Michael Rapuano Ms. DelGrego English 3 CP 11/7/11

A Brief, Brief History  I was born on December 10,  I was a judge in Salem, Massachusetts. The area that was involved in the Salem Witch Trials.  Before I became a judge I was a wealthy New England Merchant.  I died on June 9, 1718.

My Family life  I married Elizabeth Gibbs, widow of Robert Gibbs, in  We had ten children, One of which was my son George Corwin.  After his studies at Harvard, he became minister of the first church of Salem.

My Career  I served as a representative for Salem in the Massachusetts legislature.  I was also appointed to the Superior Court of Massachusetts.  As a magistrate, I dealt with petty crimes and minor charges such as drunkenness and burglary.  I was also called to investigate the wide spread accusations of witchcraft in Salem and was then appointed a judge on the courts of Oyer and Terminer.

My Career Continued  It happened when another judge, Nathaniel Saltonstall had resigned in protest over the first hanging.  I signed several arrest warrants and transcribed a few hearings  The lack of records makes it impossible to determine my overall importance in the trial.  The courts I served on convicted 19 people of witchcraft and sent them to the gallows.

People I Examined/ Interrogated  Along with John Hawthorne, on March 1, 1692, we examined Tituba, Sarah Gooden, and Sarah Osborne.  We examined them for “Witch Test,” and then Tituba confessed to practicing witchcraft.  She confirms that Sarah Gooden and Osborne also practiced witchcraft.

Others I Examined/ Interrogated  Hathorne and I also examined Martha Roy on March 21,  Next Rebecca Nurse on March 24,  Then we interrogated Dorcas on March 26,  April 11, 1692 Hathorne and I then examined Sarah Cloyce and Elizabeth Proctor.  April 22, 1692 Mary Easty who is the sister of Rebecca Nurse we examined.

More Examination  May 2, 1692 Sarah Morey, Lyndia Dustin, Susannah Martin and Dorcas Hoar.  May 9, 1692 Burroughs and Sarah Churchill.  May 10, 1692 George Jacobs, Sr. and his granddaughter Margaret Jacobs.  May 31, 1692 Martha Carrier, John Alden, Wilmott Redd, Elizabeth Howe and Phillip English.

My House  Also known as, “The Witch house,” my home was where many of the examinations of witches took place.  It is the only remaining structure with direct ties to the witch trials.  Now it’s a museum that focuses on seventh century furnishings, architecture, and lifestyle.

Work Citied Page Absolute Astronomy. “Jonathan Corwin: Facts.” absoluteastronomy.com Absolute Astronomy. 1 Nov Salem Web. “ The Jonathan Corwin House,” salemweb.com Salem Web. 3 Nov Salem Trials. “ Chronology of Events Relating to the Salem Witchcraft Trials.” law2.umkc.edu Salem Trials. 1 Nov