born june english colonial american turned hanged boston massachusetts bay colony repeatedly law banning colony executed known boston place birth known married london mary william interested reforming separating english king increased pressure left england thousands new_england early mary william arrived boston joining december year like members boston church soon involved theological crisis lasting mary william strong advocates controversy result mary husband disarmed supporting views subsequently left massachusetts establish new colony later rhode_island leaving boston mary given birth severely deformed infant theological implications birth baby buried secretly massachusetts authorities learned birth ordeal public minds colony ministers monstrous birth clearly result mary monstrous religious opinions decade later late boarded ship england stayed years avid follower religion established years earlier considered massachusetts enacted laws returned boston england immediately imprisoned banished order banished time pain death deciding die martyr anti laws repealed returned boston sent having rope neck announced accepting returned boston following year hanged early life details life england scarce marriage record short record brother found english records given tradition daughter sir correctly predicted despite work legend persist tradition included plausible published biography parents identified family researcher significant discovery concerning brother published january administration recorded instrument granted administration estate jointly wife fact estate brother left hands mary husband strongly suggests william mary living parents living brothers time suggests mary living sister oldest living sister facts drawn instrument unmarried died seas england mary educated apparent letters wrote chronicler described grave woman good report having husband estate fearing lord mother children dutch writer wrote reputed person mean extract estate pretty plentiful stature piercing knowledge things wonderful sweet pleasant discourse fit great affairs massachusetts governor described proper fair woman proud spirit addicted revelations mary married october parish time westminster middlesex london mary husband baptized lincolnshire england settlers lincolnshire contributed large percentage members new_england large leadership founding rhode_island mary evidenced acceptance membership boston church new_england wanted complete separation anglican church catholicism begun rule english monarch henry_viii england accepted english monarch head church form worship greatly resembled catholic church non wanted away making sign cross prevalent anglican worship observe simpler biblical form worship non pilgrims wanted separate completely anglican church wished reform church ranks began swelling england severity government intervention including exile death ministers state religious practices england king charles little understanding religion adamant english subjects conform uniform religion included procedures found catholic church exploration north american continent leading settlement found way practice form religion england massachusetts mary sailed england new_england mary likely pregnant gave birth voyage december son samuel baptized boston church exactly week joined church freeman boston march following year controversy earliest days arrival mary single minister reverend england noted arrived boston quickly second minister called teacher boston church time boston sense theological difference wilson cotton ear colony women outspoken support cotton condemned theology wilson ministers colony gatherings held house differing religious opinions colony eventually public debates erupted traditionally called members boston church found wilson emphasis morality doctrine justification works told followers wilson lacked seal spirit wilson theological views ministers colony cotton instead stressed god grace boston accustomed cotton doctrines began disrupting wilson finding leave wilson got preach pray william sided strongly free grace advocates highly likely mary attended periodic theological gatherings home received new ally reverend arrived england immediately aligned free grace supporters boost advocating free grace theology came month young elected governor colony strong supporter unorthodox ideas theology considered radical late theological great called day help ease colony difficulties appointed day january included church services cotton preached morning wilson away england invited preach afternoon sermon average listener congregation colony ministers found words instead bringing peace sermon flames controversy words walked works called stirred people bitterness contrast followers encouraged sermon intensified crusade clergy church services lectures publicly questioned ministers doctrines disagreed beliefs met march called answer sermon judged guilty contempt having purposely set increase bitterness colony vote pass fight friends protested formally members boston church favoring conflict drafted petition sermon people signed protesting conviction signed petition accused condemning truth christ signature support soon proved family faced trial early november ministers sentenced second day court week sentencing supporters including called court fearing armed insurrection sent door door colony towns signed petition days individuals ordered deliver guns pistols swords powder shot match shall owners custody pound default great number signed petition faced losing protection cases pressure acknowledged error signing petition refused suffered hardships decided leave colony disarmed longer justify remaining massachusetts monstrous birth appeared boston records occasions caught attention massachusetts authorities march controversy came end following civil trial kept prisoner home brother colony ministers banished colony mean removed member boston church march forced face church trial root determine relationship church continue likely men finding new home away massachusetts boston attendance church trial conclusion trial leaving mary stood walked hand hand building women leaving church member congregation asked person identity woman leaving church reply woman