Justice John Hathorne and The Salem Witch Trials By Jennifer Rheaume, Victoria Barret, Cory Bevilacqua, and Amanda Barroso.

Justice John HathorneJustice John Hathorneandand

The Salem Witch TrialsThe Salem Witch TrialsBy Jennifer Rheaume, Victoria By Jennifer Rheaume, Victoria Barret, Cory Bevilacqua, and Barret, Cory Bevilacqua, and

Amanda BarrosoAmanda Barroso

John Hathorne’s LifeJohn Hathorne’s Life

John Hathorne was born on August 5John Hathorne was born on August 5thth, 1641 in , 1641 in Salem, Massachusetts to William Hathorne and Anne Salem, Massachusetts to William Hathorne and Anne Smith. He was the first generation of his family to be Smith. He was the first generation of his family to be born in Americaborn in America

His father, Major William, landed in the colonies His father, Major William, landed in the colonies with the first settlers in 1630 and quickly became one with the first settlers in 1630 and quickly became one of the community’s leaders. He was a wealthy farmer of the community’s leaders. He was a wealthy farmer and was a devote Puritan who took part in the and was a devote Puritan who took part in the persecution of the Quakers.persecution of the Quakers.

John grew up to be very religious. John grew up to be very religious.

Justice John Hathorne’s CareerJustice John Hathorne’s Career

John originally became a Salem merchant, and John originally became a Salem merchant, and then became a politician. then became a politician.

His political skills won him a position as His political skills won him a position as Justice of the Peace and county judge.Justice of the Peace and county judge.

He played a huge part in the Salem Witch He played a huge part in the Salem Witch Trials (which is gone over thoroughly in a later Trials (which is gone over thoroughly in a later section), and became referred to as “The Witch section), and became referred to as “The Witch Hangin’ Judge.”Hangin’ Judge.”

An actor dressed up as An actor dressed up as Justice John HathorneJustice John Hathorne

The Salem Witch Trials of 1692The Salem Witch Trials of 1692

January 20January 20thth, 1692 , 1692 - Elizabeth Parris (9 years - Elizabeth Parris (9 years old) and Abigail Williams (11) exhibit strange old) and Abigail Williams (11) exhibit strange behavior including screaming, seizures, behavior including screaming, seizures, “trances,” and “spells.” Other girls around “trances,” and “spells.” Other girls around Salem soon exhibit similar behavior.Salem soon exhibit similar behavior.

February February – No cause is found for the behavior, – No cause is found for the behavior, and people come to the conclusion that the and people come to the conclusion that the girl’s are under Satan’s influence. Pressured, girl’s are under Satan’s influence. Pressured, the girls name 3 women as witches. Arrest the girls name 3 women as witches. Arrest warrants are immediately issued for Tituba warrants are immediately issued for Tituba (Parris’ Carib Indian Slave), and Sarah Good (Parris’ Carib Indian Slave), and Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne (two women who were and Sarah Osborne (two women who were disliked around town).disliked around town).

MarchMarch – Magistrates John Hathorne and – Magistrates John Hathorne and Jonathon Corwin examine the 3 arrested Jonathon Corwin examine the 3 arrested women. Tituba confesses to seeing the devil women. Tituba confesses to seeing the devil in the form of a great dog. This makes people in the form of a great dog. This makes people believe there really is a witch problem, and believe there really is a witch problem, and many more witch accusations occur. many more witch accusations occur.

AprilApril – Sarah Cloyce (Rebecca Nurse’s sister) and – Sarah Cloyce (Rebecca Nurse’s sister) and Elizabeth Proctor are examined by Hathorne, Corwin, Elizabeth Proctor are examined by Hathorne, Corwin, Deputy Governor Thomas Danforth, and Captain Deputy Governor Thomas Danforth, and Captain Samuel Sewall. By the end of the examination, John Samuel Sewall. By the end of the examination, John Proctor (Elizabeth’s husband) is accused of being a Proctor (Elizabeth’s husband) is accused of being a witch for protecting Elizabeth, and is imprisoned.witch for protecting Elizabeth, and is imprisoned.

13 more people (including Bridget Bishop) are 13 more people (including Bridget Bishop) are examined, and only one person, Abbigail Hobbs examined, and only one person, Abbigail Hobbs confesses. Nehemiah Abbott is the only person confesses. Nehemiah Abbott is the only person cleared of all charges.cleared of all charges.

MayMay – 10 more people (including George Burroughs) are – 10 more people (including George Burroughs) are examined by Hathorne and others. One of the afflicted girls, examined by Hathorne and others. One of the afflicted girls, Sarah Churchill, is examined to see if she is still being affected Sarah Churchill, is examined to see if she is still being affected by witches and whether her claims are real or not. by witches and whether her claims are real or not.

George Jacobs Sr. and his granddaughter, Margaret, are George Jacobs Sr. and his granddaughter, Margaret, are examined. Margaret “confesses” that her grandfather and examined. Margaret “confesses” that her grandfather and George Burroughs were both witches. She did this to save her George Burroughs were both witches. She did this to save her own life.own life.

Sarah Osborne, one of the 3 women originally accused, dies in Sarah Osborne, one of the 3 women originally accused, dies in prison.prison.

Increase Mather returns from England with a new charter and Increase Mather returns from England with a new charter and a new governor, Sir William Phips. Phips sets up the Court of a new governor, Sir William Phips. Phips sets up the Court of Oyer and Terminer that had 7 judges (including Hathorne) and Oyer and Terminer that had 7 judges (including Hathorne) and was to judge only the witch trials. The trials were as unfair as was to judge only the witch trials. The trials were as unfair as ever and were based upon intangible and spectral evidence, ever and were based upon intangible and spectral evidence, like supernatural attributes and the reactions of afflicted girls. like supernatural attributes and the reactions of afflicted girls.

