Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Massachusetts/Salem Witch Trials Task Force

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Welcome to the Salem Witch Trials Task Force talk page!

Contents

[edit] Announcements

Founder and Coordinator, Psdubow, has retired, thus, resigning his post as the Chairman of the Task Force. Cocoaguy is now the Chairman,Yamaka122 still remains the Co-Chairman. The post of the second Co-Chairman is to be decided by Cocoaguy, Yamaka122, and the other members of the Task Force. Thank You.

[edit] Our Current Newsletter

[edit] Edward Bishop

Hi, I've done some more rewriting on this article, I still would kind of like a bit of input as to my efforts with the Bishop series of articles, since I really would prefer not to have them go the same way that my article on Capt. John Alden did (deleated with no one able, or willing?, to tell me what happened).

1) Still asking is there a chance that the template maybe needs the addition of another of the Edward Bishops? a) at this point I have articles on both Edward Bishop the husband of Bridget Bishop, and his son Edward from his first wife Hannah.

James Savage seems to have some of the data on 2 of the Edward Bishops combined, which is an old problem, since there were at least 3 and perhaps 4 Edward Bishops living in Salem MA in 1692 (at least 3 of them were father son and grandson).

Edward Bishop the husband of Sarah Bishop (both of whom were jailed for witchcraft) is quite clearly the son of Edward Bishop the husband of Bridget Wassalbe Oliver Bishop (the first victim hanged).

2) Has anybody else here read Upham's 2 vol work on the witchcraft trials ? If you folks agree with Upham's version (which I guess is probably the accepted version) then the article on Edward Bishop the son of Edward Bishop and his first wife Hannah is basically factually correct. John5Russell3Finley 22:04, 28 August 2007 (UTC)


I have done a bit of cleaning up so that Edward Bishop redirects to Edward Bishop (Salem) (Who has no clear last name), whilst Edward Stanley Bishop is the article for the British politician. I have also made some cleanup edits to several of our pages. Billy Bishop 23:46, 6 August 2007 (UTC)

The Edward Bishop, a "sawyer," who was Bridget (Playfer) Bishop's third husband (after Samuel Wasselby and Thomas Oliver) is NOT the same person as Edward Bishop Sr. of Salem Village, m. Hannah, and father of Edward Bishop Jr., who was married to Sarah (Wilds) Bishop, who was the daughter of Sarah (Averill) Wilds who was one of the people who was hanged. See Marilynne K. Roach, "The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege", Cooper Square Press, 2002, Appendix A —Preceding unsigned comment added by Ogram (talkcontribs) 21:58, 9 September 2007 (UTC)

'any chance that you can access this source on the web ? or maybe that you could somehow post it with all relevant other pages including the source citations ? Not meaning to question your truthfulness or judgement, but the 4 Edward Bishops of Salem had been debated back and forth for more than a hundred years with lots of proprietary and selfserving stuff before Upham who seems to be very thorough, and lots of that stuff survives and keeps having more of same in modern form John5Russell3Finley 15:14, 14 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Bridget Bishop

I think we need to put her page under a stricter degree of protection, she has had several vandalism attacks recently.John5Russell3Finley (talk) 01:21, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Coincidence?

Either somebody is genius, or I just happened to show up on a list of Massachusetts users, but Bridget Bishop (a possible relative of mine) was the first and one of the most famous witches to be killed at Salem. Billy Bishop 02:19, 15 July 2007 (UTC)

We are very glad to have you as part of our task force! Psdubow 16:30, 16 July 2007 (UTC)

PS: Are you really a relative of Bridget Bishop?

[edit] Joining

OK, sure, maybe a task force is the way to do this thing. Sign me up.John5Russell3Finley 00:20, 12 July 2007 (UTC)

Me too. -- LisaSmall T/C 17:16, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Assessment

Hi I added the assessment to the template(and set-up the system) and I was wondering if you would also like and importance rating system. Yamaka122 15:24, 2 July 2007 (UTC)

that would be great. thanks. Psdubow 15:16, 5 July 2007 (UTC)

I change my mind. Could you please delete the importance rating thing. It sort of disorginized and I think we are trying to bite off more then we could chew. Thanks, Psdubow 14:01, 9 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Pictures?

