JUSTICE IN SALEM A DECADE BEFORE THE WITCHCRAFT - AND THE INVOLVEMENT OF A BLACK MAN IN THE 17TH CENTURY

COLONIAL Autograph Document Signed by BARTHOLOMEW GEDNEY, one of the Salem witchcraft trial judges, as "Assistant, " 24mo, no place, June 6 (1683).

An abstract of court testimony predating the witchcraft trials, evidently a confession of a theft and subsequent cover-up, both involving a black man. "John Guppy on Examination Confessed that he went with Black dick to Thomas Maule & there tooke up about 9 or ten yds. of stuf with triming as buttons & facing but did not so the neagro pay any mony but sinc he heard how things are he delivered the same goods unto the negor... "

The names indicate Salem - Gedney himself lived in Salem and was the only original witchcraft judge from there, Thomas Maule or Mauld was a shopkeeper and leading citizen in that town, and a John Guppy was born there in 1648.

Normal wear only. Justice in Salem a decade before the witchcraft, with early mention and involvement of a black man.