American Jezebel: the Uncommon Life of Anne Hutchinson

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Recommended: Position of women in puritan society

LaPlante, Eve. Amrican Jezebel: The Uncommon Life of Anne Hutchinson, the Woman Who Defied the Puritans. New York: Harper Collins, 2004.

Anne Hutchinson was a remarkable colonial woman who first came to Massachusetts in the fall of 1634. She is less remembered for her contributions in the new world as a wife, mother of fourteen, and midwife to many than for her eventual trial and banishment from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. I was interested in writing a paper on a colonial woman and chose Anne Hutchinson after a "Google" search turned up a very good review on a recent book about her life. I have been intrigued by the fact that the Puritans came to America to practice their religion freely, yet allowed no freedom to question their doctrine. The book, American Jezebel: The Uncommon Life of Anne Hutchinson, the Woman Who Defied the Puritans, is an excellent examination of this lack of religious freedom and the life of a woman that intersects it.

Anne Marbury Hutchinson was the second born child of a Cambridge educated, outspoken Anglican preacher named Francis Marbury. She was born at a time when he was openly quarrelling with church leaders about their "catholic tendencies" and the selection of "ill-educated Bishops that in turn chose poorly trained ministers" (LaPlante, p. 33). Francis was eventually put on trial and accused of being a Puritan. He won his trial but was removed from his church and sentenced to be at home. This time was to have a big impact on the lives of his children, especially Anne.

Francis Marbury was considered to be a gifted preacher and teacher. It seems he was quite passionate about it. When he no longer had a public forum for these activities he focused his attentions in this area on ...

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...factor for her to move one more time into Dutch territory. After her move in the summer of 1643, Anne and her family were killed by Indians. She was survived by six of her children and over 30 grandchildren. Descendants of these survivors include: Anne's great-great grandson Thomas Hutchinson who became a Governor of Massachusetts, her sixth great grandson Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and her ninth great grandson George H.W. Bush and his son George W. who although he did not win the presidential election in 2000, now holds the highest office in the country. (p.243). LaPlante also includes a tour one could follow to see Anne Hutchinson sites in Boston, Rhode Island and New York. On my next trip back east I will bring this book and see these sights. I wholeheartedly recommend this book for anyone with an interest in women of importance in our American history.

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