August 2012 Auction Ends Thursday, August 30th, 5pm Pacific

Salem Witch Trials Judge Thomas Danforth Document Signed From 1656 -- Scarce

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/30/2012

Document from the colony of Massachusetts signed ''Thomas Danforth'', one of the Judges of the infamous Salem Witch Trials. Decades after this document was drafted, Danforth would sit as a judge in the 1692 witch trials, though he actually opposed putting the purported witches on trial. Datelined Charlestown, 19 June 1656, the document is written by an unknown hand and reads in part: ''At a Coun[ty] Court hild at Charlestown, June 19th 1656: Whereas at the last Coun[ty] Court hild at Cambr[idge]: The Court granted unto Capt. Frances Norton a release from paying any further interest for the money he have in his hands of...Childwin...given by Capt. Norton to...Childwin for the payment not only of the principle, but also of the interest untill such time as this court shall give him...[signed] Thomas Danforth''. Danforth was a prominent colonial figure and founded the town of Framingham, Massachusetts. 1pp. measures 7.74'' x 4.25''. Light toning, creasing and an irregular right edge, else in near fine condition, especially given age.