Quick Facts
Biography
William Hathorne (ca. 1606-1681) was one of the most able, energetic and widely influential men in early New England.
Hathorne is also the first American ancestor of the distinguished author, Nathaniel Hawthorne (who added the "w" to the spelling of his last name).
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.
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.
Later, Hathorne married a certain Anne Smith and had at least two children, one of which, Elizabeth (b. 22 July 1649), married Israel Porter (1643-1706) and was the grandmother of Israel Putnam.
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 son, 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 ergotism). 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.
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.
The House of the Seven Gables
Gallows Hill Park. Popular legend places the execution of the Salem Witches near this site.
Salem Common in 2006
The Pickman House, c. 1664, located on Charter Street and believed to be Salem's oldest surviving building
