The Devil Made Her Do It
- Leslie DiOrio
- Feb 11
- 6 min read
Updated: Feb 16
On 3 June 1689, Christian (Woodbury) Trask, “being violently asalted by the temtations of satan, cut her owne throte with a paire of sisers to the astonishment and grief of all, especially her most nere relations.”
Historical Context
Christian’s tragic death occurred during a period of heightened fear of witchcraft in New England and under circumstances that have led some historians to consider the possibility of postpartum psychosis. At the time of her death, she had recently given birth to her fifth child, William, on 1 January 1689, making him just a few months old. This timing suggests she may have been experiencing severe postpartum mental health challenges, which were not understood in the 17th century.
Postpartum psychosis is a rare but severe mental health condition that can occur after childbirth, characterized by symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and severe mood swings. In 1689, historical understanding of postpartum mental illnesses was minimal, and such conditions were often misinterpreted or overlooked. For instance, Hippocrates described postpartum psychiatric illness as early as the fourth century B.C., and French physician Louis V. Marce discussed it in his 1858 treatise on madness after childbirth. However, during Christian's time, these insights were not available, and her symptoms might have been attributed to spiritual or moral causes rather than medical ones.[2]
Christian’s youngest child, William, was five months old at the time of her death and having experienced postpartum depression myself (Taphophile One), it is improbable that she did not have postpartum depression or psychosis. As events were described, she heard voices at the same time each night and experienced a sense of foreboding. At six months postpartum with my first child, sans voices, I likewise experienced the nightly foreboding feeling, however the likeness of our experiences ends there. I can’t imagine what it would have been like if the local preacher tried to treat me instead of my then-Certified Nurse Midwife. An awareness of postpartum depression is not always enough to convince a mother going through it that she is in need of assistance, especially if it's her first child and the experience is new. I’m thankful for the mental health resources we have today.
It's important to approach these historical events with an understanding of the limited medical knowledge of the time. Today, we recognize the profound impact of postpartum mental health disorders and the importance of providing support to affected individuals.
Prior to her death, Christian expressed a strong aversion to her neighbor, Sarah Bishop, suspecting that Bishop had bewitched her. Sarah Bishop and her husband Edward lived near Christian and husband John Trask and were known for their raucous parties which were outstanding for their time and location. Historical records indicate that Christian had several disputes with them. Reverend John Hale, in his accounts, mentioned that Christian attempted to reprove Sarah Bishop for certain behaviors but "received no satisfaction from her about it." Hale further noted that Edward Bishop accused his wife, Sarah, of being "familiar with the Devil" and entertaining people at unseasonable hours, leading to discord in other families. These tensions may have contributed to the stress Christian was experiencing during that period.[3]
In the period leading up to her death in 1689, Christian Woodbury Trask exhibited behaviors and made statements that provide insight into her mental state. Reverend John Hale, who frequently prayed with and counseled her, noted that she experienced episodes of "distraction," a term used at the time to describe mental disturbance. During these episodes, Christian avoided any interaction with Sarah.[4] In moments of lucidity, Christian sought reconciliation with her neighbors. Shortly before her death, she earnestly requested that Edward Bishop, Sarah's husband, be sent for so she could make amends. She confessed to having burned his shuffleboard pieces and expressed deep remorse for this act, desiring his forgiveness. This incident reflects her inner turmoil and the societal tensions of the time. [5]
Reverend Hale observed that Christian's condition fluctuated over approximately a month, with periods of apparent recovery followed by relapses into severe distress. During her clearer moments, she earnestly requested prayers and even wrote a note herself asking for them, which her husband delivered to Hale. Tragically, her mental anguish culminated in her taking her own life, inflicting fatal wounds with a pair of scissors. Hale remarked on the severity of these wounds and found it difficult to comprehend how she could have inflicted them upon herself without some "extraordinary work of the devil or witchcraft."[6]
These accounts illustrate the profound mental and spiritual struggles Christian faced in her final days, as well as the limited understanding of mental health in the 17th century.
Popular Culture
I recently watched a few episodes of the show ‘Salem’ which aired from 2014-2017. The historical figures, some of whom are directly related to our family, lured me in, and where I was expecting an elder John Alden Jr. cousin and 9th great grandmother Susannah North Martin, I was unexpectedly met with Christian. The line, “the devil made her do it,” immediately caught me off guard. That line in that time and place stood out and I thought: No. They wouldn’t. Depicting her death as part of a fictitious drama would be crass (especially given the terrible cemetery recreations including 19th century monoliths).
