Anne Marbury was born in Alford, Lincolnshire, England on July 20, 1591. Anne was baptized in the Anglican faith. As her father was cleric, she spent much of her childhood traveling throughout England. In 1611, her father died and she married a fabric merchant named William Hutchinson. Anne's life with her new husband was prosperous. He was a very successful merchant, owning property in England and New England. The couple welcomed their first child in 1612 (the first of 15 such pregnancies she would have). The couple also shared similar religious beliefs. They became engrossed by the preaching of Puritan minister, John Cotton. In 1634, Hutchinson and her husband followed Cotton and other members of their church to New England, in order to practice their faith unmolested.
Life in the New World was very good to the Huchinsons. She and her husband became active members in the First Church in Boston. They attended church meetings inside and outside the congregation. Anne became a midwife to further support her religious community. As a midwife, Anne would meet with families outside the church, ply her trade, and hold pray sessions. These pray sessions sooon grew into doctrinal discussions between Anne and various members of her church. Eventually, these meetings grew so large they met the attention of Puritan church leaders. John Cotton warned Anne that if she kept ministering she would be arrested; but Anne felt a duty to her new flock. On November 7, 1637, she was arrested for heresy. During her trial, she justified her actions by saying that she had not publicly decried against the church. Her defenders claimed her preaching was not against the church teachings but was supplemental to them. Her accusers stated that Anne was actively preaching against church doctrine. In the end, she was found guilty. On March 22, 1638, she was sentenced to banishment from the colony and the Massachusetts religious community.
Another religious dissenter, Roger Williams had heard about Anne's plight. He suggested that Anne and her family join him and other dissenters at his colony in Providence (present day Rhode Island). Civil strife and a difficult, final pregnancy made Anne's life in the new colony terrible. However, she still adapted to her new surroundings by making allies of local native tribes. In 1641, her new found stability was shattered when her husband, William died. She decided to move the remainder of her family to the Dutch colony of New Netherland (present day New York). Even though the Dutch had an ongoing conflict with the native tribes in the area, Anne surmised that her family would be safe due to the relationship she had fostered with them. In 1643, war broke out between the natives and Dutch colonists. It is unknown when it happened but at some point during the fighting, Anne's house was ransacked. She and her family were killed and their house was burned to the ground.
Life in the New World was very good to the Huchinsons. She and her husband became active members in the First Church in Boston. They attended church meetings inside and outside the congregation. Anne became a midwife to further support her religious community. As a midwife, Anne would meet with families outside the church, ply her trade, and hold pray sessions. These pray sessions sooon grew into doctrinal discussions between Anne and various members of her church. Eventually, these meetings grew so large they met the attention of Puritan church leaders. John Cotton warned Anne that if she kept ministering she would be arrested; but Anne felt a duty to her new flock. On November 7, 1637, she was arrested for heresy. During her trial, she justified her actions by saying that she had not publicly decried against the church. Her defenders claimed her preaching was not against the church teachings but was supplemental to them. Her accusers stated that Anne was actively preaching against church doctrine. In the end, she was found guilty. On March 22, 1638, she was sentenced to banishment from the colony and the Massachusetts religious community.
Another religious dissenter, Roger Williams had heard about Anne's plight. He suggested that Anne and her family join him and other dissenters at his colony in Providence (present day Rhode Island). Civil strife and a difficult, final pregnancy made Anne's life in the new colony terrible. However, she still adapted to her new surroundings by making allies of local native tribes. In 1641, her new found stability was shattered when her husband, William died. She decided to move the remainder of her family to the Dutch colony of New Netherland (present day New York). Even though the Dutch had an ongoing conflict with the native tribes in the area, Anne surmised that her family would be safe due to the relationship she had fostered with them. In 1643, war broke out between the natives and Dutch colonists. It is unknown when it happened but at some point during the fighting, Anne's house was ransacked. She and her family were killed and their house was burned to the ground.
Comments
Post a Comment