Records of persecution which in many cases led to such people emigrating to America either forcibly of their own volition. These accounts range from the petty to the deadly; from the comical to the tragic:-
In a printed Account of the Sufferings of Friends, presented to the King, Lords, and Commons, in Parliament assembled, in the Year 1680, we find an Account of Mary Mawley, of Wortwell, committed to Norwich Castle, at the Suit of _____ Mingley, Priest of the Parish, for the Tithe of a Goose, and there kept Prisoner till she died.
Sufferings, Vol. 1, page 508, Par 7
There are 30 entries for William Penn in the collection in England in 1670 plus:-
1671 “London” England
1672 “” Virginia
1675 “” England
1679 “Dantzick” Germany
1679 “Dantzick” Germany
1681 “Sussex” England
ANNO 1674 and 1675.
In these Years, for their religious Assemblies held at Willison, the following Distresses were made, viz.
£. s. d.
Taken from Thomas Brassey, for preaching there, Goods worth
Henry Fletcher
John Sharplace
Randal Elliott, for suffering a Meeting in his House
And from several others, to the Value of
In all
26 0 0
16 3 4
9 6 0
20 0 0
9 10 10
81 0 2
Among these Sufferers was Samuel Glent a poor Boy, from whom they took his wearing Apparel, worth but 13s. 4d.
Vol. 1, page 105 Pars 8 & 9
On 3 July 1670 Quaker preacher William Bayley was taken to the Lord-Mayor by Soldiers and committed to Newgate allegedly insulting a Priest, although this was denied. When he came before the Mayor, he had not taken off his hat as required so the Mayor ‘pluckt it off, saying, You give no Honour to Governours.’ Bayley asked if the Mayor’s ‘honour derived from taking off the Hat. The Mayor answered Yes, and passionately trod the Hat under his Feet. William replied, Then thou treadest thy Honour under Foot.’
Vol. 1, page 412, Par 3
Beside those already mentioned, there had been imprisoned for Tithes, some Years before John Whiting’s Commitment, John Coate, John Smith, Thomas Ridiout of Mark, and Walter Hodges of Kingsbury: Also Lucy Traverse, an ancient Widow, who being for some Time at her Daughter’s House in Queen’s-Camel, was prosecuted for a Demand of 2d. for Easter-Offerings by one Kitley, Priest of that Parish, and cast into Prison, where she died a Prisoner on the 25th of the Month called March 1674, yielding up her Life in a free and faithful Testimony against the Antichristian Yoke of such superstitious Impositions.
Vol. 1, page 613, Par 10
Distresses for Tithes
ANNO 1673. Francis Hodge of Budock, for not paying Tithes to John Collier Priest there, had taken from him a Cow worth 4£.
In this Year, for their Constancy in attending religious Assemblies, Henry Williams, a poor Man, had his Bed and Coat taken from him, also his Hatchet and Shovel, the Instruments with which he wrought for his Living, the Whole valued at 30s. Also John Mabely, a Weaver, had his Loom and Slays taken away, with a Bolster and Pillow, valued at 4£. 18s. Also from Charles Peters, William Guy, Nicholas Emmatt, and Thomas Pascoe, were Goods taken to the Value of 5£. 18s. Also for Meetings at Minver, from Charles Peters and John Mabely, Goods worth 4£. 4s.
Vol. 1, page 120, Par 10
These are therefore in his Majesty’s Name to will and command you to convey the said Edward Lea, Hannah Trigg, Arthur Baker, Dowglas Templer, Edward Boycott, William Roberts, and Margaret Jackson, to the Port of London, and thence to embark them, and every of them, to be safely transported to the Island of Barbadoes, being one of his Majesty’s foreign Plantations, there to remain for seven Years, and hereof you may not fail at your Peril. Given under our Hands and Seals at Hicks’s-hall the aforesaid 10th Day of October, in the sixteenth Year of his said Majesty’s Reign.
Vol. 1, page 400, Par 1
Conviction of three for the third Offence.
Had he continued longer in his Office, he would probably have procured the Banishment of these and many more, but his expiring Authority gave him Opportunity of convicting only three of them for the third Offence, viz. Cananiel Britton, Bartholomew Crocker, and Lewis Rogers. These three were put on Shipboard to be transported, but the Seamen refused to carry them, and put them on Shore with the following Certificate, viz.
