Jonathon Corwin

 I was born on November 14, 1640  I was born in Salem Massachusetts  I am the son George and Elizabeth (Herbert) Corwin  I married Elizabeth Gibbs who was the widow of Robert Gibbs in 1675

 My father was a wealthy merchant and a ship builder in Salem  I continued the mercantile trade carrying the family name  In addition to the mercantile trade I also am involved in political affairs  I was elected twice for the colonial assembly in 1682 and 1689  I am a Magistrate (Officer of state or judge) of the local courts dealing with cases petty crimes and minor charges

 Between 1678 and 1690 my wife and I had ten children: five sons and five daughters.  Six of my children died in infancy and two more died as children.  Two of my children lived to be married and have kids of there own: - Elizabeth merchant named James Lindall in 1702, they had two daughters - George went to Harvard and became a minister, he then married the daughter of Deliverance Parkman and had three sons.

 I was local magistrate (Judge) for Salem, which is how I became involved in the 1692 witch trials  I also served for a few years as a probate judge for Essex County.  I joined the Governor's Council in the 1690s

 I was not one of the first 6 orginal judges appointed in the Court of Oyer and Terminer (A court authorized to hear and determine all actions on cases dealing with treasons, felonies and misdemeanors; and, generally, invested with other power in relation to the punishment of offenders) in Salem County in 1692  Colonel Nathaniel Saltonstall a judged appointed to the courts resigned after 12 days of being a judge  I was appointed as his replacement

 1708 I joined the Superior Court of Judicature(This court was appointed to try the accused still in jail in and near Salem after the Court of Oyer and Terminer was disbanded. ) the highest court in the colony  Out of the 31 trials that we held only 3 were accused were found guilty.

 The Penal Code of the day, gave me the right as a magistrates to deliver punishments. I am sure I delivered some harsh punishments, for example, convicted burglars were branded with a "B" on their hands or forehead, depending on their number of convictions.  Convicted witches that confess were given no respect and were abandoned by their families and community  Convicted witches that did not confess were sentenced to be hung.

 Judge John Hathorne and I examined the first three women accused of witchcraft (Tituba, Sarah Osborne and Sarah Good) on March 1 of  During the examination Tituba confessed and named others as practitioners of witchcraft

 I bought the house in 1675 when it was just a wooden structure, and I hired a carpenter to finish it  The house was being built for Nathaniel Davenport who changed his mind mid- way through construction  I moved into the house in 1679 with my wife

 My home The Witch House is the only structure still standing in Salem with direct ties to the Witchcraft Trials of  In this house I and my fellow judges prosecuted the accused witches resulting in there deaths

 "Jonathon Corwin." Mysite. N.p., 11 Mar Web. 15 Oct  Lewis, Jone Johnson. "Superior Court of Judicature - Salem Witch Trials Glossary."Women's History - Comprehensive Research and Information Guide. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct  "The Witch house." The Cabinet. The cabinet, 14 Sept Web. 15 Oct