Decline - The General Pardon

Question 1

What did Phips encourage Cotton Mather to write?

Answer 1

• Wonders of the Invisible World
• Account of the trials
• 1692

Question 2

Year - General Pardon

Answer 2

1693

Question 3

What did General Pardon do?

Answer 3

• Excused 8 whom Stoughton had condemned to die

Question 4

What was established in Salem in January 1693?

Answer 4

• New Superior Court of Judicature
• Led by William Stoughton
• Ordered to discount spectral evidence
• The First 5 tried had been in holding since the start of the trials - all were acquitted
• Only 3 found guilty - Phips pardoned these

Question 5

How do we know Governor Phips was overly critical of Stoughton’s role?

Answer 5

• Letter to King William
• February 1693
• Blamed him for the extent of hunts
• Defended himself claiming he only set up the court under pressure from leading religious figures in Boston

Question 6

How did London eventually stop trials?

Answer 6

• 1695 - Repeal law enabling swift prosecution for witchcraft

Question 7

How was repentance paid?

Answer 7

• Judges eg. Samuel Sewall officially apologised
• 1711 - compensation was given to families of victims.