Decline - Individuals - Increase Mather & Governor Phips Flashcards
1
Q
Who was Increase Mather?
A
- Well-respected Puritan minister
- President of Harvard University
- Father of Cotton Mather
2
Q
What did Increase Mather publish?
A
- Cases of conscience concerning evil spirits persecuting men
- September 1692
- Didn’t reject witchcraft
- Used scripture and recent history to argue that genuine cases of witchcraft were rare
- And much of the evidence was dubious
3
Q
As well as his publication what did Increase Mather do?
A
- Sermons
- Critical of use of spectral evidence
4
Q
Why was Governor Phils specifically motivated in the decline?
A
- Wife was implicated in September 1692
5
Q
How was the relationship between the Mathers and Phips started?
A
- Phips baptised in Cotton Mather’s church
- Taken religion more seriously
- In London, he worked with Increase to renew the Massachusetts Bay Colony Charter
- Mather used his influence to appoint Phips as governor
6
Q
Who did Phips appoint as chief judge?
Why was this a mistake?
A
- William Stoughton
- He was unrelenting in his pursuit and demanded spectral evidence
7
Q
What can be used as an example of Phips’ softening position?
A
- His original acquittance of Rebecca Nurse
8
Q
When did Governor Phips close the Court of Oyer and Terminer?
A
26 October 1692
- Released those still under investigation
- These still had to pay for their time in prison
- Margaret Jacobs waited in prison until another citizen paid fees
- Tituba and her husband’s lives spared by she remained a slave.