monstrous birth governor soon aware verbal exchange began conducting investigation given birth months earlier october deformed baby wrote women gathered occasion left time birth fell asleep actually women present woman identified fully understood theological implications birth immediately sought counsel reverend thinking react child cotton instructed conceal circumstances birth infant buried secretly learned monstrous birth confronted armed new information confronted reverend cotton news spread colony leaders determined infant examined according group persons including cotton reverend wilson reverend thomas went place commanded creature woman fish bird beast woven journal provided complete description follows ordinary face head ears stood shoulders like forehead eyes horns hard sharp inch long shorter eyes standing mouth nose hooked upward breast sharp scales like ray belly distinction sex belly shoulders mouths piece red flesh sticking arms legs children instead toes foot claws like young sharp description accurate added better fit moral story portrayed authorities modern medical condition best fits description infant meaning partial complete absence brain episode beginning attention personal tragedy religion demanded close look aspects life signs god approval disapproval member church new_england required public confession faith behavior viewed clergy unorthodox required theological examination church followed public confession microscopic inspection caused private matters looked publicly purpose instruction tragedy widely examined signs god judgment led highly form justice example hanging offense simply resented neighbor eyes case convinced monstrous birth clear signal god displeasure felt discovery monstrous birth occurred exactly local body believers exactly week husband questioned boston church opinions fuel beliefs suffered later year aborted strange mass tissue appeared like handful transparent rare condition woman called mole convinced divine influence events sure leader new_england received account monster birth sent deposition england soon story took life printed london title strange birth brought boston author work named new_england minister england time support new_england ecclesiastical independence england took account published title added preface republished title short story rise reign usually called short story scottish included account monster anti treatise survey opening secrets english writer included birth memorable occurrence minister wrote deformed infant reverend ally response entitled wrote monsters described monstrous conception brain issue intellect years tragic birth returned public spotlight continued remembered birth deformed child time diary exchange letters took place england new_england eminent english sought information monstrous birth new identity included sent information event english original description monster subsequently identified known clergyman preached church far boston outrageous accounting infant occurred memorandum englishman sir quoted major scott event scott country lawyer notorious reputation detractors included famous scott assertion young massachusetts governor fathered monstrous delivered monsters accounts frequent historical account monstrous birth new_england minister mentioned passing rhode_island affected events went north november found town exeter new_hampshire larger group uncertain contacted suggested purchase land natives near settlement providence march church trial getting underway group men gathered home drafted compact new government group included strongest supporters disarmed banished including altogether individuals signed instrument intended form based christian principles chosen leader group following proposed land purchase established colony later named rhode_island naming settlement william joined william building new settlement year founding settlement leaders joined inhabitants moving south end island establishing town newport remained inhabitants renamed town portsmouth chief magistrate immediately recording secretary newport tasked june proportion new lands towns portsmouth newport united elected governor chosen secretary held position envisioned union settlements providence portsmouth newport wanted royal recognition settlements protection went england obtained patent bringing towns government opposed williams patent managed resist union providence representatives towns ultimately met united patent settlements government elected general recorder entire colony continued unhappy consolidated government wanted colonial independence island towns sailed england present case april gave commission sought making governor life island criticism arose soon returned commission men directed england commission revoked representing mainland towns representing island towns november men left england meet wife sailed england men departed wrote letter sent wife ship gone england remains mystery leave children infant travel abroad biographer hinted mary royal connection suggested news execution compelled record found explain mystery recent hostilities english dutch men england meet new_england april men explained case commission island government revoked october messenger returned rhode_island following february bringing news return colony mary remain england years conversion england time england lasted years stay deeply taken religion established formally known believe baptism formal prayer lord supper believe ordained ministry member minister right women essentially treated men matters spirituality relied inner light christ source spiritual inspiration addition denouncing clergy refusing support claimed liberty conscience right demanded separation church state worship consisted silent meditation moved spirit times public customs men removing hats oath fight wars massachusetts viewed enacted laws england place visited likely spent lot time located near northwestern england biographer spent time old friend estate lincolnshire called introduced mary judge traveled extensively kingdom owned manor visited judge traveling invited house guest judge wife days fox margaret religious beliefs judge returned listened fox taken fox religious views tolerant sympathetic fox allowed