Response to the Salem Witch Trials

Hello! My name is Thomas Carpenter, the grandson of Robert Carpenter - the merchant was able to thrive and survive as, at first a poorly wood whittler, then later traveled up to Boston and accepted a puritan way of life. My parents later moved on Salem where I now live, silently watching the mass hysteria unfold. Although I do try my best to attend meetings about the so-called "witch trials", I'd rather stay out of it just to make sure I do not become consumed by it. I am extremely terrified for the little girls who were bewitched, but a little bird in the back of mind sings to me saying that maybe this isn't something what I should at all be worried about. What if the town is getting all worked up for nothing. But I really don't want myself to seem as if I do not believe that the devil is in Salem. If I make it seem that way, then people will suspect something. Just because I am not foolishly turning my head accordingly towards the bait the fishermen are stringing, that would not make me a witch (or wizard). But in the society in which I live in, any act of uniqueness will most definitely have you branded, and will mostly likely make you a suspect for the trials.      

Well, if you would even like to call them trials. This hysteria began with three little girls for the Lord's sake. It would be completely logical to think that the girls just carried this on to just gain attention. But then you also have to think about that pesky slave girl, Tituba. She did seem a bit off when I first saw her, but I just assumed it was because she was of a different country all together. But what if she did teach the girls witchcraft? I'm not saying that I believe in witchcraft, but I always keep an open mind about things. If the devil is real, why can't witchcraft be as well? The thing that really makes me afraid of the trials is not the possibility of witchcraft being real. No, it's much worse than that. My fear is that we'll all just try and kill each other to the end, filled with so much paranoia in our systems that we'll just be corpses of the well and civilized people we once were. Any ways, it was nice writing all of my thoughts down in pen. Helped me clear up my mind from all the hysterics for once. Well, that is all for now. I'll be sure to keep you updated on the trials as they move along. Good day.        

Do you feel that Anne Hutchinson received a fair trial by the standards of life in the 1630's? Explain why or why not, cite examples from the trial that support your answer.

During that time and era, women (in general) were persecuted and forced to hide in the shadows. The church had laws that said women were ought to be silenced and not let them speak in church. So when suddenly a headstrong woman, such as Anne Hutchinson comes along, taking trials and raising an uproar within the community - you can already assume that every single man in the church room will be skeptical about her whole scheme. But what really got to me was the fact that the church didn't want to hold the trial under an oath. Doesn't anything in particular seem sketchy to you? Anne brought up a reasonable point "If they accuse me, I desire to be upon an oath." And who wouldn't be? I wouldn't want any lies or mishaps going around the trial room. Also, personally, it felt like the governor was just intent upon killing her or banishing her. So he knew that either way, she'll be banished or tormented. He tried everything within his power to not let her win, and he was successful in doing so. 

Picture:    NA. Anne Hutchinson. N.d. NA, NA. Equal Visibility Everywhere. Web. 28 Oct. 2014.

If you were a member of the church that was tasked with casting a vote for the guilty or not guilty, what would have your vote been? Explain your choice and cite examples from the trial to support your answer.

If I were a member of the church and was asked to cast a vote to whether or not Mrs. Anne Hutchinson should be convicted guilty, I would reply saying that she was innocent - although that would have been an entirely different thought that what everyone else in that room was thinking. But I have several different reasons for why I think she is innocent. Even though she has some very supercilious and bold thoughts about herself (saying that she is a messenger of God) and also saying that the church members are all not certified to be "saved" thus, they should not be a church member (even I would say that that is going too far), but she also stated some very key pieces of evidence in order to prove herself innocent. One thing that she discussed was the passage from the Titus "that the elder woman must instruct the younger," which I found to be quite a smart move on her part. It certainly got me believing she was innocent, even for a moment. But then the Governor brought up the rules of the Corinthians and I suddenly felt very conflicted. Thinking logically, if I were alive during this time period and especially a male, I'd feel the need to stand up and support the Corinthians. But thinking about this whole situation from a modern point of view, I feel the need to say that the woman is only speaking her thoughts. Free speech, that is a huge thing that we can find in our modern laws. Another thing that I also realized was true was Mrs. Hutchinson's argument of the covenant of grace versus the covenant of works. The church is preaching that if you are a good citizen and are well mannered and have proper etiquette, then you are probably saved. Basically, the church is preaching the covenant of works is the way to go. But technically, the actual puritan faith is based around the fact that whether we are saved does not depend on our actions, but from the predetermining grace that God has set upon you, reassuring you are saved.

Picture: Gun, Thomas. Anne Hutchinson on Trial . N.d. NA, NA. Wikipedia. Web. 27 Oct. 2014.       

Send to: Susan Carpenter

Robert Carpenter 

May 27th, 1607

At the coast of the Virginia Colonies

We Made It!

Source: howstuffworks.com

Dear Susan, 

After months of traveling in a that horrid thing that we call a "ship", eating terrible food with unknown items mixed into it (I shudder at the thought of it), and passing the time by whittling, learning how to properly read and write from Timothy, and working as a we finally made it to the New World. After so many hardships, we finally made it! But I am not all that sure if I should start celebrating or not. Out of the 144 people who went aboard on the Susan Constant, Discovery, and the Godspeed, nearly 39 people died. That gave us only 105 survivors left to tread this land. And thankfully, I was one of the survivors. 

