(One of the things I found most fascinating about Paranorman was the witch trial backstory of Blithe Hollow, particularly in the characters of the Puritan accusers and Aggie. Being a huge Salem Witch Trials history buff, I wondered what the actual trial itself would have been like, and the testimony presented.)

Off the side of a secluded road, at the edge of the village of Blithe Hollow, Massachusetts, rests a rather overgrown and ominous glen. Yet, despite its neglected and mournful surroundings, it holds one of great importance and history. At the entrance, rests a vine tangled plaque with the inscription, "Here lie buried the seven victims of the witch's curse, 1712." In a forbidding circle, a ring of seven weatherworn tombstones cluster around the clearing, wherein lie the resting places of the seven Puritan citizens:

Here lies ye body of Hon. Judge Hopkins who died Aug 22 1712, aged 70.

Here lies ye body of Will London, Esq. who departed this life August 22 1712, aged 42 & 9 months. Honoured citizen and neighbour.

Here lies inter'd ye body of Goodie Temper, Goodwife of Mr. Phillip Temper, aged about 61 years. Deceased the 22nd of August, 1712.

Here lies ye body of ye Reverend Eben Hardwick, a pious minister and pastor of ye gathered church in the town of Blithe Hollow who died on Aug 22 1712, in ye 40th year of his age.

Thaddeus Blackton. Aged about 49 years. Died Aug 22 1712. Farewell beloved husband, choice father, for peaceful rest.

In Memorium of Lemuel Spalding, who died Aug 22 1712 in the 45th year of his life.

Here lies ye body of Amelia Wilcott, the Beloved wife of Mr. Samuel Wilcott, who died Aug 22 1712, aged 32.

Upon first glance at this ominous outing, one must ponder a number of questions: who are these souls laid to rest in such a secluded ceremonious circle? Why did they all depart on the same day? And just what exactly is this "witch's curse?"

To fully comprehend the events and happenings, one must go back to that fateful month of August 1712, in which the incident occurred. The town of Blithe Hollow was a sleepy little village, with a population of perhaps no more than 600 souls. With its far off removed location, the small farming community was isolated from the rest of civilization, nestled deep in the back woods of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Many in the town saw it as the last great bastion for the Puritan way of life - for as it was waning throughout the new American colonies, the religion still thrived greatly in this secluded village.

The Puritans of this town were a rigid and strict group of people, who held their religion in high regard. Their entire way of life revolved around almost nothing but the teachings of the Bible and sabbath meeting, as well as tending to their work in the village. There was little time for idle fun or play, as almost any kind of pleasurable activity that distracted one from their work was seen as "sinful" and "tempting Satan." Despite this dour outlook on life however, these people were not without understanding love and compassion - yet it instilled a great sense of pridefulness and fear amongst the community. They saw themselves as "God's chosen people," and believed it to be their duty to eradicate any form of the Devil that threatened their pious way of life. Any form relating to the supernatural, such as the telling of fortunes, practicing witchcraft, or speaking with the dead was seen as a formidable sin, and those who did so were punished accordingly.

Which brings us to the focus of this tale - a young Puritan child by the name of Agatha Prenderghast, who possessed an extraordinary gift. The Prenderghast family lived on a quiet farm near the fringes of the village, and long had a reputation for being eccentric even before Agatha's birth. The girl's father, Nathaniel Prenderghast, was a funloving and playful soul, who boasted unabashedly that he could communicate with the dead. Many neighbors would partake in Predenerghast's invitation for parties, where the farmer would read fortunes or host seances for fun - despite the fact that these practices were seen as forbidden and sinful under Puritan law.

Unfortunately, Prenderghast passed away in 1707 from the fever, when Agatha was only six years old, leaving her and her mother Mildred living on the expansive farm at the time of the trial. As the years passed, Agatha grew up and rumor soon spread that the girl claimed the same supernatural talents as her father. It had long been reputed amongst neighboring townsfolk that this young girl could actually communicate with the dead, and possessed powers that were even beyond her own comprehension - a very deadly accusation in those times. As word spread over the coming months of paranormal incidents relating to Agatha's powers, popular opinion now suggested she actually had sold herself to Satan and was a practicing witch.

This fervor exploded like a power keg in the month of August 1712. The town's notary, Will London, claimed he had witnessed before his very eyes, physical evidence of Agatha's otherworldly abilities. With such a grievous charge, a warrant was drawn up for the arrest of the child by London and the dour magistrate of the town Jonathan Hopkins. On the eve of August 15th, Judge Hopkins, and one of Agatha's primary accusers, the village constable Lemuel Spalding, arrived at the Prenderghast homestead to arrest her for trial. Heartbroken, the girl's mother pleaded for mercy on her child, yet Hopkins assured her that Agatha would receive a fair trial by his jurisdiction.

Immediately, it seemed the village was pulled in twain by such news - there were many who firmly believed the girl was guilty of witchcraft, having long heard stories of unusual happenstances surrounding the girl. Another large portion of the village however, was in disbelief - there had been men and women arrested and executed for the crime of witchcraft before in the colony of Massachusetts, but an 11 year old child? Such a notion was horrifyingly bewildering to them.

It was on this date of August 22, 1712, that Agatha Prenderghast was brought to trial - where she would be judged upon the testimony of her six primary accusers, and the rigid Judge Jonathan Hopkins presiding...