Thomas Danforth
Encyclopedia
Thomas Danforth was a judge for the 1692 Salem witch trials
in early colonial America
.
, Suffolk
, England
as the eldest son of Nicholas Danforth (1589-1638) and Elizabeth Symmes (1596-1629). Danforth immigrated with his father, brothers Samuel Danforth
and Jonathan, and sisters Anna, Elizabeth, and Lydia to New England
in 1634 on the ship the Griffin; Anne Hutchinson
was also aboard ship. The family along with the 200 or so other passengers aboard left to escape persecution for their Puritan
beliefs. (Archbishop William Laud
had begun his persecution of Puritans in England in 1633).
, Increase Mather
, John Norton
, and others in 1661. In 1643 Danforth was admitted a freeman of New England. He was named as Treasurer
of Harvard in the Harvard Charter of 1650. From 1659 to 1678 he was an assistant under the Massachusetts
government, becoming Deputy Governor in 1679. In the latter year he was elected president in the Province of Maine
, then independent of Massachusetts which he served from 1680 to 1686, then again 1689 to 1692. He opened his court at York
, and granted several parcels of land. He held the offices of Deputy Governor and president until the arrival of Sir Edmund Andros in 1688. Meanwhile he had also been made a judge of the superior court, and in 1681, with Daniel Gookin
, Elisha Cooke
and others, opposed the acts of trade and asserted the charter rights of the country.
Thomas Danforth married Mary Withington in 1644. The couple had 12 children, however only 2 daughters survived to adulthood; 6 of their children died before the age of 3.
Danforth owned 15000 acres (60.7 km²) about 15 miles (24.1 km) outside of Boston known as Danforth's Farm. Danforth's Farm would later become the town of Framingham, Massachusetts
, which Danforth named after his home town in England.
by Arthur Miller
, and the 1996 movie by the same name (in which he was depicted by Paul Scofield
) directed by Nicholas Hytner
, he is portrayed as a pretentious and selfish judge, who is extremely loyal to the rules and regulations of his position. Public opinion and his reputation are most important to him. He seems to secretly know that the witch trials are a lie, yet will not release any of the prisoners because he is afraid of being viewed as weak and having his theocratic reputation undermined. When John Proctor
, an accused, defies his authority at the end of the play by refusing to lie and sign a public confession saying that he is a witch and accusing others, he is mercilessly sentenced to hang by Danforth, along with other prisoners including Rebecca Nurse
.
In the 1957 film adaptation of the play, Danforth (portrayed by Raymond Rouleau, who also directed the picture) became the primary antagonist.
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...
in early colonial America
Colonial America
The colonial history of the United States covers the history from the start of European settlement and especially the history of the thirteen colonies of Britain until they declared independence in 1776. In the late 16th century, England, France, Spain and the Netherlands launched major...
.
Early life
He was born in FramlinghamFramlingham
Framlingham is a market town and civil parish in the Suffolk Coastal District of Suffolk, England. Commonly referred to as "Fram" by the locals, it is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is mentioned in the Domesday Book. It has a population of 3,114 at the 2001 census...
, Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
as the eldest son of Nicholas Danforth (1589-1638) and Elizabeth Symmes (1596-1629). Danforth immigrated with his father, brothers Samuel Danforth
Samuel Danforth
Samuel Danforth was a Puritan minister, preacher, poet, and astronomer, and an associate of the Rev. John Eliot of Roxbury, Massachusetts, known as the “Apostle to the Indians.”...
and Jonathan, and sisters Anna, Elizabeth, and Lydia to New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
in 1634 on the ship the Griffin; Anne Hutchinson
Anne Hutchinson
Anne Hutchinson was one of the most prominent women in colonial America, noted for her strong religious convictions, and for her stand against the staunch religious orthodoxy of 17th century Massachusetts...
was also aboard ship. The family along with the 200 or so other passengers aboard left to escape persecution for their Puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
beliefs. (Archbishop William Laud
William Laud
William Laud was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1633 to 1645. One of the High Church Caroline divines, he opposed radical forms of Puritanism...
had begun his persecution of Puritans in England in 1633).
Personal life and careers
Soon after his arrival in the colonies he acquired great influence in the management of public affairs. Bancroft speaks of him as the probable author of the report on natural and chartered rights, made by Simon BradstreetSimon Bradstreet
Simon Bradstreet was a colonial magistrate, businessman, diplomat, and the last governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Arriving in Massachusetts on the Winthrop Fleet in 1630, Bradstreet was almost constantly involved in the politics of the colony but became its governor only in 1679...
