Folk Figure. Born the son of Anne Smith and William Hathorne, a magistrate and merchant. He married Ruth Gardner about 1675, and became book keeper for his father's business. He expanded his interests and bought a ship, a wharf, and a liquor license, and became a wealthy man. In 1681, he was granted a tract of land along the wharf to build a warehouse, his business traded to England and the West Indies. He was also appointed a justice of the peace of Essex County. In 1687, he was appointed a member of the council of assistants, a body meant to mediate disputes. In early 1692 when accusations of witchcraft began in Salem Village, he and magistrate Jonathan Corwin were called in to interrogate both accusers and accused to determine if there was cause for a trial. He was said to have been harsh and accusative in his questioning. In May 1692, he was appointed to the panel of the Special Court, and was regularly in favor of convicting those accused. His questioning always seemed to begin with a presumption of guilt. In a departure from tradition, he was known to badger those under examination to confess and to name others as well. The special court was replaced in 1693 by the Superior Court of Judicature, on which he was not seated; it cleared most of the accused. In 1702, he was appointed to the Superior Court, and sat for ten years. His career also included a role in the militia, in which he was promoted to colonel in 1711. He died at the age of 76. His great-great-grand son was author Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Folk Figure. Born the son of Anne Smith and William Hathorne, a magistrate and merchant. He married Ruth Gardner about 1675, and became book keeper for his father's business. He expanded his interests and bought a ship, a wharf, and a liquor license, and became a wealthy man. In 1681, he was granted a tract of land along the wharf to build a warehouse, his business traded to England and the West Indies. He was also appointed a justice of the peace of Essex County. In 1687, he was appointed a member of the council of assistants, a body meant to mediate disputes. In early 1692 when accusations of witchcraft began in Salem Village, he and magistrate Jonathan Corwin were called in to interrogate both accusers and accused to determine if there was cause for a trial. He was said to have been harsh and accusative in his questioning. In May 1692, he was appointed to the panel of the Special Court, and was regularly in favor of convicting those accused. His questioning always seemed to begin with a presumption of guilt. In a departure from tradition, he was known to badger those under examination to confess and to name others as well. The special court was replaced in 1693 by the Superior Court of Judicature, on which he was not seated; it cleared most of the accused. In 1702, he was appointed to the Superior Court, and sat for ten years. His career also included a role in the militia, in which he was promoted to colonel in 1711. He died at the age of 76. His great-great-grand son was author Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Bio by: Iola
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