Salem Witch Trials

I was doing some research on the Salem witch trials and found that the infamous trials only took place between 1692 and 1693. Hester Prynne's story in The Scarlet Letter takes place nearly 50 years beforehand, in the 1640s. I found this rather surprising, since I had pictured the story taking place around the same time as the witch trials, maybe slightly before, but not 50 years prior. I wonder how the story would have changed had it occured during the witch trials...any thoughts?