William Stoughton (Massachusetts)

William Stoughton (30 September 1631 – 7 July 1701) acted as judge and prosecutor during the Salem Witch Trials.

Life Account

William graduated from Harvard University in 1650. He intended to become a religious minister and continued his studies in New College, Oxford. The Kingdom of England had by then be replaced by the Commonwealth of England.

Related Topics:
Harvard University - 1650 - Religious minister - New College, Oxford - Commonwealth of England

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William received a Master's degree in June, 1653. The same year the Commonwealth was replaced by The Protectorate of Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell.

Related Topics:
Master's degree - 1653 - The Protectorate - Lord Protector - Oliver Cromwell

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William served as a curate in Sussex during the English Restoration of 1660. He was a Puritan at a time where this denomination was strongly connected to the recently deceased Cromwell. They fell out of favor with the Restoration of Charles II of England to the throne. Stoughton would not hold his position for long.

Related Topics:
Curate - Sussex - English Restoration - 1660 - Puritan - Charles II of England

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Having lost his position as a curate and having little chance to gain another, William returned to Massachusetts in 1662. He served in various positions in the colonial government. By the early 1690s he was colonial chief magistrate. In 1692 he acted as judge and prosecutor during the Salem Witch Trials.

Related Topics:
Massachusetts - 1662 - 1690s - 1692 - Salem Witch Trials

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William was acting Governor of Massachusetts from 1694 to 1699 and again from 1700 to 1701.

Related Topics:
Governor of Massachusetts - 1694 - 1699 - 1700

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In 1726 the town of Stoughton, Massachusetts was named in his honor.

Related Topics:
1726 - Stoughton, Massachusetts

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