User:La Ovo/sandbox/Philip English (Salem Witch Trials)

=Philip English=

Philip English (born Philippe d'Anglois; 1651-1736) was a Massachusetts merchant who was accused of witchcraft during the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. English escaped from Salem to New York before being imprisoned. After the conclusion of the trials, English returned to Salem and, over a number of years, pressed lawsuits against various individuals in an attempt at restitution for the loss of goods during his absence.

Early Life
Little is known about English's life before he moved to Masachusetts. English was born Philippe d'Anglois in 1651 on the Isle of Jersey; he was of French Huguenot descent. Although Jersey was loyal to the English Crown, it was strongly influenced by nearby Norman France, and Jerseymen were often culturally more French than English. English would have been considered an immigrant to the English colonies due to his nationality.

English came to Salem in 1670 and established himself as a successful shipmaster by 1674. By 1680, English was able to hire his own shipmasters. On September 25, 1675, English married Mary Hollingsworth, whose own family held a share of shipbuilding and other business ventures. The marriage resulted in English gaining an additional warf, warehouse, and tavern. The Englishes lived in a mansion staffed by fifteen to twenty servants.

Salem Witch Trials
English was named as a wizard (a male witch) on ((DATE HERE)) and a warrent for his arrest was issued on the 30th of April, 1692; his wife has been taken into custody one week earlier. However, when the constable arrived at the English house to serve the warrant, English was nowhere to be found. English fled to New York, where he was later joined by his wife, who managed to escape from prison. Although it is likely that his whereabouts were known to the constables of Massachusetts, no attempts were made to extradite him or his wife.