Forget Salem — New Jersey had its own witch scares. In 1668, East Jersey passed its witch laws, setting the stage for paranoia in the colonies. We’ll dive into Abigail Sharp’s trial, the infamous capital laws, and why that verse from Exodus — “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live” — carried so much weight. Along the way, we’ll detour across the Atlantic, where King James VI of Scotland (later James I of England) convinced himself witches conjured storms to sink his honeymoon fleet, even sitting in at the North Berwick trials.
But here’s the twist: this wasn’t really about broomsticks and cauldrons. It was about fear, idolatry, and power — and the danger of putting yourself at the center, no matter who gets hurt. It’s witchcraft, Jersey-style: part scripture, part superstition, and still a warning that echoes today.
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