John BATCHELLER

1638 - 1698  (~ 60 years)

• Name	John BATCHELLER  [1]
  	John Batcheller was one of the jury that tried the famous witchcraft cases in Salem. With the other members of the jury, in 1692 he signed a statement asking forgiveness for the error of their judgment. The Jury had acted in conformity with their obligations and honest convictions of duty in bringing in their verdicts. They had sworn to decide according to the law and the evidence. The law under which they were required to act was laid down with absolute positiveness by the Court. They were bound to receive it, and to take and weigh the evidence that was admitted, and to their minds it was clear, decisive, and overwhelming, offered by the persons of good character, and confirmed by a great number of confessions. It is had been within their province, as it always is declared not to be, to discuss the general principles, and set in judgment on the particular penalties of law, it would not have altered the case, for, at that time, not only the common people, but the wisest philosophers, supported the interpretation of the law that acknowledged the existence of witchcraft, and its sanction that visited it with death.... [1]
  Christening	20 Jan 1638	First Church, Salem, Massachusetts   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Death	17 Nov 1698  [1]
  Person ID	I25968	Main Tree
  Last Modified	8 May 2021

  
  

  Father	Hon. Joseph BATCHELLER,   b. Canterbury, England d. Mar 1647
  Mother	Elizabeth ?,   b. England
  Family ID	F42615	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Mary DENNIS   d. 26 Jun 1665
  Marriage	1 Jul 1661  [1]
  Family ID	F42609	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	6 May 2021

  
  

  Family 2	Sarah GOODALE   d. 22 Mar 1729
  Marriage	4 May 1666  [1]
  Children	+ 1. Ebenezer BATCHELLER,   b. 1670, Wenham, Massachusetts d. Aft 1703 (Age 34 years)  [Birth]
  Family ID	F42610	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	7 May 2021

  
  

• Sources

  [S2452] Frederick Clifton Pierce, Batchelder, Batcheller Genealogy Descendants of Rev. Stephen Bachiler, of England and Joseph, Henry, Joshua and John Batcheller of Essex Co., Massachusetts.