Talk:Giles Corey/Archive 1

This entry...

This entry should disentangle the historical Giles Corey from the character based on him in the Miller play. Wetman 09:43, 19 Sep 2004 (UTC)

I fixed some of the spelling errors, but the grammar is incomprehensible in some places. What was this trying to say? Vadskye 23:17, 12 January 2007 (UTC)

I think the quote attributed to Corey on his death is possibly incorrect... Has been quoted elsewhere as "more weight".

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Ok, I am a historic tour guide in Salem, Massachusetts, and I have told the Giles Corey story thousands of times, so I would like to add a couple things.

First and foremost, the date of the pressing is listed incorrectly, as the pressing began on September 19th, not the 17th. The pressing happened in a field which is now the Howard St. Cemetery which is located next to the old salem Jail.

Also, it is important to mention that Giles had actually been a witness at his wife's trial, and had in fact indicated that she could be a witch.

Also, Giles was outspoken about the fact that he believed the trials to be ridiculous, and he in fact had spoken against the young girls. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.62.190.165 (talk) 09:45, 3 October 2008 (UTC)

Also I want to add he DID put in a plea, a plea of innocence. What he did NOT do is recognize the courts authority to bring him to trial on said charges. That is why they pressed him. The 'did not put in a plea' is one of the oldest misconceptions of the story. I also see there is no reference to that aspect of the article either, not surprising as you won't find one historian to back up that claim. You arm chair historians really need to do your homework. -Rev. Peter —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.147.110.101 (talk) 21:41, 15 December 2010 (UTC)

Beating a man to death

Quote "A lesser known fact about Giles Corey is that he beat a man, Jacob Goodell, to death in 1676. "Jacob was employed by Giles Corey, and in a quarrel with the latter was so badly beaten that he died, according to a coroner's jury, of blood clots about the heart caused by the blows. Corey was fined for the offense. (Bowen: "Goodell Memorial Tablets")."

Does anyone have any references for this? I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere else and I have placed a citation needed tag on it for now. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 82.41.25.137 (talk) 21:45, 12 March 2007 (UTC).

Yes, This is in the records of the Essex Quarterly Courts, Vol. 6, pp. 190-191:

• http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/salem/witchcraft/Essex/vol6/images/essex190.html
• http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/salem/witchcraft/Essex/vol6/images/essex191.html

Ogram 11:47, 10 September 2007 (UTC)

This is a fascinating and verifiable aspect of Corey's biography. It also seems to support the assertion that Corey was known for a generally stubborn and irascible nature rather than some desperate, self-sacrificing love of liberty, as he is usually portrayed in post-Witch Trial sources. Is there some reason it hasn't been re-included? If it is not re-added in a few days, I will do it myself. Less heat, more light. Vintovka Dragunova (talk) 18:34, 2 November 2012 (UTC)

Terrible Article

This article is appalling, and seems to be pro-witch trials! Mindstar 14:37, 10 June 2007 (UTC)

Attempt at editing

I have tried to edit the article, but have not carried out any referencing.

timtregenza 12:20, 9 August 2007 (UTC)

The "Will" is not a will, but a deed transfer

The language in the document in which Giles Corey transfered the deed of his land to his sons-in-law, William Cleaves and Jonathan Moulton is not that of a will -- essentially, he transfered ownership of his property to them BEFORE he died, likely to prevent it being seized. A facsimile of the document and a transcription of the entire thing can be found here:

• http://www.newenglandancestors.org/libraries/manuscripts/giles_corey_deed_salem_massachusetts_1692_656_613.asp

Ogram 11:55, 10 September 2007 (UTC)

This link is dead. Aureliusweb (talk) 15:56, 25 July 2008 (UTC)

Pressed to death section contradictory

Other articles referring to the Salem Witch Trials seem to indicate that Peine Forte et Dure had been repealed in the British empire and colonies 20 years before the Salem Witch Trials. The articles should be normalised to reflect whichever is the correct legal status of what was done to Giles Corey. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 217.154.84.2 (talk) 14:18, 19 September 2007 (UTC)

