John Rivers is the head of the Rivers family who befriends Mary, Martha, Jonah and Tobias. He is Sarah's husband and Rebekah's father. John is ready to fight Reverend Johnson and the constables to prevent them from entering Rebekah's birthing room where Mary is hidden after being accused of witchcraft. He plans to follow Martha and Jonah out of Beulah as soon as Rebekah is well enough to travel after giving birth.