Person Page

     Hepsibah Porter was baptized on 7 October 1705 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹

     Samuel Porter was baptized on 24 April 1709 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ He married first Hannah Flint on 1 September 1737.¹ He may have married second Sarah Eliot on 2 September 1747.¹

     Hannah Flint married Samuel Porter, son of Samuel Porter and Judith Dorman, on 1 September 1737.¹

     Sarah Eliot may have married Samuel Porter, son of Samuel Porter and Judith Dorman, on 2 September 1747.¹

     Jerusha Porter was baptized on 3 February 1711/12 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ She married Caleb Balch on 21 February 1739/40.¹

     Caleb Balch married Jerusha Porter, daughter of Samuel Porter and Judith Dorman, on 21 February 1739/40.¹

     David Porter was baptized on 11 July 1714 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ He died before 28 November 1744.¹

     Mary Porter was baptized on 4 September 1715 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹

     Anne (?) married William Hathorne, son of William Hathorne and Sarah (?), probably in New England in 1634.¹
     Her last name may have been Smith. The will of Richard Smith of St. Dunstan's West, London, Cook, dated 13 January 1660/61 and proved 17 January 1661/62, names his sister Ann Hawthorne and her sons John, Nathaniel, and William, and land in Wokeingham, co. Berks.²
     She was executrix of her husband's will, dated 17 February 1679/80 and proved on 28 Jun 1681, and received all of his moveable estate.¹

     Sarah Hathorne was born on 11 March 1634/35 in Dorchester, Massachusetts.¹ She married first Edward Helwise.¹ She was granted a divorce on 9 September 1664, based on two depositions taken in England from Richard Hoskins and Elizabeth Browne. They stated that Edward Helwise, who was then a sergeant in a foot company in Ireland, had also married someone else, with whom he had had a child within the last two years, which was admitted by Helwise. On 7 April 1663 Walter Littleton testified that the woman and child were living in Westminster.¹ She married second Joseph Coker on 13 April 1665 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ She died on 8 February 1687/88 at age 52.¹
     She was admitted to the church in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, in 1661.²

     Edward Helwise married Sarah Hathorne, daughter of William Hathorne and Anne (?).¹ Sarah was granted a divorce from him on 9 September 1664, based on two depositions taken in England from Richard Hoskins and Elizabeth Browne. They stated that Edward Helwise, who was then a sergeant in a foot company in Ireland, had also married someone else, with whom he had had a child within the last two years, which was admitted by Helwise. On 7 April 1663 Walter Littleton testified that the woman and child were living in Westminster.¹

     Joseph Coker married Sarah Hathorne, daughter of William Hathorne and Anne (?), on 13 April 1665 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹
     He was of Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹

     Eleazor Hathorne was born on 1 August 1637 in Salem, Massachusetts.¹ He was baptized on 6 August 1637 in Salem, Massachusetts.² He married Abigail Curwen, daughter of George Curwen, on 28 August 1663 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.^1,2 He died sometime before 29 June 1680 in Wells, Massachusetts (now in York Co., Maine), where he had traveled in one of his company's ships to bring back a load of timber.¹
     He was made a freeman in 1665.³ He was a "successful merchant in partnership with Mr. Jonathan Corwin."¹ On 29 June 1680 the probate court in Essex Co., Massachusetts, found that he had died intestate. No one applied as administrator for his estate, and the court appointed a marshal to perform that duty.¹

     Abigail Curwen married first Eleazor Hathorne, son of William Hathorne and Anne (?), on 28 August 1663 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.^1,3 She married second James Russell after 29 June 1680.¹

     William Hathorne was born on 9 May 1672.²
     In his grandfather William Hathorne's will, dated 17 February 1679/80 and proved on 28 Jun 1681 he was left £40.¹

     Samuel Hathorne was born on 23 September 1674.²
     In his grandfather William Hathorne's will, dated 17 February 1679/80 and proved on 28 Jun 1681 he was left £40.¹

     Abigail Hathorne was born on 14 November 1665.²
     In her grandfather William Hathorne's will, dated 17 February 1679/80 and proved on 28 Jun 1681 she was left £20.¹