use meeting place relates journey days stayed guest certainly met learned beliefs role women faith documentary evidence actual meeting fox lacking certain known based letter written margaret men close relation thomas wrote waiting passage new_england heard went judge died continued center activity visit occasions imprisoned activism following release married massachusetts new_england colonies massachusetts active plymouth connecticut colonies shared persecution arrived boston laws enacted quickly changed law primarily ministers opposed efforts particularly reverend boston church law pain death later wrote england execution intensified perceived threat religious order increased included stocks whip fines imprisonment having ears cut death women stripped waist publicly exposed bleeding fate newport neighbor journey mile wilderness massachusetts colony trek woman breast testimony friends similarly wife younger sister received coming visit future son law prison setting stepped return england return new_england early returned new_england widow came boston settle estate late husband immediately recognized imprisoned husband come boston jail bound sworn allow lodge massachusetts town speak person traversing colony return home continued travel new_england preach message early arrested new haven colony expelled preaching inner light belief notion women men stood equal ground church worship organization addition sharing message come visit imprisoned weeks laws enacted arrested set horse forced leave following trip mary recovering bout pneumonia june activists came boston evicted parts colony joined men sentenced having right ears cut sentence carried july biographer wrote men ears removed additional punishment form carried weeks word cruelty reached visiting richard providence considered providence daughters mary older engaged patience younger aged scott daughters friend compelled boston visit holder men jail women child imprisoned people come visit holder imprisoned plymouth london merchant yorkshire farmer named mission england situation highly response increasing presence people enact tougher laws october new law passed massachusetts colony introduced capital punishment banished colony pain death meaning hanged defied law davis robinson brought court sentenced pain death new law davis returned plymouth went home newport robinson remained massachusetts bay colony spending time salem june robinson brought boston jail heard arrests left home newport returned boston support ignoring order incarcerated husband come boston years earlier retrieve authorities signing oath wouldn return wouldn come boston august sit write long letter questioning legality actions taken massachusetts authorities october robinson brought governor explained mission lord day group brought governor directed prison keeper remove men hats addressed group laws ways imprisonment cutting ears pain death desire death having met obligation present position colony authorities pronounced sentence death wanted read prepared statement called lord boston governor allow read robinson sent prison robinson allowed speak initially declining ultimately spoke mind sent jail brought forth governor pronounced sentence shall place came place execution hanged till dead replied lord directed marshall away said executions date set executions october captain boston military company directed provide force armed soldiers escort prisoners place execution walked hand hand men publicly asked inappropriate responded instead sense event hour greatest joy enjoy world eye ear hear tongue speak heart understand sweet spirit lord enjoy prisoners attempted speak gathered crowd proceeded voices drowned constant drum beats place execution expressed writers years instead mile south near current intersection time narrow spit land providing land access peninsula boston located time water sides filled narrow neck longer exists possible reason confusion land immediately south privately owned considered common lands leading writers consisted large tree prisoners step ladder end rope neck end secured tree ladder pulled away mount ladder positioned statement crowd died ladder removed hang turn witnessed execution friends arms legs bound face covered provided reverend boston church years earlier stood ladder prepared death waited order announced petition son william given authorities excuse avoid execution pre arranged scheme attempt dissuade mission clear wording expectation die martyr day pulled wrote letter refusing accept provision letter wrote life accepted comparison lives liberty living god sought wicked hands death makes feel cruelty live guilty innocent blood courage led popular sentiment authorities felt necessary draft actions wording petition suggested reality men sent document newly restored king england answer historian wrote short book book refuted claims massachusetts point point provided list atrocities committed provided narrative executions prior book publication going home rhode_island spent following winter sitting north south long_island sheltered storms island owner refuge seeking shelter providing able fellow including newport neighbors wife recently converted time prepared authorities send england concerning actions document viewed merely means public outrage determined return boston force authorities change laws hang woman left april focused mission returned boston days later brought governor exchange words governor recorded follows called sentence passed likewise return prison remain till clock hanged till dead thou executed prepare clock came obedience god repeal laws pain death work earnest request told refused repeal lord send servants witness following exchange governor asked answered spoke words lord spoke began speak governor called away away returned jail husband written letter requesting wife freedom granted execution june morning departed jail escorted ladder tree given opportunity save life response obedience lord god came faithful death military commander captain recited charges said guilty blood response came repeal law pain death innocent servants lord blood required hands simplicity hearts desire lord forgive came father obedience stand death pastor urged carried away