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September 7, 2016

Anne Hutchinson: “The First Feminist in the New World”

For centuries women have fought against numerous injustices forced upon them because of their gender. Some of these injustices include the right to be seen as an equal to men, the right to vote, and the right for equal pay, along with many more. Although women have succeeded in breaking down some of these barriers, there are still many inequalities being fought today. During the seventeenth century, there was one woman in particular who battled in opposition to social injustice: Anne Hutchinson. This article is about the life of a brave woman who opposed an unfair law forbidding men and women from freely practicing their religion, and who also challenged the preposterous roles women were limited to in the religious community.

Anne Hutchinson statue | Massachusetts | courtesy of The New York Library Digital Collections
Anne Hutchinson statue | Massachusetts | courtesy of The New York Library Digital Collections

Anne Hutchinson, maiden name Anne Marbury, was born July 20, 1591, in Alford, England. She was the daughter of a midwife and a Cambridge scholar who published many unorthodox religious texts. In fact, Francis Marbury’s teachings were banned from where he was a teacher, at Saint Wilfred’s School in Alford. After vigorous pleading, Marbury was able to have the ban lifted, and he began teaching again in 1602. 1 Perhaps this is where Anne inherited her tenacious spirit to express her opinion. In 1605, at the young age of fourteen, Anne and her family moved to London for her father’s new position as rector of Saint Martin’s Vintry, leaving behind Anne’s boyfriend, a tailor named William Hutchinson. After the death of Anne’s father in 1611, Hutchinson moved to London to be with Anne; the next year the two were married. That same year, the newlywed bride returned to Alford where her husband continued his tailor business, and Anne followed in her mother’s footsteps as a midwife. Anne and William went on to raise thirteen children together in Alford. 2

In 1612, newly ordained Puritan minister John Cotton began preaching at Saint Botolph’s Church in Boston, Lincolnshire, not far from Alford where Anne Hutchinson resided. His unique approach greatly intrigued Hutchinson. 3 Cotton’s preaching and his understandings of religion reminded Anne of her father’s teachings. Anne enjoyed Cotton’s work so much, that in 1633, when Cotton immigrated to New England, Anne convinced her husband to move there as well. In 1634, Anne and her family made the long transition to Massachusetts. 4

The following year, in 1635, Hutchinson began holding weekly gatherings in her home to discuss minister Cotton’s sermons. Anne and her followers addressed their beliefs of sheer grace as opposed to the Calvinist theological viewpoint of predestination. Hutchinson and her followers believed that God alone grants salvation to whomever He believes is worthy of His grace, without human interaction. The clergy in New England taught that people could gain God’s grace by willingly performing various covenant conditions, such as performing good deeds, reciting prayers, attending church, along with other forms of religious practice. 5 Anne’s critics called her teachings Antinomianism. The Greek word is translated as “hostile to the law.” Anne provoked the colony leaders by proclaiming that members of their clergy who had not undergone a conversion experience had no authority to be held responsible for the spiritual offices of the colony. She also brought attention to the common yet unfair assumptions of women’s roles within Puritan society. 6 Anne’s following continued to grow, and it became so significant that in the 1636 governor’s election, the colony prevented the reelection of the current governor John Winthrop, and elected Sir Henry Vane the Younger into office. Sir Henry was an outspoken supporter of Anne’s movement, and he was a strong supporter of the anti-Winthrop movement.

Anne Hutchinson Preaching in her House in Boston in 1637 | Illustration from 'Colonies and Nation' by Woodrow Wilson | courtesy of Credo Images
Anne Hutchinson Preaching in her House in Boston in 1637 | Illustration from ‘Colonies and Nation’ by Woodrow Wilson | courtesy of Credo Images

Anne’s rising popularity caused three major problems for the colonial leaders. First, Anne’s gatherings paralleled preaching, which was strictly limited to those with a licence, and was absolutely forbidden to women. Second, the New England clergy was putting forth great effort in order to establish a unified church. Anne’s teachings contradicted their efforts. Third, Anne’s supporters consisted of both men and women. This act challenged the status quo of men being the only influential figures within society. 7 Never before had a woman caused so much trouble for authority figures, nor had a woman been the leader of a huge support of individuals.

The turning point of Anne’s momentum occurred during the governor election in May 1637, when former governor John Winthrop was reelected to office. It is not difficult to understand why Winthrop put Hutchinson on trial for heresy when he took office in November. 8 Winthrop was desperate to regain social order within the colony. The trial was held publicly to make an example out of Hutchinson, to show what happens to those who oppose the church and therefore oppose the colonial leadership. Anne surprised many with her witty banter and intellectual remarks. She defended herself quite impressively, proving her knowledge of the Bible and religious laws, and also by providing evidence demonstrating that her accused charge was based on more circumstantial evidence than proven facts of illegal activity. For example, the court tried to charge her with sedition, or an action suggesting discontent or rebellious actions against the government. Hutchinson made it clear that expressing opinions and holding conversations within a women’s meeting was not an illegal act. The statements made within those meetings were confidential because they were held in the privacy of her home. The spectacle of a self-educated woman verbally battling a governor who was a Cambridge scholar on an equal level was unheard of. Despite Hutchinson’s efforts, she was still convicted and banished from the colony. Anne was at a disadvantage from the start with civil officers, elected deputies, and clergymen represented as the jury in the trial. 9 After the verdict, Anne, her family, and a few loyal followers migrated to Rhode Island for a short while before settling in the Dutch colony of New Netherlands, which subsequently became New York. In 1643, Anne and her family became victims of an Indian uprising and were killed during the attack.

