The John Proctor Sundial of 1644

Photograph Courtesy of the Peabody Essex Museum In May 1907, the Essex Institute of Salem, Massachusetts reported that they had received a sundial as a gift from Abel Proctor, formerly belonging to one of his ancestors, John Proctor, the witchcraft victim (Salem Witchcraft Trials, 1692).   This is an example of one of the earliest known American sundials.

John Proctor lived with his wife Elizabeth in what is now Peabody,  Massachusetts. They were respected farmers and keepers of a  tavern. Mary Warren, one of the "afflicted girls" of Salem Village  was a servant in the Proctor household. Early in 1692, Proctor  had been an outspoken critic of the witchcraft proceedings and  of the antics of the Village girls. He and his wife were accused of  witchcraft and sent to prison. Both were convicted of witchcraft,  and John was hanged on August 19. Elizabeth, who was found to  be pregnant, was spared execution and outlived the 1692 hysteria.  The story of the Proctors was later made famous by Arthur Miller in  his play "The Crucible." The "Proctor" sundial is 12 inches to the side, and the gnomon  reaches 6 inches above the dial at its highest point.  It is inscribed  with the date "1644". In 1995 I decided to make a reproduction of this sundial with some  notable changes.  First, since I had every intention of using the  sundial and I wanted to use it in a vertical position, I reversed the  order of the numerals, with progressing time going from the right  side counterclockwise to the left.  Next, I decided to make a more  elaborate gnomon.  The final change that I made was I adjusted the  spacing of the hour marks for the latitude where it was intended to  be used.  I also did not puncture the surface for the mounting rivets.  The image below is the reproduction Proctor Sun Dial that I made.  It is in my garden.