Salem: The Lost Bones

By R. Curtis Chapin and Augusta Valls

In 1978 Curtis Chapin found the missing remains of the Witches hanged in Salem in 1692. Hidden 300 years. This is the story of his findings, how he carefully disinterred them, classified, and with the contribution of three highly recognized Anthropology Professors identified them. 

A fascinating new look at the sad, shameful, and misunderstood story during the early years of the Colony period. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Apr 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9781665738699

R. Curtis Chapin

Robert Curtis Chapin was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on May 24, 1933. He graduated from Concord High School, served during the Korean War, studied sculpture at the Boston Art School, and obtained a master’s degree in architectural history at Goddard College. In 1986, he moved to Antigua, Guatemala and started a business reproducing traditional American Indian tribal designs, handmade with crystal beads by Mayan Indians and sold in United States. In 1999, he met Augusta, born in Barcelona, Spain in September 1944. She was then working as an insurance executive in Guatemala City. When she retired, they moved to Panajachel, a small town in Lake Atitlan, where they got married. The worsening of Curtis’s health forced them to move to south Florida for medical treatments and hospitalizations. They brought with them all the books, documents, and photographs used to produce this book. On days that Curtis felt stronger, they worked together writing, sorting documents, choosing photographs, and reading and recordings new ideas. After Curtis passed away in December 2020, Augusta decided to finish this book that provides a new approach to United States history.

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Copyright © 2023 R. Curtis Chapin Augusta Valls.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

Archway Publishing

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Cover Courtesy Design by Bruno L. Sicilia

Interior Image Credit: R. Curtis Chapin

ISBN: 978-1-6657-3868-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6657-3867-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6657-3869-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023902867

Archway Publishing rev. date: 4/17/2023

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A special dedication to my children and grandchildren who helped me all the way—they are truly amazing.

Special acknowledgment to Lizita, my granddaughter, the computer wizard.

Augusta

FOREWORD

Contrary to what you expect from the title of this book, this one is not about the Salem Witch Trials, as many if not all books that address this topic explain, in detail, the history of those trials. They try to explain how and why the judges accepted the proofs and testimonies of witchcraft and the Devil’s presence among the terrified villagers.

This book is the story of Curtis, my husband, and how he unearthed, studied, and identified the remains of the martyrs accused, hanged, and buried in Salem. Their bones were hidden for over three hundred years. Several projects