Description:

Document signed by Stephen Sewall, Clerk of Court at the Salem Witch Trials, and brother of one of the Judges, Samuel Sewall - the first "afflicted" girl, nine year old Betty Parris, whose accusations led to the first three accusations of witches, stayed at Stephens' home during the Trials

Manuscript Document Signed "Stephen Sewall Just. Peace," 3 page, 7.25" x 11.75", front and verso, conjoined pages. Essex County, December 12, 1720. Also signed by "Jos. Moody Regr" twice - in 1724 and 1726, "Timo: Lindall Just. Pacis" from Salem in 1726, and eight others. On laid paper. Very good condition.

In part, "I, Samuel Clark of York in ye County of York in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England House Carpenter for and in Consideration of the Sum of two hundred pounds money to me in hand paid before the Ensealing & Delivery of these presents by Nathaniel potter Yeoman & Amos Dorman Cordwainer both of Ipswich in ye County of Essex & Province aforesd Hath bargained and Sold É a Certain peice or Tract of Land."

Sewall has penned: "Essex. December 12 - 1720. Then Mr Samuel Clark personally appearing acknowledge ye foregoing Instrument to be his voluntary act & Deed. Coram Stephen Sewall Just Peace."

Stephen Sewall (1657-1725) was the Clerk of Court at the Salem Witch Trials. His brother was Salem Witch Trials Judge Samuel Sewall (1652-1730). Stephen had opened up his Salem home to nine-year-old Betty Parris, daughter of Salem's Rev. Samuel Parris. Betty (Elizabeth), together with her cousin Abigail Williams, cautiously experimented with fortune telling. The predictions made by Betty led to the first three accusations of witches. At Sewall's home, Betty eventually recovered.

Joseph Moody (1700-1753), Registrar, signs two Autograph Endorsements Signed on November 4, 1724 and March 16, 1726, recording the deed and its assignation. Moody was York's registrar of deeds, county clerk, and judge. He later became minister of the Second Church of York. Moody was the veiled Puritan minister in Nathaniel Hawthorne's fictional short story The Minister's Black Veil. He preached with a handkerchief over his face and kept a diary in coded Latin.

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