Elizabeth procotor

Her name was Elizabeth proctor not sarah. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.58.3.180 (talk) 00:12, 26 October 2008 (UTC)

The Curse

I recall hearing he supposedly placed some sort of curse on the sheriff of Salem before he died, and ever sheriff of Salem thereafter (excluding one) has died of a heart attack or blood disorder. Why is there no mention of this (other that the song title in the pop culture section) in the article? 76.110.198.70 (talk) 15:19, 26 November 2008 (UTC)

Ugh, urban legends incorporated into Wikipedia articles... His final words were "more weight" while they were crushing him to death, not a curse!

His last words were more weight not that curse that was written in the article andit should be removed. 123.2.110.26 (talk) 08:29, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

How lovely to hear from people who were there at the time and witnessed the event. Still, I suggest the article could benefit from some proper historical sources, and of course I don't include Arthur Miller's play. Flapdragon (talk) 10:17, 7 August 2009 (UTC)

Jeez, some people have the brain the size of a peanut. Did it ever occur that Miller was trying to make things more dramatic? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 114.78.206.10 (talk) 09:12, 1 September 2009 (UTC)

The legend of the curse pre-dates Miller's play. That said there is no writings historians can find of the time of giles saying 'Corwin I curse you and I cure this town' until years later. However the fact every town sheriff from 1692 until when the position was dissolved ~1990 either died in office or had to retire early due to a health issue. That's just recorded fact. -Rev. Peter —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.147.110.101 (talk) 21:57, 15 December 2010 (UTC)

play

we are doin a play at my school and im the little anne putnum girl and my friend is giles cory. i didnt know that any one saw his specter all i no is that he was killed for not pleading! thats sad —Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.119.41.146 (talk) 17:36, 4 May 2009 (UTC)

Descendants

Does anyone hear know who the current descendants of Corey is? It would be good to talk with them about him and get their side of the story. That man was not a witch. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.206.51.97 (talk) 04:59, 9 January 2010 (UTC)

I have in fact heard that there is someone who claims to be a descendant of Giles Corey who still lives in Massachusetts. Not sure who, though. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.69.54.202 (talk) 23:55, 7 November 2010 (UTC)

unique in America?

The article says that Corey's death was unique in New England. However, I have read that it was also unique in American history. Can anyone confirm/negate this? )79.190.69.142 (talk) 23:39, 22 December 2010 (UTC))

Contradictory birthdates

The article's first line says "Giles Corey (September 11, 1611 – September 19, 1692)...", but in the "Pre-Trial" section it says "Giles Corey was born in Northampton, England, before 16 August 1611...". -Pat (talk) 19:43, 11 April 2016 (UTC)

External links modified

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"Executed"?

Is "executed" the correct term? An execution follows a conviction and sentencing; Corey had neither. Corey could have stopped the pressing at any time by entering a plea. Now I'm not about to suggest "suicide" as an alternative, but perhaps "died whilst refusing to plead" might be better. Martin of Sheffield (talk) 16:32, 31 August 2018 (UTC)

National claims

Corey was born in England and lived from his birth in 1611 until some time prior to 1640 in England, probably in his late 20s. He then lived most of the rest of his life in the Massachusetts Bay Colony and for the last year in the Province of Massachusetts Bay. The latter two were part of British North America at the time. He was arraigned under British law and pressed thereunder. The United States takes 1776 as its founding date, some 84 years after Corey's death. It is difficult to see how he could be described as an "American farmer" (lead) or moved from the category "People executed for witchcraft" into "American poeple [sic] executed for witchcraft", particularly since he is also in "Executed English people"! Clearly calling him "British" is culturally insensitive and possibly misleading to modern readers. May I suggest therefore:

1. Replace him into the general "People..." category.
2. Either remove "American" references or convert them to "Massachusetts [Bay]" references.

I would suggest therefore in the lead: "Giles Corey (c. August 1611 – September 19, 1692) was a Massachusetts farmer who was accused ..." Martin of Sheffield (talk) 19:27, 14 October 2018 (UTC)