In Arthur Miller's classic play The Crucible, he chronicles the events that transpired during the Salem witch trials in the spring of 1692. Historically, more than two hundred people were accused of witchcraft, and nineteen men and women were executed by hanging. It is also important to remember that although the play is based on a historical event, The Crucible is far from historically accurate, and Miller took many liberties in order to dramatize the story. Throughout the play, innocent citizens are falsely accused of witchcraft by the malevolent, manipulative Abigail Williams and her followers. The majority of the falsely accused citizens are executed during the play and after it ends.

In act 4, Deputy Governor Danforth mentions that twelve citizens have already been executed before John Proctor and Rebecca Nurse are led to the gallows. However, Danforth does not specifically state the names of those twelve citizens. By act 4, the audience is aware that Goody Osborne, Bridget Bishop, and Mary Easty have already been hanged for witchcraft. During Elizabeth's conversation with John in prison, the audience also learns that Giles Corey was mercilessly pressed to death by heavy stones.

In act 4, Sarah Good and Tituba are still alive and imprisoned in Salem's jail. Both Sarah Good and Tituba confessed to colluding with the devil, and it is implied that their false confessions saved their lives. George Jacobs's future is uncertain after he was falsely accused of witchcraft, and Miller does not depict or allude to his death in the play. At the end of the play, John Proctor confesses to witchcraft and is led to the gallows. Rebecca Nurse and Martha Corey also refuse to confess and await the same fate. Elizabeth Proctor survives the ordeal and refuses to convince John to offer a false confession.

At the end of the play, before John Proctor's execution, there is mention of twelve who have already been hung for witchcraft and seven others in prison sentenced to hang. Not all those who died are specifically mentioned in the play. The ones mentioned played an important role in the events leading up to the play's dramatic climax.

Sarah Osborne, a beggar, was arrested, found guilty of witchcraft and hanged, probably because she was a simple-minded woman who was seen as a nuisance. George Jacobs was accused by Thomas Putnam's daughter, Ruth, because Putnam had been involved in a protracted land dispute with him. With George out of the way, Putnam could lay an undisputed claim to his property. Rebecca Nurse was also accused and arrested but she staunchly refused to confess to witchcraft. Putnam's wife accused her of witchery since she lost most of her babies in childbirth whilst Rebecca gave birth and raised healthy children. The motive here was envy. 

Martha Corey is arrested and charged because her husband innocently expressed concern about her obsession with reading. Her husband, Giles, is also arrested when he later pleads his wife's and Rebecca Nurse's innocence and accuses Putnam of manipulating the court, but refuses to name witnesses to...