The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-08-25
A COLONIAL WOOING.
HOW Mr.. JUSTICE sewALL COURT
ED THE WIDOW WINTHROP.
stately, sedate and Extremely eau
tious on Both sides Was This Love-
making AFFAIR In Massachu usetts In
the seventeenth Century.

| the SeVenteentm lentury.
AS the seventeenth century began TO
wane into the eighteenth colonial life
In America does not grow less curious
Jr interesting in what now seem its ex-
tremes Of eccentricity, but they begin
TO grow milder in their manifestation.
In Virginia In the eighteenth century
| il is no longer possible for "a layman
who has spoken disrespectfully OF the
minister Of his parish 10 be sentenced
to construct pair Of stocks at bis
own expense and sit in them during
the time OF service by way OF penance.
When this happened to Henry Charlton
TO enforce In him more decent re-
spect for Rev. Mr. Cotton Of Hungar's
parish, Va, Ii was In the first half Of
the seventeenth century. In the sec
ond half OF the century, and more
especially in the last quarter, this spirit
Of clerical severity against sin and
sinners had reached it's climax in the
witch mania I'm New England. In the
reaction which followed Justice Sam
uel Sewall, who had sat on the bench
at the Massachusetts witch trials, was
at last so overcome by his conscience
that on Jan. IA, 1891 lit being a fast
day." he attended the meeting house
and stood up publicly to hear read the
paper In which he confessed himself
sensible of the guilt contracted by
his participation Oh the bench in the
hanging of witches.
This eaSed n conscience whose ten
derness extraordinary in ii seven
teenth century lawyer is perhaps due
TO his education for the church. He
studied at Harvard and after gradual
ing there began the career in the min
istry which lasted until not long after
he had married a wealthy heiress, the
daughter of the mint master" of
Massachusetts. After the event he de-
pended no more on the church but de-
voted himself to the law, rising TO its
highest dignities and yet retaining
throughout his lifetime until the ripe
age at which he courted the widow
Winthrop his fondness for religious
meditation, the reading Of the Scrip
lures and' good Canary, which make
his own account of his courtship Of the
widow the greatest treasure of the
Massachusetts, Historical society's IL
brary.
His "Son Sewall' being grown to
mans estate and settled In the min
istry and his Daughter Sewall' be-
ing mature in age, Justice Sewall
found them both willing enough that
he should pay his court to the widow
Winthrop He being at that time Of
portly figure and an agreeable,
rounded countenancc, with double
chin, as his portraits show, met Mad
am Winthrop at the house of his 'Son
Sewall" and told her he was "glad to
see her" as he had not seen her in
some time. He then gave her a copy
Of Mr.. Homes sermons, but said moth
ing Of matrimony on that occasion.
Through the good Offices Of his "Daugh-
ter Sewalr' he then Informed Madam
Winthrop that if she would be pleas
eel to be within" he would wait on her
shortly. She answered that she would
expect him. on the following Satur
day." after having dined, he waited on
her and "spake to her, saying: My low
ing wife died so soon and suddenly
twas hardly convenient for me to
think of marrying again. However,
have come TO the resolution that will
not make my court to any other person
without first consulting you" After
this he had very pleasant discourse
with her, but rs there were about sew
Ell other persons sitting in the room
he made not much progress on that
day.
On Oct 3, when he waited on her
again, he was received by her Daugh-
ter Noyes," to whom he said he hoped
his suit to her mother was not disa-
greeable to her. She answered she would
not he against what might add TO her
mothers comfort. When Madam Win
throp came into the room where sat
Chaplain Airs, who had hung up his hat
las If he belonged to the house." the
justice asked her To favor him with a
private consultation. Thereupon, when
she spake OF going into another room,
Chaplain Airs presently left with the
OlHerS. lueI, luey lWO btIuS uiohN,
he prayed that she might be the per-
son assigned to him" She instantly
took il up by way of denial, as If she
had catched at an opportunity to do
It," She made some further discourse
about unwillingness TO leave her chill
dren, by which, being discouraged at
that time from warmly urging her,
the justice gave her copy of Will
lard's Fountain" with the little print
and verses saying he hoped she would
read II. She took the book and put
II in her pocket. Thereupon the jus
tice took leave.
On his next meeting with the widow
she treated him with great deal of
courtesy and also with wine and mar
malade. She told him that DIR. In
crease Mather visited her that day in
Mr.. Hutchinson's coach. He gave her
copy OF the News Letter with
verses In IL and took leave. This was