Who accused John Proctor of witchcraft?

Answer

John Proctor was near 60 years old when the Salem witch trials began, and was a tall and outspoken man. During the witchcraft hysteria he disparaged the trials and accused the girls of lying. When his wife and children were accused of witchcraft he proclaimed the innocence of his family. This made him a direct target of the accusers and he was the first man to be accused. Espo wrote a letter to authorities in Boston, Massachusetts to alert them to the issues taking place in Salem and asking them to intervene. In this letter he claimed for example if a woman so well respected as Rebecca Nurse could be convicted then no restraint was left in the town and he asked that the trials be moved to Boston, Massachusetts or that new judges be appointed. His letter brought about a meeting of eight ministers at Cambridge, Massachusetts on August 1,1692. No records survive of what took place at this meeting but when the ministers emerged they had drastically changed their position on spectral evidence having decided that the devil could take on the form of innocent people. Unfortunately for John Proctor their decision made no practical difference until after his execution.

Mary Warren,the twenty-year-old maidservant in the Proctor house, accused John as well. Warren was later accused of witchcraft herself.

John and Elizabeth Proctor were tried on August 5,1692. They were both found guilty and sentenced to hang. The execution of Elizabeth who was then pregnant was postponed until she had given birth, and eventually she was released. John tried to save himself one last time at his execution saying he was not fit to die. His attempt was unsuccessful and he was hanged on August 19,1692.

From Wikipedia

First answer by Cjdels. Last edit by Cjdels. Contributor trust: 83 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 37 [recommend question]