Did you know there is a connection between the Salem witch trials in Massachusetts and Weymouth?

A memorial placed by the town's Weymouth Pavilion still stands honouring two local sailors who set sail from our harbour towards America more than 400 years ago.

Put up in 1914, the Clark-Endicott memorial honours two men, Richard Clark and John Endicott, who sailed from Weymouth to travel to Massachusetts.

Richard Clark set sail on the Delight in 1583 but his adventurous trip ended with him having to be saved as his boat was shipwrecked.

John Endicott, the first governor in Massachusetts, sailed from Weymouth with three brothers on the Abigail in 1628 and they became the first permanent settlers in the area.

Forty-three years after Endicott's death, witch trials in the Massachusetts Bay Colony began.

Early in 1692, girls from Salem village began to 'behave strangely', making strange noises, screaming and hiding under furniture. Worried locals had them arrested and these dealings led to many more women being arrested.

Killing witches in Salem was an English law demanding anyone practising witchcraft to be sentenced to death.

Nineteen were hanged, crushed between large stones or imprisoned as punishment for guilty 'witches'.

A year later the law was abolished and many accused witches were set free from prison. The victims' families were also compensated.

The tale inspired Arthur Miller's classic play The Crucible.

More recently, the Clark-Endicott memorial was moved from its original home in Alexandra Gardens to the Pavilion. Weymouth Civic Society feared it was being overlooked so with help from Weymouth College it was cleaned up and placed by the Pavilion where it can be seen today.