devil answered man asked elders pray replied know elder short exchange followed words biographer swung crown descended head burial friends records portsmouth rhode_island contain following entry wife newport rhode_island death town boston like hand queen mary time buried day calendar time month year date record incorrect day actual date death june entry states mary buried boston hanged biographer rogers echoed likely family researcher presents evidence mary buried family farm located north newport navy base situated current town strongest evidence found journal entry given wrote reaching providence coming newport site dwelling burying place shown provides items evidence lending notion unlikely remains left boston husband children friends living newport rhode_island aftermath history boston wrote officers attending hanging overcome execution convert later leading families rhode_island sons william john governors prominent massachusetts official wrote hang flag example died september following fall horse viewed god wrath sent sect biographer wrote early new_england poet wrote contemporary events taken hanging day poet work called wrought bed refusing counting heaviest day life daughter massachusetts magistrate wife magistrate involved hanging wrote strain loving relationship strong reaction contemporary woman friend came spent final winter sent scathing letter massachusetts governor role execution addition husband sent letters connecticut governor condemning execution news hanging quick spread american colonies england immediate response london political resulting restoration king power hands hanged march months later english activist able appointment king document dated september addressed governors new_england king directed executions cease sent england trial existing english law royal response end executions continued find ways came massachusetts passed cart having tied stripped waist dragged towns cart route taken colony time died royal commission directed legal actions taken cease continued popular sentiment coupled royal finally end persecution modern view according literary scholar life functions powerful example woman returning power infused site legal control hand evidence available thoughts motives lie letters wrote sees behavior richly text female agency affiliation dissent looking account conversation governor views important dimensions agency affiliation actions read staging public drama agency means women including female act power god women allowed preach actually preaching minds possessed vigorous engaging ministers speech behavior chronicled actions life rogers looked god active participant fate voluntarily choosing martyr took responsibility actions authorities assume moral responsibility death provides distinguishing feature fully consequences behavior husband labelled having madness clear letters spoken words purpose intentions displayed clarity mind dialogues walking standing ladder hanging tree exchanged series detractors refusing allow construct meaning refuted image need contested authority elders church like civil trial allow feel assured framed meaning agency dimensions story second allegiance known public eye day took hand walked meeting house strong affiliation allegiance older woman shared secret unfortunate birth likewise decades later framed acts means stand friends share fate letters preserved wrote life freely granted avail expect long daily hear people dear seed life bound years traditional bonds females children community strong spiritual bonds gender boundaries public found unusual walked hand hand male friends asked ashamed spiritual threatening mindset allegiance controlled male church members allowed personal bonds gender lines boundaries age class letter themes agency allegiance creating analogy witnessing massachusetts jew called save people evil urged king enact law jews death king saved people parallels beautiful wicked representing massachusetts authorities jews bible time ultimately desired effect unlike story narrated century enemies orthodox story story quickly shared england eventually way english king charles_ii king ordered end capital severe treatment continued years according life journey time new_england transformed object speaking subject monster martyr evidence personal standpoint standpoint suggests ending spiritual triumph tragic injustice memorials honors bronze statue sculptor stands boston featured copy stands downtown philadelphia pennsylvania stout richmond indiana portsmouth rhode_island friend remembered founders brook park anne medicinal botanical garden set scenic historical marker early settlement portsmouth garden created artist descendant women memorial grass roots effort local newport organization anne memorial committee headed newport artist organization called meets annually memorial portsmouth sunday nearest july date anne baptism celebrate life local colonial history women inducted published works biographies published rhode_island martyr hanged june second biography rebel published works write letters preserved focal published biographies woman associated produced published texts children descendants known children grew adulthood following husband remarried known child possibly oldest child william baptized london october buried days later sailing new_england second child samuel baptized boston church december married daughter granddaughter william child premature female born october discussed earlier henry born roughly fourth child married daughter granddaughter governor fifth child second william born married mary possibly daughter massachusetts evidence supports child number male given biblical married daughter mary seventh child born roughly married living maryland january youngest child charles born roughly wife named mary claims daughter charles married second martha wait survived evidence mary husband sons samuel likely required appear rhode_island face charges serving military general refused serve military charges eventually dropped lot litigation concerning estate widow took widow son samuel later son charles court estate likely feeling estate belonged children notable descendants include rhode_island governors senator rhode_island
Mary Dyer