JuneJune – In the first session of the Court of Oyer and – In the first session of the Court of Oyer and Terminer, Bridget Bishop is condemned to death for Terminer, Bridget Bishop is condemned to death for being guilty of “being a witch.”being guilty of “being a witch.”

One of the court’s 7 seven judges, Nathaniel Saltons, One of the court’s 7 seven judges, Nathaniel Saltons, resigned because he was unhappy with the resigned because he was unhappy with the proceedings.proceedings.

In the 1In the 1stst official Salem witch execution, Bridget official Salem witch execution, Bridget Bishop is hanged.Bishop is hanged.

More people are accused of being witches, but some More people are accused of being witches, but some people start petitions to save innocent people who are people start petitions to save innocent people who are being accused.being accused.

6 more people are condemned.6 more people are condemned.

JulyJuly – Joseph Ballard enlists the aid of the – Joseph Ballard enlists the aid of the accusing girls and begins the Andover witch accusing girls and begins the Andover witch hunt.hunt.

5 more people are executed.5 more people are executed.

AugustAugust - 6 more people are condemned. Two - 6 more people are condemned. Two weeks later they are hanged on Gallows Hill.weeks later they are hanged on Gallows Hill.

SeptemberSeptember – 15 more people are condemned. – 15 more people are condemned. Giles Corey refuses a trial and is pressed to Giles Corey refuses a trial and is pressed to death as punishment.death as punishment.

Dorcas Hoar “confesses” and gets her Dorcas Hoar “confesses” and gets her execution delayed.execution delayed.

8 more people are hanged. 8 more people are hanged.

OctoberOctober – – Thomas Brattle wrote a letter Thomas Brattle wrote a letter criticizing the witchcraft trials. This letter has criticizing the witchcraft trials. This letter has a great impact on Governor Phips, and he a great impact on Governor Phips, and he orders a stop to intangible and spectral orders a stop to intangible and spectral evidence being used in the court. He later evidence being used in the court. He later completely dissolves the Court of Oyer and completely dissolves the Court of Oyer and Terminer.Terminer.

NovemberNovember – The General Court of the colony – The General Court of the colony created the Superior Court to try the remaining created the Superior Court to try the remaining witch cases. The final ruling took place on witch cases. The final ruling took place on May, 1693, and no one was convicted.May, 1693, and no one was convicted.

Final Effects of the Salem Witch Final Effects of the Salem Witch TrialsTrials

By the end of the trials, 19 people had been hung on Gallows By the end of the trials, 19 people had been hung on Gallows Hill (most of them women, and 5 had died in prison, adding up Hill (most of them women, and 5 had died in prison, adding up to a total of 24 people dead. All of this occurred because some to a total of 24 people dead. All of this occurred because some little girls wanted attention, and people were paranoid and little girls wanted attention, and people were paranoid and religious enough to not only believe it but continue it. At later religious enough to not only believe it but continue it. At later dates, many of the judges admitted that what they had done dates, many of the judges admitted that what they had done was wrong, but they said they had not known it at the time.was wrong, but they said they had not known it at the time.

552 documents regarding the court testimonies are stored 552 documents regarding the court testimonies are stored in the Peabody Essex Museum Justice John Corwin’s house (the Witch House, the site Justice John Corwin’s house (the Witch House, the site

of the 1st witch trials) still stands today.of the 1st witch trials) still stands today.

Justice John Hathorne’s DeathJustice John Hathorne’s Death Justice John Hathorne died on May 10Justice John Hathorne died on May 10thth, 1717. He was 76 , 1717. He was 76

years old.years old.

His body was buried in the Charter Street Old Burying Ground His body was buried in the Charter Street Old Burying Ground (often called the Salem Burying Ground). It is the 2(often called the Salem Burying Ground). It is the 2ndnd oldest oldest cemetery in America, and is walking distance from the Seven cemetery in America, and is walking distance from the Seven Gables Historic Site.Gables Historic Site.

His tombstone is encased in granite and reads “Here lyes His tombstone is encased in granite and reads “Here lyes inter’d ye body of Colo. John Hathorne Esq. Aged 76 years inter’d ye body of Colo. John Hathorne Esq. Aged 76 years who died May 10who died May 10thth 1717.” At the top is a winged death’s head 1717.” At the top is a winged death’s head (a symbol of mortality), and rosettes (a symbol of the brevity (a symbol of mortality), and rosettes (a symbol of the brevity of earthly existence) adorn the sides and bottom.of earthly existence) adorn the sides and bottom.

Pictures of Hathorne’s TombPictures of Hathorne’s Tomb

Links to Nathaniel HawthorneLinks to Nathaniel Hawthorne

Nathaniel Hawthorne, Justice John Hathorne’s Nathaniel Hawthorne, Justice John Hathorne’s grandson, added a ‘w’ to his last name to distance grandson, added a ‘w’ to his last name to distance himself from his ancestors (specifically John himself from his ancestors (specifically John Hathorne). He did this because he was ashame of Hathorne). He did this because he was ashame of John’s role in the horrible Salem Witch Trials.John’s role in the horrible Salem Witch Trials.

Supposedly, one of the victims of the witch trials who Supposedly, one of the victims of the witch trials who was condemned to die placed a curse on John was condemned to die placed a curse on John Hathorne and his descendants. This curse plays a part Hathorne and his descendants. This curse plays a part in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s book in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s book The House of the The House of the Seven GablesSeven Gables, and is even mentioned in Hawthorne’s , and is even mentioned in Hawthorne’s The Scarlet LetterThe Scarlet Letter. .