While reading a 2004 book (Such men are dangerous: the fanatics of 1692 and 2004), by Frances Hill, I saw this: John Hathorne married, at the age of 33, a girl of 14. Ironically, she was the daughter of Quakers who had been so mercilessly persecuted in Massachusetts they had moved to Connecticut. ... Probably Hathorne's domineering personality made only a very young girl, whose confidence had been undermined by her parents' persecution and her own subsequent abandonment, the kind of consort he could tolerate.
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Strong words. There are several points in the book to discuss, but who was this 'very young girl' who married John Hathorne? We have already looked a little at one of John's descendant who was a descendant of Thomas, namely Nathaniel Hawthorne (The early times, Family traditions).
We had noted that John Hawthorne had married Ruth Gardner, daughter of George. Is that true? Also, was George hounded into going to Connecticut?
Ruth (#28 in Dr. Frank A.'s book) did marry Hathorne around 1674 when she was fairly young. Was she still alive during the madness of the early 1690s?
Now, George did go to Hartford around 1670. Dr. Frank A. doesn't have a motivation in his 1907 book. The Gardner Memorial might have some more information.
Did he leave little Ruth behind? What is the story here?
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Frances Hill has studied, and written about, the Salem trials in which John had a very major part. His buddy, Jonathan Corwin, figures into the Thomas Gardner picture, to boot, as Samuel Gardner, son of Thomas, was married to their 1/2 sister (their mother was Samuel's mother-in-law, who had remarried after her husband, John White, died).
The madness was after Thomas' death. However, most of his kids went through those times. Hence, expect more about the topic in this blog as it is one of the many examples of then vs now and how we still haven't learnt some necessary lessons.
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John Hathorne's sisters married Porters who tried to protect people, such as Rebecca Nurse. All types of stories have been told about the ordeals, and there is a lot of public interest.
One of our interests is to collect the stories that tie to Thomas' family; they ought to be a very interesting, eclectic mix.
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We'll have to feature the other figures in Frances' book, such as Cotton Mather: And, running off after abstracted chimeras as we have seen the past decade, or so, is not effective for the commonweal. Perhaps, someone in Harvard has already figured this out. Do I see shades of Cotton Mather here (kidding, of course)?
Remarks:
03/13/2013 -- In regard to the connection with the Corwins, Samuel was 1/2 brother-in-law of Jonathan Corwin. George, Sr, was married to Samuel's mother-in-law, Elizabeth Herbert White.
02/10/2013 -- Fan-in from the turmoil of all types of ancestors.
12/29/2011 -- This post does not get into the subject, but here is an article that does. We'll be getting back to the history and the sociology and all of that, at some point. Much to read, first.
12/02/2011 -- More in the 4th issue of Gardner's Beacon.
10/19/2011 -- One motivation for interest is that these Corwin guys are great-1/2-uncles (however it is written). Hathorne, on the other hand, is a full great-uncle.
10/19/2011 -- Need to mention Jonathan's son, George, as seen from the Corey side: The only person who seemed to profit from the witchcraft hysteria was Sheriff George Corwin who confiscated property and pocketed fees collected from the accused and their relatives.
Modified: 03/13/2013