And just so if you felt worried dear on why I didn't write to you every single day or week, this was because I didn't want to worry you. I only wanted to send you the letters only if something big had happened. But I still did write to you, I have pages and pages of letters that I never sent to you because I just thought they were too pointless, frivolous or boring. I still wrote them anyways. Fine, you can now laugh at me and my silly romantics. But mind you Susan, I spent many hours trying to create this story.

Well anyways, when we first came to our settlement (a few weeks back), it was marshy and quite different than the land of England that we had journeyed from. Really, there were no people in sight. The reason why we even chose to settle in such a wasteland was to avoid Spanish ships from coming. We managed to keep away from them, for now. 

Now, the first weeks of our settlement were peaceful. It was just us trying to build a place where we can live and prosper. But then the Indians came. They seemed nice at first, but then they got angry. They got angry at us for taking their land. I mean, I would be angry as well if someone took my home, but the councilmen were not looking at what was just. They were seeing this land as if it was all their's the own and keep. We settlers were the only right that can be seen through all the wrongs that everyone else was doing. And I guess that was wrong.

Anyways, we managed to come to a mutual agreement with the Indians and their chief Powhatan. We trade English items such as guns, alcohol, and etc with them, and in return they traded corn, beans, and growing and fishing techniques with us. It is a pretty good system, but I am honestly not sure how long this "peaceful" relationship will last between us.  

Alright, this is all I have for you now. Hope to see you soon!

With much love,

Robert

      

       

Send to: Susan Carpenter

Robert Carpenter  

December 25th, 1606

On board of the Susan Constant

Merry Christmas!

Source: lizahontas.tripod.com

Dear Susan,

It has felt so long since I have last seen you, my love. Even though it has only been five days, it has felt like an eternity has been spent without you next to me. Although I would love to spend this Christmas with you on this boat, it would have been quite bothersome, for this wretched ship is all so small and filled with drunkards of the like. Anyways, the last five days have been uneventful. Though I have made some friends (more like acquaintances), they are all pretty dull. They have no signs of imagination or intellect whatsoever. Whenever I come to talk to them, or more likely to have a sincerely awkward conversation with them, well, it's just as good as talking to a wooden wall. Conversations may happen as so:

"So John, the food was quite terrible today, wasn't it? We should hire a new chef, this won't be able to continue for very long." 

"Hmm, yes. Sure."

"Yesterday, I reckon the so-called 'soup' had a rat's tail sticking out from it!"

"Yes, yes. Quite so."

That's how most of the conversations start between us. That's also how they end. 

Some of the merry men on the ship try to entertain themselves by singing sea chants. I usually come to watch their antics after dinner. One masterful musician, although very poor, he can play beautiful music from his piccolo. Another plays his small fiddle and dances around in a madman-ish fashion as he strings out wonderful notes into the sky. The fiddler is usually the one who starts the song in which we will be singing very soon when everyone starts to join in. I don't sing, for I am horrified of what everyone will think of my voice. As you know, I don't quite have the voice of an angel! But still, I do love to come just for the plain amusement of the whole situation.

The rest of the day, before dinner, is very monotonous. I keep myself buy by trying whittling small blocks of wood which I manage to scavenge across the ship. I turn those blocks of wood into tiny farm animals, such as cows and roosters, then I save them up. Why, you ask? Well, I'm hoping that when I go to the New Land, maybe I'll find some children to give them to. I am so glad I chose to bring my tools on this trip. 

But only doing so, is not enough to diminish my boredom. So I have decided to learn how to read. Yes, you hear me clear. I met a fine merchant a few days before going on this ship. He was a very sophisticated man who, just like me, came from London. Being a bit older than me, maybe in his mid forties, he had graying hair, but till managed to wear a smile on his face and a slight twinkle in his eyes. Anyways, one tiresome day, I was walking past the man on the way back from work and saw him reading on a bench in the street. He was reading such a great big book, filled with dove-winged  pages and symbols and scriptures I could not even attempt to understand. I guess the man noticed me looking at his book over his shoulder, and asked me if I wanted to read it. I shamefully replied saying I didn't now how to read, being only a mere artisan. So the most amazing thing happened, he offered me the chance of learning how to read, him being the teacher of course. And how can I decline such an opportunity? I willingly replied yes, exchanging names (his name is Timothy), and ever since then I've been learning how to read and write from him. These little classes take place at the very bench I met Timothy, usually a couple of minutes before and after working at the carpenter's shop. And what was even better was the fact that he was also going on the Susan Constant all the way off to the new world! After hearing that, we studied together during the dull hours of the day on the boat. 

So after a lot of work and effort, I was able learn how to read and write - quite well to be honest. He was even so kind enough to help revise, edit, and help me write this letter to you. Without him, I wouldn't even be able to contact you. So when you'll finally be able to to the New World on a ship like I am right now, I'll make sure that you'll be acquainted with him someday. He truly is the most wonderful man on this ship. You two will get along together just fine. 

Well anyways, it was wonderful writing to you, my dear Susan. I will try to write to you whenever possible. Once again, Merry Christmas - hope it was as wonderful as it can ever be, and I will see you soon. Or at least write to you sooner. Which ever comes first (I really hope it's the first statement). 

With much love,

Robert