THESE are to certify all and every Person, unto whom this present &. Writing may or shall come, that there were three Persons called ‘Quakers, viz. Cananiel Britton, Bartholomew Crocker, and Lewis Rogers, brought on board our Ship, called the Mary Fortune of Bristol, the 16th of December 1664, and continued waiting on our Ship until the 23d of the same Month.
Vol. 1, page 51, Par 2
John Otter, shoemaker, was transported to Virginia from London in 1664 and sentenced to 7 years’ slavery for giving his address as “In God.”
1664 John Otter of London transported to Virginia, 7 years slavery, Sufferings, page 404
There are at least 23 entries for this Boston martyr in New England between 1655 and 1660.
Mary Dyer (nee Barrett) was married in London in 1633 to fishmonger and milliner William Dyer. They were both initially Puritans and escaped persecution by leaving for America but returned in 1651 to become followers of Quaker leader George Fox several years earlier.
The Puritans believed that Satan had sent them a Quaker enemy, and on 19 October 1658 Boston passed a law to execute any Quaker refusing banishment from there which caused the awkward, plucky Quakers to keep returning. Mary Dyer was one of those zealous enough to do so, along with two men who were hanged whilst Mary was rescued by her son riding on a white horse.
Mary Dyer returned to Boston to request a repeal of the laws but was taken to the gallows on 1 June 1660. Hanged, her neck limp, Puritan General Atherton remarked that “She hangs like a flag for others to take example from.” One more Quaker would be hanged before a new charter from England forced the Boston Puritans to protect all Christian sects except Catholics.
A Narrative of the Martyrdom of W. Robinson, M. Stevenson, and M. Dyer.
We shall next enter upon the Narrative of the Martyrdom of three Persons, who were put to Death for returning after they had been banished, pursuant to this bloody Law, viz. William Robinson, Merchant of London, Marmaduke Stevenson, a Countryman of Yorkshire, and Mary Dyer, a grave comely Woman, fearing the Lord, and of good Report, the Mother of several Children, and Wife of a reputable Inhabitant of Rhode-Island. These three, together with one Nicholas Davis, were by the Court of Assistants at Boston, in the Beginning of September 1659, sentenced to Banishment on pain of Death: But William Robinson, being looked on as a Teacher, was also condemned to be severely whipt, and the Constable was commanded to get an able Man to do it. Then Robinson was brought into the Street, and there stript, and having his Hands put through the Holes of the Carriage of a great Gun, where the Goa’er held him, the Executioner gave him twenty Stripes with a threefold corded Whip: Soon after which, he and the other three were released and banished, which that it was for no other Cause than their being Quakers, may appear by the following Warrant to the Goaler, viz.
Vol. 2, Page 198, par 2.
There are also 14 more entries for Marmaduke Stevenson and 68 William Robinson entries. There are many Maryland entries relating to Dyer (18 records between 1659 and 1660).
Hangings of William Robinson and Marmaduke Stevenson, Mary Dyer reprieved
New-England 1660. The Manner of W. Leddra’s Execution.
A Morning Lecture was appointed, in which the Priest was not backward to animate the Magistrates to execute their intended Tragedy. Their pretended Worship being over, the Governour with a Guard of Soldiers came to the Prison; whereupon the Prisoner’s Irons were knockt off, and he taking a solemn Leave of his Fellow-prisoners for the same Testimony, being called, chearfully came forth: The Guard instantly surrounded him to prevent any of his Friends coming near to speak to him, at which Edward Wharton, being much grieved, said to them, Friends, what will ye shew yourselves worse than Bonner’s bloody Brood l Will you not let me come near my suffering Friend before you kill him! Whereupon one of the Company said, O Edward, it will be your Turn next; he being under the Sentence of Banishment: And one of the Officers threatned to slop his Mouth, if he spake a Word more.
Vol. 2, Page 218, par 2.
As the Executioner was putting the Halter about his Neck, meekly said, I commend my righteous Cause unto thee, O God; and as the Ladder was turning, he cried out, Lord Jesus, receive my Spirit. Being dead, when the Executioner cut him down, four of his Friends, Edward Wharton, Robert Harper, John Chamberlain, and Philip Verrin, caught his Body in their Arms, and laid it on the Ground, till the Executioner had stript the Clothes off, who, when he had so done, said, that He was a comely Man, and that Mary Dyer was a comely Woman, and the others, well ordered Men according to their Years. His Body being stript, his said Friends were suffered to put it into a Coffin, and bury it where they thought meet. A piece of Humanity owing not to the Inclinations of the Persecutors, but to the Outcry of the People against the Barbarity used to the dead Bodies of the two Men who were put to Death before.
