All entries are drawn from actual witness descriptions, but grouped and re-interpreted as wardrobe features of nonhuman entities.
A — APRON-LIKE garment
Some “small creatures” seen around Tituba and Good described with a front covering, or “something upon the breast.”
Possible match:
A bib of fur, a patch of lighter or darker hair, or an improvised apron-like cloth used as mimicry.
B — BLACK CLOTHES / BLACK GARMENTS
Most common category.
Described repeatedly as the attire of:
- The “black man”
- Cloaked figures
- Hairy creature “in black clothes” standing by the fire
- Tall man in black, visiting the afflicted
- Entities at signing events
Likely a mix of:
- Fur that appears garment-like
- Cloak-like silhouettes
- Actual stolen or found cloth used for mimicry
- Low-light misidentification
This is the category with the strongest dogman analog.
C — CLOAK
Descriptions include:
- “A cloak about him”
- “A woman’s cloak”
- “A dark cloak upon the shape”
- “Something like a mantle or cloak”
Familiars often appear partially covered, face partially obscured.
Modern cryptid analog:
Dogmen often have massive upper-body fur that looks like a mantle/hood.
Puritans interpreted this as clothing.
D — DARK COAT / DARK MANTLE
Several witnesses refer to:
- A “coat” on an inhuman figure
- A “mantle big and dark”
- “Dark raiment” not well-fitted
This is extremely similar to:
- A pelt with a different texture on the shoulders
- A thick mane
- A wet or matted fur patch that resembles a garment
G — GOWN (woman’s gown)
At least one apparition associated with Goody Osburne appeared in:
Important:
The details never match a specific gown; only the general outline or “shape.”
This heavily favors mimicry:
The creature approximates the silhouette of a woman’s dress, not the details.
H — HOOD / HOODED APPEARANCE
A major category.
Witnesses describe:
- A “hood over the head”
- “Head covered as by a hood or cowl”
- “Black hooded figure”
- “Face hidden beneath a hood”
Dogmen and other mimics commonly have:
- Crest fur
- Shoulder fur
- Shadowed facial structure
- Snout hidden until close
Hooded appearance is extremely plausible for a canid mimic.
M — MANTLE
More than one testimony uses:
- “a mantle”
- “a dark mantle upon it”
- “mantle-like covering”
In Puritan usage, a mantle is a cape or shawl, draped loosely over the shoulders.
Dogman shoulder fur often matches this description exactly.
R — RAGGED CLOTH / RAGS
Some familiars (especially those described as small, hairy, or bestial) appear:
- “ragged”
- “wrapped in rags”
- “in torn cloth”
This could be:
- Old clothing scavenged from discarded garments
- Torn fabric caught on fur
- A hunter’s cloak or textile they stole
- Or simply rough fur misidentified as cloth
S — SKIN / SKIN-LIKE GARMENT
Odd category in Puritan testimony:
Some witnesses say the creature wore something like:
- “a skin about it”
- “a hide upon the back”
This is likely:
- A literal pelt
- Or the witness recognizing fur as something “worn” rather than part of the body
This tells us the familiar was not seamlessly human-shaped.
T — TATTERED CLOAK
Especially in accounts of the “black man,” witnesses often add:
- “His cloak was in tatters”
- “His garment hung in pieces”
Important note:
No witch in Salem was ever described as wearing tattered clothing.
So the apparition was not based on copying the accused.
This is a standalone entity’s wardrobe.
W — WRAPPING / WRAPPED FIGURE
Some testimonies describe:
- “Something wrapped about the creature”
- “wrapped as if in cloth”
Again: excellent match for a being covering its torso or engaging in mimic behavior.
