Background
Sewall, Samuel was born on March 28, 1652 in Bishopstoke, England. Son of Henry and Jane (Dummer) Sewall.
Sewall, Samuel was born on March 28, 1652 in Bishopstoke, England. Son of Henry and Jane (Dummer) Sewall.
Bachelor of Arts, Harvard, 1671.
14 children. Moved to New England, 1661. Elected fellow Harvard, 1673. In charge of Massachusetts printing press, 1681-1684.
Member Massachusetts General Court from Westfield, Hampden County, 1683. Member Massachusetts Government's Council, ex-officio judge Massachusetts Superior Court 1684-1686, named councilor in new charter of 1691, 1691-1725. Appointed a special commissioner to try cases of witchcraft at Salem, 1692, made public confession of error while acting in that capacity, 1697.
Appointed justice Massachusetts Superior Court, 1692. Commissioner Society for Propagation of Gospel in New England, 1699, secretary and treasurer, circa 1700. Probate judge for Suffolk County, (Massachusetts) 1715-1718.
Chief justice Superior Court of Massachusetts, 1718-1728. Author: A Memorial Relating to the Kennebeck Indians, 1721. (with Edward Rawson) The Revolution in New England Justified, 1691.
Kept a diary published in 3 volumes by Massachusetts History Society, 1880.
Member Massachusetts General Court from Westfield, Hampden County, 1683. Member Massachusetts Government's Council, ex-officio judge Massachusetts Superior Court 1684-1686, named councilor in new charter of 1691, 1691-1725.
Married Hannah Hull, February 28, 1676. Married second, Abigail Melyen, October 29, 1719.