Today, the Pilgrim Tercentenary Commemorative Silver Half Dollar Coin remembers discussions of devils and witches years before the Salem witch trials.
Increase Mather, born in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, was an influential puritan minister.
John Higginson, born in England, came to America and became a minister in Salem.
Years before the mania of the witchcraft trials, Higginson wrote letters to Mather relating devilish activities as input into Mather’s publications.
Later, John Higginson was not involved in the trials whereas Increase Mather attempted to calm the hysteria though he did not denounce the trials. It was Increase Mather’s son, Cotton, another minister, who was more closely involved in the witchcraft madness.
The letter below from the Mather Papers, published in 1868, mentioned “conjuring books” and “dealings with the devil” was written nine years before the witchcraft trials in 1692.
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John Higginson to Increase Mather.
For the Reverend Mr. Mather, Teacher of the Church at the Northend of Boston.
Reverend Sir,
Being lately at Mr. Shepard’s I understood from him that you do not confine yourself in giving Instances of Illustrious Providences to things done in N E: which made me remember 2 instances which I now send you to consider of them and do as you see cause.
The persons credible, and I believe the things to be certain.
The one is; godly Mr. Sharp, who was Ruling Elder of the Church of Salem almost 30 years, often related it of himself, that being bred up to learning till he was 18 years old, and then taken off, and put to be an apprentice to a draper in London.
He yet, notwithstanding, continued a strong inclination and eager affection to books, with a curiosity of harkening after, and reading of the strangest and oddest books he could get; spending much of his time that way, to the neglecting of his business.
At one time there came a man into the shop, and brought a book with him, and said to him, here is a book for you; keep this till I call for it again, and so went away.
Mr. Sharp, after his wonted bookish manner, was eagerly affected to look into that book, and to read in it, which he did, but, as he read in it, he was seized on by a strange kind [of] Horror, both of Body and mind, the hair of his head standing up, etc.
Finding these effects several times, he acquainted his master with it, who observing the same effects, they concluding it was a Conjuring Book, resolved to burn it, which they did.
He that brought it, in the shape of a man, never coming to call for it, they concluded it was the Devil.
He taking this as a solemn warning from God to take heed what books he did read, was much taken off from his former bookishness, confining himself to reading the Bible and other known good books of Divinity, which were profitable to his Soul.
The other I heard at Gilford from a godly old man yet living.
He came from Essex, and hath been in N. E. about 50 years.
There was in Essex, a man of a considerable estate, and of good esteem amongst his neighbors, and in the country where he lived, but was ambitiously affected to be counted a wise man.
Being under the power and predominancy of that sinful distemper, God left him so far, that the Devil appeared to him, and promised him that upon one condition, he would make him famous for wisdom all the country over.
The condition was, that when he was in Reputation for wisdom, he should take all opportunities to instill it into the minds of people that came to him for counsel, that there was neither God nor Devil, nor Heaven nor Hell.
In the issue he made a Covenant with the Devil, giving his Soul to him after so many years, upon the former Conditions.
He continued after in his former course without any change, of a civil conversation, doing no hurt unto any, but good unto many; and by degrees grew in his Reputation for a very wise man, insomuch as he was sought unto for his Counsel far and near.
And he was all the country over called and counted a wise man; and his words were esteemed as Oracles amongst the common sort of people.
All the while, for many years, taking all occasions to disseminate those damned principles of Atheism before mentioned, and yet was never suspected to be a witch, till some few weeks before his Covenant with the Devil was to expire.
And then he was dreadfully awakened, and filled with Horror, and would often with crying and roaring tell those that then came to him that now he knew there was a God and a Devil, and a Heaven and a Hell, and so he unsaid all that he had formerly said that way, telling them also what he had done, and of his fearful expectations of the Devils fetching away his soul at the time appointed.
And so he died miserably, as a spectacle of the Righteous Judgments of God.
I commend you to the grace of God in Christ Jesus, and rest
Yours unfeignedly ever,
Jo: Higginson.
Salem, Aug. 17, 83.
I also had credible information of one in Leicestershire, in the time of the Long Parliament, that gave his soul to the Devil, upon condition to be a Famous Preacher, which he was for a time, etc. but I am imperfect in the story.
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The Pilgrim Tercentenary Commemorative Silver Half Dollar Coin shows with an artist’s image of Increase Mather illustrated in his book Cases of Conscience Concerning Evil Spirits, 1693.
