Cotton Mather
Samuel Sewall
and the Salem Witch Trials
Cotton Mather
• prominent Bostonian minister, author, and son
of Harvard President Increase Mather
• believed in direct influence of devil on physical
world through spiritual realm well before trial
• consulted by 3 of the 5 witch trial judges
• friends with all major authorities involved
• held self-contradicting positions on use of
spectral evidence and prosecution of Salem
witches but still heavily swayed trial
proceedings and executions
Cotton Mather
• also appointed reluctant first historian of
trials, through commissioning of his
book, The Wonders of the Invisible World
• book justified trials to higher authorities
in Massachusetts Bay Colony
• Mather was spit on in streets for the
book to day he died, Feb. 13, 1728
Samuel Sewall
• obtained 2 degrees from Harvard before
marrying into wealthy family
• as prominent member of merchant class,
selected by Gov. Phips to sit as a judge for
trials on Court of Oyer and Terminer
• 5 years after trials ended, issued public
confession of personal remorse, taking
"Blame and Shame" for part in condemning
innocent people
• only judge to do so.
"Dawn of Tolerance in Massachusetts. Public Repentance of
Judge Samuel Sewall for his Action in the witchcraft trials.“
(painting still hangs in Massachusetts State House, Boston)
Salem Village 1692