, Increase Mather
Increase Mather
Increase Mather was a major figure in the early history of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and Province of Massachusetts Bay . He was a Puritan minister who was involved with the government of the colony, the administration of Harvard College, and most notoriously, the Salem witch trials...
, John Norton
John Norton
John Norton may refer to:*John Norton, 5th Baron Grantley , British peer and numismatist*John Norton , Victorian Gothic revivalist, remodelled Tyntesfield*John Norton , Olympic medalist...
, and others in 1661. In 1643 Danforth was admitted a freeman of New England. He was named as Treasurer
Treasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
of Harvard in the Harvard Charter of 1650. From 1659 to 1678 he was an assistant under the Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
government, becoming Deputy Governor in 1679. In the latter year he was elected president in the Province of Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, then independent of Massachusetts which he served from 1680 to 1686, then again 1689 to 1692. He opened his court at York
York County, Maine
York County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. In 2010, the population was 197,131. Its county seat is Alfred.Founded in 1636, it is the oldest county in Maine and one of the oldest in the United States....
, and granted several parcels of land. He held the offices of Deputy Governor and president until the arrival of Sir Edmund Andros in 1688. Meanwhile he had also been made a judge of the superior court, and in 1681, with Daniel Gookin
Daniel Gookin
Major-General Daniel Gookin was a settler of Virginia and Massachusetts, and a writer on the subject of American Indians.-Early life:...
, Elisha Cooke
Elisha Cooke, Sr.
Elisha Cooke was a wealthy Massachusetts physician, politician, and businessman who was elected Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1683. He was the leader of the "popular party", a faction in the Massachusetts House that resisted encroachment by royal officials on colonial...
and others, opposed the acts of trade and asserted the charter rights of the country.
Thomas Danforth married Mary Withington in 1644. The couple had 12 children, however only 2 daughters survived to adulthood; 6 of their children died before the age of 3.
Danforth owned 15000 acres (60.7 km²) about 15 miles (24.1 km) outside of Boston known as Danforth's Farm. Danforth's Farm would later become the town of Framingham, Massachusetts
Framingham, Massachusetts
Framingham is a New England town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 68,318 as of the United States 2010 Census. -History:...
, which Danforth named after his home town in England.
Fictional character in The Crucible
As a character in the play The CrucibleThe Crucible
The Crucible is a 1952 play by the American playwright Arthur Miller. It is a dramatization of the Salem witch trials that took place in the Province of Massachusetts Bay during 1692 and 1693. Miller wrote the play as an allegory of McCarthyism, when the US government blacklisted accused communists...
by Arthur Miller
Arthur Miller
Arthur Asher Miller was an American playwright and essayist. He was a prominent figure in American theatre, writing dramas that include plays such as All My Sons , Death of a Salesman , The Crucible , and A View from the Bridge .Miller was often in the public eye,...
, and the 1996 movie by the same name (in which he was depicted by Paul Scofield
Paul Scofield
David Paul Scofield, CH, CBE , better known as Paul Scofield, was an English actor of stage and screen...
) directed by Nicholas Hytner
Nicholas Hytner
Sir Nicholas Robert Hytner is an English film and theatre producer and director. He has been the artistic director of London's National Theatre since 2003.-Biography:...
, he is portrayed as a pretentious and selfish judge, who is extremely loyal to the rules and regulations of his position. Public opinion and his reputation are most important to him. He seems to secretly know that the witch trials are a lie, yet will not release any of the prisoners because he is afraid of being viewed as weak and having his theocratic reputation undermined. When John Proctor
John Proctor
John Proctor was a farmer in 17th century Massachusetts. He married three women in his life, and divorced the first two. The last one he married was Elizabeth Proctor, who gave birth to two children, William and Sarah...
, an accused, defies his authority at the end of the play by refusing to lie and sign a public confession saying that he is a witch and accusing others, he is mercilessly sentenced to hang by Danforth, along with other prisoners including Rebecca Nurse
Rebecca Nurse
Rebecca Towne Nurse was executed for witchcraft by the government of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England in 1692, during the Salem witch trials. She was the wife of Francis Nurse, with several children and grandchildren, and a well-respected member of the community...
.
In the 1957 film adaptation of the play, Danforth (portrayed by Raymond Rouleau, who also directed the picture) became the primary antagonist.