William Stoughton (1631 – July 7 1701) was a colonial magistrate and administrator in the Province of Massachusetts Bay. He was in charge of what have come to be known as the Salem Witch Trials first as the Chief Justice of the Special Court of Oyer and Terminer in 1692 and then as the Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Judicature in 1693. In these trials he controversially accepted spectral evidence (based on supposed demonic visions).
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active years end date
1699-05-26, 1701-07-07
active years start date
1694-12-04, 1700-07-22
birth date
1631-09-30
birth place
Kingdom of England, Massachusetts Bay Colony
death date
1701-07-07
death place
Province of Massachusetts Bay
order in office
Acting Governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay
