be longer? These fascinate me

[@AndriaBieberDesigns]

Love Jeff ❤ I’m sure he was shocked about his family history

[@mikelheron20]

I'm impressed at how fluently Jeff Daniels read 17th century cursive script. I wonder how many takes it required.

[@noone8418]

0:24 the Prince of “heir” is a typo in the CC. It’s the Prince of Air. The Devil.

[@heather_jacobs]

My 13th great grandfather, George Jacobs Sr, was executed for it. Aug 19, 1692. And I live 50 miles from Jeff Daniels. A lot of people involved in the trials live in Michigan for some reason. I personally know three other people connected to them!

[@elizabeth_777]

I have a copy of testimony my ancestor gave as well! Fascinating 🤓

[@nancye7520]

Samuel Wardwell was my 7th Great Grandfather. There is a stone in the witch memorial in Salem with his name on it. When I’m there I leave flowers. But I don’t know where he was buried.

[@michellemayo6375]

He was my 10th great grandfather. We are probably relatives

[@randalbundy8108]

Salem Witch trials and the Witch Trials in England were a very dark period of history in both the American Colonies and in England too. My family is descended from several victims in both England and the Colonies. However since none of us alive today had any say in what went on back then, no one alive today can be held responsible for the actions of those who came before us. We can only say a prayer for the victims as well as the persecutors. Learning from the past is important so that it never happens again.

[@melrose795]

True and well said

[@Ludydobry]

and people still say it was better to live in the past... so naive

[@JackieTheChocolateLab]

Wow! What a story!! Wild and dark history! Poor people!

[@NandoValenzuela87]

Richie "Valenz" Valenzuela is my cousin. My grandfather is Joe Valenzuela and also related to Fernando Valenzuela. I would love to have these people study our family and find out what other greats are of my blood

[@richklinefelter]

Having been a big fan of Ritchie Valens, I would love to hear about those roots. When I was a kid, people even started writing my name with a "t"!

[@badcornflakes6374]

🌯🌮

[@sandygap46]

Susannah Roote was my seventh great grandmother. Tried and found guilty, she was released for unknown reasons. She was frail and elderly and died soon afterward. She had not attended church regularly, evidently suffered from insomnia (burned candles at night), talked to someone when alone, and flew around her room. We seven seventh generation sisters are proud of our witch DNA.

[@tish1326]

I am related to Capt. William Bassett Sr, Elizabeth Proctor’s father. Distant, but I found it so interesting because we are related from my mom’s side. That side of my family is Canadian. My dads side is American.

[@billfarley9167]

From Canada: No doubt the Canadian side was the saner of the two.

[@lindsay33333]

❤ from Massachusetts!! I found my father thanks to Ancestry ❣️

[@stevenschwartzhoff1703]

Hats off! The only reason we do not have witches flying around everywhere today is the hard work of his ancestors. Now to get that Potter boy!

[@OpalLeigh]

I don’t know this man as a celebrity:) but his reaction here makes me think he has a good heart 😢 he’s genuinely upset that he is tied to such a terrible injustice.

[@chrislute1211]

I love Jeff Daniels. Level headed.

[@primordialdreamsong]

My family--the Hutchinsons--was there too. My reaction was similar to yours.

[@YakubibnEsau]

Are you a descendant of Rebecca Nurse too?

[@d.virgallito3490]

WOW! This has to be one of the first time I have heard of someone we all know being related to the witch trials!

[@EndeavoursRadio]

check out Scott Foley's episode of Who Do You Think Are

[@tracyvarner9244]

Yeah definitely check out Scott Foley’s episode. He’s related to Samuel Wardwell…

[@bradpaul8576]

Sarah Jessica Parker was also related to a Salem witch.

[@ginaedwards9351]

We r not guilty of the sins of our ancestors..we kneel before God and thank Himvfor his grace..thankyou Jesus

[@seanwelch71]

My ancestor's sister was the oldest person executed for witchcraft in Salem.

[@DocPortland]

This was very fascinating.

[@gaynebrotherslogistics2516]

I have family members alive today that I refuse to involve myself with and it would be ridiculous to act like I'm responsible for them. I'm sure I can find alot more if I look

[@TiffTALKS22]

When I first started my present day journey, my ancestors kept saying in different ways "you have the freedom to do what we couldn't do, what we were persecuted for". To think about the prevalence and acceptance of tarot reading and predicting using natural indicators such as animal behavior etc... it's sad. It definitely gives me a different perspective about these "Witch" trials. What a sad time in our history. Grateful though for evolution/revolution.🙏🏽

[@darlameeks]

This is fascinating. I'm from Kentucky, but I lived 3 years in Beverly Farms, MA, only a few minutes by car from Salem. This is my observation about Jeff Daniels. God has gifted him with a keen sense of justice for the lowly, the needy and the poor. I have heard him cry out on their behalf. Jesus said of persons like Jeff, "whosoever does this for the least of these my brethren, does it also for Me".

[@deborahhoch985]

I can't say enough good things about him.

[@biegebythesea6775]

the 'lowly'??? what?

[@billfarley9167]

Jesus. History's first woke hippie. MAGA would not be impressed.

[@wplants9793]

How do you find out who was in the trials? I know I had ancestors in Essex county at that time.

[@kindking8009]

The Putnams, accusers in the Salem Witch Trials, were my 9x great-grandparents. It is horrifying to find out your ancestors took part in such heinous crimes.

[@francesely9694]

They are my great grandparents too. Hello cousin 😂

[@elycebishop1914]

I just found out that the Porters are in my lineage. Absolutely wild.

[@Victoricat]

Also ancestors of mine. Hi cousins 😂🎉

[@llunaeldas8055]

This is fascinating. I wouldn't feel bad. Learn from it and move on. Don't feel bad about something you didn't take part of.