He was the son of richard mather, soninlaw of john cotton, and father of cotton mather. Salem witch trials in history and literature an undergraduate course, university of virginia spring semester 2001. One of the most public displays of their strained relationship emerged. His writing, both historical and religious, hearkened back to the puritan. Although cotton insists the book is not written in an evil spirit or with any prejudice. The books thesis, identifying mather as the first american evangelical, will certainly engender scholarly debates, but it seems reasonable to me to find the same spiritual hungers and convictions cultivated by cotton mather in new england in 1715 surfacing with more clarity and power in. The books thesis, identifying mather as the first american evangelical, will certainly engender scholarly debates, but it seems reasonable to me to find the same spiritual hungers and convictions cultivated by cotton mather in new england in 1715 surfacing with more clarity and power in the first great awakening in the 1730s. Hey, did anybody else see the cast of fools around me who never seem to look us in the eye but magically appear to bum a ride and if you care to look. 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, conversion, angels, prophecy, and witchcraft. The national book award winning history of how racist ideas were created, spread, and deeply rooted in american society.
Many felt that mathers father, increase, was in the best position to write such a magisterial work. Cotton mather was an extremely powerful male priest. Title page of cotton mathers the wonders of the invisible world, a book on witchcraft. After graduating from harvard college cotton was ordained in 1684. Although cottons words describe, and to some degree justify the trials and deaths in salem that year, the book is anything but resolved with regards to mathers true feelings about the trials. Cotton mather was a member of one of the most distinguished early massachusetts families. He was the son of richard mather, soninlaw of john cotton. Although viewed now as just another intolerant puritan, cotton mathers literary and scientific accomplishments are truly great. Born in boston in 1663, cotton mather was the son of increase mather and the. Cotton mather published 400 books 8what were the earliest americans known as native already doing in america for many centuries. Most people in the early modern world believed in the existence of witches who gained supernatural power by signing a pact with satan. He received his early education at home and graduated from harvard in 1678.
He was given the official records of the trials for use in preparation of this book, because the judges hoped it would favorably describe their role and their judgments. Ever since i first studied these materials thirtyseven years ago, i have believed that increase and cotton mather worked cooperatively in this crisis, as they did on nearly every other major and. His book often expresses agreement with upham but also announces an intention to show cotton mather in a more positive light. Cotton mathers book occupies a similarly ambivalent position.
In 1688, he had investigated the strange behavior of four children of a boston mason named john goodwin. Cotton mather in the wonders of the invisible world, and by mr. It has been usual to enlarge on these points, and to fortify them with confessions of disappoint ment from mather s diaries and fulminations from his let 1 see diary, i, 147, and b. Cotton writes of the trials of accused witches such as bridget bishop saying there was little occasion to prove witchcraft, it being evident and. It has been usual to enlarge on these points, and to fortify them with confessions of disappoint ment from mathers diaries and fulminations from his let 1 see diary, i, 147, and b.
Mather wrote his book the wonders of the invisible world directly after the salem witchcraft trials. Cotton was a significant person in the origin of the salem witch trials, and condemned many of the allegedly accused witches. Mather possessed boundless energy as a writer, and over the course of his life he published hundreds of works, ranging from pamphlets to hefty books of scholarship. Letter from cotton mather to william stoughton, september 2. Although cotton insists the book is not written in an evil spirit or with any prejudice, he writes of the trials of accused witches such as bridget bishop saying there was little occasion to prove witchcraft, it being evident and notorious to all beholders.
He was the eldest child of increase mather and maria cotton, and was born on february 12, 1663. Cotton mather was the archetypical conservative puritan leader. Jul 19, 2016 mather has taken a circuitous route to writing her first book, from her days studying religion and neurobiology at vassar, to her first job traveling the globe for a company that exported health. Cotton mather books list of books by author cotton mather. Magnalia christi americana, by cotton mather 1702 zsr. The influence of cotton mather essay 33 words bartleby. Cotton mather, born in 1663 is third person of so called the mather dynasty, which begins with richard mather, his grand father. Directly contradicting his fathers stance on the admission of spectral evidence, cotton mather stated that, we are humane creatures, and we are safe while we say, they must. Cotton mather was a puritan clergyman in massachusetts known for his. Born in boston, the son of increase mather and the grandson of john cotton and richard mather, young mather grew up under the watchful eye of the community and became the object of great expectations he entered harvard at age 12, having already mastered latin and greek.
