William Hathorne

William Hathorne (ca. 1576 - 1650) was one of the most able, energetic and widely influential men in early New England.[1]

Hathorne is also the first American ancestor of the distinguished author, Nathaniel Hawthorne (who added the "w" to the spelling of his last name).

Contents

Biography

Hathorne was the son of a plain English yeoman, came to America in 1630, and rose to prominence through his own talent and efforts. He was a prosperous merchant in Salem, MA, was admitted as a freeman in 1634, served as a deputy representing Salem for many terms, and when the House of Deputies elected a speaker for the first time, he was the one chosen. He served in that capacity for several years thereafter, and was Salem's commanding character of the time period.[2][3]

Hathorne was a zealous advocate of the personal rights of freemen against royal emissaries and agents.

Hathorne served as a magistrate on the highest court, and received a grant of 640 acres for service to the state. He was elected assistant to the governor in 1662 and served until 1679. He was appointed as captain of the Salem military company on May 1, 1646, and led troops to victory in King Philip's War. He was commissioned as a major in 1656.[4]

Influence on Nathaniel Hawthorne

William Hathorne was a reflection of the Puritan society in which he lived. Puritans came to Massachusetts to obtain religious freedom for themselves, but had no particular interest in becoming a haven for other faiths. The laws were harsh, with punishments that included fines, deprivation of property, banishment or imprisonment. For example, Hathorne had Quakers whipped in the streets of Salem.

Hathorne's grandson, Judge John Hathorne, is also a symbol of this period. People believed that witches were real. There was no scientific explanation for individuals' bizarre behavior, so witchcraft appeared to be the logical explanation for people's fits (which experts now suspect may have been the result of ergo poisoning, which is caused by a fungus on grain). Nothing caused more fear in the Puritan community than people who appeared to be possessed by the devil. Witchcraft was a major felony. Judge Hathorne is the best known of the witch trial judges, and he became known as the "Hanging Judge" for sentencing witches to death.[5][6]

Author Nathaniel Hawthorne, who descended from these men, used his ancestors as inspiration for some of his most famous works. He was much interested in colonial history, good vs. evil, and the psychology of Puritan society. His classic novels The Scarlet Letter and The House of the Seven Gables, and the short story "Young Goodman Brown" reflect his studies.[7]

References

  1. ^ Waters, Henry F., Genealogical Gleanings in England, p. 45, Vol. I, New-England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, MA, 1901.
  2. ^ Soldiers in King Philip's War, Chapt. 22 (http://www.usgennet.org/usa/topic/newengland/philip/21-end/ch22.html)
  3. ^ Anderson, Robert, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633, Entry for William Hathorne, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, MA, 1999.
  4. ^ Crane, Ellery Bicknell, ed., Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memiors of Worcester County, Massachusetts, pp. 376-377, Vol. I, The Lewis Publishing Company, New York, NY, 1907.
  5. ^ Starkey, Marion, The Devil in Massachusetts, Knopf, Doubleday, 1969.
  6. ^ Brief Biography of John Hathorne, Hawthorne in Salem Web site (http://www.hawthorneinsalem.org/Life&Times/Family/Paternal/Introduction.html#JohnHathorne).
  7. ^ Hawthorne, Manning, Biography of Nathaniel Hawthorne in Readers' Encyclopedia of American Literature.

External links