Trial in Salem
Image courtesy of 2
Image courtesy of 2
LEaders of Salem:
Accusing Witches
(8.) John Hawthorne
(9.) |
Who Were They, Actually?:
Although there are valid suggestions and accurate claims regarding the true leaders of the Salem Witch Trials, there are indefinitely outer influences pertaining to this specific moment in history. However, the legacy and fame seemingly goes to a man named John Hathorne. (5. About John Hathorne (The Basics.): John Hathorne was born on the 5th of August in 1641. He was the fifth child out of nine total, all belonging to William and Anne Hathorne. His father was a local judge in Massachusetts, and was known to be a “bitter prosecutor.” He had also been the captain of Salem’s military forces during King Phillip’s war. John himself worked as a bookkeeper in an establishment at the edge of Salem. He then married off to a woman named Ruth Gardner, and became involved in the business of shipping trade. (6. (Ironically, he had five sons who all became sea captains.) When He Played His Part: His role in the Salem Trials develop until the late 1600s. He began his work in office in 1692, when he wand multiple men were called upon to conduct interrogations of the suspected witches. His first examinations were handled in March, on the 1st. He questioned Sarah Osbourne, Sarah Good, and a local slave named Tituba. (Tit-chew-buh.) Despite the fact that his job was to strictly remain unbiased, his demeanor towards the accused was presumably the exact opposite. In the words of historian Charles Wentworth Upham, “he always seemed to suppose them guilty.” - his book, “Salem Witchcraft.” An example of this is the examination of Martha Corey. (7. During Corey’s interrogation, Hathorne repeatedly badgered her, accusing her of lying forwardly. Most historians thought Hathorne as quite cruel; ruthless at times. As a matter of fact, his haste and refusal to reconsider a verdict even after the accused has chosen to recant their statements leave some theorizing that he was getting paid to sentence a guilty verdict. (8. The End of A Reign: When the Salem Witch Trials finally came to an end, most prosecutors and most interrogators showed regret in their actions. Hawthorne, however, displayed no such remorse. In 1702, he was appointed a seat on the superior court,- a position held for over 10 years. In 1712, he resigned from office. And on May 10th, 1717, one of Salem’s most well known prosecutors passed away at the age of 76. He is buried at the Old Burying Point Cemetery in Salem. (9. Written By: KayLee Kuehl |