Anne Hutchinson: Life And Influence Of An Inspiring Woman

When was the last time you were taught something about religion in school? For someone my age, the answer may be never. Today, religion is a subtly discussed topic in our society. Within almost all education systems and work places, one can not enforce any details of a particular religion among another.

In earlier times however, religion was the center of attention. Men, women and children from all over the world were moving to different countries to place their regime on new soil, in hopes of widening their religion. That wanted to create towns and governments, all focused on the religion they were most faithful to. One family that had done this were the Hutchinson’s, William and Anne Hutchinson, with their twelve children. Anne Hutchinson was one of the most inspiring women of the 17th century, and she was a determined Puritan, until the church had one day decided against that.

Anne Hutchinson had lived in England until the 1630s where her and her family decided to be part of the “Great Migration,” and move to America. She was well intertwined with her religion. She was wife to William Hutchinson, a well spoken church member, as well as an activist for puritanism in the new land. The family had moved with the many others who did so to introduce their ideals of puritanism and create a new “Puritan land.” At this time, the men were the influences and the women were housewives, until came Anne Hutchinson.

She began having services and meetings within the Hutchinson house to instruct others of life as a puritan, how it should be, and the glory that follows. She was highly regarded in her community for her intelligence, caring nature, and her outspokenness. She had inspired many, including men and women, until one day when the Puritan Church had detected her doings, and determined them to be unacceptable.

What is Antinomianism? It is of religious and civil meaning, that one may have a view that rejects any laws and argues against moral, religious and social norms within society. During Anne Hutchinson’s trial with the church authority, many of the higher officials had discussed issues of this point of view. Many had stated that what Anne Hutchinson had been doing, preaching to men within her household, was unethical.

At this time, the court felt that Anne Hutchinson had become a threat to the community, along with all the Puritan religion. John Winthrop, the church authority who questioned Hutchinson in trial, had believed her to be infringing on the laws of the land. Specifically, he believed it wasn’t socially acceptable for Hutchinson to be a woman speaking of religion, to others. It was a “man's position” to conduct religious meetings, in the eyes of John Winthrop, as many of the other officials had thought as well. Anne Hutchinson was a strong, intelligent feminist, and the court had not thought that to be well.

After much time in trial, the court had determined the extent of Anne Hutchinson's trial. She would be found guilty and she was put on house arrest and later banished from Massachusetts Bay. The court officials had thought Hutchinson to be a prisoner, so that she could not be capable of influencing others anymore. Later on, she had to be expelled from the Purtian church. She could have no relation with God anymore, and therefore she was delivered to “Satan.”

The supporters of Hutchinson of the Massachusetts Bay colony had stayed in support until they were forced to flee, had been exiled or were silenced among the greater community. A few years later, Anne Hutchinson and the remaining of her family would move to a new settlement in Rhode Island, to escape the trivial experiences she had faced.