It’s not every day that you watch something like that play out on a screen. I don’t usually have such a visceral reaction to quasi-fiction, but having one of the characters then say that, "Mrs. Trask deserved it," really riled me up. (It's fiction...I know.)
Familial Relationships
Christian Trask is our ninth great grandmother. Her story is upsetting even if she is not family, but knowing that something so tragic befell a direct ancestor makes it that much more impactful.
Christian Woodbury was born on 20 April 1661 in Salem, Massachusetts to Humphrey Woodbury and Elizabeth _____ (likely Hunter). She married John Trask on 9 April 1679 in Beverly, Massachusetts. Together, they had five children:
Christian, born 20 January 1680; died 2 December 1687.
John, born 27 October 1683.
Edward, born 14 November 1685.
Elizabeth, born 25 August 1687.
William, born 1 January 1689.
The Trask branch reaches our family tree via Salem and Nova Scotia. It includes:
John Trask and Christian Woodbury
Edward Trask and Mercy Eliot
Mercy Trask and William Haskell
Mercy Haskell and Levi Horton
Chloe Horton and James Murphy
John Murphy and Margaret Sollows
Frederick Murphy and Annie Moir
Stanley Murphy and Lillian Prindall
Lawrence Murphy Sr. and Hazel Moore
Lawrence Murphy Jr. and Bertha Bowen
Patricia Murphy and Francis Comperchio
us
Christian was laid to rest at the The Abbot Street Burial Ground which was dissected by a road at some point in the 1800s leaving two distinct sides. Approximately 70 bodies lay under the road but their accompanying stones were moved. We’ll likely never know the exact location of Christian’s burial site, but there are many Woodburys and Trasks so we know that she is with family. Also notable at this location is Reverend John Hale who assisted Christian and brought the witch trials to an end.
Thanks for trying, John.
Salem Witch Trials Impact
Later, in 1692, Bridget Bishop of Salem Town was accused of bewitching Christian, allegedly causing her suicide. Bishop was subsequently executed, becoming the first official execution of the Salem witch trials despite no direct connection between Bridget and Christian.
Sarah Bishop and Bridget Bishop were both associated with the Salem witch trials of 1692 and were married to men named Edward Bishop, but they were not closely related. This coincidence has led to historical confusion between the two women.
Bridget Bishop was married to Edward Bishop, a sawyer. She resided in Salem Town and was the first person executed during the Salem witch trials. Bridget was known for her unconventional behavior and attire, which made her a target during the witchcraft hysteria.
Sarah Bishop, née Wildes, was married to Edward Bishop Jr., a different individual. They lived in Salem Village (now Danvers) and operated a tavern that was often the subject of local gossip due to late-night gatherings and games like shovel-board. Sarah and her husband were also accused of witchcraft but managed to escape from jail in October 1692.
The confusion between the two women arises from their marriages to men named Edward Bishop and their involvement in the witch trials. Historian David L. Greene clarified this mix-up in a 1981 article, distinguishing between Bridget Bishop of Salem Town and Sarah Bishop of Salem Village.
Why Bridget Bishop?
Bridget was an easy target for the Salem courts. She was known for being outspoken, independent, and engaging in activities (such as running a tavern and wearing bright clothing) that Puritan society found suspicious.
The Salem trials operated on the belief that witches could harm people long after their actions through curses or supernatural means. Even though Bridget had no apparent interaction with Christian, the belief was that she could have bewitched her from a distance or used demonic forces.
Since Christian’s symptoms (hallucinations, paranoia, and self-harm) were not understood in medical terms, they were interpreted as signs of demonic possession or bewitchment.
Bridget’s Trial and Execution
Witnesses in Bridget Bishop’s trial referenced Christian’s death, stating that she had been afflicted by Bridget’s specter (a supernatural form witches were believed to take).
The court accepted these testimonies, adding them to the case against Bridget.
On June 10, 1692, Bridget Bishop became the first person executed in the Salem witch trials.
[1] Photo Credit: University of Virginia, Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive.
[3] thoughtco.com
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