The Book Club at LCGS ~ Special Interest Group
Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom.
Our October selection is One of Windsor by Beth M. Caruso. What better month than October to explore the story of the first person on record to be executed for witchcraft in the American Colonies? Even more compelling, one of our very own members is a descendant of Alice (Alse) Young, whose life inspired the novel.
Do you have witchcraft in your family tree? Puritan ancestors? Or perhaps persecutors of accused witches? Witch trials were not limited to New England—they took place across Europe as well. We invite you to share your stories and insights about your ancestors during our discussion.
Plot Summary:
Alice, a young woman with intuitive gifts, leaves England in 1635 for the Massachusetts Bay Colony in hopes of reuniting with her family. Settling in Windsor, Connecticut, she finds herself navigating the challenges of the American wilderness, her own healing abilities, and the growing fears of Puritan leaders. These forces collide in a tragic outcome: on May 26, 1647, Alice becomes the first person executed for witchcraft in the Colonies.
Her story—woven with deep family ties—later influences Governor John Winthrop Jr. to bring an end to witchcraft executions in Connecticut. Yet those same ties also echo decades later, fueling Cotton Mather’s commentary on the infamous Salem witch trials of 1692. Through a mix of historical research and literary imagination, Caruso offers a passionate narrative that brings this tragic chapter of history vividly to life. Available at Amazon
We look forward to seeing you on October 22 for what promises to be a thought-provoking discussion.