Anne Hutchinson (1591-1643)
Anne Hutchinson is said to be "One of the greatest women to go out to America in the Colonial Age” and is considered one of the first important female religious leaders. She fought for religious freedom in the North American Colonies and openly challenged the male-dominated government and church authorities, making her a religious and feminist role model.
Anne was born in Alford and her family home still stands on West Street opposite Needles and Pins shop. She then moved to London, before returning to Alford to live for a further 22 years. Anne moved with her family to Boston, Massachusetts in 1634.
She was a strong woman with even stronger Christian beliefs, and it wasn’t long before she began to challenge the Puritan teachings of the colony and she took about reforming it with Rev John Wheelwright, her brother-in-law. With reform always comes opposition, and this was very much the case with Anne, as she was tried and banished from Massachusetts!
Anne and her husband William had 15 children. Sadly, she lost two of her children to the Plague in 1630. In 1642 William died, and after her banishment Anne and her seven younger children moved to a secluded place called Split Rock, which was eventually to become the Bronx area of New York. Unfortunately, it wasn’t as peaceful as Anne had hoped. In the summer of 1643, Anne and six of her children were killed by a band of Indians. Her daughter Susanna was captured and returned four years later to her friends.
Famous descendants of Anne Hutchinson include former U.S. Presidents George W. Bush, George H. Bush and Franklin D. Roosevelt.