WITCH TRIAL MAGISTRATE SAMUEL SEWALL

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.   Autograph Document Signed. Boston, October 30, 1709. 1 page. Folio.  Accounting  and half-page decision signed by Samuel Sewall concerning Mrs. Sarah Barrister executrixes of the Estate of Mr. Thomas Barrister.  First half of document is in the hand of Sarah Banister and itemizes seamstresses/clothier's supplies, being linen, cloth, thread, silk, handkerchief, button, blue salloon, (sic) , etc.  It is headed: "Samuel Wilson of Newtown To Thomas 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 Stucky, the Bookkeeper at the time of the delivery and ever since made oath it was true." He ruled in her favor. 12 full lines on legal size paper by Sewall, plus the line with his autograph "Samuel Sewall." 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 hand. It should also be noted that this case involving a woman took place not long after he recanted his guilty verdicts (the only judge to do so in the infamous trails), and publicly begged for forgiveness. In Choice condition.