Samuel Parris arrived in the Massachusetts Bay Province following an unsuccessful venture operating a sugar plantation in Barbados. Educated at Harvard College, he transitioned from a career as a merchant to the clergy. His appointment as the fourth minister of Salem Village in 1689 placed him at the center of the local community during a period of significant social instability.
Transition to the Ministry
Born in London in 1653, Parris spent his early years in England before moving to Boston. Following the death of his father in 1673, he managed property in Barbados until a hurricane destroyed his holdings. Returning to Boston, he married Elizabeth Eldridge and shifted his focus toward religious leadership. He served briefly in Stow before accepting his role in Salem Village, a position characterized by ongoing disputes regarding his compensation and the town's failure to provide consistent financial support.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →The Salem Witch Trials
In 1692, the Salem witch trials began after Parris' daughter, Elizabeth, and niece, Abigail Williams, accused an enslaved woman named Tituba of witchcraft. Parris forced a confession from Tituba, an act that triggered a wider wave of accusations against villagers. During the 16-month duration of the trials, 19 individuals were executed by hanging, and Giles Corey was killed through pressing. Parris frequently utilized his sermons to encourage the identification of perceived enemies as witches, often targeting individuals with whom he had existing grievances.
Professional Displacement
By 1693, the parish moved to file formal charges against Parris for his active role in the prosecution of the trials. Although he issued an essay titled Meditations for Peace in 1694 and received support from Increase Mather, his standing remained precarious. He became embroiled in a legal battle concerning the seizure of parsonage land as compensation for unpaid wages. An Ipswich court eventually ruled against him in 1697, requiring the return of the land. Having resigned his ministry in 1696, Parris relocated to Boston to resume his merchant activities.
Final Years
Following the death of his first wife in 1696, Parris married Dorothy Noyes in 1699 while residing in Sudbury. He resumed preaching duties in Stow for a brief period and later moved to Concord around 1704. His final years included a six-month tenure in Dunstable in 1711. He died in Sudbury in 1720.
Fast facts
- Born: 1653, London
- Died: 27 February 1720, Sudbury
- Education: Harvard College
- Primary Occupations: Merchant, Cleric
- Wife (first): Elizabeth Eldridge
- Wife (second): Dorothy Noyes
- Salem Village ministry start: July 1689
- Salem Village ministry end: 1696
Questions readers ask
What was the result of the land dispute in 1697?
An Ipswich court ordered that Parris must return the parsonage land he had seized and that his outstanding salary should be paid.
How did Parris influence the Salem witch trials?
He served as an active prosecutor and used his sermons to encourage the identification and destruction of people he and his allies viewed as witches.
Achievements
- Educated at Harvard University and Harvard College
