A little about her and our grandpa, Roger Williams. We have all these strong, sensible people as ancestors on my father's side. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Beth Hurd" <beth.hurd@cox.net> To: <RIGENWEB-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2006 10:12 PM Subject: [RIGENWEB] Anne Hutchinson (part 4 of 5) > continued from part 3. > > "Soon the doctrines of this apostle brought official denunciation upon her > head. She was tried by a court of the church and condemned for her > obnoxious pronouncements, and she was next summoned before the supreme > civil tribunal, at which, however, the most eminent of the clergy were > present, and appear to have taken a very active part as witnesses and > advisers. This general court of Massachusetts met on November 2, 1637; > her sentence of excommunication was followed by one of banishment, and on > March 28, 1638, Anne Hutchinson and her husband and approximately eighteen > persons from Boston who sympathized with her -- besides the members of her > own family -- departed for that haven for all souls distressed for > conscience's sake, Rhode Island, and here the party was graciously > welcomed by the first advocate of human rights in America, the first > champion of free speech, Roger Williams. > > In Providence, Mrs. Hutchinson drew around her a goodly number of people, > including Quakers and Baptists, and these listened to her discourses with > great interest. Later the ministers of the Bay Colony dispatched three of > their members to Providence to inform the exiles that if they would recant > all belief in the Covenant of Grace they could return. Anne met these > emissaries in a kindly manner, the conference lasted two days and then the > three departed, reporting their mission hopeless. Roger Williams liked > Mrs. Hutchinson and was much in sympathy with her although he did not > adopt all of her views. He thought that in view of her great usefulness > as a nurse and neighbor she should be allowed to speak when she chose and > say what she wished. 'Because', as he said, 'if it be a lie it will die, > and if it be truth, we ought to know it.' " > > continued in part 5. > > > ==== RIGENWEB Mailing List ==== > Bristol County RIGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~ribristo/ > RI Cemeteries Index http://www.rootsweb.com/~rigenweb/cemetery/ > >