Thomas Oliver (husband of Bridget Bishop)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Oliver was the second husband of Bridget Bishop
, who on 10 June 1692 became the first victim of the Salem witchcraft trials.
Thomas Oliver is a major link in the old and well-known theory that his widow, Bridget Bishop, was executed
on trumped up charges because her in-laws
were jealous of what she had inherited
from him. Upham
's History of the Salem Witchcraft Trials makes clear that her marriage to Thomas Oliver is a determining factor in the witchcraft prosecution of Bridget Oliver Bishop.
Norfolk
England. They originally immigrated to Boston, with 2 children and 2 servants, on the "Mary Anne" in 1637. At that time Thomas Oliver's profession was Calender. They moved to Salem
where he accumulated property which he left there when they returned to England.
Mary Oliver's constant and unpleasant public comments (especially her support of Roger Williams
) caused her to be punished as early as 1638.
Thomas Oliver's inability or perhaps unwillingness to control her caused them to be exiled from the Colony and return to England c. 1649.
They had at least 3 sons, and according to Upham at least 3 daughters. One daughter married a constable
who may have caused Bridget Oliver Bishop to be brought up on charges of Witchcraft.
During their marriage he was reputed to physically abuse his wife.
After his death she was brought up on charges of witching him to death, (this was not the first time she was accused of witchcraft, but it was perhaps the first time she was put on trial).
This time she was acquitted. However this seems to have set her up for the second charge in 1692 as the result of which she was hanged.
His estate included a house and sometime tavern in Salem, Massachusetts near the meeting house where after his death his widow Bridget Oliver Bishop was known for staying up late into the night entertaining her guests with playing shovelboard. During the scholarly reexaminations of the Witchcraft trials during the 19th Century Bridget Bishop's claims on this estate were posited as the real reason for her being accused of witchcraft. In one of his books Upham makes clear that one of the police officials was married to one of her in-laws who had expressed jealousy of Bridget Oliver Bishop's having property near the meeting house at Salem.
Bridget Bishop
Bridget Bishop was the first person executed for witchcraft during the Salem witch trials of 1692....
, who on 10 June 1692 became the first victim of the Salem witchcraft trials.
Thomas Oliver is a major link in the old and well-known theory that his widow, Bridget Bishop, was executed
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
on trumped up charges because her in-laws
Affinity (law)
In law and in cultural anthropology, affinity, as distinguished from consanguinity, is kinship by marriage. It is the relation which each party to a marriage bears to the kindred of the other. In English, affinity is usually signified by adding "-in-law" to the degree of kinship...
were jealous of what she had inherited
Inheritance
Inheritance is the practice of passing on property, titles, debts, rights and obligations upon the death of an individual. It has long played an important role in human societies...
from him. Upham
Charles Wentworth Upham
Charles Wentworth Upham was a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts. Upham was also a member, and President of the Massachusetts State Senate, the 7th Mayor of Salem, Massachusetts, and twice a member of the Massachusetts State House of Representatives...
's History of the Salem Witchcraft Trials makes clear that her marriage to Thomas Oliver is a determining factor in the witchcraft prosecution of Bridget Oliver Bishop.
First Marriage
Thomas Oliver married Mary Leman 29 Jan 1626 in NorwichNorwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
England. They originally immigrated to Boston, with 2 children and 2 servants, on the "Mary Anne" in 1637. At that time Thomas Oliver's profession was Calender. They moved to Salem
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
where he accumulated property which he left there when they returned to England.
Mary Oliver's constant and unpleasant public comments (especially her support of Roger Williams
Roger Williams
-People:* Roger Williams , Welsh soldier of fortune* Roger Williams , English theologian, co-founder of Rhode Island* Roger Williams , US actor...
) caused her to be punished as early as 1638.
Thomas Oliver's inability or perhaps unwillingness to control her caused them to be exiled from the Colony and return to England c. 1649.
They had at least 3 sons, and according to Upham at least 3 daughters. One daughter married a constable
Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
who may have caused Bridget Oliver Bishop to be brought up on charges of Witchcraft.
Bridget (Playfer) Wasselbe
Thomas Oliver married Bridget (Playfer) Wasselbe, widow of Capt. Samuel Wasselbe, 26 July 1666; they had a daughter Christian in 1667.During their marriage he was reputed to physically abuse his wife.
After his death she was brought up on charges of witching him to death, (this was not the first time she was accused of witchcraft, but it was perhaps the first time she was put on trial).
This time she was acquitted. However this seems to have set her up for the second charge in 1692 as the result of which she was hanged.
Estate
When he left the colony for England he had a considerable amount of real property to which he returned after his first wife Mary's death.His estate included a house and sometime tavern in Salem, Massachusetts near the meeting house where after his death his widow Bridget Oliver Bishop was known for staying up late into the night entertaining her guests with playing shovelboard. During the scholarly reexaminations of the Witchcraft trials during the 19th Century Bridget Bishop's claims on this estate were posited as the real reason for her being accused of witchcraft. In one of his books Upham makes clear that one of the police officials was married to one of her in-laws who had expressed jealousy of Bridget Oliver Bishop's having property near the meeting house at Salem.