The New World Times

     The man, the myth, the legend, Samuel Parris.  This is an interview with Samuel Parris; Samuel Parris was born in 1653 in London, England. Samuel Parris is also the minister of Salem Village. When Samuel Parris came to Salem Village; Samuel brought a witch which is known as Tituba. Now, listeners, it is time to learn about Samuel Parris’s life and how Samuel brought a witch to Salem Village.

 

Q&A with Samuel Parris

 

Reporter: Hello, Reverend Parris and how are you doing on this fine evening.

Samuel Parris: I am doing well, I have just finished running the evening congregation meeting.

Reporter: I have a few questions for you today Reverend Parris.

Samuel Parris:  Okay, go ahead sir.

Reporter: Here is my first question. What was your life like before you came to Massachusetts Colony Bay?

Samuel Parris: I was born in London England in 1653. In 1659 our family moved to a sugar plantation in Barbados.  I always helped out at the plantation, doing my work, watching the slaves do their and getting us extremely rich.  The profits for sugar was very high. So we got lots of money. When I was of age, I left Barbados and went to a college called Harvard Cambridge Massachusetts.  I was in college in 1673 when my father died.  I was forced to go back to our sugar plantation in Barbados to continue running my father's business.  So I ran the business the with my two slaves, Tituba and John Indian.  In 1680, a hurricane destroyed all of my property, forcing me to move to Massachusetts Colony Bay.

Reporter: Can you confirm that Tituba was the witch that you brought to Salem?

Samuel Parris: What witch, you mean Tituba. Pfft she isn’t a witch.

Reporter: Okay, I see Reverend Parris how you think she isn’t a witch.  Do you think she is being controlled by another witch?

Samuel Parris: Yes sir, it is definitely another witch around Salem.

Reporter: Well anyways, how did you become the minister of Salem Village?

Samuel Parris: When I came to Massachusetts, I was looking for a job, and I decided I would like to become minister. In 1686, I began to train to become a minister, it is a very extensive process.

Reporter: I can imagine.

Samuel Parris: For two years everyday I had to practice to becoming a minister.  I needed to learn how to talk to fellow churchmen and learn the right way to preach.  I needed to learn how to explain what being the elected means,  I also needed to learn how to pray with other people.

Reporter: Very interesting that seems very difficult.

Samuel Parris: After I learned all of the things I needed to learn, I found that I could become minister at Salem Village.  I thought a long hard six months and I eventually accepted this offer of being a minister at Salem Village church.

Reporter: Wow, okay.  I have heard you have you scolded someone in front of the whole congregation for going to the devil for help.

Samuel Parris: Yes, I have taught her that no matter how urgent the situation is, never go to the devil for help.  But alas, she did and tried to help find the witches and made my slaves make a witch cake even though they obviously aren’t witches. She made it apparent that my girls were inflicted by witches.  I never wanted Salem panicking about witches.

Reporter: What did you do when you found out from the doctor that your niece and daughter were inflicted by witches?

Samuel Parris: I prayed. After every service I got some churchmen and I prayed for a very long time about God blessing them.  That didn’t work so I brought ministers from other nearby places to pray with me.

Reporter: Why did you ask the girls for more witches names?

Samuel Parris: I felt like some witches were controlling Tituba and making her seem like a witch.  The girls said Sarah Good and Osborne were witches so we must hang them because they are causing trouble in Salem.

Reporter: It has been a pleasure speaking with you Reverend Parris.

Samuel Parris: And you too sir.

Reporter: Thank you for listening and have a good evening.  Make sure to listen to tomorrow’s  podcast, The Expert Mender.

 

    Samuel Parris is the minister that had his niece and daughter affected by witchcraft.  This is important for Massachusetts Bay Colony to know, because Samuel Parris brought Tituba to Massachusetts and Tituba is a witch.  This is also important because Samuel Parris was the one who made attempts to figure out what the girls were being affected by and when Samuel did he was the one who took action.   Therefore Samuel Parris is very important to keep in mind in the when the witch trials are happening.