Stockman, John. Testimony
Collection History
Please note that as of January 2022, the John Stockman testimony, 1710, and all future digital collections are now hosted on the library's new digital archive.
In the early 1700s, Caleb Moody (b. 1666), the son of Sargent Caleb Moody Sr. of Newbury, Mass. was assaulted on the King's Highway by the soldier John Stockman (1681-1744), the son of Mr. John Stockman Sr. of Salisbury, Mass. The Moodys and Stockmans were both prominent families in the region. John Stockman was subsequently compelled to produce a confession in which he apologized for his attack on Moody and expressed contrition. The document consists of a single page in which Stockman describes the crime and pleads for forgiveness and reconciliation.
The original manuscript in this collection is owned by our project partners, the Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum. Further information about the collection can be found in the Phillips Library's catalog record.
Digital Materials
This document consists of the testimony of John Stockman of Salisbury, Mass., admitting his abuse of Caleb Moody in the Kings Highway "under the temptation of Satan" and praying for his forgiveness. The document is undated but likely produced around 1710.
Special Thanks
These digital resources have been made possible in part by the Council on Library and Information Resources, through a Digitizing Hidden Collections grant.
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this resource do not necessarily represent those of the Council on Library and Information Resources.
