Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-09-25
lQlottrster Qailg Spg.
From the Second Volume Of Palfreys History of New
England.
THE PERSECUTION OF THE QUAKERs
INTERESTING PASSAGE OF COLONIAL nIsrop,

iNlEhhollNH PASSAGE OF COLONIAL HISTORY
The first notice of the Quakers in Massa-
chuSetts occurs IN the order passed MAY IA
1906, By the general court appointing "a pub.
lie day OF humiliation, Of which the purpose
hrst named was Ito seek the face of God in
behalf OF cur native country in reference to
the Astounding of errors, especially those of the
Raners and Quakers." Scarcely was the fast
day over, when a vessel from Barbados
brought into Boston harbor two Quaker wom-
en-, Mary Fisher and Ann Austin. The gov-
esnor, deputy governor, and four other magis
uates met, and ordered that the master of he
vessel should give bonds to carry the women
back TO Barbados; that they should be kept
IN jail TIL their departure, and that some books
which came with them should be burned by
the executioner
The two visitors from Barbados had but
just left Boston on their return, when another
vessel brought from England eight other per
sons OF the same persuasion four men and as
many women, besides a man who had Joined
the party at Long Island, and been converted
on the passage thence. Officers went on board
in the haFbor, and led them away to gaol. AT
their examination before the magistrate, they
confirmed the opinion which had spread re-
specting the proficiency of the sect in the use
OF opprobrious language. One of Them Mary
Prince, taken to Endicott's house for a confer
ence with two ministers, reproached them as
"hirelings, Baals, and seed OF the serpent"
The master of the vessel which had brought
this company was laid under bonds to convey
them back to England, and after eleven weeks
confinement, they were re embarked and sent
away. The shipmaster complained of the
hardship of the engagement into which he was
made to enter. But the magistrates suspected
what was indeed true-that the Quakers
intended to get on shore again after leaving
the harbor. While in Boston goal they had
corresponded with Gorton, who, though no
Quaker, was willing to do his best to help them
in annoying Massachusetts. He wrote to them
that if he could but be informed when they
would sail, he would make arrangements to
take them out of the English vessel at sea, and
land them in Narragansett bay. This scheme
was frustrated by the caution OF the magis
trates. The prisoners wrote to GOrton that
the terms of the security required of the ship
master were peremptorily persisted in and
that his plan in their behalf must be abandoned.
When the General Court Of Massachusetts
met, they at once took up the case OF what
they described as the 'cursed sect OF heretics
lately risen up in the world, which are com
monty called Quakers, who take upon them to
be Immediately sent of God, and intallibly as.
sisted by the Spirit to speak and write bias.
phemous opinions, despising government and
the order of God in church and the common
wealth, speaking evil Of dignites, reproducing
and reviling magistrates and minister's seek
ing to turn the people from the faith and gain
proselytes to their pernicious ways" And in
order "to prevent the like mischief as was
wrought in their native land the Court now
required shipmasters, who should bring Qua
kers into tile jurisdiction, to pay fine OF Gl00,
and to give security for the re transportation
Of such passengers to the port whence they
came. 1t was at the same time enacted, that
Quakers coming into the colony should be
forthwith committed to the House of Correc-
ton, and at their entrance to be severely
whipped, and by the master thereof to be kept
constantly at work, and none be suffered to
converse or speak to them during the time of
II Imprisonment; that fine OF 20 should
be incurred by the importation, circulation, or
concealment OF Quaker books and that per.
sons presuming to defend the heretical
opinions Of the said Quakers," should be pun
ished for the first offence by fine of e.; for
a second, by fine Of "a and for a third, by
imprisonment in the House OF Correction till
there should 'be convenient passage for them
to be sent out of the land; )" and thar "what
persons sOever should revile the office per.
son Of magistrates or minister's as was usual
with the Quakers, such persons should be
severely whipped, or pay the sum Of 95." This
law, forthwith published in several places in
Boston by beat of drum" betrays the excite
ment into which the government had been
summer. Nicholas Upsall, an ancient citizen,
for "reproaching the honored magistrates, and
speaking against the law made and published
against the Quakers" was sentenced to pay
fine OF EGO, and to depart the jurisdiction
within one month, not to return under the pen
atty OF Imprisonment"
The admonition designed by the new laws
was, before long, to be practically enforced.
Anne Burden and Mary Dyer came to Boston
No Irtt e., ., - A.
secretary OF Rhode Island, to which colony,
twenty years before, she had gone from Boston
after the Antinomian dissension. Both were
imprisoned. Burden, after two or three
months, was sent back to England Dyer
pleading ignorance OF the law, was delivered to
her husband to be conducted home on his Civ
ing security mot to lodge her in any town Of
the colony, nor TO permit any one to speak
with her." But Mary Clarke, who had made
the voyage from London, "to warn these
prosecutors TO desist from their nquity," was
scourged Christopher Holden and John
Copeland, two Of the party who had been re-
shipped to England the preceding autumn, APP
peared again at Salem, "and spoke few
words in their meeting after the priest had
done; they were whipped and imprisoned,
and Lawrence and Cassandra Southwick OF
Salem were imprisoned for having harbored
them 1.-The next that came from England as
being under a necessity from the Lord to come
to this land OF persecution, was Richard Dowd-
ney." He received the same treatment as
Holden and Copeland, and the three were sent
away together The four visitors last named
belonged to party OF fifteen, who, having ar
rived at London from New Amsterdam, thence
dispersed themselves into New England.
Three women OF this company, Sarah Gibbons,
Mary Weatherhead, and Dorothy Waugh had
been sent to England with Holden, Copeland,
and Others in the year before.
1t SEEMED probable that the recent enact
ments had had some effect while it was
clear that they were not fully adequate to their
purpose and both considerations prompted to
the trial of measures more severe The fine
for harboring Quakers was increased to the
. 1unt of forty shillings for every hour the
iOI fixture for bringing them was enforced by
more rigid rule and it was ordered that eve
ry Quaker coming into the jurisdiction, after
having been once punished, should, for the
first offence, suffer the loss OF one ear for a
second offence, the loss of the other; and for
a third s.ould have the tongue ''hored
through with hot IRON" Of the three last
mentioned provisions, the last tw never took
effect The other, after the lapse Of nearly
year-for the repugnance to it must have been
hard to overcome-was executed in three in.
stances Holden Copeland, and John Rouse
who had twice come back after being Danish
ed, each had the right ear cut off by the con
stable. The sad scene took place within the
prison walls, in the presence of only n few
Witnesses. OF this mutilation-a mode of
punishment then well known in the mother
country-here has been no example since that
time in New England. The federal commits
sioners were at this moment in session at Bos-