Why Was Anne Hutchinson Exiled?

HIST 1376 TTH – 11:30 to 12:30 LAB TUE – 4 to 5
Considering all of the evidence, why do you think Anne Hutchinson was exiled?

With the rise of King Charles in 1625 and his austere beliefs toward Arminianism theology, the tolerance toward the Puritans was greatly reduced. Anne Hutchinson was a Puritan wife, mid-wife and mother of fifteen children. She migrated to the ‘New world’ in the 1630’s as part of the ‘Great Migration.’ Anne Hutchinson was a learned, intelligent and a pious woman. She and her husband remained in England until 1634 and managed to attend church, in spite of the trouble toward Puritans, held by Rev. John Wheelwright and Rev. John Cotton. The reader states that they were admired greatly by her, especially John cotton. As the intolerance toward Puritans got worse, John Cotton fled to Massachusetts and Wheelwright was banned from preaching. The reader states that Anne Hutchinson concluded, “There was none in England that I durst trust.” And she, along with her husband and eleven children, departed for New England in 1634 As Anne settled down in the new colony along with the admired John Cotton, the New England Puritans were also delving into the Arminianism theology. Anne and John both condemned the principles of this theology. Anne had gained a reputation as a devout Christian and prominent mid-wife among the community. This allowed her to have well attended talks against the rising Arminianism theology. Although debates and quarrels over bible interpretation were not uncommon, the content was strictly monitored. But Anne and Cottons talks were of disapproval and not of a difference of interpretations. Governor John Winthrop had a vision to build a utopic, ‘City on a hill.’ This he believed was God’s will. Anyone who was to interfere with this dream of his was in his eyes, a blasphemer. Such a person was Anne Hutchinson. As Governor Winthrop learned of Anne’s alleged heresy, he was determined to end her reign of sacrilege and hence had her summoned for civil trial. Thereupon, Anne was arrested and tried on numerous counts including: heresy, preaching to men etc. As the trial commenced, it seemed as though the verdict was pre-decided. She was questioned on a number of charges. She was accused of preaching to men, which she denied. She provided justification for the sessions at her home, by saying, “I conceive there lies a clear rule in Titus that the elder woman should instruct the younger and then I must have a time wherein I must do it.” She was also betrayed by the admired John Cotton who refused to acknowledge his part of the heresy. She was also unable to provide documentation that the sermons she delivered were not denigrating or blasphemous. In addition, she also claimed that she has had direct contact with God. The reader states her asking the Deputy Governor,” How did Abraham know that it was God that bid him offer his son being a breach the sixth commandment?” She uses this to state the similarity between her spiritual encounter to the voice heard by Abraham. This, I believe, portrayed her as a threat to Governor Winthrop and gave him more reasons to banish her. The verdict sentenced her to ex-communication and she was banished from the Massachusetts Bay colony. Anne wisely used a number of anecdotes from the bible so as to prove her validity as a devout Christian and not a blasphemer. But the verdict seemed pre-decided.. The standing of a woman in those times was limited and I believe she overstepped her position. In addition, she was unable to produce strong proof against any of the allegations against. Also, being backstabbed by someone she trusted probably made her loose quite an amount of credibility. I believe that primarily, it was fear that was instilled in Governor Winthrop who probably believed that her increasing support could be the downfall of his regime and his utopic ‘City upon a hill.’