The Judges of the Salem Witch Trials Kevin Chen, Brandon Kuang, Donovan Le, Emily Lee AP Language & Composition, Period 4 30 November 2007

The Judges of the Salem Witch Trials Kevin Chen, Brandon Kuang, Donovan Le, Emily Lee AP Language & Composition, Period 4 30 November 2007

Judge John Hathorne Born in 1641 Born in 1641 Prominent family Prominent family Son of William Hathorne - most powerful magistrate in Salem Son of William Hathorne - most powerful magistrate in Salem Accountant during King Philip's War Accountant during King Philip's War Noted merchant and politician Noted merchant and politician Married 14-year-old Quaker at age 33 Married 14-year-old Quaker at age 33 Dominating personality - belief in infallibility Dominating personality - belief in infallibility

Judge John Hathorne Appointed justice of the peace & county judge Appointed justice of the peace & county judge Highly religious Highly religious Took accusations seriously Took accusations seriously Believed the devil used witches to undermine church Believed the devil used witches to undermine church Chief magistrate in Salem Chief magistrate in Salem Appointed to Court of Oyer and Terminer in 1692 Appointed to Court of Oyer and Terminer in 1692

Judge John Hathorne Issued warrants with Judge Corwin: Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne, Tituba, Martha Corey Issued warrants with Judge Corwin: Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne, Tituba, Martha Corey Biased, accusative approach Biased, accusative approach Tried to trick people into confessing Tried to trick people into confessing Did not fear those accused; strangely calm Did not fear those accused; strangely calm Possible financial gains from seizures of properties Possible financial gains from seizures of properties Never repented falsely condemning innocent Never repented falsely condemning innocent Died at 76 Died at 76 Great great grandson Nathaniel changed name to Hawthorne Great great grandson Nathaniel changed name to Hawthorne

Magistrate Samuel Sewall Born March 28th, 1652, in Hampshire, England. Born March 28th, 1652, in Hampshire, England. Emigrated to Boston, Massachusetts in 1661 Emigrated to Boston, Massachusetts in 1661 Attended Harvard Attended Harvard Also entered local politics (gained position in the judicary) Also entered local politics (gained position in the judicary) Only judge to publicly apologize (regret his role in the Salem trials) Only judge to publicly apologize (regret his role in the Salem trials) Very liberal Very liberal

Magistrate Samuel Sewall The Selling of Joseph The Selling of Joseph Kept a personal diary from 1673 to 1729 Kept a personal diary from 1673 to 1729 Appointed Chief Justice of Massachusetts in 1717 Appointed Chief Justice of Massachusetts in 1717 Married three times in his life: Hannah Hull ( ); Abigail Tilley (1719); Mary Gibbs ( ) Married three times in his life: Hannah Hull ( ); Abigail Tilley (1719); Mary Gibbs ( ) Died January 1st, 1730, at the age of 77, in Boston Died January 1st, 1730, at the age of 77, in Boston

Colonel Nathaniel Saltonstall Born in Ipswich, Massachusetts circa 1639 Born in Ipswich, Massachusetts circa 1639 First in his family to graduate from Harvard University (in 1659) First in his family to graduate from Harvard University (in 1659) On December 29th, 1663, married Elizabeth Ward On December 29th, 1663, married Elizabeth Ward Two children; Elizabeth and Gurdon Saltonstall Two children; Elizabeth and Gurdon Saltonstall in addition to being in the town judiciary service, also member of local military in addition to being in the town judiciary service, also member of local military earned rank of colonel earned rank of colonel

Colonel Nathaniel Saltonstall Considered one of the more principled men of his time Considered one of the more principled men of his time Appointed as judge because of involvement in the courts and good reputation Appointed as judge because of involvement in the courts and good reputation Resigned from the Court of Oyer and Terminer Resigned from the Court of Oyer and Terminer "displeased with the handling of the Bishop case“ "displeased with the handling of the Bishop case“ "very much dissatisfied with the proceedings“ "very much dissatisfied with the proceedings“ Died May 21st, 1707, in Haverhill, Massachusetts at age 68 Died May 21st, 1707, in Haverhill, Massachusetts at age 68

Judge Jonathan Corwin Born 1640 Born 1640 wealthy New England merchant wealthy New England merchant Married Elizabeth Gibbs at 32, ten children Married Elizabeth Gibbs at 32, ten children Originally dealt with petty crimes (drunkenness, burglary) Originally dealt with petty crimes (drunkenness, burglary) 1692: Appointed to Court Court of Oyer and Terminer 1692: Appointed to Court Court of Oyer and Terminer First to examine accused First to examine accused Replaced Nathaniel Saltonstall Replaced Nathaniel Saltonstall

Judge Jonathan Corwin Issued most warrants (/w hathorne) Issued most warrants (/w hathorne) Left no written records (no clear opinion) Left no written records (no clear opinion) Refrained from arresting mother-in-law Refrained from arresting mother-in-law Corwin House - Only structure left Corwin House - Only structure left Home turned into museum for public Home turned into museum for public Died at 78 Died at 78

