Mather saw witches as tools of the devil in satans battle to overturn this poor plantation, the puritan colony, and prosecution of witches as a. Stacy schiff writes about cotton mather and the diabolical doings in a puritan. At the age of twentytwo he was appointed teacher at the old north church, boston, where his father was. Later scholars have suggested that this book in fact outlined the symptoms of clinical hysteria. Increase mathers book, and especially his sons, mr. Some images display only as thumbnails outside the library of congress because of rights considerations, but you have access to larger size images on site. Cotton mather was a puritan clergyman in massachusetts known for his scientific studies and literary works, as wells as for the peripheral role he played in the witchcraft trials at salem. First edition of samuel mathers life of the very reverend and learned cotton mather, 1729 mather, cotton mather, samuel.
What was cotton mathers role in the salem witch trials. Count fenring baron harkonnen cotton mather the reverend mother mohiam 11. Alternatively, you can purchase copies of various types through library of. Cotton mather and the salem witch trials the salem witch trials of 1692 took place in the puritan community of salem, massachusetts. Sermons, essays, and other works, 16801724 this series contains the historical and religious works of cotton mather, written between 1680 and 1724, including sermons on biblical figures and studies of apocalypticism, millennialism. Mather and his fellow new englanders believed that god directly intervened in the establishment of the colonies and that the new world was formerly the devils territory. Fits and contortions cotton mather in his book memorable providences, relating to witchcraft and possessions 1689 and which may have been known by the girls in salem village. Cotton mather, american congregational minister and author, supporter of the old order of the ruling clergy, who became the most celebrated of all new england puritans. From june through september of 1692, nineteen men and women, all having been convicted of witchcraft, were carted to gallows hill, a barren slope near salem village, for hanging. In this fascinating account of witches and devils in colonial america, the renowned and influential minister of bostons old north church attempts to justify his role in the salem witch trials. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study.
Salem witchcraft and cotton mather, free pdf, ebook. The life of the very reverend and learned cotton mather, d. In this fascinating account of witches and devils in colonial america. The wonders of the invisible world audiobook youtube. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading on witchcraft dover occult.
He is often remembered for his connection to the salem witch trials. A reply by charles wentworth upham available from rakuten kobo. Essay on cotton mather and the salem witch trials of 1692. Cotton mather on witchcraft occult mather, cotton on. Outraged by the salem witchcraft episode of 1692 and by what he perceived as the blind zealotry of the participating clergychief among them the influential mather father and son, increase and cottonrobert calef was the most outspoken, persistent and vocal critic of the prolonged affair anb. Salem witch trials in history and literature an undergraduate course, university of virginia spring semester 2001. Cotton mather 1663 1728 here are first hand accounts, published in 1692, of the infamous salem witch trials. A lasgun a sandworm a flask of water someone who urinates 10. If there was a book in the house, it was the bible. In every single case cotton mather was completely successful in assisting those in his care to return to a normal healthy life both in body and mind. Cotton mather project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks.
Cotton mather, a prolific author and wellknown preacher, wrote this account in 1693, a year after the trials ended. He combined a mystical strain he believed in the existence of witchcraft with a modern scientific interest he supported. The partisans of the mathers displayed their hostility to this book by publicly burning it. Cotton mathers resolved is a puritan fathers lesson plan. Cotton was a significant person in the origin of the salem witch trials, and condemned many of the allegedly accused witches. Biography of cotton mather, clergyman and scientist. This edition was created and published by global grey globalgrey 2019. After graduating from harvard college cotton was ordained in 1684. Cotton mathers account of the salem witch trials, 1693. Cotton mather was the brilliant son of the famous increase mather. A true believer in the devils battle to get converts in salem and other massachusetts towns during the late seventeenth century, mather also believed the fantastic accusations of those who accused. Any study of wonders of the invisible world must take into consideration the major event that occasioned cotton mathers book the salem witchcraft trials.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Cotton mather s most popular book is on witchcraft. Cotton mather was an extremely powerful male priest. Mather openly gave solid reasons why superstition and witchcraft were spreading in the new england communities.
