Bridget Bishop was born in 1632. Her daughter, Christian, was born on May 8, 1667, soon after she married for her third and final time, to Edward Bishop, who was employed as a "sawyer" (lumber worker).

Although Bishop had been viciously accused by more individuals of witchcraft than any other witchcraft defendant, it was most likely her flamboyant life style and exotic manner of dress that caused her execution. Despite being a member of Mr. Hale's Church in Beverly (she remained a member in good standing until her death), Bridget kept the town gossips busy by publicly fighting with her various husbands, entertaining guests in home until late in the night, drinking and playing the forbidden game of shovel board, and being the mistress of two thriving taverns in town. Her blatant disregard for the respected standards of Puritan society made her a prime target for accusations of witchcraft.

In addition to her somewhat outrageous lifestyle, the fact that Bishop "was in the habit of dressing more artistically than women of the village" also contributed in large part to her conviction and execution. She was described as wearing, "a black cap, and a black hat, and a red paragon bodice bordered and looped with different colors." Aside from encouraging rumors and social disdain, this "showy costume" was used as evidence against her at her trial for witchcraft. In his deposition, Samuel Shattuck v. Bridget Bishop, the town dyer mentions, as corroborative proof of Bishop being a witch, that she used to bring to his dye house "sundry pieces of lace" of shapes and dimensions entirely outside his conceptions of what would be needed in the wardrobe of a plain and honest woman.

Bridget Bishop was hanged on Gallows Hill, June 10, 1692.