John Hewitt (priest) facts for kids

See also John Hewitt (disambiguation) John Hewitt was an English Catholic priest who lived in the 1500s. He was also known by other names like Hewett, Weldon, or Savell. He is remembered as a Catholic martyr, which means he died for his religious beliefs. He was honored by the Catholic Church in 1929.

John Hewitt's Life Story

John Hewitt was born in England, but the exact year is not known. His father, William Hewett, was a draper in York. A draper was someone who sold cloth and fabrics.

Early Education and Priesthood

John Hewitt went to Caius College, Cambridge, which is a famous university. After that, he moved to the English College in Reims, France. This college was a place where English Catholics could train to become priests. In 1583, he took his first steps towards becoming a priest by receiving what were called minor orders.

Returning to England

In the summer of 1585, John Hewitt traveled back to York. He might have been feeling unwell at the time. However, he was soon captured in September of that year. He was then sent out of the country. By November 1585, he had returned to Reims.

After he officially became a priest, he set out for England again on January 7, 1586. To avoid being recognized, he used the name Weldon. He pretended to be a servant for a man named John Gardiner, who lived in Buckinghamshire.

Capture and Final Days

Sometime before March 1587, John Hewitt, still using the name Weldon, was arrested. This happened at their living place in Gray's Inn in London. He was then sent to Newgate Prison.

In October 1588, John Hewitt was formally accused of a serious charge. He was accused of becoming a priest through the See of Rome (the Pope's authority) and then coming to England to serve as a priest. At that time, it was against the law in England to be a Catholic priest who had trained in this way.

He was sentenced to death. The very next day, he was taken through the streets of London to Mile End Green. There, he was hanged.