List of books and articles about cotton mather online. He did surpass his fathers talents as a writer, writing over 400 books. He entered harvard at the age of 12, easily passing entrance requirements to read and write latin and to decline the greek nouns and verbs. He combined an interest for the modern science along with a strong belief in mysticism.
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. Biography of cotton mather, clergyman and scientist. Biography of cotton mather, clergyman and scientist thoughtco. Cotton mathers the wonders of the invisible world and. List of books and articles about cotton mather online research.
Perhaps his most significant written work was magnalia christi americana, published in 1702, which chronicled the history of the puritans in new england from 1620 to 1698. His wonders of the invisible world, published in 1693. The history of king philips war by mather, increase, 16391723. He wrote in seven languages and even knew the iroquois indian language. Born in boston, the son of increase mather and the grandson of john cotton and richard mather, young mather grew up under the watchful eye of the community and became the object of great expectations. Born in boston in 1663, cotton mather was the son of increase mather and the grandson of richard mather and john cotton. Letter from cotton mather to william stoughton, september.
But racist thought is not just alive and well in americait is more sophisticated and more insidious than ever. Cotton mather, american congregational minister and author, supporter of the old. He devoted himself unremittingly to study and prayer. Cotton mather puritan, congregational minister and author.
Thus, cotton, being not only increases son but also the grandson of two other essential. Cotton mathers accounts of the trial of witch bridget. Mather and his relationship with women mather had three wives and often wrote about them in his diaries in not so flattering ways, even attributing his third wife, lydia, with a mental illness historians question whether she had. Cotton mathers accounts of the trial of witch bridget bishop. Mather was the author of nearly 400 works a books, pamphlets, published sermons, and scientific tracts. Mather, being an ecclesiastical man, believed in the spiritual side of the world and attempted to prove its existence with stories of sea rescues, strange apparitions and witchcraft. What was cotton mathers role in the salem witch trials. Its rise, progress, and termination, as exhibited by dr. Although he was not directly involved in accusing or judging the people, he wrote a book about. This legacy of famous puritan ministers and community leaders shaped mathers life and was the driving force behind many of his achievements.
Cotton mather was a very interesting fellow to say the least. What book did john smith write describing his experiences for europeans. The children had been complaining of sudden pains and crying out together in chorus. He was the product of two distinguished ministerial families. On the other hand, this is a book of witchcraftnot exactly a chemistry textbook. Mather was a prolific writer who composed more than 450 books and.
He combined a mystical strain he believed in the existence of witchcraft with a modern scientific interest he supported. Cotton mather, an important puritan minister, wrote the first american true crime book and an influential book about the religious history of the new world. It is a mystery, and there is no written story about the native americans existing 5. Among the notable things about this letter is the provenance.
Yet, the book makes it clear why so many of cotton mather s books are still available in modern editions, as the goodreads list clearly shows. Cotton mather on witchcraft occult hardcover october 1, 1991 by cotton mather author. 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. He was also a leader in the fight for inoculation against smallpox, incurring. Cotton mather american literature oxford bibliographies. He was ordained 1685 and became a colleague of his father at north church, boston, serving as pastor in his fathers absences and after his fathers death 1723.
Title page of cotton mather s the wonders of the invisible world, a book on witchcraft. Richard mather, cotton mather seemed destined to achieve fame. Cotton mather and the salem witch trials the salem witch trials of 1692 took place in the puritan community of salem, massachusetts. Finally, mathers contributions to medicine in colonial america are capably discussed in beall and shryock 1979 first published in 1954. One of the key figures today around the trials is cotton mather. Cotton mather biography childhood, life achievements.
Cotton mather american religious leader britannica. They made unlikely bedfellows, yet when franklin was eleven, he. Even though the puritans who lived in northern america were a more developed group of people, they did not believe in the use of theatre, instead they valued writing. Although viewed now as just another intolerant puritan, cotton mather s literary and scientific accomplishments are truly great. He was named after his two grandfathers who were also known for being strong leaders of the puritan dynasty, john cotton and richard matter. Kendi argues, racist ideas have a long and lingering. In 1891, harvard english professor barrett wendall wrote cotton mather, the puritan priest. Increase mather, born june 21, 1639, dorchester, massachusetts bay colony u. There are fourteen worthy ministers that have newly set their hands unto a book now in the press, containing cases of conscience about witchcraft. Descending from two founding giants, john cotton 15851652 and richard mather 15961669, cotton would have quite the legacy to live up to, a challenge he would meet. Cotton mather 16631728 open anthology of earlier american. Cotton mather 16631728, son of increase mather 16391723 and grandson of richard mather 15961669 and john cotton 15841652, was born in boston in 1663. He combined a mystical strain he believed in the existence of witchcraft with a modern scientific interest he supported smallpox.
