Anne Hutchinson � 1591-1643 A Prologue to Portsmouth History
Anne in England 1591 born in Alford - moved to London as teenager Father was Francis Marbury. Educated Anne - she read his library of books. Alford As young man he served time in jail for criticizing ministers. Entertained his children with London transcript of his trial. He was the hero and the bishop was the fool.
Anne in England Mother Bridget taught Anne skills of: midwife herbalist Skills she brought to Boston and Portsmouth.
Anne in England 1612: Anne marries cloth merchant William Hutchinson. Moves back to Alford. 1613: Anne’s first child, Edward, is born. Anne would have 15 children, but many died in childhood. Anne and William become followers of Puritan minister John Cotton. 1634: When Cotten moved to Boston, the Hutchinson family traveled to America on ship Griffin.
Anne in Boston Anne served as midwife, nurse, herbalist. She opened her large home to meetings to discuss sermons of ministers. Up to 80 people came. Men followed her as well as women. She began to criticize Rev. John Wilson. Some thought she wanted to replace him with her brother-in-law, John Wheelwright. In 1636 her friend Henry Vane became governor. In 1637 John Winthrop became governor. thought she was a threat to the peace of the town.
Anne on Trial November 1637 Anne was put on trial before the Massachusetts Bay General Court on charges of heresy and “traducing” (telling lies) about the ministers. Church and the government were tied in the Bay Colony. Anne was tried twice - once by the court and later by the church.
Gov. Winthrop’s Charges (from Trial Transcript) “You are called here as one of those who have troubled the peace.” “You have maintained a meeting and an assembly in your house…not fitting for your sex.” Anne was guilty of “dishonoring of parents.” (the ministers) “We are your judges and not you ours.” “She hath said that the ministers preached a covenant of works” She is “unfit for our society.”
Anne’s Defense (from Trial Transcript) About the meetings in her home: “There lies a clear rule in Titus, that the elder women should instruct the younger.” “Do you think it is not lawful for me to teach women and why do you call me to teach the court?” About “dishonoring” elders: “Neither do I think that I ever put any dishonor upon you.” About criticizing ministers: “I acknowledge using the words of the apostle to the Corinthians unto him, that they that were ministers of the letter and not the spirit did preach a covenant of works.”
In Her Own Words Trial Transcript is only Record of Anne’s Thoughts “You have power over my body but the Lord Jesus hath power over my body and soul.” “Now if you condemn me for speaking what in my conscience I know to be truth, I must commit myself unto the Lord.” “I bless the Lord, he hath let me see which was the clear ministry and which the wrong.” (How does God speak to her?) “So to me by an immediate revelation….by the voice of his own spirit to my soul.” “..if you go on in this course you begin, you will bring a curse upon you and your posterity, and the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
The Sentence Mrs. Hutchinson, the sentence of the court you hear is that you are banished from out of our jurisdiction as being a woman not fit for our society, and are to be imprisoned til the court shall send you away.
Church Trial March 15, 1638 After her civil trial, Anne was put under house arrest and ordered to be gone by March. She was not allowed to go home. She was held in Roxbury two miles away and rarely saw her family. Rev. Cotton: You see she is but a woman and many unsound and dangerous principles are held by her. Hutchinson received spiritual penalty of excommunication. Rev. Wilson “I do cast you out and deliver you up to Satan.” He ordered her “as a leper to withdraw your self out of the Congregation.” Mary Dyer walked over to Anne, joined hands with her and the two walked together through the church door. Anne turned and said: “The Lord judges not as man judges better to be cast out of our the Church than to deny Christ.”
Portsmouth History Begins Between court and church trial, Anne’s followers prepared to leave Boston. Roger Williams’ friendship with Narragansett tribe helped group arrange for settlement on Aquidneck Island. March 7, 1638 men of group signed a “compact” or agreement to form a “Bodie Politick” based on the guidance of the bible.
Travel to Portsmouth Some, like Anne Hutchinson, walked six days overland to Providence, then came up to Salt Pond to Founder’s Brook. Others traveled by ship around Cape Cod. Early settlement of tents and mud huts.
Portsmouth Town Fathers John Coddington, John Coggeshall and William Aspinwall voted for acquittal. Coggeshall spoke in Anne’s defense and was also expelled. All three men would come to Portsmouth with Anne. William Baulston and William Dyer were punished also. Son-in-law Thomas Savage and son Edward Hutchinson supported Anne and were exiled as well. Most of these founding settlers came to Portsmouth because they were followers of Anne or Rev. Wheelwright.
Anne at Portsmouth Little is recorded of Anne at Portsmouth. Husband William takes a major role in settlement, even serving as Governor. No real churches in Portsmouth - worshiped in homes. Winthrop continues to send people to Portsmouth to harass Anne.
Anne Leaves Portsmouth 1642 William Hutchinson dies. Massachusetts threatening to take over Aquidneck Island. Summer of 1642 Anne and her younger children moved to area in northern Bronx.
Anne’s Death Anne and family caught in conflict between Algonquin tribe and Dutch settlers. Only daughter Susanna survived. She was held captive and released much later.
Sources Trial Transcript from: Thomas Hutchinson, History of the Colony of Province of Massachusetts, Boston 1767. Photos by Gloria Schmidt - images of Anne from decorations at the 375th celebration at Founder’s Brook. LaPlante, Eve. American Jezebel: The Uncommon Life of Anne Hutchinson. 2004-Harper One. Garman, Jim:. “Anne Hutchinson - Finally the Honor She Deserves” Sakonnet Times in the April 25, 1996 edition. West, Edward: Land Grant Maps of the Town of Portsmouth. Hog Island Hay-Document in the Collection of the Portsmouth Historical Society, 1638.
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