# Judge Jaffrey Pyncheon — The House of the Seven Gables character guide > Judge Jaffrey Pyncheon in The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Jaffrey Pyncheon, Jaffrey, Judge Pyncheon, Governor Pyncheon, the Judge, the late Judge Pyncheon, Cousin Jaffrey **First appearance:** 0001-the-house-of-the-seven-gables ## Snapshot A prosperous, smiling judge whose public benevolence masks a cold determination to possess the Pyncheon fortune and silence his cousin. ## Who they are Judge Jaffrey Pyncheon is the family's most respected and most feared member, a man whose philanthropy is performed for an audience and whose kindness always has a price. He covets the old house, the missing deed, and above all the secret that keeps Clifford in his power, and he moves through the story with the calm assurance of someone who has never been denied. His polished cruelty sharpens the novel's moral contrast between outward respectability and inward corruption, and his pursuit of the Pyncheons' hidden legacy drives the middle chapters toward crisis. ## Relationships ### [Hepzibah Pyncheon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/characters/hepzibah_pyncheon) _family_ Hepzibah and Judge Jaffrey are cousins, but she fears and resents him for his role in Clifford's imprisonment and his cold, oppressive nature. ### [Clifford Pyncheon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/characters/clifford_pyncheon) _rivalry_ Clifford and Judge Jaffrey are bitter enemies, as the Judge falsely accused Clifford of murder and had him imprisoned for decades. ### [Phoebe Pyncheon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/characters/phoebe_pyncheon) _family_ Judge Jaffrey is Phoebe's wealthy, manipulative uncle who tries to use her to gain control over Clifford and the family secrets. ### [Holgrave](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/characters/holgrave) _rivalry_ Holgrave secretly opposes Judge Jaffrey, knowing the Judge's corruption and his role in the Pyncheon family's dark history. ### [Clifford Pyncheon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/characters/clifford_pyncheon) _rivalry_ Clifford and Judge Jaffrey are bitter enemies, as the Judge falsely accused Clifford of murder and had him imprisoned for decades. ### [Hepzibah Pyncheon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/characters/hepzibah_pyncheon) _family_ Hepzibah and Judge Jaffrey are cousins, but she fears and resents him for his role in Clifford's imprisonment and his cold, oppressive nature. ### [Hepzibah Pyncheon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/characters/hepzibah_pyncheon) _family_ Hepzibah and Judge Jaffrey are cousins, but she fears and resents him for his role in Clifford's imprisonment and his cold, oppressive nature. ### [Phoebe Pyncheon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/characters/phoebe_pyncheon) _family_ Judge Jaffrey is Phoebe's wealthy, manipulative uncle who tries to use her to gain control over Clifford and the family secrets. ### [Phoebe Pyncheon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/characters/phoebe_pyncheon) _family_ Judge Jaffrey is Phoebe's wealthy, manipulative uncle who tries to use her to gain control over Clifford and the family secrets. ### [Holgrave](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/characters/holgrave) _rivalry_ Holgrave secretly opposes Judge Jaffrey, knowing the Judge's corruption and his role in the Pyncheon family's dark history. ### [Clifford Pyncheon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/characters/clifford_pyncheon) _rivalry_ Clifford and Judge Jaffrey are bitter enemies, as the Judge falsely accused Clifford of murder and had him imprisoned for decades. ## In the story ### [The Old Pyncheon Family](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/chapters/i-the-old-pyncheon-family) Current heir and a prominent figure in society; inherited the house after the death of his uncle, the old bachelor. ### [IV: A Day Behind the Counter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/chapters/iv-a-day-behind-the-counter) Observes the shop window from the street, smiling ambiguously, and is recognized by Hepzibah as a modern version of the old Colonel. ### [May and November](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/chapters/v-may-and-november) Mentioned by Phoebe; Hepzibah angrily says he will hardly cross the threshold while she lives. ### [Maule's Well](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/chapters/vi-maule-s-well) Implied as the subject of Holgrave's daguerreotype, which reveals a sly, hard, imperious character beneath a pleasant exterior. ### [VIII: The Pyncheon of Today](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/chapters/viii-the-pyncheon-of-today) Judge Pyncheon arrives at the shop, displaying a forced benevolence that masks a fierce and grim purpose. He pressures Hepzibah to let him see Clifford, but retreats after Clifford's terrified plea. ### [XII: The Daguerreotypist](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/chapters/xii-the-daguerreotypist) Referenced as the living image of the old Colonel, perpetuating the family's wretched inheritance. ### [XIV: Phoebe’s Goodbye](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/chapters/xiv-phoebe-s-goodbye) Holgrave mentions that the Judge keeps his eye on Clifford and is a determined, relentless man with an inquisitor's character. ### [XV: The Scowl and Smile](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/chapters/xv-the-scowl-and-smile) Visits the house, insists on seeing Clifford, and reveals his role in Clifford's release; his dual nature is explored. ### [XVI: Clifford's Chamber](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/chapters/xvi-clifford-s-chamber) Mentioned as the relentless antagonist, whose delusion about a secret drives the crisis; his daguerreotype appears as a menacing omen. ### [XVII: The Flight of Two Owls](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/chapters/xvii-the-flight-of-two-owls) Mentioned by Clifford as 'Cousin Jaffrey' sitting alone in the house, his presence haunts Hepzibah's thoughts during the journey. ### [Governor Pyncheon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/chapters/xviii-governor-pyncheon) Sits dead in the oaken chair throughout the night; the narrator questions whether he will rise and repent or remain a hypocrite. ### [XIX: Alice’s Posies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/chapters/xix-alice-s-posies) Reported all over town as possibly murdered; his engraved card with penciled memoranda is found and taken to the city marshal. ### [XX: The Flower of Eden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/chapters/xx-the-flower-of-eden) Found dead in the house, his death mirroring that of his uncle. Holgrave has taken a daguerreotype of him post-mortem. ### [The Departure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/chapters/xxi-the-departure) Dies suddenly; posthumous talk reveals his youthful crime of accidentally causing his uncle's death and framing Clifford. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/characters/judge_jaffrey_pyncheon - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/characters