Richard mather, cotton mather seemed destined to achieve fame. On witchcraft by cotton mather goodreads share book. Cotton mather was the son of influential minister increase mather. Providing a historical record of trials were the major pretext of mathers book. A true believer in the devils battle to get converts in salem and other massachusetts towns during the. On witchcraft dover occult kindle edition by mather, cotton. He was a highly influential figure in early america. Driven by secret obsessions and desire, cotton mather is the welleducated local aristocrat who fans the flames of salems witch hunt. If an image is displaying, you can download it yourself. Cotton mather, a clergyman in salem, emerged throughout the course of the trials as a pillar of support and, ultimately, as a witchhunter. Cotton mather is one of the main male characters of salem. Cotton mather, minister of the north church in boston wrote his wonders of the invisible world to help stave off doubt over witchcraft trials following the salem hysteria. Books by cotton mather author of on witchcraft goodreads.
Cotton mathers discussion of suicide is distinctive in its quasimedical character. Cotton mather biography life, family, children, parents. Another man of over eighty years was pressed to death under heavy stones for refusing to submit to a trial on witchcraft charges. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read on witchcraft. In this fascinating account of witches and devils in colonial america, the renowned and influential minister of bostons old north church attempts to justify. The wonders of the invisible world was a book written by cotton mather and published in 1693. Cotton mather, minister of the old north church in boston, found the study of witchcraft made to order for his neurotic and oversexed spirituality. On the other hand, this is a book of witchcraftnot exactly a chemistry textbook. Why did abc cover up the epstein story for three years. Works by or about cotton mather in libraries worldcat catalog salem witchcraft and cotton mather by charles wentworth upham at project gutenberg. On the one hand, its an example of ichabods cleverness and knowledge, and he cites it whenever possible indeed, its difficult to tell whether ichabod reads anything else at all. The salem witch scare had complex social roots beyond the communitys religious convictions. Glanvils sadducismus triumphans, or full and plain. Mather published in 1689 a bestselling book on the subject, memorable providences, relating to.
In february, unable to account for their behaviour medically, the local doctor, william griggs, put the blame on the supernatural. Sir matthew hale london, 1682, which cotton mather summarized in his wonders of the invisible world, and t. Shipped from uk, please allow 10 to 21 business days for arrival. Cotton mather has 193 books on goodreads with 3717 ratings. Salem witchcraft and cotton mather project gutenberg. Cotton mather mather, cotton, 16631728 the online books page. A quick search of the name mather in uphams book referring to either father, son, or ancestors shows that it occurs 96 times. Comprising more wonders of the invisible world, collected by robert calef. Being, the wonders of the invisible world, first published at boston in octr. He also claimed that witches appear spectrally as themselves.
The time has come for us christian to face the truth of the word of god, first through the reading and meditation of his word, the bible, then through the reading of revealing historical material like that of cotton mather. Cotton mathers account of the witch trials, 1693 introduction. Cotton mathers student and preacher, intituled, manuductio ad ministerium, or, directions for a candidate of the ministry. Cotton mather books list of books by author cotton mather. Cotton mather, a prolific author and wellknown preacher, wrote this account in 1693, a year. Cotton mathers book occupies a similarly ambivalent position. Cotton mathers history of new england witchcraft symbol. The foremost expert on witches and malice, cotton mather is a puritan reverend, son of the infamous witch hunter increase mather.
Cotton mather american religious leader britannica. Cotton mather mather, cotton, 16631728 online books about this author are available, as is a wikipedia article mather, cotton, 16631728. During the time period of the salem witch trials men were seen as the ones with authority, and being a priest made cotton the communities backbone. An history of remarkable occurrences, in the long war, which newengland hath had with the indian savages, from the year 1688 to the year 1698 boston. Early life and education born in boston, massachusetts, on march 19, 1663, cotton mather was the eldest son of increase and maria mather and the grandson of richard mather, the first minister of dorchester, massachusetts, and of john cotton, probably the most learned of firstgeneration american theologians a specialist in the study of faith and religion. There was a certain disbeliever in witchcraft who wrote against this book. Its rise, progress, and termination, as exhibited by dr. Poole announced his intention to redeem mather s name, using as a springboard a harsh critique of uphams book, via his own book cotton mather and salem witchcraft. Even more interesting, i took a little walking tour of salem and actually met adriana mather cotton mather s great great great not sure how many greats granddaughter, who happened to know the tour guide. Cotton mather has 193 books on goodreads with 3680 ratings. Cotton mather in the wonders of the invisible world, and by mr. Besides his involvement with the witch trials in salem during the cotton mather is remembered as one of the most influential puritan ministers of his day. In his book, mather argued that since there are witches and devils, there are immortal souls.
507 1260 450 858 1210 133 717 1497 807 1391 1393 614 1028 817 994 113 265 201 916 1051 517 917 150 193 282 1002 975 449 217 48 293