Rev. John Lathrop, son of Thomas and Mary (Howell) Lathrop, baptized 20 December 1584 Elton, East Riding, Yorkshire, England, died 8 November 1653 Barnstable, Ma. He married 1st in England to Harriet or Hannah Howes, daughter of Rev. John and Alice (Lloyd) Howes or House, born Eastwell, Kent, England, died 1633 Lambeth, London, England. Rev. John married 2nd 17 February 1636/7 Ann ( ) Hammond. He first settled in Egertown in Kent, and afterwards succeeded Henry Jacob as pastor of the Southwark Church in London. He was educated at Queen's College, Cambridge, receiving his B.A. in 1605 and M.A. in 1609.

In 1611 he became vicar of Edgerton (Parish Church) County Kent, England but resigned in 1623 and went to London where he became pastor of the first Independent Congregational Church of England. On the 22nd of April 1632, he, with others of this church were arrested and imprisoned in the Old Clink Prison at Newgate for practising the teachings of the New Testament. He and some others were released two years later on condition of leaving the country.

In 1635, he with his wife and child, and several of his parishoners, sailed for America on the "Griffin" to Boston. He was the "First Minister" of Scituate, Ma. Having met with opposition, Rev. Lathrop and his friends decided to move. They first decided to move to Sipican on the south shore, but pirates haunted that coast and they would be liable to visits from them as well as French privateers and hostile Indians. They finally decided that Barnstable, Ma. would be a better place.

He evidently was an advocate of freedom in religion. We do not know whether he found it in America, as no account has been found of his life here.

Children: by 1st wife

1. Jane m. Samuel Fuller
2. Barbara m. John Emerson
3. Joseph, m. Mary Ansol. Ch: Joseph, Mary, Benjamin, Elizabeth, John, Samuel, John, Barnabas, Hope, Thomas, Hannah.
   Benjamin m. Martha. Ch: Martha, Hannah, Benjamin, Mary, Sarah, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Mercy, John.
4. Samuel m. Elizabeth Scudder
5. Thomas, m. 11 Dec 1639 Sarah (Larned) Ewer, d. of William Larned, and wid of Thomas Ewer. Ch: Mary, Hannah, Thomas, Meletiah, Bethia. Sarah

Children: by 2nd wife

1. Barnabas b. 1636, m. 1658 Susanna, d. of Thomas Clark. Ch; John, Abigail, Barnabas, Susannah, Nathaniel, Bathshua, Ann, Thomas, Mercy, Thankful, James, Samuel.
2. ABIGAIL m. James Clark
3. Bathshua b. 1642
4. John b. 1645, m. 3 Jan 1672 at Plymouth to Mary Cole, Junr. Ch: John, Mary, Martha, Elizabeth, James, Hannah, Jonathan, Barnabas, Abigail, Experience. Hopestill

Submitted by Susan Dorris