Diary and Life of Samuel Sewall

Sewall

The Diary of Samuel Sewall

An autobiography is written so one can share life experiences and views of the world with the public. In other words, an autobiography is that person's words and can used in the scholarly context to validate hearsay. This paper will focus on the life and times of Samuel Sewall. This paper will be presented in two parts: first, an analysis of his work and second, an opinion of the work. What does Sewall want us to see as important about his life? What can be learned about the author's life and the society in which he lived? What can be learned from Sewall's life and is his story believable? This paper will explore these questions.

Samuel Sewall's diary was not written for wide public consumption but more as a recorded family history as it documented day-to-day events relevant to Puritanical life in early American history. There were two sides to Sewall's life. There was the professional side of businessman and government official on side of the coin. On the other side of coin, there was patriarch figure for the Sewall clan. He documented in detail everything he witnessed or experienced in his every day life. This type of observation serve historians well as they can better see into the mind of the colonial male and gather a better understanding of life in those days. Sewall wants the reader to see what is important to him are the roles of family, religion and beauty of life among other things. One can learn from his reflections about the culture and expectations of gender roles within the society. For instance Mel Yazawa comments of the division between male and female and Sewall having a complete understanding of this role with "Sewall who had been up since 3:00 or 4:00 A.M., sat praying in the kitchen with the Reverend Samuel Torrey of Weymouth. Eventually the two were joined by Hannah's mother" (p. 9) as his wife's ordeal was too much for her mother to bear. Sewall would later allow his wife, female relatives and friends, visit and celebrate the birth by dining on "rost Beef, minc' Pyes, good Cheese and Tarts" (p. 9). This type of interaction makes him more human to the reader because one can identify with such actions. It also begs to comment on how drastically male and female relationships have changed whereas no men are expected to share in the birthing experience by physically being at his wife's side. This only signifies more how important a role religion played in his life as it clearly defined it and his family.

Another example of his involvement with parenting comes in a religious context as he tries to comfort his daughter's confusion and emotional response to the concept of predestination. "Betty was nearly inconsolable in her despair. Sewall prayed with his daughter with many tears on with part and said what he could to help her taste the sweetness in reading the Word" (Yazawa, year, p. 13). He was clearly very concerned with his children's faith and well being. This is even more evident as one continues reading about how he instrumented his children's courtships and later played a role in his grandchildren's upbringings as well. It is very clear he took the role of patriarch very seriously as a means of not only providing for his family but also being an active force in every day life decisions. He did this while also being an active force behind building the town of Boston and making a living as a merchant. Only by reading his diary do we understand just how rich, busy and fulfilling life was back then. It is all a question of values and because the culture then was so embedded in religion and family, it only seems right that his diary reflect such activities.

Opinion

Personally, I believe the preconceived notion of Samuel Sewall completely misusing his power and influence with regards to the judgment at the Salem Witch Trial is gone and replaced with his persona of family and all that is beautiful created out of this bond. That man, judge who condemned those young women to death seems one-dimensional and cruel, as history has depicted his role in the incident. The man in his journal is a family man, full of passion for life and love. It is unfair to judge him on that merit alone. By reading his diary, one is better able to see inside the man and understand how his value system played a bigger role in the trial. In my mind, he was so engrossed with the everyday experiences of family life and living up to the Puritan way that he really had no choice. I do not believe that this event is what he wants the reader to remember.