49 



Peck of Boston, Mrs. J. D. Treadwell. To tJie Cabinets — 

 from Wm. G. Webb, Mrs. J. D. Tread\\ell, George F. Read, 

 John Ball, D. S. Emmerton, J. S. Shatswell D. M. Baleh, 

 S. R. Curwen, First Church of Beverly by R. Rai.toul. 



Samuel P. Fowler, of Danvers, occupied the hour in read- 

 ing an elaborately and minutely prepared account of the Life, 

 Character, &c. of the Rev. Samuel Pareis, of Salem Vil- 

 lage, and of his connection Avith the Witchcraft Delusion of 

 1692. 



Mr. Parris, Avhose history is so intimately connected "with 

 the Salem Witchcraft delusion of 1692, was a son of Thomas 

 Parris of London, and Avas born in 1653. He "was a member 

 of Harvard College, but did not graduate at that Institution. 

 He was at first a merchant in Boston, but not succeeding in 

 business he left it, and offered himself as a candidate for the 

 ministry.* 



The people at Salem Village, being without a pastor, on the 

 15th of November, 1688, sent a committee, consisting of three 

 persons, viz : Captain John Putnam, Mr. Joshua Rea, sen., 

 and Francis Nurse, " to treat with Mr. i'arris about taking 

 ministerial office." Nothing was done however at this meeting 

 towards effecting a settlement, and on the 25th of November. 

 after the services in the afternoon, the audience was stayed, 

 and by a general vote, requested Mr. Parris to take office. On 

 the lOth of December, 1688, the brethren of the church, sent 

 Lieut. Nath'l Putnam, Sergeant Fuller, Mr. Joshua Rea, sen., 

 and Sergeant Ingersoll, who came, they said, " as messengers to 

 know whether Mr. Parris would accept of office." He replied, 

 " ye work was Aveighty, they should know in due time." After 

 this, several came on like errands, but as yet, no proposals of 

 maintenance were tendered. 



On the 29th of April, 1689, Deacons Nath'l Ingersoll and 

 Edward Putnam, Daniel Rea, Thomas Fuller jr., and John 



* " Any Person, "who knew Mr. Samuel Parris. formerly of Barba- 

 does, after-wards of Boston, in New-England, Merchant, and after that, 

 Minister of Salem Village, &c., deceas'd, to be a son of Thomas Parris, 

 of the Island afore said, Esqr, — who deceased 1673, or sole Heir by Will 

 to his Estate in said Island, — are desired to give or send notice thereof 

 to the Printer of this Paper ; and it shall be for their advantage " 



IBoston News-Letter, No. 1433, July I5ih, 1731. 



ESSEX INST. PROCEED. VOL. ii. 7. 



