For those interested, I have received the documents from the Peabody-Essex Museum sent to me by Deborah Messa, a Library Assistant who has been very helpful in helping me research this. Included are examples of Robert PIKE'S handwriting, including his signature, as well as the 1692 letter written to Judge CORWIN in opposition to the trials. However, the Museum did not have any examples of Robert PAYNE'S writing to make a comparison. I am still looking for that if anyone happens to know where it can be obtained. One thing that is evident, Robert PIKE absolutely did not write the 1692 letter. The handwriting is obviously not in his hand. You can judge for yourself. I have taken images of the two documents and posted them at the following address: http://www.payn.org/rp-comparison.shtml If it was not Robert PIKE, as historians have concluded, than the only other author put forth was Robert PAYNE of Ipswich, whose name was added at some point beneath the initials, "R.P." in which the author of the letter used in closing. Regards, Patrick Payne http://papayne.rootsweb.com