Estate / Collection: The Victor Gulotta Collection

DANFORTH, THOMAS as deputy governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony and DANIEL GOOKIN

Legal document signed. Near Watertown: 19 April 1686. A manuscript document on the recto and verso of a rectangular sheet, the recto and half of the verso offering a copy of a document relating to the estate of William Knox written in the hand of Samuel Stearns as Marshall’s Deputy, the verso with Gookin’s attestation signed “Daniel Gookin” and Danforth’s “also before me Tho: Danforth Dept. Govr.” 4 ¾ x 7 ½ inches (11 x 17 cm); framed with a pane revealing the other side. Folds, losses to two corners affecting text, spotting, not removed from frame.

Thomas Danforth (circa 1623-1699) served as Deputy Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony from 1679 to 1686. Earlier, in 1675 during King Philip’s War, Danforth is associated with Daniel Gookin (1612-1687) and the Reverend John Eliot in his support of Christianized “Praying Indians” then being heavily persecuted by colonists. Daniel Gookin had originally settled in Virginia in the early 1640s and became close with Puritan ministers from New England sent south at the request of Virginia authorities at a time when ministers were in short supply. The New England ministers were given a cold reception in Virginia by Governor Berkeley and Gookin decided to join them when they left for Massachusetts in 1644. At Roxbury, Gookin befriended the Reverend John Eliot known as the "Apostle to the Indians." Gookin petitioned on behalf of the Native Americans alongside Eliot and wrote quite eloquently about them in his two books on the subject. In 1649, Gookin was chosen as Deputy from Cambridge to the General Court held in Boston and held the post for nearly 35 years including at the time of this document. His signature is scarce and desirable for his association with Eliot.

Despite being a leading figure in the colony and a magistrate, Danforth did not sit on the Court of Oyer and Terminer during the Salem Witch Trials. He was the Acting Governor at the time the hysteria commenced but was removed in May upon the arrival of Sir William Phips, the first royal governor under the new charter of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. It is possible that Danforth was excluded for not accepting spectral evidence as valid as required by Chief Judge William Stoughton and it was said that Danforth was one of "several about the Bay, men for understanding, judgment and piety ... that do utterly condemn the said proceedings, and do freely deliver their judgment..." Upon the removal of spectral evidence as admissible by Governor Phips, Danforth served on the court that ended the trials quickly and ordered no executions. It is also recorded that Danforth was sympathetic to the accused and helped relocate several to his lands west of Boston. Danforth is depicted in Arthur Miller’s 1953 play about the trials, The Crucible.

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