 The Putnams and the Wilkins shared many similarities and experiences.Both families would band together in an attempt to break away from Salem Town and establish their own church in the village, and both families suffered setbacks from mercantile enterprises.Towards the end of April, after Willard had abandoned his post as a constable and publicly doubted the girls' accusations, Ann Putnam Jr. began to see visions of John Willard's specter.