Much is made of there being "spotty records" for this time period. While the team may not have uploaded records that old into Ziggy, ample records for late 17th century Massachusetts exist, which allow historians to reconstruct many aspects of the lives of those involved in the witch trials.
The witch accusations in Salem and surrounding towns didn't involve frenzied pitchfork wielding crowds shouting that random people were witches like in a horror film. Instead that were legalistic affairs where people were denounced, interrogated and tried before courts.
At 4.15, Ian whispers across the church to get Ben's attention even though Ben would be the only person to hear the call.
When witches, OR people, were actually burned at the stake IN Europe (NEVER in America), they were NEVER tossed on to a burning heap. They were tied to a stake, then had wood placed around the base (and the accused), which was then set on fire. In this way, those who were setting the fire could take their time and ensure that their victim was securely bound to the post. But to just throw a person on the fire would be difficult as the victim would resist, and in resisting, could injure those doing the tossing (possibly even dragging their accusers onto the fire as well).
Ian tells Ben in the original history Goody was burned at the stake. But accused witches were hanged or pressed (crushed by pilling stones on top of them) to death. NO ONE was burned at the stake during the witch trials in 1692 in Massachusetts.
While it is true that accused witches in colonial Massachusetts were not burned to death but executed by hanging, this is actually brought up by characters in dialogue. Magistrate Bloodborne decides to intentionally do it differently, attempting to apply fire to the sin he perceives.
Middletown is supposed to be between Salem and Boston. But the terrain around the town is mountainous, just like the filming areas of Southern California. Instead, that part of Massachusetts' terrain should be rolling hills, with NO mountains in the background.
"Goody" was short for "goodwife," as Ian explains. It was used for all married women, all "goodwives" in this time period. It would not be the nickname of Bridget Smith. She is Goody Smith, as in "Mrs. Smith." All of the townspeople calling her "goody" as a nickname is extremely inaccurate.
Hats with buckles on them is a modern invention.
The town magistrate claims that Middleton is situated at the crossroads between Boston and Salem. This statement is inaccurate. Middleton, Massachusetts, is actually located northwest of Salem, which itself lies north of Boston. Therefore, Middleton cannot be considered a true crossroads between these two cities.
Ben making it rain would very likely have been taken as confirmation of his being a witch, not a refutation.