There are so many wonderful renderings of key figures in these events, as well as many photos of historic sites and memorials available online. It seems that the introduction of more images would improve many of the biographies. Does anyone know anything about adding pictures to Wikipedia? It seems that much of this material would fall in the public domain. I'm unclear on the process of adding images. Any guidance would be appreciated. MegaMom 07:36, 8 July 2007 (UTC)


This should help you: Wikipedia:Upload and Wikipedia:Images. - Psdubow 14:12, 8 July 2007 (UTC)

PS: Thanks for joining! We're glad to have you aboard!

There are a LOT of illustrations from 19th century periodicals and books that depict the events, so I hope we can be careful about what we present for images. The more 17th century images, the better. I've included a variety of portraits to that end Ogram 17:16, 9 September 2007 (UTC)
Please see the Salem witch trials category at the Wikimedia Commons for a growing collection of images. If anyone adds/finds additional images to the Commons, please make sure to add it to this category. Ogram 12:50, 11 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] To All Members of The Task Force:

To All Members of The Task Force:

I have been away for a month, but now I am back.

Now, that I am back, I intend to move this task force foward even more!

Sincerely,

Psdubow 22:46, 23 August 2007 (UTC) :)

[edit] Links with Bury Witch Trials

A subject I am beginning researching - working on, though a long way to go. I believe that a link to the Bury Witch Trials would be valid. Your thoughts, and relevant information gratefully received. Bury St Edmunds Suffolk. --Edmund Patrick ( confer work) 12:57, 2 September 2007 (UTC)

I've started a new article on Bury St. Edmunds witch trial and added a link from here in the See Also section. I haven't had much time to work on that article yet, but have info to contribute when I have a chance. Ogram 15:00, 13 September 2007 (UTC)
I am looking at the 1645 Bury St Edmunds Witch trials which became a 'model' for the Salem Witch Trial, apologies I should have made that clear. This does not stop the two being listed under the Bury St. Edmunds witch trial --Edmund Patrick ( confer work) 15:04, 14 September 2007 (UTC)
Me I am going to lie down in a darkened room in the hope that this gets the dates and trials right. Apologies. Edmund Patrick ( confer work) 11:40, 15 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Expansion

Psdubow,Cocoaguy, and I have talked about starting a wikiproject and breaking away from Wikiproject Massachusetts. We decided that we would wait till we have more members, but what do you think! Please join in below :) Yamaka122 ...:) 22:28, 11 September 2007 (UTC)

I support having the Salem Witch Trials as a separate wikiproject. Ogram 14:56, 13 September 2007 (UTC)

Me too, but not yet. Because that will mean a lot page name moves, and template changes, re-directs, etc.! Who is going do all that? Psdubow 19:34, 15 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Psdubow's Retirement

Dear Members of The SWTTF,

Today, I announce that I am going into retirement, thus, I am resigning my post as the Chairman of the Task Force.

The reason is I simply do not think I have the time to edit Wikipedia anymore. Plus, in the future, I'll probably have even less time to dedicate to Wikipedia.

Although I am retiring, I may occasionally log on to Wikipedia just to see how everything is going (and I might even do a few edits, every now and then). But for the most part, I am going to be inactive.

Most importantly though, I would like to thank all of you for your true support of this task force.

And I am sure under the strong leadership of Cocoaguy, our new Chairman, and Yamaka122, our Co-Chairman, this task force will continue to gain more members, and thrive.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Psdubow 21:05, 26 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Info from Salem

I only live a few minutes from Salem, and make it a point to go there every October, as there is a huge fair of sorts going on in the streets then. Any specific museums or historical points of interest anybody would like me to visit to get more accurate information for any articles? Billy Bishop 04:32, 1 October 2007 (UTC)

Going tomorrow morning, I'll pick up anything I find relevant. Billy Bishop 04:11, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Mary Bradbury

I started an article on Mary Bradbury. Does anyone have her birthdate, or know if she is related to Ray Bradbury? Pustelnik (talk) 17:09, 22 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Cotton Mather

I don't know if this is the correct manner to respond, but i am looking into cotton Mather's involvement with the Salem Witch Trials. I will find well cited information. if you are interested in me contributing, i would be happy to help. (RorikStrindberg (talk) 02:55, 22 April 2008 (UTC))