Some americans insist that were living in a postracial society. Cotton mather s most popular book is on witchcraft. Both of cotton mathers grandfathers, his father, and several uncles were famous ministers in new england. 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, american congregational minister and author, supporter of the old order of the ruling clergy, who became the most celebrated of all new england puritans. Cotton mather project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Cotton mather was a puritan minister, a scholar and an author. Cotton mather remained in the shadow of his father until 1688, when increased travel to england to represent the colony in negotiating a new charter for massachusetts. Cotton mather was a famous preacher, puritan minister, and author who is best known for his justification of the 1692 salem witch trials.
Although, unlike the puritans, the southerners who lived in southern america did not oppose fiction or drama. Cotton mather wrote a number of books that dealt with subjects like modern science, religion, philosophy, biography, sermons, poetry. Mather has taken a circuitous route to writing her first book, from her days studying religion and neurobiology at vassar, to her first job traveling the globe for a. To send abroad a book among such readers were a very unadvised thing if a man had. One of the most public displays of their strained relationship appeared during the salem witch trials. 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. Increase mather, also held a position of prominence asa welladmired political leader, minister of the south church. Hey, did anybody else see the cast of fools around me who never seem to look us in the eye but magically appear. Yet, the book makes it clear why so many of cotton mathers books are still available in modern editions, as the goodreads list clearly shows. Publication date 1862 topics mather family, king philips war, 16751676 publisher. This tension is evident in mathers sprawling, messy, flawed, but fascinating book. In regard to the salem witch trials, however, it was mathers interest in the craft and. It was principally by his indefatigable writing that he became one of the most celebrated of all new england puritan ministers.
In a letter dated september 2, 1692, cotton mather wrote to judge william stoughton. Therefore, the first theatre was built in 1716, in the south. Cotton mather was the brilliant son of the famous increase mather. Cotton mather gave utterance to many hasty things not always consistent with fact or with each other. Essay on cotton mather and the salem witch trials of 1692. Mathers father, increase, was very devout and spent around. In light of his scientific achievements, one almost forgets that cotton mather was a pastor and minister first and foremost. May 23, 2018 despite the fact that increase mather did not support the trials, cotton mather documented them hovey 5312.
He left a scientific legacy due to his hybridization experiments and his promotion of inoculation for disease prevention, though he is most frequently remembered today for his involvement in the salem witch trials. Publications of the institute of the history of medicine, first series, monograph 5. Apr 09, 2018 cotton mather understood the wars between new england puritans and indians as battles between good and evil and this clearly shaped the way he told dustons story. Cotton mather, born february 12, 1663, was destined to be a great minister. Cotton mather, an important puritan minister, wrote the first american true crime book. Anticipating his imminent departure from this world, he hastened to write his manuductio ad ministerium 1726, a booklength manual for the ministry. In fact, it was the judges of the court of oyer and terminer who asked mather to write a book to clear their name. He did surpass his fathers output as a writer, writing more than 400 books. Cotton mathers first action related to the salem witch trials was the publication of his 1684 essay illustrious providences. The magnalia is, as kenneth murdock observes in his introduction to the 1977 scholarly edition, a completely idiosyncratic document, one which none of mathers contemporaries could, or would, have written. This legacy of famous puritan ministers and community leaders shaped mather s life and was the driving force behind many of his achievements.
Library of congress getty images when the notorious trials of accused witches began in salem in the winter of 169293, cotton mather approved of them, and by some interpretations actively encouraged them. Richardmather, cotton mather seemed destined to achieve fame. However, his motives at the beginning of the trials were driven by his. His magnalia christi americana 1702 was an extended ecclesiastical history of new england.
At the age of twentytwo he was appointed teacher at the old north church, boston, where his father was. Cotton mather understood the wars between new england puritans and indians as battles between good and evil and this clearly shaped the way he told dustons story. Although cotton s words describe, and to some degree justify the trials and deaths in salem that year, the book is anything but resolved with regards to mather s true feelings about the trials. Cotton mather the book of too late changes lyrics genius. Cotton mather was one of the most significant among the new england puritan ministers who supported the old order of the clergy. His book, bonifacius, or essays to do good 1710, instructs others in. Increase mather, congregational minister, author, and educator, who was a determining influence in the councils of new england during the period when leadership passed into the hands of the first nativeborn generation.
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