Cambridge Association facts for kids
The Cambridge Association was a group of important Congregational ministers who lived near Boston. They met regularly in the Harvard College library between 1690 and 1697. Their meeting notes help us understand how much these Puritan ministers influenced the witchcraft trials.
Contents
Who Was in the Cambridge Association?
The group's record book shows that Charles Morton and Cotton Mather were the two main founders. Their names, along with the rules, seem to be written with the same ink. At an early meeting on October 13, 1690, Cotton Mather was chosen to tell Harvard that the group would have its first official meeting in the library a week later.
Charles Morton was the oldest and signed his name at the top. Cotton Mather signed below him. They likely left space for other important members to sign in order of age. These included James Allen, Michael Wigglesworth, Joshua Moodey, Samuel Willard, John Bailey, and Nathaniel Gookin. Four of these men—Morton, Allen, Moodey, and Willard—had also written an introduction for Cotton Mather's book Memorable Providences in 1689.
Increase Mather, Cotton Mather's father, returned from London in May 1692. He likely signed the book next to James Allen's name soon after. He is first listed as being at a meeting on June 27, 1692. Increase Mather's son-in-law, Nehemiah Walter, and Jonathan Pierpont also joined around this time.
Other ministers joined later, sometimes years later. They signed the book wherever there was space. These members included Jabez Fox, John Fox, James Sherman, Benjamin Woodbridge, Benjamin Wadsworth, Benjamin Colman, William Brattle, Ebenezer Pemberton, Samuel Angier, Henry Gibbs, and Thomas Bridge. Some of these men worked at Harvard. However, they probably didn't officially join the group until they became ordained ministers.
Advice During the Salem Witch Trials
One of the first things the ministers discussed was a letter from Reverend Samuel Parris in Salem Village. He wrote about his problems there. Parris visited the Harvard Library for another meeting just one week later, on October 20, 1690.
On June 27, 1692, when the witchcraft trials were at their peak, Cotton Mather wrote down a question for the group to think about. His father, Increase Mather, chose the question: "Can the devil sometimes make an innocent person look like they are hurting someone who is troubled by evil spirits?" This meant the Mathers were wondering if someone accused of witchcraft could actually be innocent. This idea was almost the opposite of believing someone is innocent until proven guilty.
The group discussed this question at their next meeting on August 1. Increase Mather wrote down their conclusion: "Everyone agreed that false accusations can happen... but that such things are rare and unusual, especially when they go to court." After this, many accused people were executed.
In 1694, Reverend Parris apologized to his church. He seemed to refer to the same question from the Mathers. But by this time, Parris strongly believed in presumed innocence. He wrote, "I believe God sometimes allows the Devil to make people think their hurt comes from innocent or even good people, when it doesn't." Parris used the word "sometimes," which was different from the Mathers' "rare and unusual." Parris also used the word "delude," which was often used by people who doubted the truth of witchcraft.
How the Meetings Worked
The group met on Monday mornings, usually "once every six weeks, or more often if needed." At the end of each meeting, they would choose the date for the next one. They also chose a moderator. This person would take notes at the next meeting and pick the next question for the group to discuss.
Their work at the meetings included:
- Talking about their own matters.
- Listening to and thinking about problems brought to them by other groups or people.
- Answering letters from other groups or people.
- Discussing the question chosen at the previous meeting.
The Record Book's Journey
The Massachusetts Historical Society got the record book in 1850. They traced it back to Charles Morton, one of the original members. Morton had also been part of a similar group in England called the Cornwall Association from 1655 to 1659. The Cornwall Association's records are right before the Cambridge Association's records in the book. The rules for both groups are similar and are believed to be in Morton's handwriting. Morton likely brought the record book with him when he moved to New England.
Even though the book was available, important Salem historians like Charles W. Upham and George Lincoln Burr didn't seem to know about it. This might be because it was filed under Morton's name and started in England. Neither historian mentioned the record book, even though it would have supported their ideas.
Later Groups
The Cambridge Association is thought to be the first official group of Congregational ministers in America. Between 1700 and 1745, some members of the original group split into two new groups: the "Associated Ministers of Boston and Charlestown" and the "Association in and about Cambridge." In 1960, these two groups joined back together as the Greater Boston Association of Unitarian Ministers.
Images for kids
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Ministers signed the book when they joined the group.
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The group discussed the Salem trials in 1692.
