Researching John Hale

His book, A Modest Enquiry Into the Nature of Witchcraft was published posthumously, two years after his death. The book provides an alternative Christian theory for what actually happened in Salem in 1692, with Hale theorizing that demons impersonated the accused and appeared in their forms to the afflicted. He most likely changed his views about those executed for "being witches" due to the fact that his own wife was accused as being a witch, though never prosecuted.

Born in Brooks (now Hancock) County, Virginia (now West Virginia), Hale attended the common schools.He studied law.He was admitted to the bar in 1849 and commenced practice in Brunswick, Missouri.He served as member of the State house of representatives in 1856–1858.He served as presidential elector on the Democratic ticket of Douglas and Johnson in 1860.He served as colonel of the Sixty-fifth Regiment, Missouri Militia, and of the Fourth Provisional Regiment, Missouri Militia, in the United States service during the Civil War.He served as delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1864 and 1868.He served as member of the Missouri constitutional convention in 1875.

Hale was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-ninth Congress (March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1887).He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination on the Democratic ticket and defeated for reelection as an Independent.He resumed the practice of law.He died in Carrollton, Missouri, on February 1, 1905.He was interred in Oak Hill Cemetery.

Hale was the eldest son of John Hale, grocer of Soper Lane, London and Harmer Green, Welwyn, Hertfordshire and his wife Elizabeth Browne, daughter of Humphrey Browne of Essex. He was baptised on 19 March 1614 and was six when he succeeded to the family estates on the death of his father in 1620. In 1643 and 1643 he was colonel of foot in the Parliamentary army.

In 1654, Hale was elected Member of Parliament for Devon in the First Protectorate Parliament. Receiver of tithe, Devon and Cornw. 1655; j.p. Devon 1656-65, He was re-elected MP for Devon in 1656 for the Second Protectorate Parliament. He was commissioner for assessment in 1657. In 1659 he was elected MP for Dartmouth in the Third Protectorate Parliament. He was commissioner for militia in 1659.

Hale was commissioner for assessment from January 1660 to 1680, commissioner for militia in March 1660 and major in the militia horse in April 1660. In April 1660 he was re-elected MP for Dartmouth in the Convention Parliament. He was commissioner for inquiry into Newfoundland government in 1667 and JP for Devon from 1667 to 1670 and from Devon from 1673 to 1676.

Hale married by 1634, Anne Halswell, daughter of Robert Halswell of Goathurst, Somerset and had three sons and a daughter.

He was born in England. He entered into the Royal Marines in 1776 and became a lieutenant in the 2nd Foot Regiment in 1779, and then captain. He was the military secretary of Prince Edward Augustus and accompanied him to Halifax, Nova Scotia. After a brief return to England, he went to Quebec City in 1799 and eventually became inspector-general of public accounts in 1807. In 1819 he acquired the seigneurie of Sainte-Anne-de-La-Pérade. He was president of a bank from 1821 to 1823.

In 1799, he married Elizabeth Frances Amherst.

He was a member of the Legislative Council of Lower Canada from 1808 until its dissolution in 1838 in the wake of the Lower Canada Rebellion, and was its deputy speaker on several occasions. He replaced John Caldwell as receiver-general in 1823, until his death.

His brother Edward and his son (also named Edward) served on the Special Council that ushered in the Act of Union.

He wrote Observations on crickets in Canada.