National Cory Family Reunion 1992

Salem, Massachusetts

55 Cory cousins gathered in Salem, Mass August 7th, 8th and 9th for the Cory Family Reunion. Our headquarters for the reunion was the Hawthorne Hotel in the heart of Salem.

Most Cory cousins began arriving Friday afternoon and evening. Many cousins spent the day enjoying the sights and sounds of Salem as they remember the 300th anniversary of the Salem witch trials. Friday evening the society showed the award winning film "Three sovereigns for Sarah", starring Vanessa Redgrave as Sarah Cloyce, the sister to both Rebecca Nurse and Mary Easty, who perished during the Salem Witch period 300 years ago.

Saturday morning we gathered at 9:00 AM to meet our walking guide, Jim McAllister. Jim took us on a walk around historical Salem We saw the grave Mary Cory, the second wife of Giles, and the probable field where Giles was pressed to death 300 years ago.

Next we split into two groups to visit the Witch Museum and the Essex Institute. At the Essex Institute we were taken through the whole witch trial process. We were asked to participate which created a greater understanding of the entire episode in 1692 Salem. At 12:30 PM we gathered at the Witch Trial Memorial to present to the Tercentenary Committee a check from the National Cory Family Society in memory of Giles and Martha Cory in the amount of $500.00 The memorial is a fitting tribute to all who died during the witch hysteria. After lunch we boarded a bus for Pioneer Village and the House of Seven Gables. Our guide was none other than Giles Cory. In reality Giles was played by Erik Rodenheiser, a local actor. As we left the bus he gave everyone a stone to remember him. Giles (Erik), it will be along time before we forget You!! The day was completed with a bay view dinner at Victoria Station.

Sunday morning in the rain a few hearty cools worshiped together at the First Church of Salem. This is the oldest continuous congregation in the United States. At 1:00 PM our annual business meeting and banquet were held in the beautiful banquet room of the Hawthorne Hotel. The Mayor of Salem, Neil Harrington, welcomed the National Cory Family Society to Salem for our reunion. After the banquet and business meeting we heeard from our guest speaker, Col. Eleanor Spiller, who spoke on Giles Cory anrd the Salem winch trials. Immediately after our traditional group picture we said our sad farewells until next year when we meet in Rhode Island.

The National Cory family Society adopted a new name at our annual business meeting in Salem. Our Official name is CORY FAMILY SOCIETY. We have dropped the word "National" from our name. It was decided at our meeting that we are growing out of the continent of America and attracting members from Australia and the United Kingdom. We have many members in Canada which is America. The new name will be effective immediately in all correspondence and official society business.

It was agreed at the last business meeting that a LOGO was needed for the Society. The committee formed to look into the matter in 1991 delivered its very well done report to the society at Salem. It was voted and agreed upon to stop using our "unofficial logo" which has been the Norfolk Bramerton Hall Cory Crest. It was argued that even though some are from the Bramerton Hall branch of the Family, not all or most are not from that branch.

We are asking all members or nonmembers to submit their idea of what our logo should look like. Any and all will be considered. It can be modification of a Cory Crest or something completely new and original.