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SAMUEL SEWALL Signed Document, 1709

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Autographs

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Witch Trial Magistrate Presides Over a Case for An Executrix

SAMUEL SEWALL, British-American Colonial Merchant and Jurist Presided over Salem Witch Trials.
October 30, 1709, Autograph Document Signed, "Samuel Sewall," Boston, MA, one page 12" x 6.5", Fine. Accounting and half-page decision signed by Samuel Sewall concerning Mrs. Sarah Barrister, Executrix of the Estate of Mr. Thomas Barrister. The first half of document is in the hand of Sarah Barrister and itemizes seamstresses/clothier's supplies, being linen, cloth, thread, silk, handkerchief, button, "blue salloon", (sic), etc. It is headed: "Samuel Wilson of Newtowne To Tho: Barrister." The bottom half is fully in the pen of the Witch Trial Judge, dated November 2, 1709. Judge Sewall notes that "Mrs. Sarah Barrister, Executrix" now of the deceased Thomas Barrister presented to him this account and he compared it with her Journal and ledger. Aaron Stuckey, the Bookkeeper at the time of the delivery, signs the docket on the back.
Sewall ruled in her favor. He writes 12 full lines on legal size paper, plus the line with his autograph--only occasionally do examples of Sewall's autograph turn up in the manuscript market, but it is rare to find much written fully in his pen. This being a case involving a woman and not that long after he recanted his guilty verdicts at Salem (the only judge to do so in the infamous trails), and begged for forgiveness. In Choice condition.

SAMUEL SEWALL (1652-1730), British-American colonial merchant and jurist. In 1692 he was appointed to preside at the Salem witch trials, in which 19 people were executed. Later admitting the error of the court's decision, he stood silently in the Old South Church in Boston in 1697 while his confession of error and guilt was read aloud.

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