George Corwin
Encyclopedia
George Corwin was the High Sheriff of Essex County, Massachusetts
during the Salem witch trials
. He signed warrants for the arrest and execution of those condemned of witchcraft
. On September 16, 1692, he was ordered by the Court of Oyer and Terminer
to preside over the interrogation, under torture of Giles Corey
, who was pressed to death for refusing to stand trial for witchcraft. Corwin died of a heart attack
, in 1696, at the age of 30, after which his burial was delayed by a Salem resident named Phillip English, who was accused during the Witch Trials
, and had his property seized by Corwin. English put a lien on Corwin's corpse, and delayed its burial until he had been reimbursed for the property he lost to Corwin.
George Corwin was the Grandson of John Winthrop, the Younger, the Governor of Connecticutt. His wife, Lydia Gedney, was the daughter of Bartholomew Gedney
, one of the magistrates involved in the witch trials.
Essex County, Massachusetts
-National protected areas:* Parker River National Wildlife Refuge* Salem Maritime National Historic Site* Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site* Thacher Island National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:...
during the Salem witch trials
Salem witch trials
The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings before county court trials to prosecute people accused of witchcraft in the counties of Essex, Suffolk, and Middlesex in colonial Massachusetts, between February 1692 and May 1693...
. He signed warrants for the arrest and execution of those condemned of witchcraft
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
. On September 16, 1692, he was ordered by the Court of Oyer and Terminer
Oyer and terminer
In English law, Oyer and terminer was the Law French name, meaning "to hear and determine", for one of the commissions by which a judge of assize sat...
to preside over the interrogation, under torture of Giles Corey
Giles Corey
Giles Corey was a prosperous farmer and full member of the church in early colonial America who died under judicial torture during the Salem witch trials. Corey refused to enter a plea, and was crushed to death by stone weights in an attempt to force him to do so...
, who was pressed to death for refusing to stand trial for witchcraft. Corwin died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
, in 1696, at the age of 30, after which his burial was delayed by a Salem resident named Phillip English, who was accused during the Witch Trials
Witch trial
A witch trial is a legal proceeding that is part of a witch-hunt. * Witch trials in Early Modern Europe, 15th–18th centuries** Salzburg witch trials - 1675-1690, Salzburg, Austria** Spa witch trial - 1616, Belgium...
, and had his property seized by Corwin. English put a lien on Corwin's corpse, and delayed its burial until he had been reimbursed for the property he lost to Corwin.
George Corwin was the Grandson of John Winthrop, the Younger, the Governor of Connecticutt. His wife, Lydia Gedney, was the daughter of Bartholomew Gedney
Bartholomew Gedney
Bartholomew Gedney was a physician and native of Salem, Massachusetts, who participated as a magistrate in the Salem witchcraft trials.Gedney was present at several of the examinations and later served as a member of the Court of Oyer and Terminer. He was present at the examination of his friend...
, one of the magistrates involved in the witch trials.