Sewall, Samuel (1652-1730)
English-born American statesman of early New England, known for his liberal views and for his Diary, written between 1674 and 1729, which gives a lively and vivid picture of life and personalities in the Boston of his day and has been compared to the similar and more famous work of Samuel Pepys.
Among his other writings are The Revolution in New England Justified ( 1691), which seeks to justify the deposition of the dictatorial English governor Andros; The Selling of Joseph ( 1700), an attack on slavery; and A Memorial Relating to the Kennebec Indians ( 1721), a humanitarian appeal with regard to the settlers' treatment of the Indians.
Sewall held a number of political offices in the colony of Massachusetts, serving as a deputy to the general court, a member of the Council, and eventually Chief Justice of the superior court. He was one of the judges at the Salem Witchcraft trials, but later repented publicly in church while his confession was read to the congregation. He is considered an excellent representative of the rising merchant class of New England of his time.
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