During the Salem witch trials, attendance passes were implemented as a means to control and monitor the population. These passes were given to individuals who were deemed innocent of witchcraft and allowed them to freely move within the community without fear of being accused or arrested. The main idea behind these passes was to differentiate between those who were suspected of witchcraft and those who were not, creating a sense of order and control within the community. The passes were seen as a form of protection, ensuring that innocent individuals would not be wrongly accused or punished. However, this system also had its flaws, as it relied on the judgement of the court and could be easily manipulated or abused. Overall, attendance passes played a significant role in the Salem witch trials, highlighting the need for individuals to prove their innocence and providing a semblance of order in a chaotic and fearful time.
From 1680 to 1684, Richards served on the Court of Assistants, which was the colony’s highest court.
After the Dominion of New England was overthrown in 1689 and Simon Bradstreet was reinstated as governor, Winthrop was appointed commander in chief of the Massachusetts Bay Colony s militia. Baker, who showed evidence of Salem s Reverend Samuel Parris arguing with his parish over the wood supply, added that the higher the misery quotient, the more likely you are to be seeing witches.
Overall, attendance passes played a significant role in the Salem witch trials, highlighting the need for individuals to prove their innocence and providing a semblance of order in a chaotic and fearful time..
Salem Witch Trials Judges
The Salem Witch Trials judges were several men who served as judges during the Salem Witch Trials in 1692.
On May 27, 1692, Sir William Phips appointed nine of the colony’s magistrates to serve as judges on the newly created Court of Oyer and Terminer. The court was created specifically to handle the growing number of cases in the Salem Witch Trials.
According to a letter that Sir William Phips sent to the Earl of Nottingham in October of 1692, he chose these specific men for the job because they “were persons of the best prudence and figure that could then be pitched upon.”
These judges had a lot in common. They were wealthy merchants and high ranking militia officers. All nine had been judges for years and were all members of the Governor’s Council. Six of them were also related by marriage and five of them had attended Harvard, a training ground for young ministers, yet none of them became ministers.
According to Emerson W. Baker in his book, A Storm of Witchcraft, these nine judges were considered the elite of the Massachusetts Bay Colony:
“As a group, the judges represented the proverbial 1 percent – the merchant elite who were wealthy, intermarried, and exercised power in social, political, and military circles. In short, they were the superrich of Massachusetts. Simply calling them ‘merchants’ shortchanges them…Most had considerable political experience, having served as deputies and assistants in the General Court.”
Baker points out that they were also all middle aged, with Sewall the youngest at 40, while Richards, 67, and Stoughton, 60, were the oldest and the rest were between forty-five and fifty-three.
The judges served on the Court of Oyer and Terminer until it was dissolved in October of 1692. Then on November 25, 1692, the General Court passed legislation creating the Superior Court of Judicature and various lower courts.
Five of the nine Court of Oyer and Terminer judges were then appointed to the Superior Court of Judicature to hear the remaining witchcraft cases.
It’s not exactly clear why some of the judges were chosen for the Superior Court at the time while others were not, but some of the judges who were not chosen were later appointed to the court after the trials had ended.
The following is a list of names of the Salem Witch Trials judges:
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Reviews for "The Path of Persecution: Tracing the Journey of Salem Witch Trials Attendance Passes"
1. Jane - ★☆☆☆☆
I was extremely disappointed with the Salem witch trials attendance passes. The whole concept of profiting off a tragic event in history is just wrong to me. I found it offensive and disrespectful to the victims of the trials. Furthermore, the design of the passes was lackluster and not worth the price. Save your money and visit the Salem Witch Trials Memorial instead, where you can pay your respects without feeling like you're taking part in a tasteless tourist attraction.
2. Mark - ★☆☆☆☆
I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the Salem witch trials attendance passes. It feels like a gross exploitation of a horrifying event in history. It's distasteful to turn a tragedy into a profit-making opportunity. The passes themselves were underwhelming and did not offer any educational value. Instead of wasting your money on these passes, I suggest educating yourself about the Salem witch trials through books or documentaries, or even by visiting academic institutions that focus on studying history.
3. Sarah - ★☆☆☆☆
I regret purchasing the Salem witch trials attendance passes. It felt like a money grab instead of a genuine attempt at historical education. The passes were poorly designed and made of cheap materials. I expected a more immersive and informative experience, but all I got was disappointment. I would advise anyone interested in learning about the Salem witch trials to seek out more authentic and respectful ways to engage with the history, such as museums or guided tours by knowledgeable experts.