Curwen, Joseph

Born Feb 18 (O.S.) 1662-3 in Salem-Village (family name Curwen or Carwen). Curwen ran away to sea at 15 and returned at 24 to Salem proper. He fled Salem during the witch trials in 1692 and took up residence in Providence, R.I. where he purchased a house in Olney Court on Stamper's Hill (which he rebuilt in 1761) and became a shipowner and importer. He married Eliza Tillinghast on March 7, 1763. It is said that he engaged in a gigantic magical operation that spanned the centuries. He was driven off, believed dead, and reappeared again as Dr. Allen in the time of Charles Dexter Ward.

("The Case of Charles Dexter Ward")