John Hathorne

1. John Hathorne By Kanel Ngapmen Tenga & Manisha Byreddy Hathorne: How do you know that you are not a witch? Bishop: I do not know what you say. . .I know nothing of it. Hathorne: Why look you, you are taken now in a flat lye. A conversation between John Hathorne and Bridget Bishop <http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/SAL_BHAT.HTM>.

2. On August 5, 1641, John Hathorne was born into a well-established Salem family. He became a magistrate judge. Hathorne was one of the associate judges of the Salem Witch Trials. Because he was a magistrate and had a respectable background, he would be considered an educated man from the upper class. Examination of a witch Mr. Hathorne was 51 years old at the time of the trials, considering that these trials took place in 1692. He had a great-grandson, and back then, it was improper to have children without being married. Therefore, he must have been married.

3. Although he was very religious, he put many innocent people to death. He allowed his strong beliefs of the devil to influence him during his time as a judge. Hathorne was not regarded as a good Christian by the after his society found out about his misdeeds. He also brought shame upon his family. There was probably a great deal gossip about John Hathorne. He, like the rest of the judges, asked misleading questions and did not give their victims a chance to prove themselves innocent. Taking into account that he brought much shame to his family, it is evident that people did not like him. He accused Bridget Bishop of being a witch and when she tried to defend herself, he did not let her. June 10, 1692 – Hanging of Bridget Bishop

4. John Hathorne died on May 10, 1717 in Salem. Years later, John Hathorne's grandson, Nathaniel Hawthorne was born. He added a "w" in his last name to distance himself from John Hathorne. This because he was ashamed of the role his grandfather played in the Salem Trials Nathaniel Hawthorne