Thomas Danforth Born 1622 Born 1622 married Mary Withington at 22 married Mary Withington at 22 had 12 children, 2 daughters survived to adulthood had 12 children, 2 daughters survived to adulthood owned 15,000 acres owned 15,000 acres later become the town of Framingham later become the town of Framingham Treasurer of Harvard at 28 Treasurer of Harvard at 28 Deputy governor Massachusetts at 57 Deputy governor Massachusetts at 57

Thomas Danforth President of Maine at 58, 67 President of Maine at 58, 67 not a judge, occasionally present not a judge, occasionally present present at Elizabeth hearing present at Elizabeth hearing Strongly against witches, condemned them Strongly against witches, condemned them in Superior Court of Judicature (after Oyer dissolved) in Superior Court of Judicature (after Oyer dissolved) Died at 77 Died at 77

William Stoughton Born in 1631 Born in 1631 Military commander, politician, and businessman Military commander, politician, and businessman Attended Harvard – Divinity Attended Harvard – Divinity Served as preacher Served as preacher Chief Justice of Oyer and Terminer Chief Justice of Oyer and Terminer Defended spectral evidence Defended spectral evidence

William Stoughton Vehemently wanted convictions Vehemently wanted convictions Violated many standard court rules Violated many standard court rules Suffered little political damage Suffered little political damage 1694 – Became Governor 1694 – Became Governor Refused to apologize Refused to apologize Died – July 7, 1701 Died – July 7, 1701

Governor William Phips Born – February 2, 1651 Born – February 2, 1651 Ship carpentry apprentice Ship carpentry apprentice Late learner Late learner Trade captain – New England & West Indies Trade captain – New England & West Indies Found Spanish gold – knighted Found Spanish gold – knighted First Governor of Massachusetts (Cotton Mather) First Governor of Massachusetts (Cotton Mather)

Governor William Phips Set up Oyer and Terminer Set up Oyer and Terminer Kept in regular contact and command Kept in regular contact and command Lady Mary Phips (wife) Lady Mary Phips (wife) October 1692 – changed court standards October 1692 – changed court standards Dissolved Oyer and Terminer Dissolved Oyer and Terminer Died – February 1693 Died – February 1693

THE QUIZ What did Judge Hathorne see as his main objective in his interrogations? What did Judge Hathorne see as his main objective in his interrogations? Which judge was the only judge to publicly apologize? Which judge was the only judge to publicly apologize? Which judge had no formal law experience whatsoever? Which judge had no formal law experience whatsoever? Which person had his wife pulled into the witch hunt? Which person had his wife pulled into the witch hunt? Who was the accused witched that Stoughton would not let be acquitted? Who was the accused witched that Stoughton would not let be acquitted? To convince people to confess Samuel Sewall William Stoughton Governor William Phips Rebecca Nurse

Works Cited Arrington, Benjamin. Municipal History of Essex County in Massachusetts. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., Blumberg, Jess. " A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials." Smithsonian.com. 24 Oct Smithsonian Institution. 26 Nov Champion, Claire. "Writing Salem: From Puritan Village to Witches Mecca." Writing Place. 7 June University of Sydney. 26 November Dignan, Brendan. "Governor, Sir William Phips." Salem Witch Trials: Documentary Archive and Transcription Project University of Virginia. 29 November Gribben, Mark. "The Magistrates." Crime Library. CourtTV. 26 Nov Hill, Frances. Such Men are Dangerous: The Fanatics of 1962 and Massachusetts: Upper Access, Inc. Book Publishers, "John Hathorne." The Salem Witchcraft Trials of University of Missouri-Kansas City. 26 November Kirk, Devan. "John Hathorne." Salem Witch Trials: Documentary Archive and Transcription Project University of Virginia. 26 November Mayer, Kelly. "Governor, Sir William Phips" Salem Witch Trials Important Persons. The University of Virginia. 29 Nov Moody, Robert. The Saltonstall Papers, Vol. I: Mulford, Carla. "Samuel Sewall ( )." Georgetown University. 27 November 2007 <

Works Cited, Cont. Roach, Marilynne K. The Salem Witch Trials "Samuel Sewall." The Salem Witchcraft Trials of University of Missouri-Kansas City. 26 November "The Selling of Joseph." Africans in America. PBS. 26 November "Sir William Phips ( )." Governors of Massachusetts. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 29 November “Sir William Phips." The Salem Witchcraft Trials of University of Missouri-Kansas City. 29 November Sutter, Tim. "Salem Witch Trials Timeline." Salem Witch Trials. Siteclopedia Network. 26 Nov Waters, Henry. The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. XXIII. Boston: The Society, "William Stoughton ( )." Governors of Massachusetts. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 29 November "William Stoughton." The Salem Witchcraft Trials of University of Missouri-Kansas City. 29 November Zeveloff, Julie. "William Stoughton: Chief Justice of the Court of Oyer and Terminer." Salem Witch Trials Important Persons. The University of Virginia. 29 Nov 2007.