INCREASE
MATHER
(1639-1723) = father
1660’s Pastor of North Church in Boston
1685-1701
President of Harvard
1684 Essay for the Recording of
Illustrious Providences
- confirms reality of demons,
witches, spirits etc.
1693 Cases of Conscience Concerning Evil Spirits
Impersonating Men (written after Salem trials)
- against the use of spectral
evidence
COTTON
MATHER
(1662-1728) = son
1689 Memorable Providences concerning
W/C & Possession
- on the possession of
the Goodwin children in Boston
& the
execution of Mary Glover as a witch
1692 Correspondence with Salem judges
about trials
1693 Wonders of the Invisible World
account of Salem trials, ratifies verdicts,
but questions use of spectral evidence
SAMUEL
SEWALL presiding judge in Salem
1696 retracts his verdicts
denounces
Cotton Mather’s role in trials
1700 More Wonders of the Invisible World
against the Mathers; published in London
book burned in
Boston by Increase Mather