Reprieve of M. Dyer.
Mary Dyer seeing her Companions hanging dead before her, also stept up the Ladder, but after her Coats were tied about her Feet, the Halter put about her Neck, and her Face covered with an Handkerchief, which Wilson, the Priest, lent the Hangman, a Cry was heard, Stop, for she is reprieved. Her Feet then being loosed, they bid her come down; but she, whose Mind was already in Heaven, stood still, and said, She was there willing to suffer as her Brethren did, unless they would annul their wicked Law. What she said was little regarded, but they pulled her down, and the Marshal and others taking her by the Arms, carried her to Prison again. That she was thus reprieved, was through the Intercession of her Son, to whom it seems they could not then resolve to deny that Favour.
Vol. 2, page 204, par 3.
Mary Dyer by Howard Pyle
Sending away of M. Dyer a second Time.
The Magistrates perceiving that their putting Robinson and Stevenson to Death, caused much Discontent among the People, resolved to send away Mary Dyer, thinking thereby to calm their Minds a little. So they caused her to be set on Horseback, and by four Horsemen convey’d fifteen Miles toward Rhode-Island, who left her there with a Horse and a Man to be conveyed the rest of the Way, but she soon sent them back, and so went to her own Home
The next Day after her Reprieve, viz. on the 28th of October, she writ the following Letter to the Court, viz.
Vol. 2, page 204, par 4.
A Copy of the foregoing Letter was delivered to the General-Court after Mary Dyer had received Sentence of Death, about the Month of October 1659. Thus these pious Confessors were not wanting to warn their Persecutors of the Evil of their Doings, in a Spirit of Christian Love and Meekness, and with a Courage and Fortitude of Mind, able to endure Afflictions and Death itself for the Sake of Religion and a good Conscience, being supported by the Power and Spirit of Christ, which never faileth those that put their Trust in him.
Vol. 2, page 206, par 2.
The Manner of her Execution.
Then Mary Dyer was brought forth, and with a Band of Soldiers led through the Town, the Drums being beaten before and behind her, and so continued, that none might hear her speak all the Way to the Place of Exccution, which was about a Mile. Thus guarded she came to the Gallows, and being gone up the Ladder, some said to her, that If she would return, she might come down and save her Life. To which she replied, Nay, I cannot, for in Obedience to the Will of the Lord I came, and in his Will I abide faithful to Death. Then Captain John Webb said, that She had been there before, and had the Sentence of Banishment upon pain of Death, and had broken the Law in coming again now; and therefore she was guilty of her own Blood. To which she returned, Nay, I came to keep Blood-Guiltiness from you, desiring you to repeal the unrighteous and unjust Law of Banishment upon pain of Death, made against the innocent Servants of the Lord, therefore my Blood will be required at your Hands who wilfully do it: But for those that do it in the Simplicity of their Hearts, I desire the Lord to forgive them. I came to do the Will of my Father, and in Obedience to his Will, I sand even to Death. Then Priest Wilson said, Mary Dyer, O repent, O repent, and be not so deluded and carried away by the Deceit of the Devil. To this she answered, Nay, Man, I am not now to repent. And being asked by some, Whether she would have the Elders pray for her? She said, I know never an Elder here.
Vol. 2, page 206, par 4.
asked, Whether she would have any of the People pray for her? She said, I desire the Prayers of all the People of God. Thereupon some scoffingly said, It may be she thinks there are none here. To which she replied, I know but few here. Then they spoke to her again, that One of the Elders might pray for her. To which she replied, Nay, first a Child, then a young Man, then a strong Man, before an Elder in Christ Jesus. After this she was charged with something, which was not understood what it was, but she seemed to hear it; for she said, It’s false, It’s false, I never spoke those Words. Then one mentioned, that she should have said, She had been in Paradise. To which she answered, Yea, I have been in Paradise those several Days. And more she spoke of the Eternal Happiness, into which she was now to enter. Thus Mary Dyer departed this Life, a constant and faithful Martyr of Christ, having been twice led to Death, which the first Time she expected with an entire Resignation of Mind to the Will of God, and now suffered with Christian Fortitude, being raised above the Fear of Death, through a blessed Hope, and glorious Assurance of Eternal Life and Immortality.
Vol. 2, page 206, par 5.
Mary Dyer Quaker memorial in Richmond (“Witness for religious freedom. Hanged on Boston Common 1660”)