Anne Hutchinson on trial | Massachusetts | courtesy of Flickr
Anne Hutchinson on trial | Massachusetts | courtesy of Flickr

Anne Hutchinson is seen as one of the first female feminist who fought for religious freedom. Anne’s actions represent a right established to us as Americans in 1791. The first amendment to the Constitution established the freedoms of religion, assembly, speech, press, and petition. Anne’s reasons for refusing to conform to colonial authorities were reasonable and respectable. She was not the only person to fight for individual freedoms; but her courageous start led the way for others to fight against injustices too.

 

  1. John R. Holmes, “Anne Hutchinson,” Salem Press Biographical Encyclopedia (January 2016), 1.
  2.  Holmes, “Anne Hutchinson,” 1.
  3.  Francis J. Bremer, “John Cotton,” Salem Press Biographical Encyclopedia (2016), 1.
  4.  Holmes, “Anne Hutchinson,” 1.
  5.  James F. Cooper, Jr., “Anne Hutchinson and the ‘Lay Rebellion’ against the Clergy,” The New England Quarterly, Inc 61, no. 3 (September 1988): 382-383.
  6.  Alan Brinkley, American History, 15th ed., vol. 1: to 1865 (2 Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10121: McGraw Hill Education, 2015), 45.
  7.  Holmes, “Anne Hutchinson,” 1.
  8. Alan Brinkley, American History, 45.
  9.  Lisa McGunigal, “The Criminal Trial of Anne Hutchinson: Ritual, Religion, and Law,” Mosaic: A Journal for the Interdisciplinary Study of Literature 49, no. 2 (June 2016): 1-8.

Tags from the story

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Recent Comments

Joseph Chi

Hello Mrs.Mia Diaz, I think you did a wonderful job at highlighting the importance of Anne Hutchinson. I knew of how women weren’t allowed to carry important roles in religion, but I didn’t know there were women who were passionate about teaching and understanding it as well. It opened new insight to how they believed what their role in society was. I think you did a great job at sharing her accomplishments and highlighting some of the changes she made. She seemed well put and was quite an inspiration that others should admire and look up to.

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03/09/2021

1:48 pm

Matthew Tobar

This article was written very well. It did a good job of telling a portion of someone’s life, not just a biography that will never do someone justice. She was very much a pioneer, and she wasn’t afraid to stand up for her beliefs. I knew the name, and I knew that she was a major colonial feminist, but I didn’t know that she had actually been elected governor. I wonder if she was the first woman to do that for any colony? I guess one of the greatest what if’s in American history is if she hadn’t been killed in that Native American attack.

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05/09/2021

1:48 pm

Amelie Rivas-Berlanga

Anne Hutchinson was one of the first feminists in the world. She paved the way for the future generations to continue her path. The article highlights the important events in Anne’s life. She balanced a life with 13 children! A feminist fighting for religous freedom while having the whole world against her. This article was so well-written, and this topic is such a great thing to write about.

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06/09/2021

1:48 pm

Marycarmen Sanchez

You did a wonderful job leading us through the timeline of Anne Hutchinson. I had heard about her, but I hadn’t done any in-depth research into her, this was a great read. I loved learning about her courage, and the bravery of her followers in a time when women were treated so unfairly. It is so important to talk about women in history such as Anne Hutchinson, you wrote an amazing article that was detailed and in-depth.

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06/09/2021

1:48 pm

Matthew Gallardo

The author of this article has dove into research that greatly surpasses the small amount of information we are always given about Anne Hutchinson in textbooks, both in high school and college. there is evident dedication to the paper as well as passion, as the author puts small snippets of information that aren’t common knowledge, going above and beyond to write the article. From her influence in the governmental elections to a small poke towards information on the jury’s bias, the article leaves me wanting to read more on the information on the small parts left out, but at the same time still having more than enough information to inform me of Anne Hutchinson. Needless to say I am extremely impressed, whether it was on purpose or not.

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11/09/2021

1:48 pm

Seth Roen

Great article; you wrote a good article on early feminists in the new world and how trials we acted in colonial periods. Regardless of your views on social norms and roles, people can always appreciate a witty and clever person who will fight for what they believe is right, especially when more intelligent than the people who are accusing them.

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12/09/2021

1:48 pm

Santiago Sabogal

In my opinion, I think that this was a very informative and educative article about the pioneer of feminism, which is a really an important topic nowadays. I’m glad that you decided to write about Anne Hutchinson, since there are so many women in history that most of the people completely forget about or simply don’t give them the importance that they really have. Anne was literally the first feminist in the new world and nowadays we all can see her legacy everywhere. Society changed in towards how the women is treated and the pace women is given into society…

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15/09/2021

1:48 pm

Diego Martinez

WOW!!! a beautifully well written article. I am very impressed by this piece, it was delivered to the reader with a level of professionalism that is unmatched from your peers. The article was informative, inspiring, and even touching at times. Overall, i would say this article is the type of quality article that i like to read

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16/09/2021

1:48 pm

Aaron Onofre

This article really shows the passion and determination of Anne Hutchinson. Her passion led her to immigrate to a new, unknown area for her love for biblical teachings. Though it was her determination that caused to make such a uproar in the name of religious freedom. Her unapologetic attitude towards those in authority to speak the truth is truly inspiring, especially in today’s age.

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27/09/2021

1:48 pm

Madison Goza

I thought your title was very interesting; the use of “first feminist” intrigued me and made me want to learn more. I appreciated how straight-forward your thesis was; it clearly stated the main focus of your writing. I thought establishing Hutchinson’s background of her early family life was helpful too. I also appreciated how you specifically outlined the three reasons why/how she was a threat to Puritan society and clergy. Overall, your article was well-written and informative. Great job!

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07/02/2022

1:48 pm

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