     Nathaniel Hathorne was born on 11 August 1639 in Salem, Massachusetts.¹ He was baptized on 28 August 1639 in Salem, Massachusetts.² He probably died young.¹

     John Hathorne was born on 4 August 1641 (sic) in Salem, Massachusetts.^1,2 He was baptized on 2 August 1641 (French says 3 July 1644) in Salem, Massachusetts.^2,3 He married Ruth Gardner, daughter of George Gardner, on 22 March 1674/75.¹ He died on 10 May 1717 at age 75.¹ He was buried at Burying Point Cemetery in Essex Co., Massachusetts.⁴
     He was a merchant, and as a young man was a ship's officer in charge of the cargo on various trading voyages.¹
     In his father's will, dated 17 February 1679/80 and proved on 28 Jun 1681 he was left all of his father's houses, land, orchard, and appurtenances in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹
     He was made a freeman in 1677.³ In Salem he served as deputy marshal, selectman, constable, and town clerk.¹ In 1683 he was chosen as a deputy to the General Court.¹ The next year he became an assistant.¹ He also served as a court judge in Essex Co.¹
     An ardent supporter of the colony of Massachusetts, he was charged with disloyalty in 1686 in a report to England by Edward Randolph.¹ When the royal governor Sir Edmund Andros was arrested, he was appointed to the Committee of Safety which ran the colony. Soon afterwards he became a councillor, under the new governor Sir William Phips.¹
     He is principally remembered for his activities during the witchcraft hysteria of 1692, in which he conducted the preliminary examinations of those being accused.¹
     In 1696 he was colonel of an expedition against the French and Indians in the Penobscot area. He was not well suited as a military leader, but did serve well as part of a commission that negotiated a peace settlement.¹
     In 1702 he was appointed as a justice of the Superior Court, a position he occupied the rest of his life.¹

More Information / Background

• Salem Witch Trials
  
• Salem Witchcraft Trials 1692
  
• Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project
  
• King William's War
  
• Siege of Fort Nashwaak (1696)
  
• John Hathorne.
  

     Ruth Gardner married John Hathorne, son of William Hathorne and Anne (?), on 22 March 1674/75.¹

     Josiah Hathorne was baptized in June 1691.²

     William Hathorne was born on 1 April 1645 (sic) in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.^1,2 He was baptized on 5 April 1646 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He married Sarah (?).¹ He died before 4 February 1678/79, when his widow Sarah was appointed administrator of his estate.¹
     He was a company commander during King Philip's War, and took an active role in the campaigns in Maine and New Hampshire.¹ His estate was inventoried at £102: 8: 11, not including the Groton farm.¹

More Information / Background

• King Philip's War.
  

     Sarah (?) married William Hathorne, son of William Hathorne and Anne (?).¹
     Some sources say that she was Sarah Ruch, daughter of John and Hannah (Spooner) Ruck, and that she married second Rev. George Burroughs.²

     Mary Hathorne was baptized on 1 May 1653 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.^1,2 She died young.¹

     In his grandfather William Hathorne's will, dated 17 February 1679/80 and proved on 28 Jun 1681, he was left part of a farm at Groton, "provided he come over out of Urop to enjoy it".¹

     Mehitable Porter was born on 11 October 1698 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ She married Caleb Kimball on 15 February 1717/18.¹ She may have died in 1778 in Exeter, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.¹

     Caleb Kimball was born in 1694 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ He married Mehitable Porter, daughter of John Porter and Lydia Herrick, on 15 February 1717/18.¹ He died in 1780 in Exeter, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.¹

     Lydia Kimball was born on 4 October 1733 in Exeter, New Hampshire.¹ She married Ebenezer Lovering about 1753.¹ She died in Exeter, New Hampshire.¹

     Ebenezer Lovering was born on 9 April 1731 in Exeter, New Hampshire.¹ He married Lydia Kimball, daughter of Caleb Kimball and Mehitable Porter, about 1753.¹ He died in Exeter, New Hampshire.¹