The Diary of Samuel Sewall

  • first Entry

    Went to Salem to examine the persons accused of witchcraft. It was a great assembly. It was awful to see how the afflicted persons were agitated.
  • Second Entry

    On this day George Burroughs, John Willard, John Proctor, Martha Carrier, and George Jacobs were executed at Salem. A large number of spectators being Mr. Cotton Mather, Mr. Sims, Hale, Noyes, Cheever, and others. They all said they were innocent Mr. Mather said they all died by a righteous sentence. Mr. Burroughs did much for unthinking people.
  • third Entry

    At about noon at Salem, Giles Cory was pressed to death for standing silent. Much pains were used with him two days, one after another by the court and Capt. Gardner of Nantucket who had been of his aquaintance but for nothing.
  • fourth Entry

    I prayed to god that he would pardon my sinful wandering and direct me for the future. That God would bless the Assembly in their debates, and that he would choose and assist our judges, and save New England as to enemies and wtchcrafts and vindicate the late judges, consisting with his justice and holiness.
  • Fifth Entry

    Sam recites to me in Latin, Matthew 12 from the 6th to the of the 12th verse. The 7th verse did awfully bring to mind the Salem tragedy.