Samuel Sewall: from Salem Witch Trial Judge to Anti-slavery Advocate

The story of Samuel Sewall is a story of redemption, and a fascinating look into the mind of a New England Puritan. Born in 1652, he spent most of his life as a prominent citizen of the Puritan colony of Massachusetts Bay. He is best known for his voluminous diary and for being one of the judges in the infamous Salem witch trials. Alone among all the judges, he later publicly apologized for his role in that tragedy. This apology unleashed a torrent of creativity, and he published the first anti-slavery tract in the English colonies. He was a complex man, ahead of his time and yet comfortable in it. He is worthy of being remembered for much more than his role in the Salem tragedy.

This program is free and open to the public, though donations are always appreciated!

You may also like the following events from Exeter Historical Society:

• This Tuesday, 2nd September, 07:00 pm, The Art of the Scandal: Thefts, Vandals and Forgeries in Exeter
• Next month, 7th October, 07:00 pm, Reviving Exeter’s Black Revolutionary War Veterans and their Families in Exeter
• Next month, 27th October, 06:00 pm, Spooky History Trivia 2025 in Exeter

Also check out other Nonprofit events in Exeter.