The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-12-06
A COLONIAL W00ING.
HOW Mr.. JUSTICE sswAlL COURT.
60 THE WIDOW WINTHROP.

Stately, sedate and Extremely Can.
tieus on Both sides Was Thi. Leve.
making Anair In Massachusctts II
the Seventeenth Century.
As the seventeenth century began tc
wane into the eighteenth colonial life
IN America does not grow less curious
or 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
20 construct pair Of stocks at his
own expense and sit In them during
the time Of service by way Of penance.
When this happened TO Henry Charlton
10 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 its climax In the
witch mania In 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, 1897, ''it 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 on the bench In the
hanging Of witches.
This eased a conscience whose ten
derness extraordinary in a 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 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 H.
brary.
His "Son Sewalr' 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
a portly figure and an agreeable,
rounded countenance, with double
chin. as his portraits show. met Mad
am Winthrop at the house OF his son
Sewalr' 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 Sewalf' he then informed Madam
winthrop that II she would be pleas
ed 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 as there were about sew
en- other persons sitting in the room |
be made not much progress on that |
day.
On Oct. 3, when be waited on her |
again, he was received by her Daugh. |
ter Noyes," TO whom he said be hoped |
his suit TO her mother was not disa-
yreeahle to her. She answered shewould |
not be against what might add 10 her
comfort. When Madam Win |
throp came into the room where sat |
Chaplain Airs, who had hung up his hat |
'as If he belonged to the house." the |
justice asked her 10 favor him with a |
private consultation. Thereupon, when |
she spake Of going into another room,
Chaplain Airs presently left with the |
others. Then, they two being alone, |
be prayed that she might he the per- |
son assigned TO him." She instantly |
took 1t up by way of denial, as If she |
lad catched at an opportunity to do !
t." She made some further discourse |
about unwlllingness to leave her chill |
iren, by which, being discouraged at |
hat time from warmly urging her,
he justice gave her a copy Of VIII |
ards Fountain" with the little print |
Ind verses, saying he hoped she would
'ead IT. She took the book and put
I in her pocket. Thereupon the jus
ice took leave.
On his next meeting with the widow
he treated him with a great deal Of
courtesy and also with wine and mar.
She told him that DIR. In
'rease Mather visited her that day in
ar. Hutchinson's coach. He gave her
copy of the News Letter with