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William Phips

Sir William Phips, born in rural Maine, became a successful ship captain and treasure hunter. Knighted by King James II, he later served as the first Royal Governor of Massachusetts, overseeing the infamous Salem witch trials. Despite starting the trials, Phips eventually realized the errors and tried to end the unjust convictions, leading to the court's closure.

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William Phips

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  1. William Phips Shawn Musial Ms. DelGrego English 3

  2. Born/Death • Born: February 2, 1651 • Town: Kennebec, Main • Died: February 16, 1693

  3. Childhood • One of twenty six other children • Education was rare in rural Main • Unable to read until he moved to Boston, Massachusetts in order to study • Learned ship-carpentry trade form father

  4. Family • Father- • co-owned and operated a trading post plantation involved in the trade of fur and weapons. • Wife- • Name: Mary Spencer Hull • Married in 1637

  5. Career • When he moved to Boston, Massachusetts, he became captain of a supply ship that would travel towards Haiti and recover treasure from sunken ships. • Eventually became governor of Massachusetts

  6. Phips's Expedition • Traveled to London to seek funds for his expedition to explore sunken Spanish ships in the Caribbean for treasure • After receiving the funding he needed, Phips and his crew went on exploring • They discovered the remains of the Spanish ship Conception where he and his men took about 205,000 to 210,000 English pounds • Phips then gave ten percent to the king and queen

  7. The Knighting of Phips • After giving some of the money to the Crown Phips was called to Windsor Castle • King James II knighted Phips on June 28th, 1687 • A great achievement considering Phips did not have a royal background

  8. Religious Practices • Befriended Increase Mather and his son Cotton Mather • Baptized in 1689 a Cotton Mather’s Church after making a profession of faith

  9. Becoming a Governor • Phips petitioned for the Massachusetts Charter with Increase Mather • When the charter was passed, Increase Mather used his influence to nominate Phips to be the first Royal Governor

  10. Role as Governor • Phips returned to Massachusetts on May 14, two months after the accusations in Salem began • He ordered that those accused be put in jail • Created Court of Oyer and Terminer in order to determine the witch cases and placed lieutenant governor William Stroughton in charge of it

  11. Court of Oyer and Terminer

  12. Downfall • The court was later deemed illegal to avoid lawsuits (however it was legal due to it being created by a legitimate Royal Governor) • People were being convicted and executed on little to no evidence what-so-ever • Phips eventually realized the false accusations and became aware of the mistakes his court was making…

  13. Change of Heart • Phips pardoned eight people who were sentenced to death • Tried to end the court • Couldn’t control the court, therefore more executions occurred • Eventually the court was ended

  14. Bibliography Baker, Emerson W. and John G. Reid. The New England Knight, Sir William Phips 1651-1695,1998. Miller, Perry. "The Judgment of the Witches," in The New England Mind: From Colony to Province, 1953. Phips, Governor, Sir William. Letters of Governor Phips to the Home Government, 1692-1693, 1693. In George L. Burr, Narratives of the Witchcraft Cases, 1648 - 1706, 1914. Rosenthal, Bernard. Salem Story, Reading the Witch Trials of 1692,1993.

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