American Biography – Anne Hutchinson
(1591 -1643)
Anne was born in England to a Puritan family.
Her father was a minister and she learned her
religious beliefs from him.
In 1612, she married William
Hutchinson, a merchant. Over the following
years, they had many children. Fourteen
children accompanied them when they moved to
the Massachusetts Bay colony in 1634.
Anne was described as “a woman of ready
wit and bold spirit”. In her new home she
organized discussion groups at her home. She
began to develop her own religious ideas.
Basically she argued that any one could
feel the Holy Spirit. This belief that everyone
could be filled directly with divine grace and love
differed greatly from the “established” religious
views of the colony. The Puritan leaders argued
that only the Elect could feel the Holy Spirit;
therefore, only they were predestined to go to
Heaven after they died. Everyone else was
doomed to Hell when they died. Also, the leaders said that only they knew who was
among the Elect, and who was not.
Anne attracted many followers. They attacked most of the Puritan ministers of
the colony. The colony became divided over the issue. In response, the political
leaders of the colony, led by Governor John Winthrop determined to end the
controversy. They feared that Anne’s beliefs would destroy the colony. They were also
very concerned because her views threatened their position and power.
Two trials were held. First, she was tried by the ministers who condemned her
as a heretic. She was next tried before the General Court of the colony. She was
charged with sedition (conduct directed against public order and the safety of the
state) and contempt of the magistrates. Records of the trial show that Anne conducted
her defense brilliantly. They also show that the decision to find her guilty and
condemned to banishment from the colony. She was ordered to recant (withdraw her
beliefs) publicly. Anne refused and was excommunicated (cut off from the Puritan
church and community).
Early in 1638, Anne, her husband, children and some followers emigrated to the
colony on the island of Aquidneck in Rhode Island. With another colonist, she
founded a new town called Pocasset (later named Portsmouth). She remained in
the town until the death of her husband in 1642.
She and her children moved to Long Island (in what was the Dutch Territory)
but after a few months, she moved back to the mainland. In August or September
1643, Anne and most of her children were massacred by the Amerindians. One of her
daughters was captured by them; eight years later she was ransomed by the Dutch.
Anne Hutchinson demonstrated the limits of religious and political tolerance in
the Puritan colony. Her religious views implied that everyone could enter Heaven, not
only the Elect. Politically, her views could have led to a more democratic society.
These exchanges between Anne Hutchinson and John Winthrop are taken
from the trial of Hutchinson before the General Court of Massachusetts.
“Governor Winthrop: Mrs. Hutchinson, you are called here as one of those who have
troubled the peace of the commonwealth and the churches here; you are known to be a
woman that hath a great share in promoting and divulging of those opinions that are causes of
this trouble…you have spoken divers things as we have been informed very prejudicial to the
honour of the churches and ministers thereof, and you have maintained a meeting and an
assembly as a thing not tolerable nor comely in the sight of God nor fitting for your sex
and…therefore, we have though good to send you to understand how things are, that…if you
obstinate in your course than the court may take such a course that you may trouble us no
further…
Mrs. Hutchinson: I am called here to answer before you but I hear no things laid to my
charge.
Governor: I have told you some already and more I can tell you.
Mrs. Hutchinson: Name one Sir.
Governor: Have I not named some already?
Mrs. Hutchinson: What have I said or done?
Governor: The court hath already declared themselves satisfied concerning the things you
hear, and concerning the troublesomeness of her spirit and the danger of her course amongst
us, which is not to be suffered. Therefore if it be the mind of the court that Mrs. Hutchinson
for these things appear before us is unfit for our society, and if it be the mind of the court that
she shall be banished out or our liberties and imprisoned till she be sent away, let them hold
up their hands…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
till the court sends you away.
Mrs. Hutchinson: I desire to know wherefore
I am banished?
Governor: Say no more, the court knows
wherefore and is satisfied.”
Question for thought:
Anne Hutchinson threatened the
authority and power of the magistrates
in Massachusetts and was banished
from the colony. How should society
deal with those who oppose its
established principles?