Norton, John, Bl.
NORTON, JOHN, BL.
Lay martyr; b. in Yorkshire, England; d. Aug. 9, 1600, hanged at Durham. He was the second son of Richard Norton, who had been attainted with rebellion in 1569, and his second wife Margaret Redshaw. John Norton and his wife were arrested in their home at Laymsley, Co. Durham, for harboring an illegal priest, Bl. Thomas palaser. They were condemned to death, but Mrs. Norton was reprieved because she was pregnant. Palaser and Norton died with their companion Bl. John talbot. Norton was beatified by Pope John Paul II on Nov. 22, 1987 with George Haydock and Companions.
Feast of the English Martyrs: May 4 (England).
See Also: england, scotland, and wales, martyrs of.
Bibliography: r. challoner, Memoirs of Missionary Priests, ed. j. h. pollen (rev. ed. London 1924). j. h. pollen, Acts of English Martyrs (London 1891).
[k. i. rabenstein]