History Talk – The Push of Power: Reexamining the Pennsylvania Witchcraft Trial of Margaret Matson

Carla Welsh, local historian and author of The Push of Power: Reexamining the Pennsylvania Witchcraft Trial of Margaret Matson, will share the story behind her new book. She will talk about how she came across Margaret Matson’s 1684 trial, what led her into years of research, and the discoveries she made along the way. The talk will bring Margaret and her neighbors to life, showing how ordinary people became caught in systems of law, land, and power. Along the way, Carla will also touch on the Swedish-Finnish folk traditions that shaped how women like Margaret were perceived. Attendees will see how this one trial reveals a society carefully designed to limit independence and why uncovering the truth of these stories still matters today.

This program is made possible through a partnership between the Haverford Township Historical Society and the Library.

No registration is required.

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