| | His father was Nathaniel Hathorne, Sr., born in Salem in 1775 but died as a captain at sea while Nathaniel was only 4 years old. His widowed mother then moved her family (Nathaniel had two sisters also) into the homes of her wealthy brothers, and Nathaniel was raised there in Salem and in Raymond, Maine along Sebago Lake. | | His father was Nathaniel Hathorne, Sr., born in Salem in 1775 but died as a captain at sea while Nathaniel was only 4 years old. His widowed mother then moved her family (Nathaniel had two sisters also) into the homes of her wealthy brothers, and Nathaniel was raised there in Salem and in Raymond, Maine along Sebago Lake. |
| − | On his paternal side Nathaniel's ancestors included Major William Hathorne (c. 1606/7-1681), who persecuted Quakers and even ordered the public whipping of one, and Nathaniel's great-great grandfather was John Hathorne (1641-1717), son of Major William and Anna Hathorne. John was a magistrate judge of the Court of Oyer and Terminer, who was a prominent, unsympathetic interrogator of accused witches at the [[Salem Witch Trials]], and the only presiding judge who did not apologize later for his role. The conduct of these ancestors in persecuting others bothered Nathaniel immensely, and inspired multiple passages in his writings. | + | On his paternal side Nathaniel's ancestors included Major William Hathorne (c. 1606/7-1681), who persecuted Quakers and even ordered the public whipping of one, and Nathaniel's great-great grandfather was John Hathorne (1641-1717),<ref>https://historyofmassachusetts.org/nathaniel-hawthorne/ this source says that Nathaniel was the great great grandson of the judge, but it seems like another generation or two would be needed to bridge the time span</ref> son of Major William and Anna Hathorne. John was a magistrate judge of the Court of Oyer and Terminer, who was a prominent, unsympathetic interrogator of accused witches at the [[Salem Witch Trials]], and the only presiding judge who did not apologize later for his role. The conduct of these ancestors in persecuting others bothered Nathaniel immensely, and inspired multiple passages in his writings. |