Events in History Oct 23 Meal Tub Plot against James Duke of York (future James II of England) Birthdays in History Oct 18 Ann Putnam, Jr., American accuser in the Salem Witch Trials (d. 1716) Oct 20 Samuel von Cocceji, German lawyer Deaths in History Oct 12 William Gurnall, English writer (b. 1617) Oct 24 Barent Avercamp, Dutch landscape painter, dies at about 66 Oct 26 Roger Boyle, 1st Earl of Orrery, British soldier, statesman, and dramatist, dies at 58 1678 On This Day in History 1680